Large industrial development is hard to find within the Chicago city limits, due to the availability of land to accommodate such scale and access to the expressways. But Clarius Partners is breaking the mold, proposing building the largest industrial development in Chicago in two years.

Clarius wants to build 320k SF in industrial buildings on the northeast corner of Roosevelt Road and Kildare Avenue (shown) in North Lawndale. The industrial buildings would be complemented by an additional 61k SF of retail, according to Crain's.

If the city approves the plan, this would be the largest industrial project in Chicago since Panattoni Development built a 317k SF spec warehouse in Little Village two years ago. Prudential Real Estate now owns that warehouse, which remains vacant.

If Clarius can find tenants for the buildings, it could spur much-needed economic development on the Far West Side. The site does have advantages; it would have easy access to the Eisenhower expressway, feeding directly into the Loop and western suburbs. [Crain's]