CHICAGO | One Mus. Park West | 595 FT | 54 FL | One Mus. Park | 734 FT | 65 FL

[Steely Dan]

hey all, as i am sure many of you don't regularly peruse that mammoth Chicago boom rundown thread, i thought i would post a new thread about an exciting new skyscraper proposal for chicago that we have just learned about.

the proposal is named One Museum Park, and the current rendering shows it standing 74 stories tall (sorry, no height figure yet). It would stand in the Central Station development, a massive new multi-tower residential high-rise neighborhood currently underway in chicago's south loop area, down near michigan avenue and roosevelt. for those that don't know, this would place the tower about a 1/2 mile south of the main loop skyline, so this project is not only exciting for its height, but also for its potential to strecth the skyline further south and to become a wonderful new landmark bookend tower for the southern edge of chicago's skyline. this project has caught a lot of us chicagoans off guard as none of us were expecting to see anything taller than 40 or so floors in the Central Station project.

anyway, here's the project's website and a rendering. you can also click on the 1st page of the chicago boom rundown thread to learn more about this, and all of chicago's other skyscraper projects.

http://onemuseumpark.com/

One Museum Park
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7569/6324onemuseumpark6tr.jpg

One Museum Park West
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7800/ompwpl0.jpg

Side-by-side
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/5728/centralstationgrantparkbs6.jpg



*******

below are some scanned images and model pictures courtesy of BVictor:

This is a rendering that comes with the building description packet.
http://images.snapfish.com/34285%3B9523232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E2329%3D959%3D583%3DXROQDF%3E232374786%3A3%3A9ot1lsi

This rendering is from the Chicago Tribune 01/09/05
http://images.snapfish.com/34285%3B9523232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E2323%3D838%3D84%3A%3D3232838759%3B%3A8nu0mrj

Looking northwest towards the tower.
http://images.snapfish.com/34285%3B9523232%7Ffp7%3Enu%3D3232%3E747%3E759%3E232374784%3A%3A9%3Bot1lsi

Looking east.
http://images.snapfish.com/34285%3B9523232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2323%3D838%3D84%3A%3D3232838759%3B94nu0mrj

This is the back southwest corner of the building.
http://images.snapfish.com/34285%3B9523232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E2323%3D838%3D84%3A%3D3232838759%3B96nu0mrj

Looking south at the north face of the building. That's Roosevelt Road that you see running along the base.
http://images.snapfish.com/34285%3B9523232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E2323%3D838%3D84%3A%3D3232838759%3B98nu0mrj

Looking up at the eastern facade.
http://images.snapfish.com/34285%3B9523232%7Ffp58%3Dot%3E2323%3D838%3D84%3A%3D3232838759%3B9%3Anu0mrj

The crown.
http://images.snapfish.com/34285%3B9523232%7Ffp7%3Enu%3D3232%3E747%3E759%3E232374784%3A%3A%3A%3Bot1lsi

Another shot of the western facade looking east toward the building.
http://images.snapfish.com/34285%3B9523232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E2323%3D838%3D84%3A%3D3232838759%3B%3A4nu0mrj

A small turnaround and courtyard in the back southwestern corner of the building.
http://images.snapfish.com/34285%3B9523232%7Ffp58%3Dot%3E2329%3D959%3D583%3DXROQDF%3E23237478695%3B6ot1lsi

A smaller version of the One Museum Park model placed within the larger model. Looking southwest.
http://images.snapfish.com/34285%3B9523232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2329%3D959%3D583%3DXROQDF%3E23237478686%3A8ot1lsi

Another shot of the southern facade looking north.
http://images.snapfish.com/34285%3B9523232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E2323%3D838%3D84%3A%3D3232838759%3B%3A6nu0mrj

Looking down upon the base.
http://images.snapfish.com/34285%3B9523232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E2329%3D959%3D583%3DXROQDF%3E23237478692%3B8ot1lsi

[Coldrsx]

WOW

[James Bond Agent 007]

Wow that's cool!

Reminds me a little of a mirrored Columbia Tower. :D

[Rivernorth]

God, i love this city! :)

[Gulcrapek]

They just don't stop coming, do they?

It reminds me a little of Eureka in its basic form. But much curvier. Do you know the architect?

[Steely Dan]

It reminds me a little of Eureka in its basic form. But much curvier.
to me, it looks like the off-spring of trump toronto and saphire tower in toronto, if they ever mated.






Do you know the architect?
Pappageorge/Haymes, a local chicago firm

[FerrariEnzo]

900-1000 feet?

