About Dearborn Park I

Located at 899 S Plymouth Court, Dearborn Park I (often called Dearborn Park High Rise 1) is a 27-story condominium tower on the southern edge of the Printer's Row neighborhood in Chicago's South Loop. Completed in 1980, it serves as the tallest residential gateway building of the broader Dearborn Park development.

The building offers roughly 250 condominium units ranging from large studios to three-bedroom layouts, along with full-service amenities including a pool, door staff, a workout room, on-site management, and an enclosed yard with grills.

Building History

Dearborn Park I was completed in 1980 as one of the first residential towers of the Dearborn Park community, a large-scale redevelopment built on former rail-yard land south of the Loop. The site had been used for decades by rail lines feeding nearby Dearborn Station until the lines ceased service and trackage was cleared in the early 1970s.

Construction on Dearborn Park began in 1977 with roughly 1,400 units in its first phase, spearheaded by Commonwealth Edison president Thomas Ayers and laid out under a master plan by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Along with the Donahue Building's 1979 loft conversion and Bertrand Goldberg's River City, Dearborn Park I helped launch the renaissance of Chicago's South Loop.

Architectural Significance

Dearborn Park I reflects the late-1970s planning approach that reshaped the South Loop. Notable characteristics include:

• A 27-story high-rise form, the tallest residential building in the original Dearborn Park master plan
• A simple, symmetrical facade with vertical window bands maximizing natural light
• Site planning under the overall Dearborn Park master plan by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
• Full-service amenities uncommon in the smaller townhomes elsewhere in Dearborn Park, including a pool and workout room

While not part of the 19th-century Printing House Row District, Dearborn Park I anchors the southern gateway to Printer's Row and represents a distinct, later chapter in the neighborhood's residential history.

Dearborn Park & Printer's Row

Dearborn Park was developed beginning in 1977 on former rail-yard land, transforming a long-industrial stretch south of the Loop into one of Chicago's most studied examples of planned urban residential redevelopment.

Today, the surrounding blocks combine:

• Historic Printer's Row landmarks just to the north
• Planned townhomes and residential towers
• Tree-lined walkways and green space
• Downtown Loop employment access
• Public transportation

Dearborn Park I sits at the southern gateway to this district, connecting the historic printing-industry architecture to the north with the planned residential streets of Dearborn Park to the south.

Location Overview

899 S Plymouth Court sits at the gateway to the Dearborn Park community, at the southern edge of Printer's Row, close to:

• Chicago Loop business district
• Historic Printer's Row landmarks
• Grant Park
• Harold Washington Library Center
• Chinatown
• Downtown entertainment venues

The building sits just south of The Terraces at Dearborn Park and a short walk from the Pope Building Lofts and other historic Printer's Row landmarks profiled in this guide series.

Nearby Major Landmarks

Restaurants

Coffee Shops

Grocery Stores & Daily Shopping

Shopping Near Dearborn Park I

Parks & Outdoor Recreation

Fitness Centers & Wellness

Museums & Attractions

Performing Arts

CTA Train Stations

Metra, Bus & Bike

Bus: CTA routes run along State Street, Clark Street, and Roosevelt Road.

Bike: Divvy bike-share stations throughout South Loop and downtown, with dedicated bike lanes and Lakefront Trail access.

Healthcare Near Dearborn Park I

Schools & Education

Hotels Near Dearborn Park I

Banking & Parking

Neighborhood Lifestyle Summary

Living at Dearborn Park I provides access to a walkable, amenity-rich corner of the South Loop. Residents are close to:

• ✓ Historic Printer's Row
• ✓ Dearborn (Henry) Park and tree-lined walkways
• ✓ Downtown Loop offices
• ✓ Restaurants and cafés
• ✓ Parks and lakefront recreation
• ✓ Public transportation
• ✓ Neighborhood schools

The building's full-service amenities — a rarity in the Dearborn Park community's mostly townhome-scale streets — make it one of the more self-contained living options in the area.

A Typical Day Near Dearborn Park I

Morning

A workout in the building's fitness room or a lap in the pool; coffee at Dollop Coffee Co. or Hero Coffee Bar; commuting via the Red or Green Line at Roosevelt, three blocks away.

Afternoon

Downtown offices, the Harold Washington Library Center, lunch at a South Loop restaurant.

Evening

Grilling in the building's enclosed yard, dinner at a Printer's Row restaurant, or live jazz at the Jazz Showcase.

Ideal Residents

Buyers Who Want Full-Service Amenities

With a pool, door staff, workout room, and on-site management, Dearborn Park I offers a fuller amenity package than most buildings in this guide series.

Downtown Professionals

A short walk or transit ride to the Loop, with the convenience of building staff and services.

Buyers Who Want Lake and Skyline Views

As a 27-story tower, many units offer views over the South Loop and downtown skyline uncommon in the neighborhood's lower-rise buildings.

Buyers & Considerations

First-Time Buyers

Studio and one-bedroom units offer an accessible entry point into South Loop condo ownership with hotel-style building services.

Downsizers

Full-service amenities and on-site management make the building a practical option for downsizers who want a lower-maintenance lifestyle.

Those Wanting Historic Character

Buyers specifically drawn to 19th-century printing-industry architecture may prefer the historic loft buildings profiled elsewhere in this series, since Dearborn Park I is a 1980 purpose-built high-rise rather than a converted historic loft.

Spring & Summer

Spring

Walking paths and gardens at Grant Park; strolls through Dearborn Park's tree-lined streets and Dearborn (Henry) Park.

Summer

Poolside time and grilling in the building's enclosed yard; the Printers Row Lit Fest and Printers Row Art Fest a short walk north; cycling and running along the lakefront.

Fall & Winter

Fall

Chicago architecture tours through nearby historic Printer's Row; museum visits to the Art Institute of Chicago and The Field Museum.

Winter

Indoor workouts in the building's fitness room; live jazz at the Jazz Showcase; ice skating and holiday events at Millennium Park.

Advantages of the Location

1. Full-Service Amenities

A pool, door staff, workout room, on-site management, and an enclosed grilling yard set it apart from many buildings in this series.

2. High-Rise Views

As one of the tallest buildings in Dearborn Park, many units offer skyline or lake views.

3. Gateway Location

Sits at the entrance to the Dearborn Park community, with quick access to both historic Printer's Row and the planned townhome streets to the south.

4. Range of Unit Sizes

From large studios to three-bedroom layouts, the building accommodates a wide range of buyers.

Considerations About the Building & Area

Not a Historic Landmark

Unlike most other buildings in this series, Dearborn Park I is not part of the Printing House Row National Register district; it is a purpose-built 1980 high-rise condominium.

Higher HOA for Full-Service Amenities

Buildings with pools, door staff, and on-site management typically carry higher HOA dues than self-managed loft buildings; buyers should review assessments directly.

Distance from the Loop Core

Sitting at the southern gateway to Printer's Row, it's a slightly longer walk to the heart of the Loop than buildings further north in this series.

Explore More Printer's Row Guides

About This Guide Series

This page is part of a series of in-depth guides to historic Printer's Row buildings in Chicago's South Loop, each covering building history, architecture, and neighborhood amenities in detail.

See our Near South Side real estate guide for the full neighborhood overview, or the Loop real estate guide for the adjacent downtown market.