Chicago Construction News staff writer
As the Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One Project nears completion, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) announced Wednesday that it is accepting proposals to redevelop land in the Lakeview neighborhood previously used for construction.
The CTA issued three separate Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for parcels acquired to build new track structures and stage construction during the RPM project. The work included constructing a rail bypass north of Belmont station, replacing a congested 107-year-old junction where the Red, Purple, and Brown lines intersected, and rebuilding elevated track structures more than a century old between Belmont and Addison stations.
“After successfully delivering modern stations and improved service for CTA riders, we are honoring our promise to the Lakeview community to redevelop land used during construction,” said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen. “We are excited to work with the community and serve as a catalyst for development that will enhance the vibrant Lakeview neighborhood.”
The redevelopment follows the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Plan created in 2018 with input from residents and local stakeholders. The plan aims to bring lasting benefits to residents, businesses, and transit riders, emphasizing:
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Cultural, generational, and economic diversity
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Commercial, retail, and civic uses that promote neighborhood vitality
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Transit-proximate development
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High-quality, appropriately scaled construction
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Environmentally sustainable and economically viable projects
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Improvements to the public realm
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Affordable housing options
The three parcels included in the RFPs are:
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Southeast corner of W. Newport Ave. & N. Clark St. — includes the historic Vautravers Building, which was moved 30 feet west to allow track reconstruction. Officially portions of 3401-3427 N. Clark St. and 947-949 W. Newport Ave.
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Southwest corner of W. Roscoe St. & N. Clark St. — officially portions of 3366-3368 N. Clark St. and 947-955 W. Roscoe St.
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Frontage along N. Clark St. — officially portions of 3330-3348 N. Clark St.
Proposals for all parcels are due by Feb. 25, 2026.
CTA also published a separate TOD plan in 2018 for parcels in the RPM project’s Lawrence to Bryn Mawr Modernization area in the Uptown and Edgewater neighborhoods. The agency expects to issue RFPs for those parcels later in 2026.