[HowardL]

There's a lot of potential in this building. It could turn out to be a really fantastic building. It goes on the wish list along with so many others.

@ Steely, feeling your new signature big time.

[Steely Dan]

900-1000 feet?


if i had to hazard a guess, i'd say 775' - 850'.

but that's just a gut feeling, the rendering doesn't show any other background buildings that might provide some clues as to the height range were dealing with.

[R@ptor]

It reminds me a little of Eureka in its basic form. But much curvier. Do you know the architect?

Exactly my thought! Seems like this form is quite popular right now...the proposed 250m(820ft) 'Marieninsel' in Frankfurt looks also almost identical to it.

Anyway....it would be a nice addition to the skyline of Chicago!

[Michi]

Looks like just another "eh" day in Chicago, huh?! ;)

[BVictor1]

^I agree with Steely about the potential height of One Museum Park. I actually tried to call the city building and planning development, but ran into several dead ends. I will try again tomorrow to see if I can find out anything.

Also check out this link and go to District 7

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_ATTACH/NS_District_plans,_Roosevelt_Road_to_I-55.pdf

[Lecom]

cool.

[Lecom]

It reminds me a little of Eureka in its basic form. But much curvier.
to me, it looks like the off-spring of trump toronto and saphire tower in toronto, if they ever mated.
Eww
The last thing I need to imagine is two skyscrapers doing each other.

[JACKinBeantown]

Pretty cool.

[Chase Unperson]

It's still no JHC, LPT or Marina City but it's a swanky skyacraper for sure.

[NYguy]

after this thread sits around for a couple weeks, i'll go ahead and merge it into the boom rundown thread. i just wanted to give everyone a chance to take a look at this project.

Why close it? A tower this size should have its own thread.


http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/6525image4.jpg

[Rivernorth]

^^^ well, Chicago has 3 other buildings that are 700 feet that are proposed that dont have thier own threads, so it dosent nessasarily need its own thread. the only real reason this new tower is such big news in CHicago is because of its location, South of Roosevelt Rd, which is relatively far from the 'tall' area of Chicago's downtown, as buildings in that are average only 300 to 400 feet or so.

But whether it stays its own thread or is merged is totally fine by me :P

[Chad]

Holy Christ, Chicago is like Dubai of the West !!!

[bayrider]

i think some of the other vertical columns (except for the main one) should be reduced in height, it makes the tower look really bulky... or, just extend the main column ;)

[TalB]

They better not cancel this skyscraper b/c it's way too big, and Chicago hasn't built something at that height for probably 30 years. :eek:

[Chase Unperson]

Actually in 2000, Park Hyatt at 850 feet was completed, and this probably won't be 850 feet. In the late 80-early 90s multiple buildings 800-1000 feet were completed.

[Steely Dan]

Chicago hasn't built something at that height for probably 30 years. :eek:

umm, it looks like it might be education time, so gather round children and let's learn a little bit about chicago's recent skyscraper construction history.

if we assume that this One Musem Park building will place somewhere in the 775' - 850' range, then there are a number of buildings of that height or taller that have been built in chicago within the last 30 years.

at&t - 1,007 ft. - 1989
2 prudential - 995 ft. - 1990
311 s wacker - 961 ft. - 1990
900 n michigan - 871 ft. - 1989
park tower - 844 ft. - 2000
3 1st national - 767 ft. - 1981
chicago title - 756 ft. - 1992

[Tom In Chicago]

Holy Christ, Chicago is like Dubai of the West !!!

Praise Allah, Dubai is more like the Chicago of the Middle East!!!

[Stephenapolis]

That is a beautiful building. I hope it does get built. It will look great in the Chicago skyline.

[tackledspoon]

Eh, it seems a bit uninspired to me, for Chicago. It just doesn't say Chicago. In another city, it may fit, but it just isn't clicking in my mind.
Nice design and all, it just doesn't have that Chicago character.

[Chase Unperson]

I'd say it has that "new moderism" look to it which fits in sooooo much better in Chicago than that postmodernism stuff.

[Steely Dan]

Eh, it seems a bit uninspired to me, for Chicago. It just doesn't say Chicago. In another city, it may fit, but it just isn't clicking in my mind.
Nice design and all, it just doesn't have that Chicago character.


my initial reaction was similar to yours, but then it became apparent that what i was looking at was a curvilnear sears tower clad with blue mirror glass. if you pay attention to the details there is a confident, if somewhat akward, attitude about the massing of set back forms that seems very chicago, it just happens to be wearing a miami suit.

it could turn out to be really cool.

or terribly tacky.

it's hard to know from just one preliminary rendering.

