CHICAGO | General Developments

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Yes, its actually got very little parking in it and will only add a few dozen (if that) public spaces. The first floor and part of the second is retail and the top two floors are condos.

[sammyg]

I must have missed that.

Are their other examples in the city of a CPL on the ground level of a multilevel building?

It would be interesting, but the eminent domain part leaves me discouraged..

The existing Chinatown library is part of a 2-story strip mall-ish building.
Google Maps Link (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=archer+and+wentworth,+chicago&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=S+Wentworth+Ave+%26+S+Archer+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60616&gl=us&ll=41.849352,-87.631947&spn=0.002841,0.004823&z=18&layer=c&cbll=41.849438,-87.631943&panoid=SkKlsRe2kGMBg6a9YUJyOw&cbp=12,104.61,,0,12.54)

[Mr Downtown]

Are their other examples in the city of a CPL on the ground level of a multilevel building?

There used to be dozens. Many library branches were in ordinary storefronts. Most have closed as CPL has consolidated branches and built monumental new homes for them, but I think there are still a half-dozen scattered around the city.

[lawfin]

I must have missed that.

Are their other examples in the city of a CPL on the ground level of a multilevel building?

It would be interesting, but the eminent domain part leaves me discouraged..

of top of my head I cannot come up with a current one..though as Mr D said they used to be quite common.

One I can come up with is Evanston South branch is in a 3 story storefront on Chicago Ave.

[spyguy]

http://www.archpaper.com/e-board_rev.asp?News_ID=5094

Bjarke Ingels Makes No Little Plans
Danish architect ready to leave his footprints in Manhattan and beyond
Branden Klayko 01.26.2011

...Ingels’ own big plans are to also go west: “Chicago hasn’t found its form yet, but we’re in talks with [developer] Dan McCaffery about a large, mixed-use New Urban waterfront development,” he explained. The project would be part of the four-billion-dollar, SOM-planned South Works, on the site of an old U.S. Steel plant.

[J_M_Tungsten]

1-26
Cabrini Red demolition
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAfN2kj-wpg&hd=1

Does anyone have or know the master plan for the area after demolition?

[Rizzo]

I wonder if parkside will build future phases.....though I kind of don't want them to. It's become too much of "mega development" with a bunch of buildings flipped and mirrored from block to block. I'd like to see the former CHA lots sold off to private developers so the architecture can become a bit more varied. still feel the area carries an institutional vibe...though parkside is a huge improvement and I think it will continue to be successful when all is complete.

[BVictor1]

http://www.archpaper.com/e-board_rev.asp?News_ID=5094

Bjarke Ingels Makes No Little Plans
Danish architect ready to leave his footprints in Manhattan and beyond
Branden Klayko 01.26.2011

...Ingels’ own big plans are to also go west: “Chicago hasn’t found its form yet, but we’re in talks with [developer] Dan McCaffery about a large, mixed-use New Urban waterfront development,” he explained. The project would be part of the four-billion-dollar, SOM-planned South Works, on the site of an old U.S. Steel plant.

http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2011/01/27/video-interlude-lakeside-promo-video.php
Video Interlude: Chicago Lakeside Promo Video
Thursday, January 27, 2011, by Mark Boye

[QUOTE]Yesterday, NBC Chicago ran story about Lakeside, McCaffery Interests' South Works mega-project. The story, titled "The South Side Gets Its Lakefront Back," doesn't have much in the way of new information, but in it, project manager Nasutsa Mabwa observes that it's "the only community in Chicago where you'll have Lake Shore Drive to the west of where you live." Regardless of what you think of SOM and Antunovich's plans, the development will benefit from its unique location and lakefront property. And as dull as the Market Common phase looks, the plan for North Slip and many acres of parkland looks pretty excellent. At the end of the video, the voiceover narration leaves us with this vision: "Chicago Lakeside is space to create neighborhoods, a technology center, a medical complex... the Obama presidential library?" Whoa there! Let's not get ahead of ourselves. /QUOTE]

[sentinel]

^^Yeah I noticed that too!! Right at the very end of that portion of the video, Bill Kurtis says it in a creepily coy manner, I might add. But I was pleasantly surprised; perhaps there's something we're not supposed to know for a while..

[sentinel]

http://www.archpaper.com/e-board_rev.asp?News_ID=5094

Bjarke Ingels Makes No Little Plans
Danish architect ready to leave his footprints in Manhattan and beyond
Branden Klayko 01.26.2011

...Ingels’ own big plans are to also go west: “Chicago hasn’t found its form yet, but we’re in talks with [developer] Dan McCaffery about a large, mixed-use New Urban waterfront development,” he explained. The project would be part of the four-billion-dollar, SOM-planned South Works, on the site of an old U.S. Steel plant.

Thanks for that spyguy. Btw, for those are interested, this is a very cool, up and coming, newer firm.
http://www.big.dk/
(URL is no joke, but looks hilarious)

[EarlyBuyer]

The Next Lakeshore East Tower

Soil test drilling has begun on site "A" for the 500 unit rental tower at Lakeshore East; mentioned in a Crain's article a couple of weeks ago. Site "A" is the one immediately East of the Swissotel.

[bnk]

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2011/01/stimulating-modernism-the-feds-give-a-big-boost-to-mies-chicago-federal-center.html

January 28, 2011

Stimulating modernism: The feds give a big boost to Mies' Chicago Federal Center

...

the Mies van der Rohe-designed Chicago Federal Center, which is getting $155 million in stimulus money for energy retrofits and other upgrades

...

[spyguy]

http://www.chicagomag.com/Radar/Deal-Estate/January-2011/Home-Wrecker-Frank-Lloyd-Wrights-Gold-Coast-Love-Nest-Slated-for-Demolition/

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Gold Coast Love Nest Slated for Demolition
By Dennis Rodkin

The buyers of the red brick house at 25 East Cedar Street where Frank Lloyd Wright lived during one of the most tumultuous chapters of his life will tear it down and build a new residence on the site, according to the real-estate agent for the home’s sellers. The sale closed on Tuesday, and the buyers, not yet identified in public records, paid $1.5 million for the property; the sellers, Gordy and Clari Siegel, had been asking $1.7 million. A Chicago Tribute sign in front of the house notes that Wright once lived in the home, but the place does not have landmark status.
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/9999/de20110127flashfrankllo.jpg

[Rizzo]

http://www.chicagomag.com/Radar/Deal-Estate/January-2011/Home-Wrecker-Frank-Lloyd-Wrights-Gold-Coast-Love-Nest-Slated-for-Demolition/

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Gold Coast Love Nest Slated for Demolition
By Dennis Rodkin

The buyers of the red brick house at 25 East Cedar Street where Frank Lloyd Wright lived during one of the most tumultuous chapters of his life will tear it down and build a new residence on the site, according to the real-estate agent for the home’s sellers. The sale closed on Tuesday, and the buyers, not yet identified in public records, paid $1.5 million for the property; the sellers, Gordy and Clari Siegel, had been asking $1.7 million. A Chicago Tribute sign in front of the house notes that Wright once lived in the home, but the place does not have landmark status.
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/9999/de20110127flashfrankllo.jpg

^ Dayum. That's too bad. Well, I guess I'll have demo shots. I can see this building right out my bedroom window.

