Galewood Residents Oppose 500-Unit Housing Plan for Former Mars Site

Neighborhood group proposes community-focused redevelopment with library, museum, and sports center

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Galewood residents packed a community meeting to advocate for a say in redeveloping the former Mars Wrigley site, backing a proposal with community amenities over a 500-unit housing plan amid concerns about traffic, congestion, and neighborhood impact. A neighborhood group presented a vision that includes a state-of-the-art library, a Mars History Museum, a grocery store, and an indoor youth sports center, in opposition to a plan by McCaffery Interests to build 500 housing units on the 20-acre site.

Why it matters

The former Mars Wrigley site has been a staple in the Galewood community for 95 years, and residents feel strongly about its future redevelopment. They want to ensure the new project aligns with the community's needs and preserves the area's character, rather than overwhelming it with a large-scale housing development that could strain infrastructure and change the neighborhood's dynamics.

The details

Galewood residents packed into Redeemer Church to have a voice in the development of the former Mars Wrigley site, which closed in 2024. A neighborhood group presented a proposal that includes a state-of-the-art library, a Mars History Museum, a grocery store, and an indoor youth sports center, in opposition to McCaffery Interests' plan to build 500 housing units on the 20-acre property. Residents raised concerns about the potential for increased traffic, congestion, and parking issues that the housing development could bring to the area.

  • The Mars Wrigley site closed in 2024 after 95 years of operation.
  • The community meeting to discuss the redevelopment proposals took place on February 26, 2026.

The players

Galewood Residents

The local community members who are advocating for a say in the redevelopment of the former Mars Wrigley site and pushing for a community-focused plan over a large-scale housing development.

McCaffery Interests

A developer proposing a 500-unit housing plan for the 20-acre former Mars Wrigley site.

Chris Taliaferro

The 28th Ward Alderman, who informed the audience that the proposed redevelopment would be a $300 million project, the biggest in the neighborhood's history.

Idella Mister

A Galewood resident of 40 years who expressed the community's desire to make the most of the former Mars Wrigley property.

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What they’re saying

“We love our community, we're Galewood. For Mars to have one time been a staple, and now it's not, we have to make the most of that property. That's why we are coming together.”

— Idella Mister, Galewood Resident (Fox32Chicago)

What’s next

Mars has not yet sold the property, and multiple neighborhood groups are planning proposals for the site's redevelopment. The 28th Ward Alderman Chris Taliaferro indicated that the proposed redevelopment would be a $300 million project, the biggest in the neighborhood's history.

The takeaway

Galewood residents are determined to have a significant say in the future of the former Mars Wrigley site, which has been a community landmark for decades. They are advocating for a redevelopment plan that aligns with the neighborhood's needs and preserves its character, rather than allowing a large-scale housing project that could overwhelm the area's infrastructure and change its dynamics.