[ltsmotorsport]

That is one great looking building. Go Chi-town.

[supastar]

Another home run for the second city

[TalB]

I was actually referring to the floors of this building, not its height.

[Cbautz]

I would like to know more about its location. It won't be on the street wall but perhaps back a bit and maybe to the south? I suspect that De-Stefano is doing this?

[jcchii]

I have a hard time figuring out exactly the spot as well. I went by today on LSD and was trying to eyeball it

[jcchii]

as far as the design. I would tolerate a lot to get that kind of height that far south.

[Jaroslaw]

It will be on the SE corner of Roosevelt and the Metra tracks, directly N of the white crane that hovers over the foundations of Museum Tower. E of the tracks, the first street is Columbus, then LSD. I wonder if it will have an interface of any kind of Roosevelt, I hope it does even though that sidewalk on the S. side of the street does not lead anywhere, strictly speaking.

[alex1]

interesting proposal. It definately will be out of character with the area. It seems to me that the south loop looks like it could have sat there unchanged for decades due to the retro feel of most of the new buildings in the area.

[JBinCalgary]

WOW! that is a great looking tower

[jcchii]

well thjat location means its the southern bookend for the grant park street wall, which will bring a lot of scrutiny from kamin and everybody else.
if it's done well with good materials I think it would be fine. has a lot of potential, but some of these look good in the renderings and look like cheap crap when they really go up. this will become the most high-profile project that far south in a long time.
this and the columbian will boost that part of the skyline quite a bit, and should really help to frame out grant park

[Steely Dan]

victor has reported in the chicago boom rundown thread that he has been placed on the one museum park mailing and call list. he was told by someone from the sales center that more information about this tower will be made available in february, so it looks like we're gonna have to be a bit patieint to find out more about this exciting proposal.

p.s., i ain't trying to steal your thunder, victor, i just thought that this info also belonged in this thread as well :)

[Tom In Chicago]

Yeah. . . they left a message on my machine too. . . same old shit. . . buy our condos or we'll kill your dog. . . blah blah blah. . .

[BVictor1]

Well I am on the mailing and call list for One Museum Park. I got a call today from the sales center saying that they had gotten my online registration, and the person calling remembered me from when I went to the sales center last week. They said that they should have more information on the building sometime in February. As soon as I find out more, I will certainly post it.

[BVictor1]

p.s., i ain't trying to steal your thunder, victor, i just thought that this info also belonged in this thread as well :)

no problem, I meant to post it here also.

[Steely Dan]

jaroslaw posted the following info about one museum park in the chicago boom rundown thread. if it's true that they are only planning for a 60 story tower, that's kinda disappointing..... oh well, it'll still be crazy tall for that part of town.


I just checked my email:

Currently, we are anticipating an early February 2005 release
date. At this point, I have the following information available.

One Museum Park will be located on the Southwest corner of Roosevelt & Columbus Drive. This premiere, contemporary building will offer unobstructed views of Grant Park, the city skyline &
the lakefront.

This building will be 60 stories tall. Offering one, two& three bedroom units, plus penthouses.

The one bedrooms will range from 960 s.f. - 1000 s.f. $400,000 - $450,000
The two bedrooms will range from 1425 s.f. - 1550 s.f. $565,000 - $700,000
The three bedrooms will range from 2050 s.f - 2900 s.f. $790,000 - $1,800,000
The penthouses will be 5252 s.f. $3,900,000 - $4,100,000

This information is subject to change at anytime.

[Fabb]

Now, let's hope for an important floor to floor height.

[BVictor1]

After I read Jaroslaw's post in the Boom Rundown I decided to call Pappageorge/Haymes. I was told that the project is still being reviewed by the city and that nothing has been finalized. The gentleman that I spoke with told me that the building would probably end up being between 60-65 stories.

I told him that it was a very interesting design and that I hoped they could go as high as possible. He said that he hoped so as well.

[woodrow]

NEWS FLASH . . .

Acording to the Chicago Journal, One Museum Park is the first of FOUR 65 story towers on Roosevelt.

SEE IT NOW - The design of One Museum Park will be unveile TONIGHT - December 9, 2004 in the conference center of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Building (300 E. Randolph) at 6:30 PM at the Grant Park Advisory Council meeting.

[BVictor1]

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN ONE MUSEUM PARK AND THE CENTRAL STATION DEVELOPMENT

I sent an email to the City of Chicago Planning Department about 3 weeks ago, and I just got a response. Here is the correspondance.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Whom It May Concern,

My name is Butler Adams, and I am an architectural student at the Illinois Institute of Technology. I was inquiring about certain
approved and proposed skyscrapers for Chicago.

