CHICAGO | Lincoln Yards

[ardecila]

^ No way. The site is inaccessible without massive investment in infrastructure. It was also so polluted that only a very intensive development could offset the cost of the cleanup, so a low-density project was never an option.

SB had no choice but to plan big, and ask the city to help them on the infrastructure piece. The only feasible alternative would be more industrial/warehouses.

[dreamy-developer]

Originally Posted by ardecila

^ No way. The site is inaccessible without massive investment in infrastructure. It was also so polluted that only a very intensive development could offset the cost of the cleanup, so a low-density project was never an option.

SB had no choice but to plan big, and ask the city to help them on the infrastructure piece. The only feasible alternative would be more industrial/warehouses.

Honestly, this is my biggest fear. I don't know if anyone can answer or knows what the entire area is zoned as, but I think in the long, long term -- with the right investment to the surrounding infrastructure and investment into the area i.e. (such as the two sites SB has pitched at 2033 N Kingsbury Avenue, and 1840 N Marcey St).

I think another version of LY could happen, or at most, happen in stages from various development over time -- like the slow but on going developments we've seen near North & Clybourn. I just hope that you don't see more warehouses and big-box building get pitched in the area in the time being. Would be such a waste of land for what the area could be.

[ardecila]

Honestly I think the sites that Sterling Bay is selling could be successful projects in their own right in the hands of other developers.

Cortland/Elston isn't so far from Bucktown, and it's a short walk to that little bar/restaurant area on Cortland. The transit options are not terrible, Metra to the Loop and the #X9 bus to the Medical District (Fulton Mkt workers can use either) plus the obvious Kennedy access for folks who work anywhere else.

The 606 will be extended to Elston in a few years as well, so there will be a high-quality pedestrian and bike route to other thriving neighborhoods.

[SpireGuy]

I'd love to see the DePaul basketball practice facility go here. Would be a good use of land, near the school, just west on Fullerton, and on the river. So much better that demolishing 40 units of historic housing next to the redline!

[Randomguy34]

2031-2033 N. Kingsbury St is on this month's Plan Commission agenda, surprised it made it. Posting here since it might as well be a part of Lincoln Yards: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...n_Hearing.html

[twister244]

Some interesting commentary here on the ongoing rift between the mayor and Scott Waguespack. I do wish we had more transit in the area to reduce the need for cars, but at the same time, you aren't going to get to the level of density that justifies new transit without building housing.....

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/poli...article1-image

[dewbs]

Originally Posted by twister244

Some interesting commentary here on the ongoing rift between the mayor and Scott Waguespack. I do wish we had more transit in the area to reduce the need for cars, but at the same time, you aren't going to get to the level of density that justifies new transit without building housing.....

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/poli...article1-image

Waguespack told Crain’s the building’s height and the proposed 275 parking spots, despite qualifying as a transit-oriented development meant to reduce a reliance on cars, will “overload the area and set the precedent for any other property in that area to get the same thing.”

In recent weeks, Waguespack said he’s received a full-court press from Boatright and her top deputies asking him to support the project.

"Nobody's opposed to a new development there,” he said. Instead, he and the local neighborhood groups favor mid-rise apartment buildings, so that “we're not building Lincoln Yards on this side of the river.”

"As soon as all the other property owners say, 'Hey, I can do (25 stories),' you're just going to have a wall along the river that is essentially not what anybody asked for,” he said.

...

The height of the north building was reduced 50 feet and the south building 20 feet from when the project was first presented to the department. Parking spaces were reduced from 360 to 275.

...

Lawson told Crain’s if the development reaches his committee there would likely be a showdown vote on whether to stall the ordinance in deference to Waguespack, who is not a member of the committee.

"If there's no community support, there's no aldermanic support, how does the committee look at that? I'm not sure,” he said.

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