Chicago Construction News staff writer
Plans are moving forward for Metropolis Pointe, a large mixed-use development proposed for a vacant site at 2601 S. Martin Luther King Drive in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, as the project enters a key phase of public review.
The project is being led by developer JC Griffin, with design work by Wight & Co. and Studio Barnes. The site sits just south of McCormick Place and next to the planned Bronzeville Lakefront development.
The property has long been seen as a key opportunity to extend development in Bronzeville. When the proposal was introduced earlier this year, some nearby residents raised concerns about the size of the project and how it would fit into the neighborhood. The development team recently held its first community meeting and said it is working to adjust the plans and address local feedback.
If the project moves ahead, the team hopes to receive city approval in 2026, complete a $29 million land purchase and begin construction in mid-2027.
Chicago YIMBY reports the roughly $900 million project is now planned to be built in phases. The first phase would focus on a southern building that would include a data center, which the developer says is needed to secure financing for the rest of the development.
Data centers have drawn concern in urban areas because of their high energy use. To address that issue, the team is working with CenTrio Energy on a plan to reuse excess heat from the data center. The heat would be captured and reused to reduce energy needs on the site and could also serve nearby buildings. Details of the system are still being worked out.
Later phases would add retail space, a large parking garage, a public plaza and green space, and a community wellness center. Plans also include a second tower about 215 feet tall on the south end of the site, which has previously been described as a possible home for a future job training center focused on artificial intelligence.
The largest building would be a 50-story residential tower rising about 560 feet on the north end of the site. Plans call for about 600 rental apartments, 30 condominiums and a share of homes set aside as affordable workforce housing.
The residential tower would include a large outdoor sky deck near the top, offering views of Lake Michigan, downtown Chicago and the South Side. The building is planned to feature glass and bronze-colored panels meant to reflect Bronzeville’s architectural history.
The project will require zoning, financing and other city approvals before construction can begin.