[spyguy]

Logan Arts Center update
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9074/5404337189d090b44d2ab.jpg
Web Services - IT Services/ flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nsitwebservices/5404337189/in/set-72157625821174399/)
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/716/5404334003a04d01cbb5b.jpg
Web Services - IT Services/ flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nsitwebservices/5404334003/in/set-72157625821174399/)
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/653/5404940570f463001abdb.jpg
Web Services - IT Services/ flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nsitwebservices/5404940570/in/set-72157625821174399/)

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Wow! That's way further along than I knew! I thought it was still just a hole in the ground. Look forward to seeing this awesome addition to Chicago's collection of architecture completed!

Doesn't this building count as a highrise? I thought the tower portion was 14 stories? They already appear to have constructed 7 floors of tower and it looks about halfway done... This update should probably be in the highrise compilation thread.

[lawfin]

Logan Arts Center update
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9074/5404337189d090b44d2ab.jpg
Web Services - IT Services/ flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nsitwebservices/5404337189/in/set-72157625821174399/)
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/716/5404334003a04d01cbb5b.jpg
Web Services - IT Services/ flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nsitwebservices/5404334003/in/set-72157625821174399/)
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/653/5404940570f463001abdb.jpg
Web Services - IT Services/ flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nsitwebservices/5404940570/in/set-72157625821174399/)

Are there renders

[lawfin]

here are blueprints

http://arts.uchicago.edu/i/logan/logan_floorplans.pdf

[ardecila]

That's awesome. Williams/Tsien are incredible in the clever way they use materials. Those super-long bricks... uber-sexy.

[Nowhereman1280]

Are there renders

Here:

http://uchiblogo.uchicago.edu/loganunveil09.jpg
uchicago.edu

Gorgeous building.

[Rizzo]

Gorgeous building, and I have to give major props to the person who did those beautiful renderings.

[Nowhereman1280]

The coolest part will be the 9th floor "performance penthouse" as it is labeled on the blueprints. This will take up the entire top left corner as shown in the rendering. Two walls of the space will be entirely glass and about 3 stories tall and will have sweeping views of the Midway, Jackson Park, the U of C campus, and the lake with the skyline looming in the background. Should be quite an impressive space...

[J_M_Tungsten]

So I went to the lounge at the Hancock yesterday, and I noticed that the Hyatt plaza is very noticeable from there. I think if they have that flashy new aquarium plaza thing built that it would draw a lot of attention from tourist when they go to the top of the Hancock. Unless that lot a couple blocks north of the river gets built up.
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt1/JMTUNGSTEN/86fcb4ec.jpg

[J_M_Tungsten]

1-31

Children's memorial hospital
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt1/JMTUNGSTEN/d285b7c1.jpg
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt1/JMTUNGSTEN/f0a76f3b.jpg
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt1/JMTUNGSTEN/d4193e3c.jpg
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt1/JMTUNGSTEN/42abdbb2.jpg

[wrab]

Meh............

[Nowhereman1280]

I gotta say that's a pretty ugly building. I am looking forward to that pedway reopening again, its horribly inconvenient not to be able to cut across that super block.

Its really obvious how terrible of a job they did trying to break up the massive hulk this building is. Its really too bad that the NW campus feels compelled to vomit beige precast on everything because they could have done something much more appealing with this beast. If they actually took a modern, progressive approach to this design we could have ended up with something cool like this building Madison:

http://www.uli.com/images/2.jpg
uli.com

[Nowhereman1280]

In other news:

Via Curbed

Waveland Partners releases its plans for Edgewater Medical Center:

http://cdn.cstatic.net/cache/gallery/5139/5407144997_8f3d591edb_o.png
cstatic.net

http://cdn.cstatic.net/cache/gallery/5295/5407755998_1baa56761d_o.png
cstatic.net

http://cdn.cstatic.net/cache/gallery/5213/5407145269_092f63c3e8_o.png
cstatic.net

More pictures and info can be found at:

http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2011/02/01/waveland-partners-unveils-plans-for-edgewater-medical-center.php#residences-at-edgewater-park-5

[wrab]

Oh boy - more brown brick.

[lawfin]

^^^As to the Edgewater development.....it beats the hell out of an attractive nuisance empty shell.

Also I think it is better than turning the entire site into a park....Senn is a block away.

If it brings more purchasing power to the area...fantastic....it would be a shame to lose the potential density addition if the entire parcel became a park.


The design.....whatever......but I am sure the units will only aid the further development of the business corridor along clark south of ridge....and the one that is struggling and nascent north of ridge


Also if as Harry OSterman wants...a new metra station is added at ridge / ravenswood / peterson.....these units would only be a few blocks away



PDF link to plans: http://theresidencesatedgewaterpark.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/EMCRedevelopmentPlans.pdf

[ChiTownCity]

I like it. I wish more of this would pop up all over the place (10 storys?!!!!)

and brown brick is the best brick next to red brick...

[Busy Bee]

I agree. It's nothing groundbreaking or limit pushing, but it doesn't need to be. I think it looks real nice. The perfect height that I'd like to see along major arteries in Chicago. Density along arteries needs to be boosted significantly IMO, especially near transit nodes. Take a cue from Paris, or most of the world for that matter. I look forward to a future were more and more dumpy one story commercial structures along major arteries gives way to 6+ story mixed uses.

[the urban politician]

^ As long as it doesn't end up as a park, I'm happy

[wrab]

Those intrepid souls at Curbed Chicago (http://chicago.curbed.com/) note the following, from the Edgewater Community Buzz (http://edgewatercb.blogspot.com/):


.....In addition to voting for a new mayor on February 22nd, neighborhood voters will be asked to weigh in on the following referendum: “Shall the City of Chicago develop a public park on the site of the Edgewater Medical Center, located in the 5700 block of North Ashland?”.....


The full Edgewater Community Buzz entry is here (http://edgewatercb.blogspot.com/2011/02/on-ballot-edgewater-medical-center.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdgewaterCommunityBuzz+%28Edgewater+Community+Buzz%29&utm_content=Google+Reader)

[spyguy]

First, from the Landmarks Commission:

The Noel State Bank (North & Milwaukee) is now apparently owned by the very active DRW Holdings and they're planning to rehab and convert the building into retail space, with Hartshorne Plunkard serving as the architects.

