I-290 Blue Line Public Investment

Historically, reconstruction and modernization of projects like the I-290 Blue Line Corridor would rely principally on the need to bring the corridor infrastructure into a state of good repair. Roads and rails wear out and need to be replaced for safety and the protection of public investment reasons. More and more projects like this need to demonstrate what the community economic and social impacts are to justify large outlays of public funds. What is the return on the investment of these public dollars?

Conversely, large private developments require up front commitments on the funding of public infrastructure such as transportation and energy facilities before these projects move forward. In both cases, the external economic benefits drive the decisions on investments of public and private dollars.

The I-290 Corridor has historically not been the beneficiary of significant new private investment over the past thirty years. The good news is that is changing. There are a number of new projects in the corridor that have and will benefit directly from the I-290 Blue Line reconstruction project. Some examples:

Illinois Medical District (IMD) Gateway Development:

The IMD Gateway Development Project is a $300 million, 10-acre mixed-use master planned development situated at Damen Avenue and Harrison Street. The campus is adjacent to the I-290 Blue Line Corridor and served by the Damen Ave. and IMG Blue Line Stations. The development includes:

• 10-story dual-branded Hampton Inn & Homewood Suites hotel with 240 guest rooms.(completed).
• A 10-story, 161-unit residential tower featuring ground-floor retail space.(completed)
• Gateway Retail Two standalone buildings totaling 25,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail and dining spaces.(completed)
• Commercial office & lab space: 240,000 sq. ft. designated for medical/commercial office use, life sciences, and lab spaces.
• Additional retail and dining space 100,000 sq. ft.

Illinois Medical District Park

A new IMD park with a COVID-19 monument is currently under construction at 2023 West Ogden Ave. The park was funded with a $5.9 million grant from the State of Illinois. The park includes a playground, two fitness zones, a sensory garden, open green space, and a walking/running path. This is the first park in the district in over 80 years in an attempt to reconnect the IMD with the neighborhood.

mHUB M+District

The mHUB M+ District is a planned $1.3 billion, 72-acre advanced manufacturing and innovation district situated along the Kinzie Industrial Corridor on Chicago’s Near West Side north of the United Center. The site is .8 mi from I-290 and served by the Racine Ave, and IMD Blue Line Stations. The project is an expansion of mHUB’s primary facility at 240 N. Ashland Ave. (a $50M redevelopment completed in 2023) by acquiring surrounding industrial parcels to construct modern manufacturing facilities, labs, and research spaces. The proposed project will create over 8,500 permanent jobs in HardTech, sustainable manufacturing, quantum technology and energy.