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Brookfield Properties’ new Western Works logistics and manufacturing hub, which broke ground in April, harks back to Chicago’s gloried industrial past.

Located in the “Back of the Yards” district on the city’s south side, the 33-acre site literally is behind the one-time storied Chicago Stockyards, now a mixture of industrial and residential neighborhoods.

Brookfield, which, at $104 million, says the site is its largest active project in the Windy City. It has set a date for opening in the first quarter of next year.

The Western Works site itself has a long and important history not just in Chicago but nationwide. Once called the Central Manufacturing District, it’s believed to be the first purpose-built industrial park in the United States.

Brookfield plans to honor that legacy.

While the former buildings have been torn down, a new building wall bordering Southwestern Boulevard will have a definitive historical look.

Tentative artwork shows an engraving of a verse by the famed Chicago poet Carl Sandburg, a tribute to his city: “Hog Butcher to the World, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and the Nation’s Freight Handler, Stormy, Husky, Brawling, City of the Big Shoulders.”

There will be grided windows, Chicago Common Brick accents, brick pilasters with cast stone coping.

“It is very important to us to keep the heritage of the neighborhood and area as we continue the legacy of this site,” said Turner Cook, Brookfield’s VP of development.

Brookfield bought the property for $25 million from Wheatland Tube, a manufacturer of pipe, tube and electrical conduit. It’s part of Zekelman Industries, which has numerous steel-related U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries and is owned by Windsor, Ont. native Barry Zekelman.

Brookfield negotiated a leaseback with Wheatland until it found a new home.

“Entitlements are always a lengthy process for any redevelopment site,” Cook said. “Thankfully, we had a leaseback with Wheatland Tube which enabled us to work through the planning process and different (city) departments without extending our redevelopment timeline.”

Altogether there will be four buildings – all constructed on spec – when completed, totalling almost 570,000 square feet.

Spec isn’t a problem.

“This submarket (warehouse and light manufacturing) of Chicago has always had good demand for quality industrial buildings,” Cook said.

Vacancy ranges from three to six per cent.

“Many tenants do not have the time to work through the lengthy redevelopment process. Because of this, speculative building is the typical course.”

The site already has industrial zoning and lies in a Planned Manufacturing District (PMD) preventing such sites from conversion into non-industrial uses.

Alderwoman Julia Ramirez of the 12th ward is grateful the industrial heritage will be maintained.

“I was really thankful for that,” she said. “It’s just the character of that area.”

She said accommodation has been made with Brookfield with regard to truck access so as to not to disturb residential neighborhoods.

Said Brookfield’s Cook: “We want to emphasize that Western Works is about more than buildings, it is about continuing Chicago’s industrial legacy, creating opportunities for modern businesses, and being a responsible neighbor.”