The rooftop park, originally envisioned as a soccer pitch, walking trails and open green space on the roof of the west garage at Damen Avenue and Madison Street, was part of the 1901 Project’s effort to redevelop 55 acres of the Near West Side surrounding the United Center at 1901 W. Madison St.
City records show that on August 21 a revision to the project’s building permit formally removed the rooftop park, following the Chicago Plan Commission’s late‑May vote to delete both the park and a pedestrian bridge that had been slated for the same garage.
Earlier renderings, approved by the City Council in February 2025, depicted an aerial view of the elevated park with people playing soccer and strolling along trails, and the west garage was prominently featured in promotional material as a mixed‑use structure with parking below and recreation above.
New renderings released after the commission’s decision show the garage topped solely by parking spaces, while the 6,000‑seat music hall originally planned south of the garage at Damen Avenue and Adams Street has been shifted about 50 feet east, freeing up space for a new park at ground level.
A spokesperson for the 1901 Project said the change reflects community feedback, stating, “We are delivering the park space with a ground‑level approach, which will create a more accessible, connected and welcoming public space designed to better serve our neighbors and the broader community.”
The revised plan envisions an outdoor park at the corner of Damen and Adams, with renderings showing picnickers, soccer and basketball players, and a more pedestrian‑friendly environment than the previously proposed elevated venue.
Some Near West Side residents remain uneasy about the shift. Frank Dixon, pastor of West Side Community Church at 1937 W. Adams St., said he felt “blindsided” by the changes and has not received a response from project officials despite concerns that the massive development could affect his 140‑year‑old church’s surroundings.
Project officials told Block Club Chicago that work on the new ground‑level park is still moving forward and that they will continue to coordinate with the city and the community to bring the space to life.