Taft Partner Butler Secures Entitlements for $104M Industrial Campus in Back of the Yards

Taft partner Liz Butler is proud to have served as legal counsel to Brookfield Properties in connection with Western Works, a $104 million industrial campus development on Chicago's South Side. The project, located at 4435 S. Western Blvd. in the historic Back of the Yards neighborhood, will deliver four state-of-the-art industrial buildings spanning more than 560,000 square feet - Brookfield's largest active industrial development in Chicago.

Liz Butler led Taft's land use and zoning work on the project, guiding Brookfield through a comprehensive range of entitlements, subdivision, right-of-way matters, permitting, government affairs, and Air Quality Ordinance compliance. The Taft team worked closely with city staff and agency partners to navigate the regulatory approvals necessary to advance development on the site within Chicago's historic Central Manufacturing District and the Stockyards industrial corridor. The campus is expected to create 150 construction jobs and 100 permanent full-time positions upon completion in 2027.

Liz Butler's practice focuses on land use, zoning, and government relations, with a particular emphasis on projects that activate underutilized sites and deliver long-term community benefits.

The Taft team representing Brookfield Properties was led by Liz Butler and included Janet Stengle, Braeden Lord, and Mike Zalewski