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Kicking Off Something Big: Foundry Park

  • Writer: Josh Dortzbach
    Josh Dortzbach
  • Jan 15
  • 2 min read

Forefront continues to stay deeply engaged in this transformative development on the former Lincoln Yards north site—now officially moving forward after a key milestone: the Chicago Plan Commission has approved the Foundry Park proposal and cleared the way for further city reviews. Read the full article here.


Foundry Park is a mixed-use neighborhood redevelopment envisioned for roughly 34 acres along the Chicago River, replacing decades of stalled plans with a fresh, community-focused vision. The new plan calls for up to approximately 3,700 residential units, hotel space, office and retail uses, and significant public open spaces and riverfront access—all designed on a human scale that better fits the surrounding Lincoln Park and Bucktown contexts compared with prior proposals for the site.


The Plan Commission’s endorsement is a pivotal step that moves the project closer to City Council approval and eventual construction. The developer, JDL Development (with partner Kayne Anderson Real Estate), has stated its intention to advance infrastructure and zoning amendments with an eye toward beginning the first phase of work in late 2026, pending final city approvals.


We’re especially energized by how the project continues to align with Forefront’s philosophy: collaboration, design integrity, and community engagement. Our early structural coordination with Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture and the broader project team remains critical as the development moves from planning into detailed engineering and implementation. This phase reinforces the importance of thoughtful structural strategies that support both design ambitions and real-world constructability.

As Foundry Park moves through its next milestones—City Council review, planning approvals, and eventual groundbreaking—we look forward to sharing updates on Forefront’s contributions and design evolution, from initial concepts to exciting achievements on site.


Stay tuned—this next chapter for Foundry Park and the city’s riverfront is just beginning.


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