Related drops hotel from twin-tower resi megaproject

Responding to pushback from the local alderman, Related Midwest will eliminate a hotel and add more residential units to its twin-tower megaproject at the failed Chicago Spire site on Lakeshore Drive.

The developer will present its changes at a March 10 meeting, according to Crain’s, which first reported on the changes.

Last year, Related formally proposed two massive towers, one rising 1,100 feet with 300 condos and a 175-key hotel; the other would rise 850 foot and have 550 units. The buildings would share a 90-foot podium.

But Alderman Brendan Reilly rejected that plan over height and traffic concerns.

Now, Related will add residential units for a total of 1,000, eliminate the hotel portion and reduce the size of the towers to 875 feet and 765 feet, respectively, Crain’s reported.

“Over the past several months, the developer has worked to address the many significant concerns about the hotel use, the tall podium base of the buildings, traffic concerns for East North Water Street, and security issues on the Riverwalk and at DuSable Park,” Reilly said in an email sent to constituents, Crain’s reported.

Related Midwest has been busy over the last year with some of the largest developments in Chicago which includes its long-term megaproject The 78 in the South Loop. [Crain’s] — Jacqueline Flynn