Industrial development at 2519 W. Fulton scores full building permits – Urbanize Chicago

Project Overview and Contribution to Sustainable Development

Building permits have been issued for a new industrial development at 2519 W. Fulton, located on a 2.25-acre site within Chicago’s Kinzie Planned Manufacturing District. The project, led by Range Group and HSA Commercial Real Estate, is designed to align with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by fostering economic growth, upgrading industrial infrastructure, and promoting sustainable urban community development.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Job Creation and Economic Stimulation

The development directly contributes to SDG 8 by promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and productive employment.

• Generates immediate employment opportunities in the construction sector through general contractor ARCO/Murray and demolition contractor Atlas Industries.
• Creates long-term potential for decent work by providing modern facilities designed to house single or multiple industrial tenants.

Supporting Local Industrial Sectors

By developing within a Planned Manufacturing District, the project reinforces the city’s strategy to protect industrial land, ensuring the continued presence of job-creating enterprises and supporting a diversified local economy.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Modernization of Industrial Infrastructure

This project advances SDG 9 by building resilient infrastructure and fostering industrialization through the creation of a modern logistics facility.

1. The 35,000-square-foot warehouse space is a significant upgrade to the area’s industrial capacity.
2. Features include 28-foot clear heights, individual drive-in doors, and drive-in docks capable of accommodating 40-foot trucks, meeting modern logistical demands.
3. The inclusion of secured automobile parking enhances the facility’s functionality and safety.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Promoting Sustainable Urban Development

The project supports SDG 11 by making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• As an infill development, it revitalizes an existing urban site, promoting efficient land use and preventing urban sprawl.
• Its location provides critical access to major transportation networks, enhancing logistical efficiency and reducing transit times.

Enhancing Access to Sustainable Transportation

The site’s strategic location supports sustainable transport systems for both goods and people.

• It is situated less than one mile from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway and approximately three miles from the Jane Byrne Interchange, a convergence point for major expressways.
• The facility is within walking distance of CTA and Metra rail lines, offering sustainable commuting options for the future workforce.

Project Timeline and Implementation

Following the issuance of demolition permits in August and subsequent site clearance by Atlas Industries, the new construction permits enable ARCO/Murray to commence building. Project completion is targeted for 2026.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The article discusses a new industrial development, which is a direct driver of economic activity, investment, and job creation.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The core topic is the construction of new industrial infrastructure (warehouses) designed to support commercial and industrial activities.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The project is an example of urban development and land use management, as it is situated within a specifically designated “Planned Manufacturing District” in a major city.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation. The construction of a new, modern 35,000-square-foot warehouse facility with features like 28-foot clear heights and docks for 40-foot trucks represents an upgrade to the local industrial infrastructure, enabling higher productivity for the businesses that will operate there.
   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. The issuance of “two full building permits” for an industrial development within a “Kinzie Planned Manufacturing District” demonstrates a municipal policy that supports productive activities and the creation of commercial spaces that foster entrepreneurship and jobs.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development. The article details the development of new industrial infrastructure—a warehouse—strategically located less than a mile from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway and near major transit interchanges. This infrastructure is explicitly designed to support economic activity by accommodating commercial tenants.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for… integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management. The project’s location within the “Kinzie Planned Manufacturing District” is a direct reference to a specific urban planning and land management strategy. This indicates an organized approach to zoning and developing industrial areas within the city.
   • Target 11.a: Support positive economic… links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening… development planning. The article highlights the warehouse’s proximity to major transportation networks, including the “Eisenhower, Kennedy and Dan Ryan expressways” and “CTA and Metra rail lines.” This strategic placement strengthens economic links by facilitating the movement of goods and access for workers, which is a key aspect of effective regional development planning.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Implied Indicator: Investment in new commercial/industrial projects. The article provides specific data points for this, including the development of a “35,000-square-foot” facility on a “2.25-acre site” and the issuance of “new construction permits.”
   • Implied Indicator: Creation of jobs in construction and industry. The article mentions the involvement of a “design-build general contractor” (ARCO/Murray) and a “demolition contractor” (Atlas Industries), implying direct job creation in the construction phase. The facility is also built to “accommodate multiple tenants or a single user,” implying future job creation once it is operational.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Indicator: Development of new physical infrastructure. The entire article serves as an announcement of this indicator, detailing the construction of a new warehouse with modern specifications (“28-foot clear heights, individual drive-in doors, drive-in docks”).

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Indicator: Proportion of a city that is dedicated to specific land-use planning zones. The mention of the “Kinzie Planned Manufacturing District” is a direct indicator of a city’s formal planning and zoning efforts.
   • Indicator: Proximity of new developments to public transport and major transport corridors. The article explicitly states the warehouses are “less than a mile from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Expressway,” “approximately 3 miles from the Jane Byrne Interchange,” and “within walking distance from stops along CTA and Metra rail lines.” These are measurable indicators of transit-oriented development.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: chicago.urbanize.city