In the heart of Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, on a former supermarket site near 72nd Street and Exchange Avenue, a bold new development is taking shape. Dubbed The XChange, this high-rise project isn’t just another luxury tower—it’s a symbol of community, empowerment, and reinvestment. At its core are five Black men, working through their development group, determined to build opportunity alongside brick and mortar.
The Development Team: Grounded in Real Lives
The project is spearheaded by Model of Transformation Design & Development, a development group comprised of five men: Jemal King, Mark Beaufort, Damen Stuart, Gerald Williams and Johnny Mullins. Each brings unique experience and vision.
- Jemal King is a former Chicago police officer who pivoted into real-estate investing and built a portfolio before moving into this full-scale development effort.
- The other partners bring business, real-estate development, and community-oriented backgrounds, united by the mission of making The XChange a game-changer for this side of the city.
- The group emphasizes not just building a landmark, but building with the neighborhood. “We’re gonna keep rent competitive … we’re not trying to rent gouge. We want this development to be for the community,” King says.
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The Project: Vision, Scope & Location
Site & Context
The site is 7162 S. Exchange Avenue (at the corner of 72nd & Exchange), on a lot previously occupied by a supermarket, now vacant and poised for transformation. Its proximity to the lakefront, public transit (including the South Shore Metra station), and the legacy of the South Shore Cultural Center positions it as strategic for investment and community impact.
Design & Key Features
Originally pitched at 30 stories, the design was revised and proposed at around 22 stories—roughly 250 feet tall—with approximately 153 residential units (one-, two- and three-bedroom) and 15,000 square feet of retail space at the base.
Amenities envision a rooftop restaurant, private balconies, dynamic façade design, and parking for about 100 cars.
A striking design element: a black and gold color scheme—chosen intentionally to reflect Black American culture and to serve as a visual statement of pride.
Community Mission & Economic Impact
What distinguishes The XChange is not only what is being built, but why. The developer group intends to keep rents accessible to local residents, integrate commercial space for local businesses/restaurants, and create pathways for youth to enter architecture, development, and entrepreneurship.
This isn’t just one tower—it’s framed as a catalyst for neighborhood uplift. It is estimated to cost between $40 million and $60 million+, depending on final specs and funding.
Why This Matters
1. Changing the Narrative of the South Side
For years, development north of downtown has surged while many South Side communities have experienced disinvestment. The XChange signals a shift: local leadership, high-quality architecture, mixed-use design, and transit-oriented development aimed at the community—not just for outside investors.
2. Representation & Opportunity
It’s not every day that you see a development of this scale led by Black developers in a historically underserved neighborhood. The developers themselves see this as part of the legacy: “The one thing I want a kid to know 100 years from now when they walk past, is that this building was developed by five men who just believed that all things was possible.”
3. Design Quality + Place-Making
The building isn’t being framed as generic; the architecture, façade, amenities and lake-view orientation show a commitment to design excellence. That can elevate the feel of the neighborhood and serve as a beacon of quality.
4. Transit & Mixed-Use Focus
Placing 15,000 ft² of retail, parking and high-rise residences near transit encourages density, walkability, and supports local jobs. The location near the Metra stop and CTA bus routes fits the city’s strategy for smart growth.
Challenges & Watch-Points
- Approval & Funding: The project still needs zoning approvals, city support and potential grant/financing mechanisms (such as Chicago Recovery Grant) to proceed.
- Execution Risk: Big vision + high ambition = risk. It will require staying on budget, delivering community benefits, and managing construction pressures.
- Gentrification Concerns: Even though the team is explicitly trying to avoid displacement and rent gouging, the introduction of luxury units can drive up surrounding rents and property values; the outcome must balance revitalization and affordability.
- Market & Timing: Residential high-rises are capital-intensive and post-pandemic dynamics (remote work, housing demand, interest rates) remain uncertain. Success will require strong market positioning.
Looking Ahead
If all goes well, The XChange could break ground and become a visible marker of change in South Shore. It can serve multiple functions: a place to live, work, dine; a launch-pad for local entrepreneurs; a signal that development can be community-led.
