Allen Richards' Blog: Another Hotel Planned for What’s Left of Chicago’s Meatpacking District

If you set foot in the Fulton Market area, you’re in Jeff Shapack’s domain. Jeff is the founder of Shapack Partners, and possibly the neighborhood’s biggest advocate, both in the scene and behind the scene. For a “behind the scene” example, it’s rumored that Jeff personally is financing the powering of the recently completed Fulton Market gateway sign until the city can work through some financial issues. His most recent “in the scene” achievements include the Soho House, WeWork, and The Parker Fulton Market, a 29 story residential tower that’s midway through construction at 171 North Halsted Street.

Jeff and his team hosted a community meeting last night at their WeWork building to present their next project. At the corner of North Green and West Lake Streets Shapack proposes to construct an 11-story building that will primarily be a hotel, but also include ground level retail and two floors of office space.

If built, the hotel will include anywhere between 167 and 171 guest rooms, a fitness center, and a rooftop pool overlooking the downtown area. The development’s retail space would sit on Green Street, where the entrance to the hotel is also planned.

While currently no hotel operator has been chosen, Jeff commented that the community should expect a brand similar to Soho House and Ace Hotel, which recently began construction blocks away from Shapack’s proposed site.

Attendees of the meeting graciously applauded the proposal. If approved and timely issued building permits, Shapack expects to begin construction next fall.