Mixed-Use Redevelopment Featuring Residential Tower Unveiled for Clybourn Corridor

Details have been revealed for the mixed-use redevelopment of the large commercial property at 1800 N. Clybourn Avenue in Lincoln Park. Spanning two lots, the project is bordered by W. Willow Street and N. Sheffield Avenue to the east. Local developer CRM Properties Group is leading the multi-phase project, with Lamar Johnson Collaborative handling the design.

The site currently consists of various vacant retail spaces, including the former locations of Bed Bath & Beyond and Patagonia. Retail vacancies in this popular shopping corridor hover around 15 percent. Historically, the three-acre property housed the William D. Gibson Co spring plant built in 1908, later becoming the Turtle Wax plant, of which only two decorative towers remain.

CRM Properties plans to demolish most of the site, preserving the two towers, and replace it with a new shopping center named ‘Willow Street District’. A new central road with parking will run through the site, surrounded by four new retail buildings offering over 62,000 square feet of space. These buildings will feature an industrial aesthetic with brick and glass facades, and a third decorative tower matching the original two will be constructed. The main street front will be lined with active-use spaces, small plazas, and landscaped extended sidewalks. In total, there will be 447 parking spaces in garages and on the street.

The second phase of the development will commence after the retail component on the southwestern end of the property. This phase may include a 42-story, 520-foot tall tower with approximately 8,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, a parking garage, and 500 residential units. The developers are aware of potential community backlash regarding the tower’s height and plan to collaborate with the community as the phase progresses.

While the plans are still in early stages, the developer recently presented them to the city for the first time. This project aligns with other tall proposals nearby, including two along N. Marcey Street on the west end of the site. The first phase is expected to begin soon, with a potential completion date in early 2026. There is no timeline for the second phase yet, as it will require zoning approval.