click to watch the film about the transformation.
West Fulton Market Property Films
click to watch films about the properties.
The Mason was the first catalytic development in the creation of West Fulton Market neighborhood. While other developers were building in the far east corridor along the expressway, Mr. Sloniger jumped all the way west to create something that had a more “neighborhoody” vibe. Mason was the first building in Fulton Market that created an authentic “meat packing district” kind of feel and many mistake Mason as the rehab of an old building instead of the new ground up development that it is. It was here that Mr. Sloniger set the trend for the creation of co working spacing as an amenity before COVID made it popular.
Parq Fulton sits on the prime corner of Randolph and Ogden making it the stunning gateway to Fulton Market from the West. From it’s amazing rooftop pool looking out at the Chicago skyline to the more than 10k sf of restaurants on the ground floor, Parq set the bar for higher end luxury buildings in Fulton Market.
Evo anchors Union Park to the North. When creating multiple buildings in the same market at the same time it’s important to make sure that each one is unique and distinct from the other so you don’t cannibalize the rest of your product. Evo offers a unique alternative with it’s “Boho” style and furniture and art imported from Nicaragua.
The Thompson caps off the West Fulton Market neighborhood to the west with the adaptive reuse of the old Mary Thompson hospital (the nations first woman run hospital) dated 1926. With the rehab of the existing structure along with a portion that is a ground up tower that connects in to the original building, The Thompson offers something entirely different.
These brand new apartments are balanced perfectly between pioneering revitalization and historic authenticity.
1436 West Randolph came as part of the land that Mr. Sloniger assembled in 2019. As the office market was deteriorating, he decided to pivot with the creation of a 49 unit boutique hotel in the top four floors and the creation of Chicago’s most popular nightclub called Kashmir (created by Dani Alonso, founder of the Bonhomme Group)
Darren Sloniger — Visionary Developer Behind Chicago’s New Western Gateway
Darren Sloniger has long been a forward-thinking force in Chicago real estate. He was among the first developers to invest in the West Loop, delivering the highly successful Catalyst Chicago in 2013—well before the neighborhood’s transformation into a major cultural and corporate hub. At the time, the intersection of Washington and Desplaines felt like the edge of the city; it was years before Google and McDonald’s announced their headquarters nearby.
As land values in Fulton Market quickly soared, Darren looked West. In 2016, while celebrating an anniversary dinner at Smyth, he noticed a lot across the street and envisioned its untapped potential. Most developers were focused on Halsted and areas closer to the highway, where zoning allowed for maximum height and density. Instead, Darren embraced a contrarian strategy: to push west and create a more livable, neighborhood-focused alternative to dense urban towers.
That vision led to The Mason, a residential development at Lake and Ada that helped pioneer a new residential corridor. Thoughtful design elements—including tree-lined parkways with landscape lighting instead of harsh security fixtures—established a welcoming streetscape and sense of community.
Noticing resident behaviors and local amenities, Darren saw further opportunity in the area around Union Park and the underutilized Ashland CTA station. This inspired a broader neighborhood-building initiative, beginning with the acquisition of the BellyQ site at 1400 W. Randolph. The development plan includes a new residential tower to the South, a major dog park to the North, and a vibrant ground-floor restaurant presence.
In a strategic partnership with Bonhomme Group—one of Chicago’s premier hospitality groups, Darren secured a 10,500 square foot restaurant lease at Randolph and Ogden to house Bombola and Croquette, bringing dynamic culinary energy to the base of the development.
Across the street at 1436 W. Randolph, he delivered a 49-room boutique hotel with a bar and entertainment venue, also operated by Bonhomme, named Kashmir. Adjacent to that, the Evo project at 1454 W. Randolph offers a 243-unit luxury apartment community with a bohemian design sensibility, extending to the Ashland station.
Most recently, the groundbreaking at 140 N. Ashland marks the final piece in this transformational puzzle. Located directly across from Union Park, the development enhances the block with lush landscaping, romantic lighting, and an animated light installation at 1400 and Ogden—designed by Disney Imagineers—to create an immersive and inviting urban atmosphere.
Together, these projects form a cohesive vision: a vibrant, walkable, and culturally rich neighborhood centered around Union Park—anchored in food, music, art, and community. Today, this district stands as the western gateway to Fulton Market and one of Chicago’s most exciting emerging destinations.