Second, 1027 W Madison - CCP Holden Building

Proposal: Proposed exterior and interior rehabilitation of an existing 4-story masonry commercial
building, including masonry repair, new ground-floor storefronts, a new cornice, new
windows, a 50% green roof, and a new roof-top deck.

This is extremely good news as this is one of my favorite buildings in the West Loop. I've been dreaming about how good it would look after being restored for years now. Because Carpenter does not run through Madison, you get an unusual perspective of the building from the north.

The is the current state of the building, built in 1872:
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/3633/4911588455b3392b2007.jpg
saumacus/ flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/saumacus/4911588455/in/photostream/)

Almost reminds you of the Maxwell Street days.

Second, 1313 W Randolph is supposed to be converted into 68 apartments with ground floor retail.
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/8640/1313randolph.jpg

[spyguy]

Lots of parking vs. a tall building - what's the WLCO to do?

http://www.suntimes.com/business/roeder/3603305-452/parking-zoning-building-project-garage.html

16-level structure would be all parking
DAVID ROEDER Feb 1, 2011

...The building for 290 cars would rise at 124 N. Halsted and consist entirely of 16 levels for parking. Developer Bruce Michael said the height will be closer to that of an eight-to-10-story building.

Elevators and mechanical systems would direct the cars into stacked slots, without a human hand touching them. The garage would be part of a residential rehab of an adjacent former factory at 113 N. Green, with some spaces reserved for the tenants and the rest available for patrons of Greektown and Randolph Street businesses.

...Michael, owner of Michigan-based Ojibway Development, said he hopes he can begin construction this summer. The six-story Green Street building, a onetime Allis-Chalmers factory, would get a seventh floor added and be reconfigured for 112 apartments.
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/4015/81500191.jpg

[Rizzo]

First, from the Landmarks Commission:

The Noel State Bank (North & Milwaukee) is now apparently owned by the very active DRW Holdings and they're planning to rehab and convert the building into retail space, with Hartshorne Plunkard serving as the architects.

Second, 1027 W Madison - CCP Holden Building

Proposal: Proposed exterior and interior rehabilitation of an existing 4-story masonry commercial
building, including masonry repair, new ground-floor storefronts, a new cornice, new
windows, a 50% green roof, and a new roof-top deck.

This is extremely good news as this is one of my favorite buildings in the West Loop. I've been dreaming about how good it would look after being restored for years now. Because Carpenter does not run through Madison, you get an unusual perspective of the building from the north.

The is the current state of the building, built in 1872:
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/3633/4911588455b3392b2007.jpg
saumacus/ flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/saumacus/4911588455/in/photostream/)

Almost reminds you of the Maxwell Street days.

Second, 1313 W Randolph is supposed to be converted into 68 apartments with ground floor retail.
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/8640/1313randolph.jpg

Both great buildings. I'd really like to see new development pick up speed further down Randolph. I've never cared for those dividers though. They create a psychological disconnect between both sides of the street. I wish Randolph was a three-lane, with turn lanes, and curbside angled parking. Trees would be relocated to generous grass easements, and the sidewalk would be widened for outdoor seating. You'd have a nice canopy of trees over the sidewalk

[ChiTownCity]

Lots of parking vs. a tall building - what's the WLCO to do?

http://www.suntimes.com/business/roeder/3603305-452/parking-zoning-building-project-garage.html

16-level structure would be all parking
DAVID ROEDER Feb 1, 2011

...The building for 290 cars would rise at 124 N. Halsted and consist entirely of 16 levels for parking. Developer Bruce Michael said the height will be closer to that of an eight-to-10-story building.

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/4015/81500191.jpg

I would love to see more of these...

[headcase]

I would love to see more of these...

Ugh -- I'm torn. In theory, if they actually replace surface lots, they are fine and more efficient. But in my head I'm like "a new dedicated parking structure? YUCK!"

SSDD

[headcase]

Lots of parking vs. a tall building - what's the WLCO to do?


Hopefully it causes so much internal strife that it causes that abomination of a "neighborhood" group to implode.

SSDD

[ardecila]

The bright side is that the parking will be a huge advantage to help lease those apartments, and population gain in the West Loop is a good thing. The accessory parking will help to bring in more foot traffic to Greektown/Randolph St businesses too.

The mechanized system will serve as proof of concept for further use of the system in Chicago.

Oh, and if the Halsted corridor transitions to garage parking, there might be a chance of removing the street parking to put in bus lanes. Oh wait... the city would have to pay rent to Morgan Stanley for the parking spaces. :doh:

[Busy Bee]

If you think about it, relatively small scaled vertical garages is a bit of a what goes around comes around concept. Plenty of multilevel, fully concealed auto garages where built in the 1920's. This is sort of a return to that concept. Let's face it, cars are never fully going away. Even if peak oil, public policy and changing lifestyle choice 'drives' their use down considerably - especially in urban settings, and electric vehicles replace the combustion engine in large part - 4 tires and a steering wheel are here to stay. That being said, I'd much rather have them placed in tidy, purpose built garages that have and indistinguishable and contextual look at street level - and most importantly require drivers to pay a fair market value for the privalige then to see them on surface lots on prime real estate, interupting streetwalls and being altogether disspleasing to the eye. I think the fit and finish of this garage and the one in Bucktown look great and wouldn't mind more of these around the city if it means less surface lots, which opens up development opportunities and less congestion at street level due to parallel parking and 'circlers.' This undoubtedly increases the pedestrian experience and makes more possible 'complete streets' with vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian movements all on equal footings.

[Buckman821]

If you think about it, relatively small scaled vertical garages is a bit of a what goes around comes around concept. Plenty of multilevel, fully concealed auto garages where built in the 1920's. This is sort of a return to that concept. Let's face it, cars are never fully going away. Even if peak oil, public policy and changing lifestyle choice 'drives' their use down considerably - especially in urban settings, and electric vehicles replace the combustion engine in large part - 4 tires and a steering wheel are here to stay. That being said, I'd much rather have them placed in tidy, purpose built garages that have and indistinguishable and contextual look at street level - and most importantly require drivers to pay a fair market value for the privalige then to see them on surface lots on prime real estate, interupting streetwalls and being altogether disspleasing to the eye. I think the fit and finish of this garage and the one in Bucktown look great and wouldn't mind more of these around the city if it means less surface lots, which opens up development opportunities and less congestion at street level due to parallel parking and 'circlers.' This undoubtedly increases the pedestrian experience and makes more possible 'complete streets' with vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian movements all on equal footings.

Very well said. I completely agree. Obviously less auto dependence is would be desirable but we have to be reasonable about developing a healthy relationship with automobiles in an urban context.

