Chicago New Apartment Developments Approved in October 2026: Andersonville, Austin, East Garfield Park and Lincoln Park

Chicago City Council spent October clearing new apartment buildings across the North, West and South sides. Most are five-story buildings on commercial streets, the kind of mid-size project that keeps Chicago's neighborhood construction crews busy. Here are four approved last month in Chicago, Illinois, what each one is, and when work is expected to start.

5638 N. Ashland: 27 units in Andersonville

A five-story building with 27 residential units, including five affordable units to meet the city's Affordable Requirements Ordinance, won City Council approval in late October, Urbanize Chicago reported. The site will be rezoned from RS-3 to B2-3. Residents get 13 parking spaces, five of them inside the building. With zoning done, the developer can move into permitting.

1745 N. Cicero: 36 apartments in Austin

On the West Side, council approved a five-story building with 36 apartments at 1745 N. Cicero, according to Urbanize Chicago. The mix is 12 one-bedrooms, 20 two-bedrooms and four three-bedroom units, with 34 parking spaces. This site is being rezoned from C2-1 to B2-3.

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3456 W. 5th Ave: Harvest Homes II and a food hall in East Garfield Park

The biggest of the group by dollars is Harvest Homes II. The City Council approved $11.5 million in TIF and the sale of city-owned land for the project, Urbanize Chicago reported. The four city parcels go for $1 each.

The three-story building, designed by UrbanWorks, will include 50 affordable units and a ground-floor food hall. It's set to cost $39.8 million, funded in part with $15.84 million in 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity. Construction is planned to start in November 2026 and finish in May 2028.

754 W. Belden: 30 accessible apartments in Lincoln Park

Earlier in the month, council approved a fully accessible building at 754 West Belden Avenue, at the corner of Halsted, Chicago YIMBY reported. It will have 30 one-bedroom units, all affordable for residents making 30 percent of area median income, in a 65-foot-tall building clad in cream brick and metal panels with no parking. The team plans to start construction next summer and deliver units in late 2028.

Chicago building permits right now

Approvals like these turn into permits over the next year. For now, Chicago issued 2,662 building permits in the 30 days through October 30, 2026, with $906.7 million in reported value, according to our Chicago building permits page.

Common questions about new apartments in Chicago

What new apartment buildings did Chicago approve in October 2026?

City Council approvals included 27 units at 5638 N. Ashland in Andersonville, 36 apartments at 1745 N. Cicero in Austin, 50 affordable units with a food hall at 3456 W. 5th Ave in East Garfield Park, and 30 accessible apartments at 754 W. Belden in Lincoln Park.

When does construction start on Harvest Homes II?

Construction is planned to start in November 2026 and be completed in May 2028.

What happens after Chicago City Council approves a rezoning?

The developer can move into the building permit process. Construction starts once permits are issued and financing is in place.

Sources

• City Council approves development at 5638 N. Ashland, Urbanize Chicago
• City Council approves development at 1745 N. Cicero, Urbanize Chicago
• City Council approves TIF and land sale for project at 3456 W. 5th Ave, Urbanize Chicago
• Accessible affordable residential development gains full approval, Chicago YIMBY
• Chicago building permits, Morningline Leads

More on Chicago construction, including our report on the Chicago Fire's stadium enclosure permit, and the Morningline Research blog. Want new Chicago projects in your trade every weekday? Get a free sample report.