Lakeshore East

Due to the neighborhood's proximity to both Lake Michigan to the east and the Chicago River to the north, many of the buildings are named with aquatic or nautical themes.

[5] After World War II, the railroads sold airspace rights north of Randolph Street.

[10] The following buildings pre-existed the 21st century master plan for the neighborhood: Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower, Three Illinois Center, Swissôtel Chicago, Buckingham Plaza, The Parkshore, North Harbor Tower, 400 East Randolph Street Condominiums and Harbor Point.

The pedway system provides connections between public and private buildings, Chicago Transit Authority stations and Metra commuter rail facilities.

[15] The 4, 6 and 60 CTA bus routes run along the borders of the Lakeshore East area, and the 60 makes a turnaround within it on Harbor Drive.

[16] This $4 billion lifestyle center spans 28 acres (0.044 sq mi; 0.113 km2), and will include 4,950 residences, 2,200,000 square feet (200,000 m2) of gross commercial space, 1,500 hotel rooms, 770,000 square feet (72,000 m2) of retail space and a planned elementary school surrounding a magnificent 6-acre (24,000 m2) botanical park.

[1] The plan, which had Adrian Smith as the design partner, calls for fourteen high-rise condominiums and two commercial officespace superstructures.

[23] Aqua (2009) is the first skyscraper in Chicago to combine condominium residences, luxury rentals, deluxe hotel and retail spaces in the same structure and it is believed to be the tallest building in the United States designed by a female-run architectural firm.

The other buildings completed in the first phase of development were The Regatta (2007), The Chandler (2008) and The Tides (2008) as well as the Benton Place Parkhomes townhouses (2009).

[28] In 2017 revised plans were unveiled for remaining construction in the masterplan,[29] but 42nd ward Alderman Brendan Reilly rejected them because of concerns about landscaping, security, minor traffic issues and building setbacks.

In addition to the luxury skyscrapers, the development will include 24 ultra-luxury town homes in the $2 million price range.

[35][36] The master plan won the 2002 American Institute of Architects National Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design.