CHICAGO | 680 North Rush | 752 FT / 229 M | 64 FLOORS | NEVER BUILT - Page 3

spyguy · #41 Posted **Dec 23, 2005, 6:22 PM**

http://globest.com/news/440_440/chicago/141416-1.html

Condo Developers Fill Void in $250M Tower Design
By Mark Ruda

Now that LR Development has closed a five-story “sky window” in its 65-story condominium tower proposed for Huron and Rush streets, the company is hoping to begin construction by early 2007. Also added into the $250-million building’s design, criticized by city officials when it came to the plan commission in late 2003, is a 65,000-sf Canyon Ranch fitness center.

In addition to 330 condominiums and 120 hotel condominiums, the elliptical glass and aluminum building at the southwest corner of Huron and Rush streets will have 38,000 sf of office space for the Chicago diocese of the Episcopal Church, which is providing a ground lease to LR Development. Canyon Ranch will be spread over the 13th through 16th floors in the building at 65 E. Huron St., as well as have a restaurant on the second floor.

The hotel condos are planned for the 18th through 23rd floors, with the residential condos filling the 25th through 65th floors. Gone, however, is a five-story open void below the penthouse units. Filling in the hole at the top of the tower results in a 15% increase in the building’s square footage to nearly 800,000 sf, requiring Thursday’s recommendation by the plan commission.

LR Development president Tom Meeks tells GlobeSt.com units are likely to be priced in the neighborhood of $650 sf. Construction is expected to take about three years, he says, indicating there is no shortage of lenders. “We have a tremendous amont of interest in financing,” Meeks tells GlobeSt.com.

However, opposition remains from the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents, which notes 13 projects are underway or in the works that would add 5,000 units to the neighborhood. In addition, Canyon Ranch is expected to increase traffic, even though the building will include a 450-space valet parking garage.

“We’ve already down-zoned 75% of River North,” says 42nd Ward Alderman Burton Natarus. “We can’t down-zone everything because we’ll get another zoning lawsuit.”

Steely Dan · #42 Posted **Dec 23, 2005, 7:03 PM**

^ so, we have now have a target timeframe for construction start in early 2007. i will wait with eager anticipation, as this is still one of my top 5 favorite proposals on the table right now, even if the void up top has been closed.

jcchii · #43 Posted **Dec 24, 2005, 5:11 PM**

with so much apparently locked in already on this one, I'm surprised they are talking 07

BVictor1 · #44 Posted **Dec 24, 2005, 9:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcchii

with so much apparently locked in already on this one, I'm surprised they are talking 07

Well, they still have a quota of units to sell and that will take several months at least, then there's the demolition of the current structure which will certainly take several months. 2007 sounds like a realistic projection.

Steely Dan · #45 Posted **Dec 26, 2005, 3:52 PM**

from the boom rundown thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

These are pics of 65 E. Huron BVictor managed to get a snapshot of during one of his underground reconnaisance missions over a year ago (yeah, I've been rummaging the archives of this old lunker of a thread):

^There is something appealing about the base of this building--it really overwhelms you--no setback and right in-your-face. Plus the church and some tiny pre-war buildings are right next door. It has the potential to make an incredibly powerful statement. Does anyone else notice this?

TransitEngr · #46 Posted **Dec 30, 2005, 1:42 AM**

Did the official address of this change to 71 E. Huron? (forgive me if someone already asked that a month ago).

chiphile · #47 Posted **Dec 30, 2005, 3:21 AM**

.

chiphile · #48 Posted **Dec 30, 2005, 3:22 AM**

^shit i'm on crack and it won't let me delete, some help? thanks!

And for some reason it won't let me delete myself, I'm logged in correctly and everything.

spyguy · #49 Posted **Dec 30, 2005, 3:58 AM**

Click edit. Then check the checkbox at the top and hit the Delete button.

BVictor1 · #50 Posted **Dec 31, 2005, 7:36 PM**

There is a new sign in front of the Episcopal diocese' building at 65 East Huron announcing that 71 East Huron is "Coming Soon". That's right boys and girls, it's no longer 65 East Huron, but 71 East Huron.

Steely, you need to update the thread name.

BVictor1 · #51 Posted **Jan 1, 2006, 11:34 PM**

Here's that advertisement mentioned...

dvidler · #52 Posted **Jan 11, 2006, 6:44 PM**

So will they be knocking down the existing building or just build next to it?

Marvel 33 · #53 Posted **Jan 12, 2006, 7:43 AM**

This is going to be a good looking tower!

beachdoc06 · #54 Posted **Jan 12, 2006, 5:26 PM**

I keep getting 4th presbyterian and 71 Huron mixed up. I think it's the church that you can seen at the bottom of the diagram that gets me. How close are these two projects? They're about the same height if I remember correctly.

Fabb · #55 Posted **Jan 12, 2006, 5:32 PM**

This design is not very contemporary. It reminds me of the 70s. But I like it.

BANKofMANHATTAN · #56 Posted **Jan 12, 2006, 5:51 PM**

I like it!

What is the tower peeking out behind it's left side in the rendering? anyone?

JACKinBeantown · #57 Posted **Jan 12, 2006, 5:59 PM**

Interesting looking building. Chicago seems to be getting a lot of big buildings recently. Maybe on a larger scale than New York, even though New York has quite a few large buildings going up too. We'll see if the French Tower ever actually gets built. It's unfortunate that because of September 11, Chicago may soon have a more impressive skyline than New York.

Marvel 33 · #58 Posted **Jan 12, 2006, 9:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JACKinNYC

Chicago may soon have a more impressive skyline than New York.

I thought we already did!

Marvel 33 · #59 Posted **Jan 12, 2006, 9:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachdoc06

I keep getting 4th presbyterian and 71 Huron mixed up. I think it's the church that you can seen at the bottom of the diagram that gets me. How close are these two projects? They're about the same height if I remember correctly.

4th Presbitarian has had many road blocks along the way. Especially from all the NIMBYs in the neighborhood. Currently the project seems to be on hold and it might never be built.

71 Huron looks a lot more promessing!

beachdoc06 · #60 Posted **Jan 12, 2006, 11:28 PM**

^ sorry...i should've wrote how close in proximity are these two projects.