River North parking lot to be replaced with nearly 150 new apartments

Chicago’s Zoning Board of Appeals paved the way Friday for the development of a nine-story residential building in River North, breathing new life into a surface parking lot at the corner of Huron and Orleans streets.

Called RiverWard, the building at 310 W. Huron St. will have 149 apartments that include studios, convertibles, one- and two-bedrooms. It will also have 11 duplexes with private patios, according to plans by Chicago-based developer ZSD Corp.

The building’s top floor will have amenities such as a roof deck, indoor lounge, fitness center and co-working space.

The ground floor will have 3,800 square feet of retail. RiverWard will also have outdoor green space — something ZSD’s attorney Katie Jahnke Dale said “was very important to the community.”

ZSD anticipates completing the project in 2027.

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) said in a August newsletter to constituents that the development is allowed under its current zoning. But ZSD applied for special-use approvals with the board to develop units below the second floor and to decrease the off-street parking requirement from 65 to 21 spaces.

The property is next to the L’s Brown and Purple lines. The transit-served location makes the site eligible for reduced parking requirements, according to Reilly’s office.

Illinois Basketball Academy

The board also approved the construction of a new Illinois Basketball Academy about three blocks from the United Center, home of of Chicago Bulls.

The Lisle-based academy offers competitive basketball teams and lessons for K-12 students. The academy also offers training for college and professional basketball players, according to its website.

The organization wants to demolish the building at the corner of Lake and Wood streets to make way for a 55,000-square-foot dome for sports activities, including basketball, volleyball, pickleball and other indoor sports. Adjacent to the dome on Wood Street would be a three-story building with spectator space, a lobby, locker rooms, concessions and office space, according to plans. There will also be on-site parking and bike parking.

Craig Veselik, president of the Illinois Basketball Academy, also operates the West Suburban Sports Complex in Lisle.

“They have experience in this type of operation,” project attorney Rolando Acosta said.

The Illinois Basketball Academy is expected to host tournaments at the sports complex and collaborate with local nonprofits to provide after-school programs for youth.

"This site has been underutilized … for quite a number of years,” Acosta said. "It has similar commercial facilities in its immediate vicinity."

The development timeline for the sports academy is unclear.

Both projects can start construction now that it has board approval.