Commercial Real Estate Operations

The focus of the University of Chicago’s Commercial Real Estate Operations (CREO) department is to manage the University’s commercial real estate portfolio in a professional and cost-effective manner, balancing growth and expansion with neighborhood interests.

CREO is committed to supporting the unique vitality of our surrounding area through strong relationships with community organizations and local businesses as well as sponsoring a variety of community events. We also seek out new quality commercial tenants that can contribute to a diverse local retail landscape while providing opportunities for future growth.

We accomplish these objectives by:

Strategically managing commercial real estate acquisitions and holdings while supporting the University’s long term academic and research missions.
Contributing to a vital business district with attractive shopping, dining, and entertainment options for students, faculty, staff, and the community.
Providing quality commercial space to a diverse pool of tenants that are contributing positively to the quality of life in the local community.
Partnering with local organizations such as Downtown Hyde Park, the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, the South East Chicago Commission, and others in supporting the community.

Related Links
53 Street Blog
Welcome to Hyde Park

Harper Court

5235 S. Harper Court
Platinum LEED-certified 12-story mixed-use building

Harper Theater

5238 S. Harper Avenue
Restoration of historic 1915 local theater

Sophy Hotel

1411 E. 53rd Street
New 98-room boutique hotel recently named one of the best new hotels in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine

Sophy Hotel Guestroom

Doerr Building

Corner of 53rd Street and S. Harper Avenue
Restoration of 1910/1911 historic mixed-use building, noted for original glazed terracotta exterior

Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (South)

1463 E. 53rd Street
34,000-square foot, multi-disciplinary co-working space in the Doerr Building

Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (South)

Interior

Vue53

1330 E. 53rd Street
13-story apartment building with retail space and parking

Akira

1539 E. 53rd Street
Popular women’s clothing store repurposed from original Border’s Books building

The Promontory

5311 S. Lake Park Avenue
Restaurant, bar, and music venue with outdoor dining areas

The Silver Room

1506 E. 53rd Street
Retail store

Modern Cooperative

1500 E. 53rd Street
Retail store

Virtue Restaurant

1462 E. 53rd Street
Erick Williams’ award-winning Southern restaurant named by the Chicago Tribune as one of the city’s best

Arts Incubator

301 E. Garfield Boulevard
Restoration of historic 1911 mixed-use building, noted for original glazed terracotta exterior

The Revival - Patio Area

1160 E. 55th Street
Local comedy and improv club

Social

The UChicago Youth Internship Program is accepting applications through April 19! This paid, summer employment opportunity is for Chicago Public Schools students and charter school students who live on the South Side.

In addition to providing interns with meaningful work experience and a strong peer network, the program also offers professional development workshops, social-emotional learning seminars, career exploration activities, and college readiness and access programming.

Tap the link in our bio to apply!

Helping to equip UChicago students with the tools they need to lead community collaborations has long been at the heart of the work of @ucscuchicago.

Recent student projects supported by UCSC include preparing a banquet for migrant shelter residents and biking excess food from local businesses to food pantries.

Tap the link in our bio to learn more about these projects, including how students brought them to life with microgrants administered by UCSC and funded by The Allstate Foundation.

UChicago’s South Side College and Career Catalyst Program is accepting applications!

This program provides first generation, low-income Chicago public high school students from the South Side with year-round college and career exploration activities and educational opportunities to prepare them for academic and career success.

Tap the link in our bio to apply by April 15!

As migrants arrived in Chicago in growing numbers, several public school administrators turned to longtime partners like UChicago's Neighborhood Schools Program for help.

Twenty @uchicagonsp student employees and volunteers who are Spanish-speaking — including @uchicagocollege student Talia Crichlow — are currently supporting this population across five Hyde Park schools by offering tailored assistance to migrant students.

“Talia is able to translate the students work. She can help with their fluency, help with their handwriting. She’s so hands on—it just means the world to us and those students,” said Bret Harte Elementary School Principal Charles Bright.

Tap the link in our bio for the full story! #PartnersInImpact

Find us on

Commercial Real Estate Operations

5235 South Harper Court, 9th Floor
Chicago, IL 60615
773-702-0895
mplasman@uchicago.edu

Leasing Contact Information
Cliffton L. Vann
Associate – Retail Advisory
CBRE, Inc.
Cliffton.vann@cbre.com
312-233-8683 (direct)
708-527-8251 (mobile)

For information on University residential properties, please visit Facilities Services’ Residential Services site.