CHICAGO | Post Office Redevelopment

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by lawfin

Approved? Come on seriously. This is little more than modern media puffery. It ain't going to happen ok.

6.2 million sq feet of entertainment space
4.1 million sq feet of hotel some 7500 rooms

3.8 million sq feet of residential

Those numbers are massive. In perspective when the WTC complex was destroyed if I recall that was in total some 12 million sq feet of space this is planned at 2 million larger than that if you believe it you are a fool.

well obviously someone wants to put something on that site, but I agree, it will likely be scaled back considering that is a ridiculous amount of space.

[HomrQT]

I particularly despise the way this project does not conform to the grid.

[773shadow08]

Originally Posted by XIII

Vision Video for old post office redevelopment.
It looks like they've modified the tower designs:
http://vimeo.com/42700645

This is more of a realistic proposal since the main tower has been scale back to a more reasonable height and thus the cost of building it reduces as well. Now the developers must work hard in finding possible tenants. The main tower looks to be the same height as either the Trump tower or the Aon building.

[untitledreality]

Originally Posted by XIII

Vision Video for old post office redevelopment.
It looks like they've modified the tower designs:
http://vimeo.com/42700645

As lawfin said, this is simply more Media Puffery to artificially inflate the value of the property in hopes of a resale. There are so many problems in that 'vision plan' that it isn't even worth the time to analyze.

Originally Posted by BraveNewWorld

That looks awesome, I am surprised to see this move forward. When will we know whether it was approved ?

It isn't moving forward... and it will never be approved or built. At most we might see the area rezoned before being sold to another developer down the road.

Originally Posted by 773shadow08

This is more of a realistic proposal since the main tower has been scale back to a more reasonable height and thus the cost of building it reduces as well. Now the developers must work hard in finding possible tenants. The main tower looks to be the same height as either the Trump tower or the Aon building.

The height of the main tower was the least of this proposals problems. Altering the Old Post Office, obscuring view corridors of the Post Office, spanning the Eisenhower with another tower, spanning the Chicago River, 14million square feet of build out... none of those are even REMOTELY feasible, irregardless of the economic climate.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by untitledreality

The height of the main tower was the least of this proposals problems. Altering the Old Post Office, obscuring view corridors of the Post Office, spanning the Eisenhower with another tower, spanning the Chicago River, 14million square feet of build out... none of those are even REMOTELY feasible, irregardless of the economic climate.

I've never really understood the love everyone has for the Post Office. It blocks the most significant view corridor of the Burnham Plan and it's ugly as sin. The two end portions are nice and should probably be redeveloped but the gigantic portion in the middle should probably be demolished, at least partially... there's no way to get light into the center so that space is virtually useless.

If there is some crazy desire to save the Post Office and maintain the blocked vista, then I don't see why we also need to preserve views of the Post Office. It's not beautiful; we shouldn't curtail the rights of surrounding property owners so that we can stare at the 1930s monstrosity for all time... especially the east facade, which is by far the ugliest, most awkward part of the design.

[untitledreality]

Originally Posted by ardecila

It blocks the most significant view corridor of the Burnham Plan

What view corridor? There is none until you pass under the Exchange building... then you're obstructed by the L... then you're obstructed by the rise over the IC... then FINALLY, when you apex the IC bridge you see Buckingham Fountain and the Lake. And going the other way? Would you rather just look down the Eisenhower?

Meanwhile, the Post Office building provides a Westward view termination point so we are not forced to look over the the Eisenhower... and for Eastward travelers it acts as a significant place holder... that you have 'entered' Chicago.

Originally Posted by ardecila

there's no way to get light into the center so that space is virtually useless.

Then program that space with something that doesn't require a natural light source... or tear out a internal courtyard. There are a myriad of possibilities on how to reuse this building, it would be a shame to see someone just demolish parts and pieces of it... thank goodness it has local protection.

[BraveNewWorld]

Originally Posted by ardecila

I've never really understood the love everyone has for the Post Office. It blocks the most significant view corridor of the Burnham Plan and it's ugly as sin. The two end portions are nice and should probably be redeveloped but the gigantic portion in the middle should probably be demolished, at least partially... there's no way to get light into the center so that space is virtually useless.

If there is some crazy desire to save the Post Office and maintain the blocked vista, then I don't see why we also need to preserve views of the Post Office. It's not beautiful; we shouldn't curtail the rights of surrounding property owners so that we can stare at the 1930s monstrosity for all time... especially the east facade, which is by far the ugliest, most awkward part of the design.