[emathias]

...
Second, 1027 W Madison - CCP Holden Building

Proposal: Proposed exterior and interior rehabilitation of an existing 4-story masonry commercial
building, including masonry repair, new ground-floor storefronts, a new cornice, new
windows, a 50% green roof, and a new roof-top deck.

This is extremely good news as this is one of my favorite buildings in the West Loop. I've been dreaming about how good it would look after being restored for years now. Because Carpenter does not run through Madison, you get an unusual perspective of the building from the north.

The is the current state of the building, built in 1872:
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/3633/4911588455b3392b2007.jpg
saumacus/ flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/saumacus/4911588455/in/photostream/)

Almost reminds you of the Maxwell Street days.
...

I lived on that block, in 1047 W Madison for a semester in 1995. Times sure have changed in that area since then ...

[the urban politician]

If you think about it, relatively small scaled vertical garages is a bit of a what goes around comes around concept. Plenty of multilevel, fully concealed auto garages where built in the 1920's. This is sort of a return to that concept. Let's face it, cars are never fully going away. Even if peak oil, public policy and changing lifestyle choice 'drives' their use down considerably - especially in urban settings, and electric vehicles replace the combustion engine in large part - 4 tires and a steering wheel are here to stay. That being said, I'd much rather have them placed in tidy, purpose built garages that have and indistinguishable and contextual look at street level - and most importantly require drivers to pay a fair market value for the privalige then to see them on surface lots on prime real estate, interupting streetwalls and being altogether disspleasing to the eye. I think the fit and finish of this garage and the one in Bucktown look great and wouldn't mind more of these around the city if it means less surface lots, which opens up development opportunities and less congestion at street level due to parallel parking and 'circlers.' This undoubtedly increases the pedestrian experience and makes more possible 'complete streets' with vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian movements all on equal footings.

:tup: I fully concur.

Now I've complained about the massive parking garages built by NW in Streeterville before, but these ergonomic "boutique" garages, if you will, could potentially go a long way towards solving parking issues in neighborhood retail strips without defacing the streetscape. Different animal altogether, and that's why I like the concept.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Plus it doesn't have ramps so could potentially be converted to a different use without demolition at some point in the future. I think that's one of the crimes of parking podiums; there is no way to get rid of it and use it for something else if the demand for automobiles falls off in the future.

[intrepidDesign]

This is excellent news!! :yes: I work down the street from this building and my fellow work buddy/Chicago architect buff and I talk about it all the time. This building has sat like this for too long. So much could be done with it. Are they planning on removing the fire escapes? I would assume they are un-bricking the windows. There is a wealth of underutilized space on Madison, pre-existing and empty lots.

[Via Chicago]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-historic-west-side-church-damaged-in-storm-20110204,0,2065189.story


Historic West Side church damaged in storm

One of the casualties of the Blizzard of '11 is an historic West Side church, where two Gothic-style towers came down, sending heavy limestones through the truss roof of the church into the sanctuary.

Rev. George W. Daniels, senior pastor of First Baptist Congregational Church, 1613 W. Washington St., said damage appeared extensive.

The towers on the southeast side of the church toppled sometime overnight Tuesday in high winds and lightning, he said.

A structural engineer today will determine the extent of the damage and if services can continue to be conducted in the main sanctuary, Daniels said. It they cannot, they will be transferred to a fellowship hall on the premesis, he said.

Construction on the church began in 1869 and was completed in 1871, he said. It was named a state landmark in 2006 and a National Historic Landmark the following year, he added.

The building survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and is said to have temporarily housed government workers during the reconstruction of their offices.

This is tragic. That church, architecturally, is the anchor of that neighborhood.

http://3547-communitywalk.voxcdn.com/photos/1/90/17887_l.jpg
http://3547-communitywalk.voxcdn.com/photos/1/90/17887_l.jpg

[BWChicago]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-historic-west-side-church-damaged-in-storm-20110204,0,2065189.story



This is tragic. That church, architecturally, is the anchor of that neighborhood.

http://3547-communitywalk.voxcdn.com/photos/1/90/17887_l.jpg
http://3547-communitywalk.voxcdn.com/photos/1/90/17887_l.jpg

It's real bad, but it's not the big tower. http://www.wgnradio.com/news/local/breaking/chi-110204-church-damage-pictures,0,2211309.photogallery

[Via Chicago]

Thanks, I was having trouble finding pictures of the exterior, I figured it was the big one. Thats a bit more reassuring, but will still be quite a bit of work to restore. Here's hoping their insurance is able to cover a significant portion. I have a feeling though that a fully accurate restoration is going to take a lot more dough than they will be getting.

[ardecila]

This is excellent news!! :yes: I work down the street from this building and my fellow work buddy/Chicago architect buff and I talk about it all the time. This building has sat like this for too long. So much could be done with it. Are they planning on removing the fire escapes? I would assume they are un-bricking the windows. There is a wealth of underutilized space on Madison, pre-existing and empty lots.

Surprisingly, pre-existing fire escapes are still allowed (http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Illinois/chicagobuilding/division10-meansofegress/chapter13-160exitrequirements?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:chicagobuilding_il$anc=JD_13-160-630) as a means of egress, so long as they meet certain standards.

I'm guessing the building owners will preserve it rather than try and retrofit a second stair somewhere on the inside, and lose valuable interior space.

[ardecila]

Thanks, I was having trouble finding pictures of the exterior, I figured it was the big one. Thats a bit more reassuring, but will still be quite a bit of work to restore. Here's hoping their insurance is able to cover a significant portion. I have a feeling though that a fully accurate restoration is going to take a lot more dough than they will be getting.

I don't see what's so problematic about that. The stones fell in between the roof joists and missed any major decorative elements. They just have to rebuild one section of roof and two sections of sanctuary ceiling.

If the stones are intact, they can just re-use them.

The only expensive part looks to be the pipe organ, which was directly below the damaged section of roof.

[the urban politician]

1027 W Madison - CCP Holden Building

Proposal: Proposed exterior and interior rehabilitation of an existing 4-story masonry commercial
building, including masonry repair, new ground-floor storefronts, a new cornice, new
windows, a 50% green roof, and a new roof-top deck.

This is extremely good news as this is one of my favorite buildings in the West Loop. I've been dreaming about how good it would look after being restored for years now. Because Carpenter does not run through Madison, you get an unusual perspective of the building from the north.

The is the current state of the building, built in 1872:
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/3633/4911588455b3392b2007.jpg
saumacus/ flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/saumacus/4911588455/in/photostream/)


^ More info:

Marketing firm buys historic West Loop building (http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20110204/CRED03/110209924/in-brief-devry-schafer-condon-carter-ron-lakin#axzz1Cqmye3mY)

Local marketing firm Schafer Condon Carter has acquired a vintage four-story building in the West Loop, with plans to move its headquarters there this fall. The firm says it paid Lakeside Bank $1.6 million for the C.C.P. Holden Building, a 34,500-square-foot structure at 1027 W. Madison St. that was completed in 1872. The Chicago-based took bank over the property last February, 17 months after filing a $3-million foreclosure suit against its previous owner, developer Joseph Zivkovic, who bought it for $3.3 million in 2006, county records show. SCC plans to move its offices there from its current home at 168 N. Clinton St.

