Structured Development has executed a lease with San Francisco-based Planet Granite for a 40,000-square-foot climbing gym at The Shops at Big Deahl, the developer’s planned mixed-use center in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The freestanding facility, which will be located at the corner of Blackhawk and Dayton Streets, is scheduled to open in spring 2020.
“Our Lincoln Park facility is more than a climbing gym—it will be an incredible experience for all who love adventure and fitness,” said Micky Lloyd, head of expansion for Planet Granite and Earth Treks. “It features a community-centric design allowing for an optimal climbing and fitness experience in a relaxed and social setting.”
With climbing walls as high as 55 feet, the three-level gym will be among the largest climbing facilities in the U.S. Slated to break ground in spring 2019, it will feature roped climbing, bouldering, yoga and fitness as well as a retail shop.
“Since 2015, when we delivered our adjacent NEWCITY mixed-use project, we have watched the Halsted Triangle develop into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly shopping, dining and entertainment district,” said J. Michael Drew, founder of Chicago-based Structured Development. “Now, we’re excited to expand the recreational offerings in this fast-changing corner of Lincoln Park with a first-of-its-kind experience that will complement recently announced improvements to the adjacent riverfront.”
A 57,000-square-foot Dick’s Sporting Goods, which anchors Structured’s NEWCITY development, is located one block east of the Big Deahl site. In addition, REI recently leased a 40,000-square-foot building a half-block south at 1422 N. Kingsbury Street, bordering a stretch of the North Branch Canal that has been dubbed the “Wild Mile.” Under a plan approved by the City Council in March, the waterway between Division Street and North Avenue will be improved with a public boardwalk, natural landscaping, canoe launches, fishing stations and other amenities.
“All of these uses help establish the Halsted Triangle as a hub of recreation, furthering the city’s vision of activating not only the river itself, but also the neighborhoods that surround it,” said Drew. “Whether people live here or simply spend an afternoon here, they will have access to a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities supported by experiential retail that, in turn, benefits from the area’s evolving image.”
The Shops at Big Deahl is one of several proposed projects in and around the recently rezoned North Branch Industrial Corridor, whose new land use guidelines, adopted last year, allow for a mix of residential and commercial uses. As planned, the mixed-use development would include 150,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, including the new Planet Granite gym and a half-acre park.
Located 1 mile east of the Kennedy Expressway and two blocks south of the North/Clybourn Red Line station, The Shops at Big Deahl offers both accessibility and visibility to commercial users. Structured has completed site demolition and is in advanced negotiations with anchor tenants as the firm works through the entitlement and permitting process.
