RE Journals – The Midwest’s leading source for commercial real estate news
The latest headlines from
Illinois Real Estate Journal
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NAI Hiffman report: Chicago’s industrial pipeline still a bit clogged
A total of 3.9 million square feet of industrial space was delivered in the Chicago market during the fourth quarter of 2025. That might not seem like a huge number compared to pre-pandemic norms, but it is a significant increase over the 575,466 square feet delivered in the third quarter of last year.



Keeping Up: The evolving body of real estate law
Real estate often appears to be a settled discipline—you sign a contract, conduct due diligence, close at a title company and magically the property becomes yours. While that may be an oversimplification, the past few years have brought an unprecedented wave of new laws affecting the commercial real estate industry. These developments demand a level of legal sophistication far beyond filling in blanks on a form lease or asking AI to generate a contract, and failing to account for them can lead to costly and unexpected consequences. 



Crystal Lake is the clear leader for real estate business development
The City of Crystal Lake continues to grow, leading to strong retail, office and industrial real estate markets with outstanding, ongoing opportunities for growth.


Friedman Properties closes 80,000-square-foot lease renewal and expansion at Chicago’s Court House Place
Friedman Properties completed an 80,000-square-foot lease renewal and expansion with Bartlit Beck LLP at Court House Place at 54 W. Hubbard St. in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. The transaction increased the law firm’s footprint by more than 20%.

CRG closes sale of The Cubes at ORD in Franklin Park
CRG sold The Cubes at ORD, a newly constructed 66,552-square-foot Class-A industrial facility at 10698 Seymour Ave. in Franklin Park, Illinois, immediately southeast of Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

JLL Capital Markets closes $28.35 million sale of 229,971-square-foot retail center in Bloomington
JLL Capital Markets announced today that it has secured the $28.35 million sale of Empire Crossing, a 229,971-square-foot retail power center in Bloomington, Illinois.

Lee & Associates brokers 24,654-square-foot lease renewal for medical facility in Des Plaines
Lee & Associates represented ownership in a 24,654-square-foot lease renewal to the American Hip Institute and Orthopedic Specialists at 999 E. Touhy Ave. in Des Plaines, Illinois. 

Essex Realty Group closes sale of 18-unit multifamily property in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood
Essex Realty Group, LLC brokered the sale of 4534.5–4538 N. Wolcott Ave., an 18-unit multifamily property in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood. The well-maintained vintage asset sold for $4,537,000 in an off-market transaction.

SVN Chicago Commercial brokers $2.4 million sale of former Precious Blood Church & School
SVN Chicago Commercial closed the $2.4 million sale of the former Precious Blood Church & School, a 50,500-square-foot, two-building asset at 2401 W. Congress Parkway in Chicago’s Tri-Taylor neighborhood.

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