Urban green

Loyola University’s new neighbor has a green thumb. The $54.5-million The Morgan at Loyola Station will not only feature 152 residential apartments and 33,000 sq. ft. of retail, but, should it achieve the LEED-NC (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—New Construction) certification it seeks, it will be the first certified mixed-use residential building in the Rogers Park area of the city.

The Morgan at Loyola Station, developed by Chicago-based McCaffery Interests, is Phase 1 of a $400-million, 5.4-acre master-planned mixed-use redevelopment on land owned by Loyola University Chicago. The site comprises two parcels adjacent to the university just a few blocks from Lake Michigan.

The project is constructed using sustainable practices and features, such as bike rooms, landscaped rooftops and garden terraces.

“We worked closely with Loyola University and the local community to bring together the most progressive ideas in land use and urban planning,” Daniel McCaffery, founder and president of McCaffery Interests, noted. “We felt that the development had great potential to achieve LEED-NC certification given the site’s proximity to excellent public transportation options, lakefront bike paths, shops and services. Our decision to build the first green mixed-use residential building was rooted in our desire to recognize and reinforce the area’s natural and ‘forward-looking’ identity while offering enhanced well-being and comfort to the residents.”

The building combines traditional and contemporary elements, including a redbrick and white exterior with expansive windows and is designed to blend seamlessly into the surrounding neighborhood. The retail component will have a mix of national and local stores and restaurants; CVS and GameStop have been publicly announced, and a variety of additional tenants are in active lease negotiations.