1. One Museum Park is a proposed skyscraper at Central Station
(Roosevelt Road & Metra/IC Tracks). It is proposed to be about 74-
stories. I was wondering what the status of this development was. I
certainly hope that it gets approved. It would make a fantastic
addition to out skyline, and it would be the cornerstone for the Grant

Park south wall. Do you have any information on this proposed
building?

Hope to hear from you,

Butler Adams
Architecture
Student


THE REPLY

Thank you for your interest in the Central Station Development site. This project is in the Department of Planning for approval; however, we are still reviewing the project. There is a community meeting on this site December 9, 2004 at 337 E. Randolf at 6:30 p.m. Hope to see you there.

I cannot attend. I'm have finals at school, and I don't have the time. If anyone on this forum can attend and get information, it would be excellent. I'm sorry that I can't go.

[BVictor1]

^Hey Woodrow,

It looks like we had the same idea :)

If you go, take notes and a digital camera if you have one to take shots of whatever is unveiled.

Or anyone who attends take a camera.

[Chi-town]

Acording to the Chicago Journal, One Museum Park is the first of FOUR 65 story towers on Roosevelt.

Come again?

[woodrow]

^BVictor -

great minds . etc . . .

Chi-Town - I might have jumped the gun. The sub-heading of the Chicago Journal article states "65 story towers planned for Grant Park's unfinished South Wall," but as I read the article again it says
" . . . Roosevelt between Columbus Boulevard and Michigan Avenue is about to be reshaped with four skyscrapers that would complete the framing of Grant Park. The centerpiece - and the first building to be constructed - would be a 65-story, ultramodern high-rise at Columbus and Roosevelt, . . . "
So the article doesn't say all 65 story. stupid headline writer

[Fabb]

Chi-Town - I might have jumped the gun. The sub-heading of the Chicago Journal article states "65 story towers planned for Grant Park's unfinished South Wall," but as I read the article again it says
" . . . Roosevelt between Columbus Boulevard and Michigan Avenue is about to be reshaped with four skyscrapers that would complete the framing of Grant Park. The centerpiece - and the first building to be constructed - would be a 65-story, ultramodern high-rise at Columbus and Roosevelt, . . . "
So the article doesn't say all 65 story. stupid headline writer



A development of four (identical ?) 65-story towers wouldn't have the best impact on the skyline anyway.

[Steely Dan]

NEWS FLASH . . .

SEE IT NOW - The design of One Museum Park will be unveile TONIGHT - December 9, 2004 in the conference center of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Building (300 E. Randolph) at 6:30 PM at the Grant Park Advisory Council meeting.

and i thought we weren't goign to get any new info on this one until february? oh well.........

someone from the forum should definitely head over there tonight. i'd go, but i am at work all the way up here in evanston. i suppose i could leave work a little early.......... we'll see.

[BVictor1]

and i thought we weren't goign to get any new info on this one until february? oh well.........

You almost seem disappointed:)

The centerpiece - and the first building to be constructed - would be a 65-story, ultramodern high-rise at Columbus and Roosevelt, . . . "

This sentence just keeps echoing in my head.

[Marvel 33]

Fellows,

I'm happy to let you know that I attended the "Grant Park Advisory Council meeting" this evening, and I have some really good and exciting news.

There were people representing the city of Chicago, The Park District, the Central Station Development and the Enterprise Company. The main speaker was the man in charge of the Chicago Park District, and before he introduced the developers of Central Station...he talked for a few minutes about the expansion of the beautification in Grant Park, south of Millenium. Speaking of which, he talked about the success that Millenium Park has been for Chicago, and then he went on to explain, how they're adding a skate board park & a doggie park , towards Roosevelt Ave. He also explained how the city and the developers are trying to bring retail and restaurants to the area, to make it a vibrant addition to the city.

The best news I heard coming from the Park District, is that they're finalizing a project on the drawing board, to cover the rail road tracks that are still exposed, south of Congress Parkway. I used to live in 1130 S. Michigan last year on the 19th floor, and although I had a wonderful view of the lake, Grant Park and the Field Museum... I was horrified to see those ugly tracks below my building.

