CRG started construction on The Cubes at Roosevelt & Kostner, a two-building, 364,102-square-foot industrial campus on a 20.8-acre site at the southwest corner of Roosevelt Road and Kostner Avenue in Chicago’s North Lawndale community.
The project, co-developed in a joint venture with Related Midwest and 548 Development, will transform a long-vacant site into modern logistics facilities and community amenities, with the first buildings scheduled for delivery in third-quarter 2026.
The development builds on the city’s broader efforts to revitalize Chicago’s West Side. Initially approved through former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s INVEST South/West program, the project is now advancing with continued support under Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Build Better Together economic development initiative. City support for the project has included $8 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) assistance and the sale of the city-owned land. The long-vacant Roosevelt & Kostner site will be transformed into a vibrant hub of economic activity, generating an estimated 125 construction jobs and 250 permanent positions for North Lawndale residents.
The project first celebrated a ceremonial groundbreaking in early 2023, marking a major step forward and recognizing the vision and groundwork established by Related Midwest and 548 Development. As the scope of the project evolved, CRG joined the venture as the lead development partner, bringing additional capital, resources and industrial expertise to move the complex project forward. This collaboration reflects a strong, shared commitment to delivering long-term value for the community and all stakeholders.
The Cubes at Roosevelt & Kostner will comprise two 182,051-square-foot Class A industrial buildings, each featuring 36-foot clear heights. Together, the facilities will offer 54 dock-high loading doors, four drive-in doors, 323 car parking spaces, and 84 trailer parking stalls to accommodate modern logistics and distribution users. Designed by Lamar Johnson Collaborative and Ware Malcomb, the state-of-the-art precast buildings will feature ESFR sprinkler systems and efficient site circulation, with proximity to Interstate 290 and other major highways. General contractor DSI, in partnership with GMA Construction Group — a MBE construction firm — is leading the project’s construction, exemplifying the team’s commitment to inclusive contracting.
In addition to the industrial facilities, the development will include significant community-focused amenities. CRG, Related Midwest and 548 Development are donating two 5,000-square-foot community spaces, also designed by Lamar Johnson Collaborative and known as “Innovation Centers,” at the south end of the site. One building will be operated by Black Men United, a nonprofit organization that mobilizes Black men to revitalize and empower Black communities.
The other will house the New Covenant Community Development Corporation (NCCDC), a North Lawndale-based nonprofit focused on fostering local entrepreneurs and sustainable economic growth in the neighborhood. These centers will provide much-needed venues for community meetings, job training and entrepreneurship programs, creating pathways for workforce development and networking in North Lawndale.
The project also delivers new public green space and sustainability features for the community. A 3-acre public park will adjoin the Innovation Center buildings, offering space for outdoor markets, food trucks, pop-up shops and recreational activities. Designed by minority-owned firm Site Design Group, the landscape will reintroduce native plant species, add more than 300 shade trees and introduce a circuitous fitness path, creating a vibrant gathering place for residents and workers alike.
As part of the development’s sustainable design, rooftop solar panels will be installed on the industrial buildings. The planned 3-megawatt solar array, supported by a West Side job training program, is expected to generate enough clean electricity to provide virtual net metering credits to 500 low-income households on Chicago’s West Side, enabling these families to access clean energy at a 50% discount. This on-site renewable energy generation will help reduce the facilities’ operating costs and environmental footprints while directly benefiting the surrounding community.
