Tue. October 7, 2025
Chicago -
A new LGBTQ-centered hotel is one step closer to becoming a reality in Northalsted, popularly known by its older name Boystown. The Chicago City Council has granted full zoning approval for a six-story boutique hotel at 3257 North Halsted Street, opening the door for construction to begin soon.
The proposed hotel will rise at the southeast corner of Halsted and Aldine, where an older two-story commercial building now stands. Developer Allan O’Brien, who also owns Men’s Room Chicago, first introduced the project last year. His vision is to create a hotel that celebrates LGBTQ culture and adds to the neighborhood’s welcoming energy. Designed by Jonathan Splitt Architects, the building will include both hospitality and nightlife features. The first floor will have a restaurant, a bar, and an outdoor patio along Halsted Street. Plans also include a hotel lobby and a basement speakeasy-style lounge.
The hotel will feature 52 rooms, some with corner balconies overlooking the lively Halsted corridor. The rooftop will include a bar, pool deck, and cabanas with a retractable roof for year-round use. Guests will have views of the Chicago skyline to the south. The exterior design will blend light and dark brick with decorative panels in the colors of the Pride flag, a visual tribute to the neighborhood’s LGBTQ identity. The building will include two on-site parking spaces, with additional parking available nearby.
Now that zoning has been approved, building permits have been submitted and are under review. Once construction begins, the project is expected to become a new anchor for Northalsted’s nightlife and hospitality scene. This hotel is more than a new place to stay. It reflects the continuing evolution of Northalsted, a neighborhood that has long been a safe haven for LGBTQ Chicagoans and visitors from around the world. By combining public gathering spaces, bold design, and a spirit of inclusion, the project aims to create a space that both welcomes and celebrates the community it serves.
If all goes as planned, the new hotel could soon become a symbol of pride, connection, and renewal in Chicago’s most famous LGBTQ neighborhood.
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