Let the hearings begin: Developer David Friedman has applied to rezone his property at the southeast corner of Madison and Halsted streets in the West Loop, signaling a desire to move forward with his proposed 48-story apartment high-rise, One South Halsted, says the Sun-Times’ David Roeder.

If approved, the building could become the tallest tower west of the Kennedy Expressway, standing approximately 80 feet higher than the Skybridge high-rise immediately to to the north.

According to FitzGerald Associates Architects, the 822,200 square-foot complex would feature 30,800 square feet of commercial space, 520 parking spaces, banquet halls, a business center, and a pool and health club to be shared with the adjacent Crowne Plaza hotel. In return, the hotel would provide housekeeping and room service to the apartment tower’s residents.