Chicago, one of the largest cities in the state and country, is experiencing billions of dollars in infrastructural investment. Mixed-use development projects like the 1901 Project, the 500 N. Michigan Avenue conversion, and 410 N. Elizabeth are dominating this list. 

Mayor Brandon Johnson, on the occasion of the groundbreaking of 500 N. Michigan Ave., stated, “Chicago's downtown continues to evolve, and projects like this demonstrate how we can create more housing by reimagining existing buildings. By converting underutilized office space into hundreds of new homes, including affordable units, we're creating new opportunities for people to live downtown while supporting a vibrant mixed-use district that benefits residents, workers, businesses, and visitors alike.”

This $162 million office-to-residential project will create 320 new homes, including 256 market-rate residences and 64 affordable ones. Retail and commercial spaces occupy the lower floors, with 68 below-grade parking spaces. The project has used the City’s recently updated minimum floor area guidelines, which have helped with the recent office-to-residential conversion in some of the highest-density zoning districts. 

Another project in the offing includes the $7 billion 1901 Project redevelopment surrounding the United Center. The project is privately funded and named after the center's current address on Madison Street. 

Introduced in 2024, the project will include a 6,000-capacity theatre, approximately 10 acres of public recreational and community space, and 5,000 mixed-income housing units. This development project, across its six phases, will create approximately 63,000 construction jobs and 12,000 permanent positions. 

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said at the groundbreaking, "This project is about more than just development. It's about investing in people and neighborhoods." 

The $500 million project’s first phase was made possible with the Cook County Class property tax incentive, saving an estimated $54.7 million over 12 years. The project is set to be completed by 2040.

The next big project in Chicago is the $102 million multifamily project in Fulton Market. It is a joint venture between Rodrigo d’Escoto of Reflection Window + Wall and Ted Weldon of Weldon Development Group. The project has been in limbo for a while now, and, as per industry experts, the current loan amount will only cover the first of the two residential towers. 

The Chicago City Council has approved a public infrastructure project for approximately $425 million in TIF. The 78 megadevelopment in the South Loop is a 62-acre site located just south of W. Roosevelt Road. Future phases of the project will include 10,000 planned residential units, as well as retail and office space, within the $8 million project. 

One of the important projects happening in Chicago is the $1.3 billion O’Hare Concourse D project. The project has entered the vertical phase, and the 580,000-square-foot concourse will add 19 gates and new passenger amenities. Concourse D is part of the multi-year $8.2 billion modernization program, named ORDNext. The project broke ground in 2025 and is scheduled to be completed in 2028.