Overview

Tribune East Tower is a proposed mixed-use skyscraper planned for the eastern portion of the Tribune Tower property on the Near North Side of Chicago. Announced in April 2018, the developer's proposal calls for a 1,422-foot (433.4 m) tower that, if built as proposed, would rank as the city's second-tallest structure. The project is sited adjacent to the historic Tribune Tower and occupies a prominent lot in the Streeterville neighborhood within the Near North Side community area.

Design, program and components

The scheme envisions a mixed program combining hospitality and residential uses. Public filings described a roughly 200-room hotel together with 439 apartments and 125 condominiums. In addition to lodging and homes, proposals typically include ground-floor retail and lobby space intended to connect with adjacent streets and the Tribune site. At 1,422 feet the tower would be about 29 feet shorter than the Willis Tower; the height and massing were presented as part of a larger effort to integrate a modern high-rise next to a historic landmark and the broader Chicago skyline (Willis Tower, for comparison).

Approvals and timeline

Plans were publicly announced on April 16, 2018. Municipal review proceeded that year: the Chicago Plan Commission approved the proposal in mid-October 2018, and the Chicago City Council gave formal approval at a meeting on October 31, 2018. Those approvals addressed zoning and public-right-of-way matters necessary to advance the project into permitting and final design stages. Like many large developments, the project depends on subsequent steps including detailed design, financing, permitting and construction scheduling.

Significance and local context

The Tribune East Tower proposal attracted attention because of its potential effects on Chicago’s skyline, its juxtaposition with the landmark Tribune Tower façade, and its large scale in a dense, central neighborhood. Proponents highlighted the building’s contribution to downtown housing, hotel capacity and tax revenue, while critics and preservation advocates raised questions about how a very tall new tower would affect views, shadows, traffic, and the historic character of the Tribune site. These kinds of debates are common for major infill projects in established urban cores.

Comparisons and notable facts

  • The proposed 1,422-foot height would make the development one of the tallest in Chicago, ranking just below the city’s tallest towers.
  • Program elements combine hotel rooms and high-density housing, reflecting current market interest in mixed-use, transit-oriented projects.
  • The site’s proximity to the Tribune Tower means the project intersects issues of preservation, adaptive reuse and new construction on historically significant parcels.

Current status and next steps

Although municipal approvals were obtained in 2018, large urban projects commonly face subsequent changes driven by financing, market conditions and design revisions. Planning approvals clear some regulatory hurdles but do not guarantee construction. For updates on permits, construction start dates or revised designs, follow local planning resources and the project's official communications channels (Tribune Tower site, Chicago planning sources). For historical context about the surrounding neighborhood see resources on Streeterville and the Near North Side.