Yeah, I am loving the pessimism in this thread, the chances of this getting built are small, but it has been proposed, and the funding is there for the the first phase.

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by untitledreality

As lawfin said, this is simply more Media Puffery to artificially inflate the value of the property in hopes of a resale. There are so many problems in that 'vision plan' that it isn't even worth the time to analyze.


It isn't moving forward... and it will never be approved or built. At most we might see the area rezoned before being sold to another developer down the road.


The height of the main tower was the least of this proposals problems. Altering the Old Post Office, obscuring view corridors of the Post Office, spanning the Eisenhower with another tower, spanning the Chicago River, 14million square feet of build out... none of those are even REMOTELY feasible, irregardless of the economic climate.

It doesn't look to be 14 million square feet anymore, not even half that. If it wasn't a proposal then why did they go to all the trouble to make a video about it and change the massing of the building? I've also heard the project is set to go through an approval process sometime this year, but I can't verify that, I'll go look through SSC to see where that piece of information was.

I don't know why there would be all this hype if there was no actual plan to go through with it. I'm not saying it's likely to happen, but a vision means that it is pure fantasy, this is a feasable project.

[BraveNewWorld]

Originally Posted by Zapatan

It doesn't look to be 14 million square feet anymore, not even half that. If it wasn't a proposal then why did they go to all the trouble to make a video about it and change the massing of the building? I've also heard the project is set to go through an approval process sometime this year, but I can't verify that, I'll go look through SSC to see where that piece of information was.

I don't know why there would be all this hype if there was no actual plan to go through with it. I'm not saying it's likely to happen, but a vision means that it is pure fantasy, this is a feasable project.

Exactly

[BraveNewWorld]

Originally Posted by 773shadow08

This is more of a realistic proposal since the main tower has been scale back to a more reasonable height and thus the cost of building it reduces as well. Now the developers must work hard in finding possible tenants. The main tower looks to be the same height as either the Trump tower or the Aon building.

I would say the height of this scaled back design still has a roof height of probably 400-450 meters

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by 773shadow08

This is more of a realistic proposal since the main tower has been scale back to a more reasonable height and thus the cost of building it reduces as well. Now the developers must work hard in finding possible tenants. The main tower looks to be the same height as either the Trump tower or the Aon building.

the very last couple seconds of the video the tower looks about 1300 or so feet compared to 311 whacker drive, the angle is weird and sears is hardly visible.

I think this should be moved to the proposal section, now that it has been scaled back to a comprehendible size, I don't see why there is no potential of this going through someday.

[N90]

Originally Posted by nomarandlee

Looky here

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=192697

Haha before posting here, I had already viewed that thread. Uninformative to say the least, it was filled with speculation, pessimism, and doubt. While there's every reason to be any of the three characteristics above, its also not informative.

I'll just look into the project every couple of weeks to see if its going anywhere I suppose.

[lawfin]

The naive fanboysim on display is appalling. It ain't going to happen, it ain't feasible. Put it sure seems it will create quite a few wet dreams for certain forumers.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Welcome to the new SSP, LOL.

They'll learn though. It's the next cycle and newbies are getting excited about the new projects, it's a good thing in the long run...

[Zapatan]

I never said it would happen, I just said no one can provide any actual evidence that it won't.

And how is it not feasible? Far fetched? maybe.. impossible? not at all

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

Originally Posted by lawfin

The naive fanboysim on display is appalling.

You're being generous. I'd call it aggressive ignorance.

[BraveNewWorld]

Originally Posted by Ch.G, Ch.G

You're being generous. I'd call it aggressive ignorance.

We aren't saying it's likely, we are just saying that technically it is an proposal, and should be moved to the proposal section.

[Zapatan]

The naive fanboysim on display is appalling.

unless you can tell me why this proposal is impossible, I will continue assuming that it is a proposal even if an unlikely one.

no one has yet to say why, that's what I asked and you didn't answer my question.

[jd3189]

Originally Posted by Zapatan

unless you can tell me why this proposal is impossible, I will continue assuming that it is a proposal even if an unlikely one.

no one has yet to say why, that's what I asked and you didn't answer my question.

I guess they believe that like the Spire, this will not have a chance.

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by jd3189

I guess they believe that like the Spire, this will not have a chance.

I thought that was actually cancelled though with a very small chance of coming back to life.