I had heard that RAMSA specifically advised against re-using the 720 N Wells building. Which is odd, because it was built as a social club and it could certainly be turned back into a private social club. The new proposed building is quite similar to the demolished one, in terms of the the size, scale, and the types of interior spaces.

Certainly if the owner is intent on demolishing and building new, I don't expect them to turn down the work. But if they are asked to evaluate the old building and they recommend against re-use, it's fair to hold them accountable for that - especially when Bob Stern himself is a distinguished architectural historian.

But no, they have made it their mission to impose vintage New York architecture - or a kind of Disneyfied version of it - onto the world. Local traditions and history be damned. Look at the chain of copy-paste Art Deco towers they have put up across the US, in NYC, DC, Philly, Chicago, Minneapolis, LA, Atlanta, Palm Beach, Hangzhou, Moscow, etc. (One Bennett Park is our local example.) They are perfectly happy to be a status symbol for a cosmopolitan global elite, selling a fake version of the Park Avenue lifestyle.

That's infuriating if true. I mean, they can't add something marketable to their portfolio of work if it's mostly a reuse/rehab. But why solicit Stern to do the work if that's what they really wanted? Any number of firms in Chicago (that the LEY folks surely know) could have done a great job with a reuse here.

Also, scaffolding and netting was already up when I went by this building last week. Seems like they are being quick to demolish before a PR firestorm.

720 N Wells & 207 W Superior Demolition
 

February 8, 2024





April 25, 2024

919 on Fulton - 919 W Fulton Market
 

April 11, 2024





April 16, 2024











April 22, 2024

Cloud Gate Renovation - 201 E Randolph
 

April 15, 2024

812 W Adams
 

April 22, 2024

What an absolute shame :(

This city is fucking pathetic.

Meanwhile it looks like the demolition of six square blocks of Alfred Alschuler designed lofts in Lawndale for a fucking Amazon distribution center 1/3 the size and two blocks from the Pink Line is a done deal:

And our brilliant Mayor is providing resources and cover for this Alderman instead of blocking this travesty.

Does anyone have an update on those south loop projects on the 19xx/20xx s Michigan/Wabash blocks? Are all of those completely stalled?

It seems that way.

I'm not sure if they ever got their full building permits, they might have just been proceeding with foundations only until the full permits are approved.

Wow, all of them?? Well done Chicago. :(

https://twitter.com/Andrefor40th/sta...31577678671981

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GNZmyqOX...pg&name=medium

^ Glad to see that stretch of Western finally densifying. Western from Bucktown to Lincoln Square is slowly becoming the city's first mirdrise corridor

Speaking of which, our midrise boom continues with phase 1 of 2128 S Tan Court receiving construction permits. 110 senior units at 79 ft tall

https://chicagoyimby.com/wp-content/...7-1024x713.png
https://chicagoyimby.com/2024/05/bui...chinatown.html

Cabrini-Green redevelopment at Oak & Larabee, 78 units. I'm kinda in love with this design

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GNjzO5ma...pg&name=medium
https://twitter.com/ChicagoDPD/statu...61548785488190

I love the midrise scale that is developing in the Cabrini area. It would be great to get a Euro feel going here, and enough density to actually support walkable retail.

Everyone seems to agree the Cabrini rowhouses are not long for this world, so if/when those get redeveloped, the midrise urban fabric could extend all the way to Chicago Ave.

big fan... could use 20 more of these around the city

The proposed upzoning map is out and it's massive! Pretty much everyone lot on Western from Granville to Leland, with a few lots between Lunt and Pratt, will become B-3. Including TOD bonus FAR, this allows for developments to get up to FAR 4 without needing to submit a rezoning application! They'll also release the planned upzoning for the 47th Ward next month.

40th Ward rezoning map: https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/...g_proposed.pdf

What does FAR 4 allow to get built? Does that mean 4 floor buildings are allowed as of right?

There's not a direct 1:1 translation of FAR to height. FAR can be more thought of the allowed volume of a building, which places restrictions on how tall a building can viably be. Higher FAR gives more allowed volume, which makes it more viable to build taller buildings. There is a height limit for as-of-right developments, none if submitted as a Planned Development. Here are the height limits for B-3 as-of-right, based on if they're in a TOD zone and if they include ARO units on-site. Depending on how big the lot frontage is, buildings could be as tall as 80 feet

https://i.imgur.com/AgM4bx9.png
https://www.44thward.org/wp-content/...ed-9-24-15.pdf

this gerrymandered map shows how silly ward-level, alderman-controlled planning is