[Rizzo]

Surprisingly, pre-existing fire escapes are still allowed (http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Illinois/chicagobuilding/division10-meansofegress/chapter13-160exitrequirements?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:chicagobuilding_il$anc=JD_13-160-630) as a means of egress, so long as they meet certain standards.

I'm guessing the building owners will preserve it rather than try and retrofit a second stair somewhere on the inside, and lose valuable interior space.

Code requires a second interior stair. It's strictly enforced and difficult to be "grandfathered" in. You can still keep those fire escapes as a means of ALTERNATIVE egress, but not primary. If they wanted an exterior stair it would structurally need to meet the ground and have 44" clear risers.

[emathias]

Surprisingly, pre-existing fire escapes are still allowed (http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Illinois/chicagobuilding/division10-meansofegress/chapter13-160exitrequirements?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:chicagobuilding_il$anc=JD_13-160-630) as a means of egress, so long as they meet certain standards.

I'm guessing the building owners will preserve it rather than try and retrofit a second stair somewhere on the inside, and lose valuable interior space.

I think it's interesting that those fire stairs are different from the left and right.

[headcase]

'Lake Wobegon' in the sky: Apartment high-rises are above average, but nothing special (http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2011/02/lake-wobegon-architecture-apartment-high-rises-above-average-but-nothing-special.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+chicagotribune/theskyline+(ChicagoTribune+-+Cityscapes)&utm_content=Google+Reader)




Fueled by a growing shortage of apartments and fears that condominiums will lose their value, Chicago's apartment building boomlet is a welcome shift from the brutal recession years, if only because it will help keep struggling architects off the unemployment rolls. Yet as two new apartment towers reveal, the design consequences of this anticipated construction surge are complex and, in some ways, troubling.

...

The architects and the developers -- Jupiter Realty Co. and Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers at 215 West, and Midwest Property Group Ltd. at 200 Squared -- haven't produced any masterpieces in these buildings, but they haven't saddled us with any eyesores either. Let's hope that they and other design teams learn from the strengths and shortcomings of these apartment buildings and reach higher in the next wave.

SSDD

[spyguy]

http://www.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/3637552-418/reagan-university-president-park-chicago.html

Is Ronald Reagan’s Chicago boyhood home doomed?
By KIM JANSSEN Staff Reporter Feb 6, 2011 05:04PM

Locked up, abandoned and forgotten, the vacant six-flat standing at the northeast corner of 57th and Maryland has no plaques or statues and few clues to its history.

...But sources inside and outside the university versed in its real estate policy say it is in private talks to demolish the home, and that the university has long considered buying up and razing the entire block and the block to the east as essential to hospital expansion. The $700 million, 10-story Hospital Pavilion, due to open in 2013, already looms over Reagan’s home across 57th Street.
http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/6413/51077934.jpg

Say goodbye to all of this, although some of it is already gone:
http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/5523/uocdemo.jpg

[harryc]

...snip..

Second, 1313 W Randolph is supposed to be converted into 68 apartments with ground floor retail.
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/8640/1313randolph.jpg

I love seeing this from the Green Line - the top (cornice ?) stands out with the flower like decorations.

[Rizzo]

http://www.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/3637552-418/reagan-university-president-park-chicago.html

Is Ronald Reagan’s Chicago boyhood home doomed?
By KIM JANSSEN Staff Reporter Feb 6, 2011 05:04PM

Locked up, abandoned and forgotten, the vacant six-flat standing at the northeast corner of 57th and Maryland has no plaques or statues and few clues to its history.

...But sources inside and outside the university versed in its real estate policy say it is in private talks to demolish the home, and that the university has long considered buying up and razing the entire block and the block to the east as essential to hospital expansion. The $700 million, 10-story Hospital Pavilion, due to open in 2013, already looms over Reagan’s home across 57th Street.
http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/6413/51077934.jpg

Say goodbye to all of this, although some of it is already gone:
http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/5523/uocdemo.jpg

"private talks" Anyone working in that area will tell you that block is coming down soon. They've been saying that for over a year.

[ardecila]

I'm not sure it's worthwhile to keep a home where Reagan only lived for a year as a toddler. It might be different if it was a unique building or had some incredible impact on his life, but it isn't/doesn't.

The larger issue is over the demolition of two blocks of attractive dense Chicago housing in a healthy neighborhood, but the Sun-Times has to make it out to be about some minor historical landmark.

[ardecila]

Velodrome/sports complex at South Works. It seems to be taking the place of the big anchor store in Market Common. It will have a full-sized velodrome, training facilities, a lap pool, etc.

Preliminary design for indoor facility

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/3518/16771118225504181291815.jpg

Temporary racing and BMX tracks - Open May 2011

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/7461/18053718307791506396415.jpg

[denizen467]

^ I don't know anything about competitive cycling or where its national HQ is or training facilities are, but adding a major sports facility -- with indoor capabilities to boot -- to Chicago is definitely a dancing banana thing. And talk about putting our money where our mouths are when we say Chicago is a bike-friendly city.

But who's paying for this?

(Also, did someone come back to their desk after lunch to discover a spy photo session was going on?)

[Via Chicago]

The larger issue is over the demolition of two blocks of attractive dense Chicago housing in a healthy neighborhood, but the Sun-Times has to make it out to be about some minor historical landmark.

+1. The universities in this city have to be some of the worst stewards of their surrounding neighborhoods.

[lawfin]

Although I applaud the Southworks redev in principle......I am increasingly worried that it is going to be little more the Schaumburg on the lake.

From the plans it just seeems that it will be plagued by isolated towers, disjointed essentially useless greenspace, and an overall "sprawly suburban" feel.

I am not confident that it will seemlessly flow into the the city grid nor am I confident that it will even have the city "feel"....

any others who feel that it seems it may permanently be a place apart?

[Rizzo]

+1. The universities in this city have to be some of the worst stewards of their surrounding neighborhoods.

"Town-gown" relationship. A system of checks and balances that has allowed universities to direct their growth in a smart way without impacting the physical and cultural fabrics of the surrounding community. Yes, I'd wish we'd see more of this in Chicago.

[lawfin]

+1. The universities in this city have to be some of the worst stewards of their surrounding neighborhoods.

I agree . I think this partially stems from what was once an outright hostile attitude towards surrounding neighborhoods that looked at the neighborhoods directly outside the wall of the campuses as dens of danger etc.

