Here are Chicago’s top construction permits granted in April

The 10 biggest construction permits secured in April are for projects scattered across the city.

Several major projects got piecemeal approval to move forward, with the city granting permits covering only a portion of the total work. Those include the 1.5 million-square-foot office tower that will soon begin rising at 110 North Wacker Drive, a project that will bring 222 hotel rooms to Navy Pier, and a sprawling riverfront mixed-use development in the South Loop.

1. 4071 North Oak Park Avenue | $50 million estimated cost

The city’s Public Buildings Commission scored the permit for a much anticipated new public school. The 135,000-square-foot school will have the capacity for 1,200 students, though CPS still hasn’t said if it will be a high school of its own or a freshman campus for Taft High School. Yet another complications: Workers will have to be careful not to disturb any of the human remains in 38,000 graves buried on the site of an old county poor house.

2. 110 North Wacker Drive | $40 million estimated cost

Clark Construction Group was granted a permit for foundation and partial superstructure work on Howard Hughes’ and Riverside Investment & Development’s 54-story office tower fronting the Chicago River. Bank of America will anchor the building with a 500,000-square-foot lease.

3. 11601 West Touhy Avenue | $23 million estimated cost

The city’s Department of Aviation got a permit to repair the walls, ceiling and floors of a utility tunnel under the Northwest Tollway that serves airport-related logistics tenants in the area just north of O’Hare International Airport.

4. 321 North Clark Street | $23 million estimated cost

Hines Interests got the go-ahead to start work on a renovation that will include new restaurant and entertainment space fronting the Chicago River. The American Bar Association https://therealdeal.com/chicago/2018/03/23/american-bar-association-renews-large-lease-at-321-north-clark/ recently agreed to give up a portion of its space in the building to make way for the project.

5. 2075 West 43rd Street | $21 million estimated cost

Billed by Cushman & Wakefield as the largest industrial warehouse https://therealdeal.com/chicago/2018/04/20/project-billed-as-citys-largest-industrial-warehouse-clears-final-hurdle/ within the city limits, this 633.000-square-foot project is being built on spec. Trucking company Marina Cartage bought the site in 2015.

6. 5050 North Broadway | $20 million estimated cost

The permit allows interior and exterior work on this 360,000-square-foot office building for its conversion into 342 residential units by Chicago-based Cedar Street Companies.

7. 225 East Chicago Avenue | $19 million estimated cost

The permit allows for interior alterations for an inpatient expansion on the 17th floor of the Ann & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital in Streeterville.

8. 4000 West Diversey Avenue | $14 million estimated cost

Hubbard Street Group has the nod for the interior build-out of 123 residential units, an amenity space on the sixth floor and a residential lobby on the first floor of this 1.5-million-square-foot former warehouse.

9. 720 South Wells Street | $12 million estimated cost

Lendlease is proceeding with work on its half of a mixed-use project https://therealdeal.com/chicago/2018/04/30/cmk-gets-city-zoning-approval-for-south-loop-resi-buildings/ it had been developing as a joint venture with CMK Companies before the two decided to part ways. The permit for initial foundation and landscaping work was granted to the JV, but is for the portion of the site that is now controlled solely by Lendlease.

10. 900 East Grand Avenue | $9 million estimated cost

First Hospitality Group has the go-ahead for interior work and other renovations related to a rooftop bar at Navy Pier. The ultimate plan calls for a seven-story, 222-key hotel to rise on the pier, which has long been the city’s top tourist destination.