Old Chicago Main Post Office Redevelopment (proposed project)

Key components and design

At the heart of the proposal was the retention and renovation of the large early‑20th‑century postal structure, surrounded by a series of new high-rise buildings and a continuous ground-level complex that would span the river and the adjacent expressway. Major elements put forward included:

• a pair of mixed-use towers, the tallest of which was envisioned at about 120 stories and approximately 2,000 feet to the roof;
• two 60‑story residential towers and a roughly 40‑story hotel;
• a large retail and entertainment podium connecting buildings and crossing existing transportation corridors;
• parking and service facilities intended to support residents, office tenants and visitors.

The tallest tower, had it been built to the stated dimensions, would have exceeded the height of the Willis Tower by over 500 feet and been among the tallest buildings in the United States. The plan emphasized a single, contiguous development platform that integrated the riverfront site with the broader downtown street grid.

History and approvals

The redevelopment concept was formally submitted to city authorities in mid‑2011 and moved through public review and approvals during the early 2010s. Local officials voted to approve the plan on July 18, 2013, after environmental and planning consideration. Backers estimated a multibillion-dollar construction budget and projected significant employment gains during construction and subsequent operations.

Reception, criticisms and outcome

The proposal attracted both support and criticism. Supporters highlighted the adaptive reuse of a historic structure, the potential for large‑scale investment and job creation, and the opportunity to enliven a major riverfront parcel. Critics questioned the scheme’s scale, its reliance on extensive parking and car access—including the publication’s figures listing thousands of parking spaces and proposals for free parking—and its retail format, which some described as mall‑oriented and suburban in character rather than pedestrian‑oriented urban infill.

• Support: job creation, historic rehabilitation, economic stimulus.
• Criticism: auto-centric design, retail model, feasibility of financing and market demand.

Although the city approved the development framework, the site was later sold in 2016 and the proposed tower complex was not built as described in the original plan. Subsequent owners and developers have pursued other strategies for portions of the property and the historic post office, reflecting evolving market conditions and planning priorities.

Significance and legacy

The Old Main Post Office redevelopment remains an example of large-scale urban redevelopment debates: how to balance historic preservation and adaptive reuse with new construction; how to shape riverfront redevelopment; and how to reconcile ambitious skyline proposals with local mobility, retail trends and financing constraints. The proposal also highlighted the technical and regulatory challenges of building above active transportation corridors and a major river, and it prompted discussion about what kind of growth is appropriate for the southwest edge of downtown Chicago.

For geographic context, the site sits along the Chicago River near the core of Downtown Chicago in Illinois. The tallest planned tower was compared in scale to the largest structures in the United States and specifically noted as surpassing the height of the Willis Tower in media coverage during the proposal period.