True Transit-Oriented Apartments Bound for Lincoln Park

A brand-new seven-story apartment development is in the works in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The building – set to open at 1623 N. Halsted Street – will be located just north of North Avenue. 

The boutique building will include 79 luxury apartments and exactly 79 bicycle parking spaces – how’s that for precise! It also will sport nearly 5,000 square feet of retail space, perfect for a coffee shop or breakfast place if you ask me.

A rendering of new apartments in Chicago's Lincoln Park at 1623 N Halstead
Rendering of the new luxury mid-rise apartment complex coming to 1623 N. Halsted in Lincoln Park. Image: Chicago Department of Planning and Development/Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture.

The mid-rise will be packed with modern styling and awesome living spaces, but one thing it will not have is any vehicle parking spaces. Geared toward transit-oriented renters, these apartments will be perfect for those who prefer to walk, bike, bus or hop on the train.

With several public transportation options within a two-minute walk, residents won’t need a car at all. The CTA Red Line train station at North and Clybourn will be just a block south of the front door. Also, the #8, #9, and #72 bus stops are along the way at the intersection of North and Halsted. 

Chicago Development Dream-Team 

Chicago-based developers JDL have teamed up with architects Hartshorne Plunkard to bring this intimate building to life. I promise you, these new Lincoln Park apartments are in great hands with this dynamic duo. 

Since 1993, JDL has gained recognition as a premier developer in Chicago with a diverse portfolio including several notable luxury apartments and condominiums. 

And Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture has an impressive 33-year track record. In the industry, they’re known for infusing a neighborhood’s character into projects such as South Loop’s luxury apartments Essex on the Park and West Loop’s hot brunch spot Soho House.  

These two have certainly been keeping busy with downtown Chicago development. They’ve previously worked together on other luxury apartments including 640 North Wells in River North and Two West Delaware in the Gold Coast

They’re also in the middle of construction on One Chicago – a two-tower, 969-foot tall condo/apartment complex in River North that I’m just dying to see completed. When it opens, you won’t be able to miss it as it’s set to be the sixth tallest building in Chicago.

While the size of the new Lincoln Park project is scaled-down for this team, the design plans are no less impressive. 

A look inside an open concept kitchen at 640 N Wells apartments in downtown Chicago
High-end kitchen finishes at 640 North Wells, another luxury apartment building that JDL Development and Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture worked on together.

Design Details

Now – let’s take a peek at the plans, starting with the exterior. Sitting adjacent to the CTA Brown Line elevated tracks, the 7-story apartment building will rise 84 feet high. 

The exterior’s mocha brown bricks will round at the corners and bronze-toned trim will accent the window frames – very on-point with Lincoln Park architecture. The first-floor storefront and top-floor deck will feature floor-to-ceiling glass and aluminum panels with a champagne-hued finish (hmmm, a Champagne bar instead of the coffee shop). 

Get Your Green On 

Since there aren’t many neighborhood parks to speak of in this area (it’s largely dominated by major retailers), I’m really excited to see outdoor space incorporated in the plans for the common areas. 

It looks like the top floor will be dedicated to shared amenities including an indoor/outdoor resident lounge with a green rooftop. I sneak a peek at some bonus terraces on the second-floor too. Along the public-walkway, new trees will be planted giving this urban space a nice touch of nature. 

The Apartments: What to Expect 

The apartments will be a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. They’ll range in size from 565 square-feet to 930 square-feet. 

While no specifics about the interiors have been released yet, recent work from the team has me speculating these will be some of the best new apartments in Lincoln Park. 
I’m also guessing you’ll be able to bring your pup. It seems that nearly all luxury apartments in Chicago don’t just allow your dog, they cater to them and this new building will likely be pet-friendly.

An outdoor terrace at 640 N Wells apartments in downtown Chicago
An outdoor terrace at 640 North Wells Apartments, also designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, may give us a hint about the green terraces in store for 1623 N. Halsted.

Nearby Necessities and Recreation

These new apartment’s close proximity to public transit will be a huge draw, but the surrounding neighborhood is what will really get new renters to sign the lease

Fans of live theater will love the Halsted Street location. Both the Steppenwolf Theatre and Royal George Theatre are just a few steps down the block. 

I promise you will not go hungry when you live in Lincoln Park, and bars and diverse restaurants near Halsted Street are plentiful. Sushi to Italian to Chicago’s most insane dining experience. That’s right – world-famous Alinea is two-minutes north on Halsted. 

Take a stroll in any direction from the North and Halsted intersection you’ll find about a dozen big box stores. The nearby New City Shopping Center and North & Sheffield Commons also have several retail stores. They include West Elm and Pottery Barn for all your brand-new-apartment-furnishings. 

For daily essentials and groceries, you’ll have tons of options. Whole Foods, Mariano’s, Trader Joe’s and Walgreens are all within a 10-minute walk. I’m not sure there’s a better grocery-friendly area in Chicago.

A map of the neighborhood surrounding 1623 N Halsted in Chicago's Lincoln Park

Neighborhood Highlights

  • Press Coffee Bar
  • Starbucks
  • Alinea Restaurant
  • Boka Restaurant
  • Max & Leo’s Artisan Pizza
  • Weed’s Tavern
  • The Mousetrap Off Color Brewing Taproom 
  • Apple Store Lincoln Park
  • Crate and Barrel
  • REI 
  • Nordstrom Rack

This enclave of Lincoln Park, nestled just west of Old Town, is such a cool location if you are looking for easy access to public transit and endless places to walk to. And now, add in a boutique luxury property to top it off.

Looking for your next great apartment in Chicago’s Lincoln Park? HotSpot’s leasing agents are the experts in downtown Chicago apartments and know all about best apartments in this neighborhood and others. Reach out to our team – we’d love to help you find your perfect place!

A signature of blog writer Sarah