Ok, now lets talk about the issue at hand. The second part of the meeting was a presentation given by the developers of Central Station, in which they announced the construction of One Museum Park. This will be the first one of 4 high-rises on the south wall of the park.
It'll be located in the corner of Roosevelt and Columbus and It will be the tallest of the 4 structures with 65 storeys, and with a height of 720ft. It'll be mainly steel and glass, but they're still deciding what color the glass will be. The building will be resting on a podium shared by another 520ft tall building. Unlike many other residential buildings built in Chicago in the last few years. This podium wont be for parking, it'll be used for condominium space.

They also mentioned that they're still working on the designs of the other 3 buildings, and they already have their heights. 520', 520' and 620'. I got some of this information on my own after the meeting was over and I got to talk to some of the architects of PAPPAGEORGE/HAYMES Ltd. which is the firm who designed the first building.

The second tallest building will be designed by another firm, since they want all 4 buildings to be different, and it'll be located in the opposite corner, on Michigan and Roosevelt. This high-rise will have retail, condos and a hotel. However they don't have any retail commitments yet.
Sales for the One Museum Park will start next month and I got a business card from one of the developers and he agreed to keep me updated in the development of the project.

I just want to add that Mayor Daley has been a huge supporter of this project from the very start, and everything points in the right direction so far. I know 65 storeys is not as good as 75, but it is certainly higher than anything we expected...plus I think the design is very nice.

Here are some pics. Enjoy!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Marino33/Chicago/1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Marino33/Chicago/2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Marino33/Chicago/3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Marino33/Chicago/4.jpg

[Marvel 33]

By the way, that is the final design for the 1st building :cheers:

[BVictor1]

OH FUCKING SHIT YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:yes: :haha: :nuts: :)

720'?? I just fucking came.:crazy:

Great work Marvel 33, thank you.!!:cheers:

It's great to have some solid numbers. These will be some soaring buildings, creating a new focal point for the Chicago skyline; especially for the South Loop.:righton:

[Stephenapolis]

Wow! This is going to be a very impressive development. I really love the design of the first tower too!

[BVictor1]

Hey Marvel, it think that you should post this information in the Boom Rundown Thread also.

[Marvel 33]

I sure will,

Thanks

[BVictor1]

Marvel 33, I have a question for you:

How did other people in the room seem to receive this tower?

Was there any obvious disapproval? Any NIMBY whining?

Just in general what was the attitude of folks?

[Marvel 33]

BVictor1,
After the developer finished his presentation, he asked for feedback, and there wasn't one negative comment. Most people seemed to be very impressed by the design and others were even excited. Many people came over to the developers and the architectural firm, after the meeting was over, to congratulate them. Others had questions about retail space, square footage of the units and that kind of stuff. By the way, the units will go from as little as 350k to 5mil in the first tower. The whole Central Station project is going to cost about one billion dollars when is done.

[bayrider]

amazing design... i hope it pulls through

[Marvel 33]

By the way, since they were talking at the meeting about the beautification of the Grant Park Area and the surroundings, and I happened to be right across the street in the B.C.B.S. building, I took some pictures of Millenium Park after I left.

I've never seen pictures of the Park at night in the forum, so I thought I would share them with you all.

Hope you like them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Marino33/Chicago/Fountain.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Marino33/Chicago/LookingattheAONB.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Marino33/Chicago/MilleniumParkatnight.bmp

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Marino33/Chicago/GiantScreen.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Marino33/Chicago/Iceskaters.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Marino33/Chicago/MilleniumlookingSouth.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Marino33/Chicago/IceSkatersatnight.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Marino33/Chicago/LookingatPrudentialIII.jpg

[Fabb]

I don't want to sound too negative, but I'm a little disappointed in the height figure and the design.
Is that really a tall, elegant tower ?

[Rivernorth]

uhm.... yes? :) Keep in mind the location... downtown Chicago's highrises end at Roosevelt... the tallest building south of Roosevelt Rd is the McCormick Hyatt (i believe, correct me if im wrong) and that barely breaks the 350 ft mark... this is a whole new extention of the skyline for the city... and a massive extention it is. Four 500+ fters, and a 700+ foot structure? Thats just insane. Keep in mind, this will complete the walling-in of Grant Park... it will now be canyonized on all 3 sides...'

and compared to the bland and short concrete towers that have thusfar dominated Central Station, this is a massive step up on design. Definatly a great design, IMO.



Six months ago, we all would've laughed if you told us they were going to build a 500 foot tower at Central Station. :)

[Fabb]

Well, if you people from Chicago are happy, then I guess that it's a good project.
I'll watch it with attention.

[Rivernorth]

One Museum Park is definatly a promising design. I mean, it is tall, and elegant, but not too elegant. Elegance dosent really fit in well in this town, all our skyscrapers are large, massive, and bulky. In a way, it keeps with the tradition. Although, slim elegant towers have been making thier way in (Park Tower in 2000, and now Waterview, and TTC somewhat as well).