I think this attitude has somewhat changed over the past few years.

In that hyde park photo what saddens me is to consider how more dense and vibrant that area may have been some 50-60 years ago before intro of those damn parking lots.

And hospital construction is also some of the more neighborhood deadening construction there is.

[nomarandlee]

^ I don't know anything about competitive cycling or where its national HQ is or training facilities are, but adding a major sports facility -- with indoor capabilities to boot -- to Chicago is definitely a dancing banana thing. And talk about putting our money where our mouths are when we say Chicago is a bike-friendly city.
But who's paying for this?
(Also, did someone come back to their desk after lunch to discover a spy photo session was going on?)
I love the idea of such a facility and advocated something akin to it to be on the lakefront during the Olympic saga. TBH though I can't imagine most competitive cyclist are likely to live nor train on the far south side where it would be best utilized.

I think it would be much better served to have such a track closer to downtown or the near north or south side along the lake. It would give much needed help in relieving that part of the congested lake path of meandering wannabe Lance Armstrongs.
I'm not sure it's worthwhile to keep a home where Reagan only lived for a year as a toddler. It might be different if it was a unique building or had some incredible impact on his life, but it isn't/doesn't.
The larger issue is over the demolition of two blocks of attractive dense Chicago housing in a healthy neighborhood, but the Sun-Times has to make it out to be about some minor historical landmark.
Agreed. However I would be for using just about any pretext in order to get the block landmark ed though for the same reasons you stated.

[Nowhereman1280]

+1. The universities in this city have to be some of the worst stewards of their surrounding neighborhoods.

This may have been generally true in the past, but not so much these days. Having been involved with the planning process for Loyola's Lakeshore Campus I can tell you there is a concerted effort to "de-wall" the campus and open it up to the surrounding neighborhood. They have also made efforts to try to stimulate healthy, urban, TOD, redevelopment around the Loyola El stop. They are also working very closely with the city with regard to the reconstruction of the north branch of the EL as they the largest single landowner along the line. They have some very interesting things cooking with regard to increasing access to the Granville and Loyola El Stops to both the campus and the neighborhood.


I also think that DePaul, IIT, Columbia, and Roosevelt are all also very good stewards of their surroundings. DePaul has done a few questionable things at its Lincoln Park campus, but they generally are a positive contributer to the neighborhood. IIT must be especially be noted for the rebellious stance taken by Mies in the construction of their main campus by refusing to create an inward facing campus that was walled off from its undesirable surroundings. One of the most important aspects of that design was that it is completely open to its surroundings and seeks to meld with its urban location while still maintaining a campus atmosphere. That is extremely commendable especially considering the era it was built in and the terrible anti-neighborhood misinterpretations of Modernism that followed.

[ardecila]

I love the idea of such a facility and advocated something akin to it to be on the lakefront during the Olympic saga. TBH though I can't imagine most competitive cyclist are likely to live nor train on the far south side where it would be best utilized.

I think it would be much better served to have such a track closer to downtown or the near north or south side along the lake. It would give much needed help in relieving that part of the congested lake path of meandering wannabe Lance Armstrongs.

The location for Velo Campus is the point. Professional and high-level amateur cyclists will drive to wherever the facility is built in order to train properly. For those that live in the city, South Works is much closer than Northbrook (the only existing velodrome in Chicagoland). The lakefront path also makes it more easily-accessible by bike, at least in warmer months.

The south side location will purposefully keep away the LaSalle St types with $6000 bikes and not much skill, but the professionals will be undeterred.

The traffic generated by the cyclists and the spectators who go to watch races will add to the bustle of South Works. It's a great idea - even better because it's not like a pro sports stadium which requires acres of parking and hundreds of millions in subsidy.



I'm pretty bullish on South Works/Lakeside. Even at the very end of the city, it still has better transit and road access than most locations in suburbia - it has trains every 15min at peak, 60min off-peak, with a 35min trip to downtown. There's also the #26 bus running during rush hours on an even higher frequency with about the same trip time. The transit can only get better after the South Lakefront study. And it's directly on Lake Shore Drive and right off the Skyway (which has ramps at 92nd).

It won't be able to provide the culture and entertainment-driven lifestyle of the North Side for some time, if ever, but the lure is the amenities. Tons of parkland within walking distance, a major centralized, walkable shopping district with major chain retailers, very affordably-priced units, and a high quality of life generally. Imagine you took the Elston corridor, reformatted it into an urban pattern, combining it with dense housing and walkable streets, and then moved it to the lakefront. All of those factors individually have proven to be immensely popular in Chicago. Combine them all, and you're gonna make a killing. If McCaffery can get the school situation worked out, I think it could become a huge draw for families to stay in the city. South Chicago's impoverished but pretty tidy and nowhere near as scary as areas further north.

[J_M_Tungsten]

Does anyone know what this is? It's literally right on the Ohio ramp to 90 and the cross street below is halsted. It looks to be an existing warehouse with at least a new 3, maybe 4 story triangular addition along Erie and the railroad above. Just curious if there are any renderings of this out there?
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt1/JMTUNGSTEN/58155d92.jpg
The one on the left. It appears that they are putting some kind of decorative paneling on the exterior, which, for a warehouse, I can appreciate.
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt1/JMTUNGSTEN/94a76ffc.jpg

[the urban politician]

The location for Velo Campus is the point. Professional and high-level amateur cyclists will drive to wherever the facility is built in order to train properly. For those that live in the city, South Works is much closer than Northbrook (the only existing velodrome in Chicagoland). The lakefront path also makes it more easily-accessible by bike, at least in warmer months.

The south side location will purposefully keep away the LaSalle St types with $6000 bikes and not much skill, but the professionals will be undeterred.

The traffic generated by the cyclists and the spectators who go to watch races will add to the bustle of South Works. It's a great idea - even better because it's not like a pro sports stadium which requires acres of parking and hundreds of millions in subsidy.



I'm pretty bullish on South Works/Lakeside. Even at the very end of the city, it still has better transit and road access than most locations in suburbia - it has trains every 15min at peak, 60min off-peak, with a 35min trip to downtown. There's also the #26 bus running during rush hours on an even higher frequency with about the same trip time. The transit can only get better after the South Lakefront study. And it's directly on Lake Shore Drive and right off the Skyway (which has ramps at 92nd).

It won't be able to provide the culture and entertainment-driven lifestyle of the North Side for some time, if ever, but the lure is the amenities. Tons of parkland within walking distance, a major centralized, walkable shopping district with major chain retailers, very affordably-priced units, and a high quality of life generally. Imagine you took the Elston corridor, reformatted it into an urban pattern, combining it with dense housing and walkable streets, and then moved it to the lakefront. All of those factors individually have proven to be immensely popular in Chicago. Combine them all, and you're gonna make a killing. If McCaffery can get the school situation worked out, I think it could become a huge draw for families to stay in the city. South Chicago's impoverished but pretty tidy and nowhere near as scary as areas further north.

