Two big law firms could be taking big spaces in 110 North Wacker
Law firms Morgan Lewis & Bockius and Jones Day are both planning to move out of 77 West Wacker Drive and into the same building. The two law firms will move to the new 55-story tower at 110 North Wacker from Riverside Investment & Development and Howard Hughes, sources told Crain’s. Morgan Lewis and Jones Day are in advanced negotiations to move into the building when it opens in two years, though neither has signed a lease. Jones Day would take about 140,000 square feet and Morgan Lewis another 80,000 in the tower being anchored by Bank of America and its 500,000-square-foot lease. [Crain’s]
Pulte plans new Naperville subdivision
Pulte Homes want to build 312 single-family homes and a church on 113 acres that had been the Wagner Farms in unincorporated Naperville. The developer bought the property earlier this year and is now seeking a rezoning from Naperville officials. Pulte later plans to ask the city to annex the subdivision. The development on Illinois 59 would feature homes ranging from 2,300 to 3,500 square feet and a 38,000-square-foot fifth location of the Compass Evangelical Free Church. [Naperville Sun]
Old Town School not selling Lincoln Park location just yet
The Old Town School of Folk Music is delaying the sale of its Lincoln Park location until at least the spring. The school’s announcement earlier this year that it was selling the property at 909 West Armitage Avenue led to an outcry of opposition. The sale announcement, and subsequent delay, come amid a staff shakeup and budget cuts at the venerable music school and that moved its main campus to Lincoln Square 20 years ago. [Chicago Tribune]
Nonprofit plans apartments in long-vacant Pilsen church
The nonprofit Resurrection Project is proposing converting the long-vacant St. Vitus Church in Pilsen into affordable apartments. The Pilsen-based developer wants to create a transit-oriented development in the church, which has been vacant for three decades. The building would be expanded into 42 apartments over seven stories, all for families making less than 60 percent of the area’s median income. [Block Club]
Blue Cross building community center in Pullman
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois plans to open a community center next year in the historic Pullman district. The Blue Door Neighborhood Center will occupy 3,700 square feet in the 111th Street Gateway Retail Center starting in April. The center, which will provide free services and workshops to residents, is the first of its kind for the insurance company. [Crain’s]
Walker Sands inks lease extension, expansion in Loop tower
Walker Sands Communications is taking more space in the office tower at 55 West Monroe Street in the Loop. The new lease marks the third time the public relations agency and digital marketing firm has expanded since moving its Chicago headquarters to the building from the West Loop four years ago. At the time it had 45 employees and 10,000 square feet of offices; the new 22,000-square-foot lease will help accommodate the 110-person staff. [Globe St.]