And given that tower's location, it will just look gorgeous!

[tuy]

This will be a nice addition to Chicago. It is nice to see that they are extending the skyline further south.

[Tom In Chicago]

From today's SunTimes:

$1 billion expansion of Central Station

December 10, 2004

BY DAVID ROEDER Business Reporter

With the ambition of creating an architectural centerpiece to show off the Near South Side, developers Thursday disclosed plans for a massive expansion of the Central Station residential complex.

The four new buildings would occupy highly visible real estate on the south side of Roosevelt Road, next to Grant Park and the museum campus. Plans call for the first building, a 65-story condominium project near the southwest corner of Roosevelt and Columbus, to be started late in 2005 if advance sales warrant.

If built, the new high-rises would add about 1,200 units and a hotel to Central Station's current inventory of about 2,000 homes. Co-developer Gerald Fogelson said the additions would represent a nearly $1 billion investment.

The surrounding area years ago was a run-down collection of warehouses and railroads that languished as downtown development moved north. That changed when low mortgage rates combined with the growing popularity of city living in the 1990s. Mayor Daley bought into Central Station in 1993.

Central Station "was the catalyst for the Near South Side" and the new buildings will celebrate that, said Fogelson, whose Fogelson Cos. co-owns the sites with Forest City Enterprises Inc. Promising top-grade designs and spectacular views, he said the expansion should appeal to buyers who ordinarily would settle on the Near North Side.

"Besides responding to our own market, we are hoping to attract people who see this as a viable alternative to the North Side. We have better views and better prices," Fogelson said.

Prices for the initial building should range from $400,000 to more than $4 million, he said. Fogelson's pattern has been to minimize financial risk by taking on a partner for each Central Station building, and this latest venture is no exception.

Enterprise Development Co., one of Chicago's most prolific developers, is the partner for the first two Roosevelt Road buildings. Fogelson said no partner has been designated for the later buildings, which could be years from reality.

The Chicago-based firm Pappageorge/Haymes Ltd., best known for mid-rise work around the city, is the architect of the first two buildings. Fogelson called the firm's product contemporary and sleek and geared to take advantage of lake, park and skyline views.

The architects for the rest haven't been designated.

He wouldn't estimate how long it will take to build everything, joking about how he's been "so completely wrong" in past guesses about Central Station's timetable.

But the goal is to complete the buildings in an east-to-west order. All would have condos, but the last building, at the southeast corner of Roosevelt and Michigan, could also include a hotel. Two buildings fronting on Indiana Avenue will be 53 stories each, while the one at Michigan will be 60 stories, Fogelson said.

As the site is the closest part of Central Station to downtown, plans for years suggested that hotels and offices could dominate that portion of the site. But those markets never jelled for that location.

Calling the swath along Roosevelt the best sites in Central Station, Fogelson said he withheld plans for them "until the Near South Side developed critical mass and credibility, which it has."

The plans conform with existing guidelines for the site and don't require a zoning change. However, at the direction of the city's planning department, the developers have begun showing their designs to civic groups based downtown and on the Near South Side.

Analysts predict continued strength in the downtown residential market and note that the best-selling sites usually are part of totally new communities or boast fabulous views. With both factors in its corner, the 80-acre Central Station has been a sales leader with the downtown Lakeshore East project and the new University Village community on the Near West Side.

[Steely Dan]

i attended the meeting as well last night, and while marvel already covered most of the info from my notes i would just like to add one more piece of information that i am sure will please you all.

straight from the architect's mouth, there will be no exposed concrete on the exterior of this tower! the enitre facade will be a glass and metal curtain wall. and the crown at the top of the building is currently being envisioned as stainless steel or some other highly reflective material that will shimmer in the night sky when illuminated.

all in all, the project not only looks very promising, it also sounds like this will be built. the city, the park district, the developer, community groups, absolutely everyone is on board with this plan to create a true landmark tower at the south end of grant park. some people did express concerns about the street level design, and that's good because we need better sdewalk frontages on our new chicago skyscrpers, but no one had any problems with building a very tall building on this critical site.


one perk of attending the meeting last night was that everyone who showed up got a complimentary book written by Jerry Fogelson, the head guy and visionary for the whole central station project, about the history of the entire project and the land on which it now sits. And it's actually a fairly substantial book- hard cover, ~110 pages, color pictures and renderings of various projects. i was impressed that they were simply passing them out for free.