^ Ardecila, take another look at this renderings you provided us in that last page.

Acres and acres of parking.

How on earth can you come to the conclusion that this will be anything other than Schaumburg 2.0, as Lawfin suggested?

[ardecila]

^^ Because the development is phased, and because the retail/residential blocks are being designed with garages in the center. The surface parking is just temporary.

Does anyone know what this is? It's literally right on the Ohio ramp to 90 and the cross street below is halsted. It looks to be an existing warehouse with at least a new 3, maybe 4 story triangular addition along Erie and the railroad above. Just curious if there are any renderings of this out there?

New facility for Pepper Construction. They recently left their digs in Barrington after they sold their land for a retirement community.

[Chicagoguy]

I am curious does anyone know or have any contacts with anyone on a developing team for one of the large grocery stores in the city, either Jewel or Dominicks or even Target. I would really like to get in touch with someone who is involved with the opening of new stores!

[spyguy]

The new Burberry flagship store (thanks to denizen467 for the heads up)
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/313/burberrya.jpg

[J_M_Tungsten]

A plaid building? Where is this located, Michigan and ?

[pip]

what horrid building. No windows facing MI Ave after the first floor. A slab of cement with some design carved in that slab. Yuck. I would rather a 4+1 go there

[a chicago bearcat]

A plaid building? Where is this located, Michigan and ?

Michigan & Ontario, at the site of the current Burberry, which has plaid in the second floor display windows

[nomarandlee]

I find most of the stand alone custom purpose built stores in many high end shopping districts these days to be underwhelming even when fitted with "progressive" design.

Give me ground floor retail at the base of a distinguished mix use building the majority of the time.

[spyguy]

what horrid building. No windows facing MI Ave after the first floor. A slab of cement with some design carved in that slab. Yuck. I would rather a 4+1 go there

I don't know about all of that. It'll probably look pretty similar (that is to say, reflective) to the new store in Beijing with some interesting lighting:
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/9139/bbbeij.jpg

And before anyone says we're getting a ripoff, I think only a few cities like NY and Tokyo have new construction flagships. Burberry usually picks either malls or historic buildings for their stores.

[pip]

ah ok thats better :) I was going by the first small pic

[Tom Servo]

The new Burberry flagship store (thanks to denizen467 for the heads up)
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/313/burberrya.jpg

i like this... it's unique and different... :shrug:

[Rizzo]

I certainly hope it's all glass similar to the other store in the colored rendering, but the b&w only shows ground floor and stairwell windows lit. It's just a little concerning.

[spyguy]

ah ok thats better :) I was going by the first small pic

Just to be clear the first image is of the Chicago store, the second is of a store in Beijing that I think gives an idea of what the Chicago store will look like cladding-wise.

I certainly hope it's all glass similar to the other store in the colored rendering, but the b&w only shows ground floor and stairwell windows lit. It's just a little concerning.

I'd like more windows too, especially some diamond shaped ones. But at the end of the day I think it's still a positive statement about Chicago and a handsome addition to the Mag Mile.

[Nowhereman1280]

The new Burberry flagship store (thanks to denizen467 for the heads up)
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/313/burberrya.jpg

I was going to say, this is a ballsy building, I like it, especially if its got that sick black cladding like the one in Beijing. Windows aren't necessary if the blank wall is interesting and serves a purpose. Whatever happened to form follows function? Since when do we need third floor views while shopping? That just wastes wall space where items can be displayed. They put windows where they need them: Ground floor and the stairwell where they don't waste display space...

I think its a great design and am so glad its not going to be some rancid pomo atrocity.

This will be the most handsome building constructed on Michigan Avenue since the Hancock building if its got the same materials as the Beijing store. Its also much more vertical than the Beijing store and subsequently has better massing. I love the exposed stairwell too. I think this design is much better than the Beijing design from those standpoints...

[Busy Bee]

This new Burberry looks slick. I too hope the materials will be top notch. Whenever I compare boutique retail flagships, the one I always treat as a standard bearer is:


Tokyo Prada
http://images.fastcompany.com/upload/PradaTokyo.jpg
<><><> (http://images.fastcompany.com/upload/PradaTokyo.jpg)

[sentinel]

^^Thanks for posting spyguy.. do you or denizen have any info. on who the architect is, or a larger rendering?

[denizen467]

^ I do not, but there's a good chance that spyguy does. Spyguy, nice of you to mention the credit.. it's a rare occasion that I am able to scoop you, LOL!

This will be the most handsome building constructed on Michigan Avenue since the Hancock building if its got the same materials as the Beijing store. Its also much more vertical than the Beijing store and subsequently has better massing. I love the exposed stairwell too. I think this design is much better than the Beijing design from those standpoints...
Dang, good point, now that you mention it. Sort of disconcerting, really.

But, I feel Boul Mich has recently hit a critical mass where this should become less rare. Not just because Burberry is initiating an arms race in design presence along the street, but because of the other international boutiques moving in (Zara, H&M, All Saints, TopShop), the cachet of the Peninsula, the Ritz (despite everything), and the fact that the street is pretty much built out with higher-end retail now (the last couple inexpensive places like Garrett's and Hanig's having disappeared). Incidentally, the national morning cable news show Morning Joe is moving from NYC for 1 day this Friday to do its live broadcast from the RL Restaurant with Oprah, Tom Brokaw, and other local luminaries. From Trump and his tower, to Oprah's season opener on the bridge last season, to Al Roker doing live Today reports (btw I largely read about, not watch, most of this teevee stuff) from Pioneer Court last week, I think Michigan Avenue is nearing national "everyman" recognition as the urbane, glamorous midway point between Hollywood and Rockefeller Center. Pretty soon, national network anchors calling it the "Miracle Mile" will come off not as condescending, but as just plain uninformed. I just wonder whether Rahm Emanuel knows what flowers and planters are...

[ardecila]

Hanig's may have left, but now HomeGoods is moving in, and we've already got Best Buy. I don't think Zara, H&M, or AllSaints are necessarily "high-fashion" brands. You can get those at Old Orchard.

Is Burberry the first purpose-built flagship for a fashion house on Michigan? (Apple isn't a fashion house... yet)

My guess is that the facade will be an inversion of the Beijing Burberry, with the stripes as mirror and the background as black. It'd be cooler if the stripes were somehow window, and the background was concrete mounted flush to the glass. :slob:

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

^ Don't forget Gap and Crate & Barrel (the flagship store of which, built long after the Hancock, is quite handsome-- to counter Nowhereman's point).

