Chicago’s South Loop is about to change for the better. The Roosevelt Collection, a mixed-use residential and retail development owned by McCaffery Interests, will bring an exciting new shopping experience to Roosevelt Road in early 2013. It’s been a long journey for the Roosevelt Collection project, which was acquired by McCaffery, a leading development, retail leasing and property management firm, as a short sale in 2011. It was built by Centrum Properties in 2007, but the retail portion was never leased. Before leasing and moving retail  tenants into the plaza area that will anchor the Roosevelt Collection’s public space, McCaffery completely revamped the area between the shops, which is also home to the ShowPlace ICON theatre, consistently ranked as one of the nation’s top movie houses. McCaffery tore down buildings that had previously been centered in the middle of the plaza, creating a more dynamic, open air space that feels like the perfect place to forge community connections. At a recent Institute of Real Estate Management (Chicago chapter) event, 140 IREM members enjoyed food and beverages in one of the ShowPlace’s private VIP lounges, where moviegoers can enjoy snacks and drinks while they watch the latest blockbuster film. A bar and restaurant are also contained within the theater. Then the group moved on to a tour of the Roosevelt Collection space, which includes green features like a living wall in the Roosevelt Lofts lobby, common gathering areas, creative landscaping, and 340,000 square feet of retail space. There is a 1,500 space parking garage on site that will be shared between the retail and residential property. Though retail tenants haven’t yet been announced, Yvonne A. Jones, CPM, CCIM, Managing Director of Asset and Property Management for McCaffery, told us that the project is nearing its...