The 78

Last updated

The 78
The 78 NE.jpg
The 78 in 2022
Location Chicago, Illinois
Coordinates 41°51′53″N87°37′56″W / 41.86472°N 87.63222°W / 41.86472; -87.63222
Website http://78chicago.com
Companies
Architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Developer Related Midwest
Technical details
Cost$7 billion
Size62 acres (25 ha)
The 78
Map of The 78 highlighted in red

The 78 is an undeveloped plot of land in South Loop, Chicago. Its name is from an unrealized 2018 megadevelopment proposal which included several office and residential towers, high-rises, and a riverwalk. [1] Since 2016 Related Midwest is the owner of the site, [2] [3] [4] stretching from Roosevelt Road south to 16th Street, and Clark Street west to the Chicago River.

Contents

Although the Chicago City Council approved the megadevelopment in April 2019 (including a tax increment financing agreement), [5] it was not built. The megadevelopment was to include a $1.2 billion research center called the Discovery Partners Institute, which would have been operated by the University of Illinois. That project may be built further to the south in Chicago. [6]

In 2021, it was proposed to put a Rivers Casino in The 78 as part of the Chicago Casino Proposals, but the city selected a site in the River West district near the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street. [7]

In June 2025, the owner of the Chicago Fire FC soccer team proposed to build a soccer stadium on the site. [6]

Name

The name "The 78" refers to the existing 77 community areas in Chicago and the mega-development was to increase that number by one. [2]

History

The mixed use development notion of 2018 in The 78 was to be located on a 62-acre parcel of land just south of Downtown Chicago and north of Chinatown. The area is bordered by Roosevelt Road to the north, Clark Street to the east, 16th Street to the south, and the South Branch of the Chicago River to the west. [1] [8]

Much of the land was created through landfills in the 1920s as part of a $9 million realignment of the South Branch Chicago River. [1] [9] The area then became a railyard for trains traveling to or from either the Grand Central station or LaSalle Street station. [10]

The railyard was eventually demolished in the 1970s, forming a 62-acre vacant lot. The former railyard remained in limbo for decades. In 2001, Tony Rezko bought the entire land for mixed-use development. His plan did not come to fruition and he eventually sold the land in 2005. [11]

Many plans have been proposed or discussed for this site; none have been built as of June 2025. [6] Related Midwest acquired the land in 2016. [3]

Aerial video of The 78 proposed site, with an Amtrak train going through it, and Ping Tom Park in the foreground

Proposed new White Sox stadium

In 2024, it was reported that the Chicago White Sox and its owner Jerry Reinsdorf were in discussions with Related Midwest to potentially build a new stadium on the site to replace Rate Field following the end of the team's lease in 2029. [12] In addition to the stadium, the plan calls for retail, offices, and housing. [13] [14] [15] [16]

Between August and September 2024, the White Sox and developer Related Midwest built a temporary field on the site. [17] [18] [19] [20]

Proposed new Chicago Fire stadium

The owner of the Chicago Fire FC soccer team Joe Mansueto proposes to build a stadium exclusively for soccer games on a 9-acre site in The 78. [6] Mansueto plans to use private funds. The City of Chicago would be responsible for site preparation, as the area lacks basic utilities (water, sewer, electric) at present. Some unused railroad tracks need to be removed. His aim is to open the team’s 2028 season in its own stadium. [6]

Earlier, the owner and developer presented the idea of a joint stadium. The Chicago Fire FC, which currently plays at Soldier Field, would construct a new stadium there along with the White Sox. Joe Mansueto's plans to privately finance a new stadium makes their path much clearer than that of the Bears and White Sox if they choose to develop in this area just south of the Loop, given the aforementioned two are seeking public funding. [21] [22]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ori, Ryan (May 11, 2018). "No Small Plans for 62-Acre South Loop Site Along Chicago River". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Kozlarz, Jay (October 19, 2017). "New U of I Innovation Center and 'The 78' Mega-Development Officially Unveiled". Curbed. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Kozlarz, Jay (May 12, 2016). "Related Midwest Finalizes Deal for Massive 62-Acre Riverfront Site". Curbed. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  4. Moser, Whet (May 15, 2018). "RIP, Rezkoville. Hello, the 78". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  5. Byrne, John (April 10, 2019). "City Council Approves Lincoln Yards, The 78 Deals after Developer Concessions". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Spielman, Fran (June 3, 2025). "Fire plans $650M stadium in South Loop's long-dormant The 78 tract". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  7. Channick, Robert; Petrella, Dan; Byrne, John (November 8, 2021). "Chicago has five competing casino bids. Here's a look at what's proposed, and where". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  8. Davis, Katherine (May 11, 2018). "Take a Look at Plans for The 78, Chicago's New Riverfront Neighborhood". ChicagoInno. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  9. "Street Number Guide Map of Chicago (1916)". Harvard Library. Rand McNally & Co. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  10. "Map of Englewood, Chicago (1963)". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  11. Eordogh, Fruzsina. "Will Rezko's Lot in the South Loop Ever Be Developed?". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  12. Roeder, David; Spielman, Fran; Novak, Tim (January 17, 2024). "White Sox in 'serious' talks to build new stadium in South Loop's 'The 78'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  13. "Here's what a new White Sox ballpark in the South Loop could look like" . Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  14. "Real estate developer releases renderings of possible new White Sox stadium in Chicago's South Loop" . Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  15. "Gov. Pritzker concerned about cost of new White Sox South Loop stadium" . Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  16. "First time renderings revealed of White Sox proposal for a new ballpark in the 78" . Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  17. Ori, Ryan (August 27, 2024). "A Pitch in the Dirt: White Sox Ballpark Teased on Site Along Chicago River". Co Star News.
  18. Armentrout, Mitchell (August 30, 2024). "South Loop sandlot? White Sox, Related Midwest build temporary baseball diamond at stadium site". Chicago Sun-Times.
  19. Sullivan, Paul; Montemurro, Megan (September 13, 2024). "Chicago baseball report: 'Sodfather' helps with makeshift White Sox diamond on The 78 — and Cubs raise ticket prices". Chicago Tribune.
  20. Allan, Leigh (September 1, 2024). "Field of Dreams, meet Field of Schemes". South Side Sox.
  21. "Chicago Fire owner is considering building privately-funded, soccer-specific stadium in the city". The Athletic. November 10, 2024.
  22. "DEVELOPER PROPOSES WHITE SOX AND FIRE STADIUMS AT THE 78". soxon35th. September 1, 2024.