[the urban politician]

Wow, Marvel! You and BVictor win the "Honorary Urban Politician Award" for outstanding reconnaissance work! This is some of the greatest news for Chicago that I have heard since I first started taking interest. Central Station will act as a great southern counterbalance to what is brewing at LakeshoreEast!!

Also, thanks for those awesome pics of Millennium Park, a development I have yet to see in person.

But here's a question. A problem, I admit, that also plagues LakeshoreEast. How are they going to provide transit to people of Central Station? I mean, sure, many of them will drive but there is no way Chicago can provide road and parking infrastructure for all of those thousands of people. Besides, I'm sure a great number of them will want to use public transportation anyhow. How will they be served?

[Steely Dan]

i for one, don't buy into these arguments that LSE and central station are so inadequately served by transit. if you want to take the train, the L is only a handful of blocks away, a 5-10 minute walk. that, to me, is very much within a "reasonable" distance to rapid transit.

[BVictor1]

^I agree.

Central Station has the Red, Green, and Orange Line 2 1/2 blocks to the west. There are also all of the bus routes that travel down Michigan, Roosevelt, Columbus and Indiana. They are pretty efficently served. They don't need the bus stopping at their front door. It's not valet service.

Lake Shore East for the most part is the same. There ate the bus lines on Randolph, Columbus and Wacker Drive. And some of those buses already go into the nooks and crannys around Lakeshore East like around Harbor View Tower. well just have to see if routes will be extended directly into the development. If it's not though, there isn't any great loss.

[Chi-town]

i for one, don't buy into these arguments that LSE and central station are so inadequately served by transit. if you want to take the train, the L is only a handful of blocks away, a 5-10 minute walk. that, to me, is very much within a "reasonable" distance to rapid transit.
I still think that, ultimately, we need a lakeshore line that runs perhaps from Hyde Park, but at least from McCormick Place, through Central Station, LSE, Streeterville, and possibly up the shoreline under Sheridan all the way to Roger's Park.

[Steely Dan]

^ i would certainly never be opposed to the expansion of rail transit anywhere in the city, but looking realistically at the world, i know that your proposed lakeshore line would be at least decades away from becoming a reality, if ever, and i don't think that central station's and LSE's distance to existing rail lines is that big of a deal

[2PRUROCKS!]

Marvel or Steely or anyone else who may know...was there any mention of 1 MP being LEED certified?



Less than 2 weeks till I'm back in the great city!

[Marvel 33]

Speaking of transit. I forgot to mention that the ugly-old Metra station sitting on the south end of Grant Park is also going to be replaced for a brand-new high-tech station. Not only this will be a new station but it's supposed to be the best Metra station of all. For those of you who may not know the location. It'll be sitting on Grant Park between Columbus and Michigan, almost in front of of 11th street.

As far as your question 2PRUROCKS!, I don't think there was any mention of it. I'm actually pretty sure there wasn't.

[the urban politician]

^That should be awesome! :crazy:

Perhaps they will also build a station that will serve the Central Station community

[BVictor1]

I know where you are talking about Marvel. That's where that old rickety wooden bridge is, or was. I can't remember if they've removed it or not.

[BVictor1]

Also if you go to;

http://www.pappageorgehaymes.com/

And you go to #9 of the highrise/midrise section, you can see some of the lower levels and base of the proposed towers. I couldn't copy the images or else I would have posted them here.

[the urban politician]

^I have doubts about Pappageorge Haymes. Some of their developments aren't bad (Block X, University Village, other townhouse developments, the new Hellenic Museum, etc) but their highrises all look bland. I hope they are capable of bringing something new and fresh to the skyline..

[BVictor1]

^true, but from the renderings that I have seen so far, I am encouraged at the prospects of a good skyscraper design. And several of their designs as you said have been okay.

[jcchii]

holy crap.
looks pretty good, and like I've said before, I'd put up with a lot to get that kind of height down there. That will REALLY extend the skyline. wow. Please don't be a 700-foot eyesore

[BVictor1]

This rendering was in Fridays edition of the Chicago Sun Times. 12/10/04

One Museum Park
65 Stories
720' (feet)

http://images.snapfish.com/34259%3B2%3B23232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E2329%3D959%3D583%3DXROQDF%3E23236%3B48444%3B5ot1lsi

[FerrariEnzo]

Bulky.

[BVictor1]

^ yeah it is a bit. if the tower part went a bit higher, it would give some vertical thust. but then again we are only seeing one side. we don't know what the south or west elevation looks like.