I don't know... I'm skeptical of the Burberry store's design merits. I don't think there's anything special about the Beijing one; it looks like applique on mirrored glass. And the image of it posted by spyguy is a rendering, no? If so, the finish could be awful. IMO, the best part of the Chicago store is that Miesian staircase abutting the window-wall.

[EarlyBuyer]

Good point Ch.G, Ch.G. The Crate & Barrel is a great example, the Gap however was not built for them, or clothing for that matter.

The original purpose of the building (555 N. Michigan) was for a restaurant called the "Official All-Star Cafe", which was a subsidiary of Planet Hollywood Int'l. When the plans for the All-Star Cafe unraveled, the decision was made to move the (then) Planet Hollywood on Wells St. into the space. Ultimately, Planet Hollywood's financial troubles caught up with them and they withdrew those plans as well. Once PH was out of the picture, a new restaurant venture considered the space which featured fashion model type servers and was to be named the "Model Cafe". That also didn't pan out and ultimately Gap became the tenant, signing their lease in summer of 1999.

[sentinel]

Logan Center construction progress (from webcam)
02.10.2011

It appears that connecting the main auditorium and the studio spaces is getting close to completion (structurally) and the tower core has perhaps 2-3 more floors to go(?)
http://webcams.uchicago.edu/logan/displayimage.php?x=1297355382337
http://webcams.uchicago.edu/logan/displayimage.php?x=1297355382337

[J_M_Tungsten]

This may have been posted already, but this is for the performing art center above. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lczHRXUAUT8

[Chicagoguy]

^ I do not, but there's a good chance that spyguy does. Spyguy, nice of you to mention the credit.. it's a rare occasion that I am able to scoop you, LOL!


Dang, good point, now that you mention it. Sort of disconcerting, really.

But, I feel Boul Mich has recently hit a critical mass where this should become less rare. Not just because Burberry is initiating an arms race in design presence along the street, but because of the other international boutiques moving in (Zara, H&M, All Saints, TopShop), the cachet of the Peninsula, the Ritz (despite everything), and the fact that the street is pretty much built out with higher-end retail now (the last couple inexpensive places like Garrett's and Hanig's having disappeared). Incidentally, the national morning cable news show Morning Joe is moving from NYC for 1 day this Friday to do its live broadcast from the RL Restaurant with Oprah, Tom Brokaw, and other local luminaries. From Trump and his tower, to Oprah's season opener on the bridge last season, to Al Roker doing live Today reports (btw I largely read about, not watch, most of this teevee stuff) from Pioneer Court last week, I think Michigan Avenue is nearing national "everyman" recognition as the urbane, glamorous midway point between Hollywood and Rockefeller Center. Pretty soon, national network anchors calling it the "Miracle Mile" will come off not as condescending, but as just plain uninformed. I just wonder whether Rahm Emanuel knows what flowers and planters are...

I have to disagree with you a little. I feel Michigan Ave. has actually goen down in taste and become very suburban mall. I mean other Burberry, Ferragamo, Saks, and Neiman Marcus, the Avenue has become a mix of discount retailers. Zara, Top Shop, and All Saints are all very similar and they are cheap fashionable clothes. Until you get up to North Michigan Ave it is has become more low end clothing. Hopefully the new Burberry Store will help change that but unless we get some great new high end retail at the base of the Ritz I don't see it becoming great and high end again anytime soon!

[the urban politician]

I have to disagree with you a little. I feel Michigan Ave. has actually goen down in taste and become very suburban mall. I mean other Burberry, Ferragamo, Saks, and Neiman Marcus, the Avenue has become a mix of discount retailers. Zara, Top Shop, and All Saints are all very similar and they are cheap fashionable clothes. Until you get up to North Michigan Ave it is has become more low end clothing. Hopefully the new Burberry Store will help change that but unless we get some great new high end retail at the base of the Ritz I don't see it becoming great and high end again anytime soon!

^ Zara is not cheap. It's not pricy, but I'd hardly call it cheap.

Secondly, "high end" and "great" are two different things. You can have a great, iconic shopping boulevard without it having to be lined with only really pricy stores.

[lawfin]

^ Zara is not cheap. It's not pricy, but I'd hardly call it cheap.

Secondly, "high end" and "great" are two different things. You can have a great, iconic shopping boulevard without it having to be lined with only really pricy stores.


I agree. There are several in this forum who are high priced retail fetishists. I do not understand it; guess I am not fabulous enough.

[Rizzo]

^ Join the club. I trash up Oak Street daily with my attire bought from discount department stores. Passerby gasp in horror.

[ardecila]

Nobody's trying to be snobby. I can't afford those boutiques in a million years. But I do want more of them to open and help strengthen Chicago's fashion/retail business. That becomes difficult when stores like HomeGoods and Best Buy have prominent locations on Boul Mich. Places like Zara and H&M are fine, and they do signal a trend upward in the cachet of the street.

I dunno... I feel uncomfortable shopping on Michigan. I'm not a tourist and I'm not fabulously wealthy. State St is definitely more my style - the Zara at Block 37 has a ton of my money.

[FlashingLights]

Any news on YSL coming back to Oak Street?

I personally find Zara to be a rip off expensive for the cheap crap you get. It's a small grade above the crap at H&M and thats not saying much.

[denizen467]

Yeah, I was not suggesting H&M, All Saints, and TopShop were boutiques or that they were evidence of Michigan Avenue going "elite" - just that internationally popular fashion brands from other countries were serious about a presence there, and also that minor and occasionally junky storefronts like "That's Our Bag!" (or whatever) were being replaced. I think I like the idea that the northern reaches of North Michigan have the accumulation of boutiques, while the rest of North Michigan has a high proportion of globally popular retail that is accessible to everyone but not necessarily found in other cities.

[emathias]

Yeah, I was not suggesting H&M, All Saints, and TopShop were boutiques or that they were evidence of Michigan Avenue going "elite" - just that internationally popular fashion brands from other countries were serious about a presence there, and also that minor and occasionally junky storefronts like "That's Our Bag!" (or whatever) were being replaced. I think I like the idea that the northern reaches of North Michigan have the accumulation of boutiques, while the rest of North Michigan has a high proportion of globally popular retail that is accessible to everyone but not necessarily found in other cities.

Yeah, if Michigan Avenue is Chicago's answer to Fifth Avenue, then it's perfectly appropriate for it to have a mix. There is a Best Buy and an Apple Store on Fifth Avenue, but there are also much higher-end places, too. It's a mix. Fifth Avenue still probably skews higher-end, but then again almost everything in Manhattan skews higher-end than things in Chicago do.

[J_M_Tungsten]

^^^ Exactly. Not every tourist is looking to go to Dolce and Gabbana or Prada. You have to appeal to all markets at all levels, and what better place to do that than the biggest tourist area in Chicago.