Re-opening of station closed in 1948 will boost local development and neighborhood connectivity
Mayor Brandon Johnson today joined 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) President Dorval R. Carter, Jr., Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Commissioner Tom Carney and Near West Side stakeholders to announce the re-opening of the new CTA Damen Green Line station at Lake Street and Damen Avenue. The state-of-the-art station addresses a longstanding need for improved transit options on the Near West Side that benefits residents, supports local growth and job creation in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor, and accommodates large crowds attending events at the nearby United Center.
“This new station is a transformational achievement for our City,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “The long-awaited Damen Green Line on the Near West Side of Chicago will have a multiplying effect on the neighborhood, attracting future investments for a vibrant hub of multi-use developments.”
The new Damen Green Line station fills a 1.5-mile service gap between Ashland and California stops, restoring rail service to the neighborhood for the first time since the original station was closed at this location in 1948.
The station serves the Kinzie Industrial Corridor, the United Center, Malcolm X College, and the surrounding residential area on the growing Near West Side. This includes the Chicago Housing Authority’s Westhaven Park IID, a $50 million, equitable transit-oriented development (eTOD) project adding 96 mixed-income apartments in the community.
“Damen Green Line is more than a rail station, it is a stunning, modern and accessible gateway to Chicago’s West Side that will provide improved connections to transit and opportunities for all those who live and work in the surrounding communities,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “This project is a reflection of the CTA’s and City’s shared commitment to ensuring everyone has equitable access to opportunities.”
“This is a great day for the Near West Side, as we celebrate a milestone that will have a lasting positive impact on our vibrant community,” said Alderman Burnett, who has long championed the need for a new station at Damen and Lake. “I look forward to seeing the positive impact the new Damen Green Line station will have on our residents and businesses.”
The station provides easy access to CTA buses, space for pedestrians to walk, and bikesharing options. CDOT announced the installation of the City's 1,000th Divvy station at the Damen Green Line, helping the station serve as a multi-modal facility to provide various sustainable and equitable transportation options for the neighborhood.
“CDOT is proud to have helped deliver this vital project. The new Damen Green Line station embodies our commitment to creating a transportation network that is equitable, sustainable, and resilient, ensuring all Chicagoans have access to the opportunities our city has to offer,” said CDOT Commissioner Tom Carney. “This station will serve as a hub for mobility in the community and a catalyst for future development.”
"Affordable housing and access to transportation go hand in hand. Our team prioritized this with Westhaven IID, as we do with all of our projects,” said Chicago Department of Housing Commissioner Lissette Castaneda. “Residents can now access a major CTA station in just a short walk and we are proud that this is what equitable transit-oriented development looks like."
“Over the last 20 years, CHA’s investments, combined with strong partnerships with public sector agencies like the City of Chicago and HUD, have resulted in more than 600 new homes in this community, including 275 apartments for families who need housing assistance,” said Tracey Scott, CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority. “The opening of the new Damen Avenue Green Line Station is another piece of the puzzle in the transformation of Chicago’s West Side – a game-changing piece that will have a profound effect on CHA residents while also helping anchor the redevelopment of an entire community. Congratulations to all involved.”
The $80 million TIF-funded project was administered by CDOT in close collaboration with the CTA. The construction contractor was F.H. Paschen. The station was designed by Perkins&Will, a Chicago-based global architecture and design firm known for innovative transit station projects from British Columbia to Chongqing City, China.
Station materials and design elements were chosen and arranged to create an intuitive user experience and to allow for a long-lasting transit facility with low-maintenance requirements. A grand stair and escalator, visible through the transparent glass façade, guide passengers to the platform level. A glass bridge connects the inbound and outbound train platforms, offering spectacular views of the Chicago skyline and orienting visitors to neighborhood destinations and attractions. The bridge's visible structure references Chicago's iconic steel bridges.
The new station also features a large mural by the noted artist, Folayemi Wilson, that highlights the rich history of various ethnic groups on the Near West Side. The mural depicts a scene on the prairie with images of young people taken from local photographic archives peering towards the horizon and imagining their future. Wilson was commissioned for the work by the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). The CTA includes artwork in its new stations to not only further enhance the space, but also create a connection with the surrounding community and inspire those who travel through the facility.
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