[dancethingy]

i don't like it

[Marvel 33]

Keep in mind guys that if you're looking at the building from Grant Park looking south, you only see the north elevation of the building, and from that perspective the building looks pretty sleak. If you see the corner view with its two sides, then the building looks a little bulky. But I think, when you only one side, the structures looks pretty nice. You be the judge.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/Marino33/Chicago/2.jpg

[Marvel 33]

There is also word that they're adding 28 more stories to the Blue Cross Blue Shield building in the near future.

[Rivernorth]

There is also word that they're adding 28 more stories to the Blue Cross Blue Shield building in the near future.

Really? they are actually considering going through with the expansion of the building? did you hear any talk when this might possibly happen?

[Chase Unperson]

There is also word that they're adding 28 more stories to the Blue Cross Blue Shield building in the near future.

I had heard/read that the building was constructed with that capability. I figured it would never happen. How cool.

In my "sky's the limit". It says the 33 story tower...will eventually reach 57 floors with phase 2 construction. So does this mean it will hit 61 floors? That's a tall office building.

It also talks about something I never knew about. THere are underground connections between it and "the subterranian world of retail shopping in the adjacent Illinois Center". I never knew about this "subterranian world". I wonder what it is like.

[jcchii]

giant glowing mushrooms and stuff

[Rivernorth]

dont forget the giant catepillars smoking from hookahs. :)

yeah, its part of the confusing cluttered mass of the Loop's underground pedway, although the Illinois Center ones are much more interconnected, and generally nicer than the other segments throughout the Loop.

I think Steely posted a map of the Loop's underground pedway a while back... it was a pretty cool map.

[Chicago2020]

Are they going to deck over the raillines in Grant Park and in Muesum Park and Central Station????????????

[Rivernorth]

The Park District is apperently finalizing plans to deck over the tracks south of Congress Parkway. Im not sure if that will be from there to Roosevelt, or if it will go further south. Grant Park itself, however, will definatly be decked over. When i visited the sales center for Central Station a while back, the tracks that ran east of the project had segment of it that were decked over in the models, so i assume the park district and project planners will be working together to deck over the tracks all throughout the project as well. So in honesty, the tracks could be decked over from Randolph St, all the way to Soldier Field and beyond! That would be just amazing.

[Chicago2020]

It certainly would look AMAZING.

[Steely Dan]

^ yeah it is a bit. if the tower part went a bit higher, it would give some vertical thust. but then again we are only seeing one side. we don't know what the south or west elevation looks like.

well, we didn't get to see any southern elevations at the presentation last thursday, but after seeing the ground floor plans and hearing that the building is "L"-shaped, it's fairly easy to envision what the other side looks like. the central elliptical form will poke all the way through to the backside of the tower, right at the kink of the "L", with the legs of the "L" stepping down progressively in their curved, organic forms on either side.

this building is very intriguing. there's a lot going on in this tower tht chicago has never seen before, and when i heard the architect mention "no exposed concrete" that set my excitement for this project into overdrive. i have every reason to believe that this will be a fantastic tower in a fantastic location. my only concerns really revolve around the ground level treatment, both in terms of design and functionality. i'd really, really, like to see street side retail there, but the information given at the presentation sounded pretty inconclusive about whether or not any retail at all will be a part of this tower.

[the urban politician]

^If all 4 buildings had ground level shops, cafes, restaurants etc facing Roosevelt, it would be quite a sight. Also, I think it would add much more vibrance to the southern end of Grant Park

[Marvel 33]

You're right Steeley, there was no mention of whether or not this building will have any retail space at all. However, I'm hopeful it will. I don't know if you remember, the Park District President saying that the city really wants to bring restaurants and retail to the area, and based on that, I think it would only make sence to have retail in every tower. Also, I have a friend who lives in one of the townhomes in Central Station. She's been living there for the past 2 years and she said to me this weekend, that in one of their last Association meetings, the board mentioned the creation of a very large area assigned for restaurants and retail space in the new towers, especially on the Michigan Avenue side.
This should be great news for those who live in the South Loop. One of the reasons why I moved away from there, is beacause when I lived there, there wasn't a neighborhood feeling in the area and there were not too many places to hang out, like restaurants and bars. Little did I know all these changes were coming. :eek:

[Steely Dan]

^ yeah, i remember the talk about possible restaurants and/or sidewalk cafes along roosevelt, but the developer was being a bit vague. at one point during the question and answer session, someone asked very directly about the presence of street-level retail and the developer was very wishy-washy and non-committal saying that "we are still exploring a variety of options at the present time." - the most over-used developer phrase of all time, LOL!