Illinois Medical District neighborhood guide
Development
Hospital and medical-school building on the Near West Side dates to the 1870s, when Cook County Hospital was completed in 1876. The Illinois General Assembly created the Medical Center District in 1941, and it was renamed the Illinois Medical District in 1995. The Illinois Medical District contains four hospitals: John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Rush University Medical Center, and University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System. In October 2021 the Chicago City Council revised the district’s zoning to make multifamily and mixed-use development easier. Apartment projects on Ogden Avenue followed, including new construction and the rehab of an 18-story 1960s building.
Parks & Recreation
The Illinois Medical District opened Welcome Plaza, a public space at Ogden Avenue and Harrison Street, in August 2024. In November 2025 the district broke ground on a 1-acre park at Ogden Avenue and Damen Avenue, with a playground, fitness areas, and a walking track planned. The Louis Pasteur Monument stands on Harrison Street across from the Old Cook County Hospital building.
Transit
The Illinois Medical District is served by the CTA Blue Line (Forest Park branch) at Illinois Medical District station, 430 S. Damen Ave. The CTA Pink Line stops at Polk station, 1713 W. Polk St. CTA bus routes include 7 Harrison, 9 Ashland, 12 Roosevelt, 50 Damen, and 157 Streeterville/Taylor. The Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) runs along the district.
Community Area
The Illinois Medical District is part of the Near West Side, community area 28.
