CHICAGO YIMBY
May 18, 2025
Daniel Schell



Nearly two and a half years after its caisson permit was issued, 1221 West Washington in the West Loop has come roaring back to life with a full building permit issued on May 16th. Recipients of the permission granted are the development team of Focus Construction, DAC Developments, and Melrose Ascension Capital.

The permit application was filed on October 20, 2022, and it was issued with a reported cost of just one dollar, though that figure could very well be erroneous. The estimated project cost is $100 million, according to DAC’s website.

1221 West Washington will be a 19-story, 287-unit apartment tower. A four-story podium will include about 3,000 square feet of retail space at street level and 183 parking spaces. The foundation permit was issued December 21, 2022 with Focus Construction as the general contractor and McHugh Concrete serving as the concrete contractor. That team stays on the field for the full build.

1221 West Washington is one block from CTA bus service via the Route 20 Madison line. For north-south travel, Route 9 and X9 buses stop four blocks west on Ashland Avenue, and the Route 8 bus stops along Halsted Street four blocks east. Elevated trains at the Morgan and Ashland Green/Pink Lines, as well as the Racine Blue Line, are all available within a half-mile walk to the north or south.