If you’ve ever been on Chicago’s famous architecture boat tour (and let’s be honest — every Chicagoan has at least once), you’ve probably heard the name Kinzie Park as the boat glides past the riverfront. The guides might point it out as one of the city’s early residential developments along the river. But what they don’t tell you is the story behind those gates — and how this community helped reshape the very idea of downtown living in Chicago.
From Barges to Blueprints
Before a single home was imagined, this land looked nothing like it does today. Kinzie Park was once the City of Chicago’s Department of Transportation and Bridge Maintenance Yard — a working site filled with freight tunnels, docking barges, and heavy equipment. It was gritty, noisy, and purely industrial.
In the mid-1990s, the Chicago River itself wasn’t yet considered valuable real estate. Sure, people loved the skyline views, but the river was still seen as working water — not an amenity. The idea that it could one day be a front yard, a place for neighbors to gather or families to stroll, was far from the minds of Chicagoans.
A Different Vision
That started to change when Daniel Levin purchased the site. His initial plan leaned on what was popular at the time: build another series of high-rises. High-rise living defined much of downtown development in those years, and it would have been the expected path forward.
But I saw something different. What if this land could become more than just towers? What if it could become a neighborhood?
I partnered with Ron Shipka Jr. from Enterprise, and together we expanded the vision. Instead of choosing between high-rises or low-rises, why not blend them? We designed Kinzie Park as a gated community that combined three distinct housing types: a striking high-rise, a mid-rise, and two levels of townhomes — all connected by the riverwalk.
As head broker, my role went far beyond selling. I sat in design meetings week after week, sketching and refining layouts with the team. Every floor plan was crafted to fit real buyers’ needs — whether young professionals, growing families, or longtime Chicagoans looking for something new. The goal was to make Kinzie Park accessible at different price points, while still creating a unified, connected community.
Breaking New Ground for the Riverfront
The result was something Chicago hadn’t seen before. Kinzie Park offered:
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A true mix of living styles — high-rise, mid-rise, and townhomes
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Private outdoor spaces, patios, and balconies
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A gated, secure feel rarely found downtown
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Direct connection to the riverwalk, turning the water into a community amenity
What made Kinzie Park groundbreaking wasn’t just the variety of housing, but the philosophy behind it. By treating the river as a lifestyle feature instead of an afterthought, the development changed how people imagined living in the city.
Kinzie Park proved that Chicagoans would embrace riverfront living — and in doing so, it helped spark the transformation of the entire River North/Fulton River District. What had been an overlooked stretch of warehouses and industry quickly evolved into one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods.
Why Kinzie Park Matters Today
Today, walking through Kinzie Park feels worlds away from its industrial past. You see families enjoying green space, neighbors chatting along the riverwalk, and a community that feels both private and connected to the city.
But it’s important to remember what it represented in its time. Kinzie Park was more than just a residential project — it was a turning point. It showed that the Chicago River could anchor not only skyscrapers, but true neighborhoods.
For me, being part of that transformation — from reviewing floor plans to handing over the first keys — remains one of the defining chapters of my career. Kinzie Park wasn’t just about selling homes. It was about reimagining what was possible for the city.
And that’s the beauty of real estate when it’s done right: it doesn’t just change a block. It helps shape the future of a city.
Check out my video on Kinzie Park on my Instagram.
