Developer, R2, recently proposed a new development that would bring office, entertainment, retail, and dining space, as well as over 500 feet of new riverfront space to the Morton Salt warehouse site. Upon approval for a zoning change from warehouse to commercial of what’s been dubbed the “Salt District”, R2 will also seek landmark status. R2 plans on keeping the famous “Morton Salt Umbrella Girl” sign, which is visible from the expressway.
R2 purchased the site at 1357 N. Elston in 2017, roughly two years after Morton closed down their factory after 86 years of use. The public sentiment seems to be overwhelmingly popular, with the project bringing hundreds of jobs and public green space to an area that has been out of use for several years.
The Morton Salt warehouse is located in a prime location along the north branch of the river in Lincoln Park. This 760 acre corridor of Lincoln Park and the Near North Side has been known for housing industrial sites, until the city changed its zoning to allow for (and encourage) other mixed use development in this “North Branch” corridor.
Among other office and public recreation developments underway in the area, Sterling Bay announced it’s plans for Lincoln Yards, a mega development bounded by the Kennedy Expressway to the west, Webster Ave to the north, Clybourn Ave to the east, and North Ave to the south. Plans for the massive Lincoln Yards development include public riverfront space, residential, office, retail, and hospitality space, bike paths, art installations, and other recreation space. This stretch of Lincoln Park has only grown in popularity with developers.
The video above is an overview of the neighboring Lincoln Yards mega development. See the gallery below for renderings of R2’s proposed Morton Salt redevelopment.
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