Chicago’s $7B United Center Overhaul | The 1901 Project Update

September 27, 2026 drone flight The 1901 Project is a massive, multi-decade plan to transform the 55 acres of asphalt parking lots surrounding the United Center into a permanent, year-round neighborhood. This is a $7 billion private investment by the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families. Their goal is to turn the "parking lot moat" into a "people-first" urban hub that bridges the gap between the West Loop and the Near West Side. The Master Plan: A "City Within a City" The project is built around the idea of "Placemaking." Instead of just being a place where people drive in for a game and leave, it will feature: • Residential Growth: Approximately 6,000 to 10,000 new housing units. This includes a mix of market-rate and affordable housing to ensure it remains a diverse neighborhood. • A New Entertainment Anchor: A 6,000-seat music hall (slated for Phase 1). This is designed to host mid-sized concerts and events that are too small for the arena but too big for local clubs. • Green Space & "Paseos": Roughly 25 acres of public space. This includes a massive "elevated" park built over parking structures and pedestrian-only walkways designed by the team behind New York’s High Line. • Hospitality & Retail: A boutique hotel and street-level retail corridors featuring local Chicago shops and restaurants. • Infrastructure Improvements: Plans for a new CTA Pink Line stop at Monroe to make the area accessible without a car. The Phased Approach Because the project is so large ($7 billion), it will be built in seven phases over the next 10 to 15 years. • Phase 1 (The Current Phase): Focuses on the west side of the building (where you saw the construction starting). This includes the music hall, the hotel, and the first major park. • Phase 2 & 3: Will move to the north and east lots, introducing the first wave of high-rise residential buildings. • Phase 4-7: Will fill in the remaining lots, eventually connecting the entire campus to the surrounding street grid. Why it Matters for Chicago 1. Economic Engine: It is the largest private investment ever on Chicago's West Side, expected to create tens of thousands of jobs. 2. Urban Stitching: For decades, the United Center has been isolated by a sea of parking. This project "stitches" the neighborhood back together, making it a walkable part of the city. 3. The "Live-Work-Play" Model: It follows the trend of "stadium-anchored" developments (like the Battery in Atlanta or Deer District in Milwaukee), but on a much larger scale. © 2026 Devodare_Chicago. All rights reserved. For licensing inquiries or high-resolution archive access, contact devodare@mac.com. If you enjoy my updates and want to support channel, I’d greatly appreciate your contribution. Thanks https://venmo.com/u/devodare_chicago https://www.paypal.me/devodarechicago