Construction Begins On Logan Square’s Megamall Plaza

LOGAN SQUARE — Work has started on Logan Square’s newest public plaza — more than a month after the city fenced off the property in June and forced a small number of residents of a homeless encampment to move.

The plaza at 2550 N. Milwaukee Ave. — which has been in the works since at least 2024 — will occupy a portion of the former Megamall site at Milwaukee Avenue and Logan Boulevard, near Andros Taverna and La Boulangerie. It will have outdoor seating, lighting, trees and other landscaping, along with a performance space and a children’s play area.

The hope is the redesigned space, tentatively called the Logan Square Megamall Plaza, will complement nearby public amenities, including the updated traffic circle.

“The vision for the plaza is to create a welcoming public space that supports local economic development and provides opportunities for community gathering and events,” Ald. Anthony Quezada (35th) wrote in his newsletter last week announcing the start of construction.

Vendors and nearby business owners have said more public spaces will help increase foot traffic and visibility. Some has already reported a boost from the opening of La Placita and the square redesign.

The city fenced off the area in June for pre-construction work, removing a small homeless encampment that had been there for a little over a year. Some of the residents moved to other parts of the neighborhood, including a few who moved to the public plaza area across the street near the Comfort Station.

Since then, the Chicago Department of Transportation has been completing “utility coordination and other final pre-construction logistics,” department spokesperson Erica Schroeder said.

A bulldozer now sits on the fenced-off property, and work is underway. La Boulangerie’s patio, which was on city land, has been removed to complete the plaza work.

The project could be finished by early next year, though updated timelines will be shared in the future, Schroeder previously said.

Officials from various city departments and offices, including the alderman and his staff, had visited with the homeless encampment residents routinely since last year about how the spot would be redeveloped. Aldermanic staff continue to visit with those now living near the Comfort Station, Quezada said in a statement to Block Club.

“Our office has been working closely with the Department of Family and Support Services and outreach teams to connect individuals at the site with shelter opportunities, case management, healthcare services and other available resources,” Quezada said in the statement.

The Department of Streets and Sanitation has done more frequent cleanups of trash and abandoned items at the encampment area, Quezada said. Signs posted to the area indicate the cleanups are now happening weekly.

Staff with the Department of Family and Support Services were seen visiting the Comfort Station tents Monday. That encampment has shrunk in recent weeks, though a handful of people still appear to be living there.