CHICAGO | General Developments

[Rizzo]

Okay, so here's a tough question:

I was just driving north on the Kennedy, and just before I passed the sign for 'California Ave', on the right I saw a building under construction. A steel frame was up to what appeared to be the second or third level.

Anybody know what project that could be? It seemed kinda Logan Square-y, although I'm not certain..

Actually, come to think of it Logan Square does not extend east of the Kennedy, does it?

Interesting. Well I know El Centro is supposed to go up not far from there. Kennedy and Kimball. It's supposed to be 2-3 stories and is next to Novak construction which always has wacky lights on their building

[markh9]

Interesting. Well I know El Centro is supposed to go up not far from there. Kennedy and Kimball. It's supposed to be 2-3 stories and is next to Novak construction which always has wacky lights on their building

My first thought too, but last I checked, the site looked like it was in hibernation for winter. Definitely no steel up yet.

-----

Few more floors to go on Division & Ashland. This guy is turning out awesome so far - it has a fantastic presence already.

http://i.imgur.com/Zm9ClgJ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/v5Mvy7M.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/DQpAvt4.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/QKxHf99.jpg

And a quick refresher:

http://chicago.curbed.com/uploads/101612-pizzahuttower.jpg

[the urban politician]

Interesting. Well I know El Centro is supposed to go up not far from there. Kennedy and Kimball. It's supposed to be 2-3 stories and is next to Novak construction which always has wacky lights on their building

Definitely not El Centro. It is a bit southeast of that site. This construction site was about 2-3 blocks east of the Kennedy.

My guess is that it's some sort of nondescript condo or apartment building

[the urban politician]

The Division/Ashland project has already given that intersection some of the enclosure that it needs. I hope to also see some of those lots on Division just west of that get filled in.

[george]

Good update, markh9.^ I pass this project every day and never seem to take pics. The developer had said there would be less % of glass used than shown in the rendering. The window openings are different but look pretty close at this point.

[PerryPendleton]

The Division/Ashland project has already given that intersection some of the enclosure that it needs. I hope to also see some of those lots on Division just west of that get filled in.

Fingers crossed

[jc5680]

godfrey, north side seeing some good progress.

http://www.j-carlson.com/ancilary/godfrey-march2013.jpg

[denizen467]

Boooo! I wanted a plaza. I mean I appreciate the new staircase and all, but this just tells me there's no intention for a remarkable improvement.
Hopefully only for the time being ... maybe the City wants the plaza but would rather wait for an InterContinental tower rebuild - I can see some complications along Grand and Michigan in trying to construct a tower with a plaza hugging the site.

Meanwhile, a block west on the opposite side of Michigan, along the north side of Grand, the Nordstrom liner retail storefronts have all closed except for one small one, and they are fully enclosed in a temporary structure protruding beyond the building envelope. So it looks like some major facade change and possibly a new large single tenant. At first I was hoping that this would be Eataly, but then I realized that's on Ohio Street, and ... (see next post)

[denizen467]

... there is annoying news on the Eataly front, related to alleged chronic rent laggard Texas de Brazil (article from a couple weeks back). Eataly would be fantastic to have during the summer tourism season, but that doesn't look likely now.

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20130225/CRED03/130229859/eviction-suit-complicates-eatalys-river-north-restaurant-plans
Eviction suit complicates Eataly's River North restaurant plans
By: Micah Maidenberg February 25, 2013

The owner of the Shops at North Bridge is suing to evict the Texas de Brazil steakhouse to make room for Eataly, which plans a sprawling food emporium in the River North space.

But Texas de Brazil is fighting back, insisting it has the right to stay in the downtown mall for at least five more years.

...

The battle casts a shadow over Eataly's plan to spend some $20 million building out a two-story, 63,000-square-foot food hall with multiple restaurants on the Ohio Street side of North Bridge. Eatley [sic] has agreed to lease the former ESPN Zone restaurant, just west of Texas de Brazil at 43 E. Ohio St., which covers 35,000 square feet. But Eataly also wants the steakhouse space. ...

[Rizzo]

Well they can have the buca di beppo space or the mezzanine of block 120. What a mess. And what about that mall concourse expansion?

[the urban politician]

... there is annoying news on the Eataly front, related to alleged chronic rent laggard Texas de Brazil (article from a couple weeks back). Eataly would be fantastic to have during the summer tourism season, but that doesn't look likely now.

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20130225/CRED03/130229859/eviction-suit-complicates-eatalys-river-north-restaurant-plans
Eviction suit complicates Eataly's River North restaurant plans
By: Micah Maidenberg February 25, 2013

The owner of the Shops at North Bridge is suing to evict the Texas de Brazil steakhouse to make room for Eataly, which plans a sprawling food emporium in the River North space.

But Texas de Brazil is fighting back, insisting it has the right to stay in the downtown mall for at least five more years.

...

The battle casts a shadow over Eataly's plan to spend some $20 million building out a two-story, 63,000-square-foot food hall with multiple restaurants on the Ohio Street side of North Bridge. Eatley [sic] has agreed to lease the former ESPN Zone restaurant, just west of Texas de Brazil at 43 E. Ohio St., which covers 35,000 square feet. But Eataly also wants the steakhouse space. ...

This is outdated news. A judge already ruled in favor of the owner of the building, allowing him to evict Texas de Brazil

[ardecila]

Right, but Texas de Brazil is appealing. It ain't over yet.

[the urban politician]

Right, but Texas de Brazil is appealing. It ain't over yet.

Yes it is

[denizen467]

^ Apparently in the past day or so a lot has changed; this morning's news reports TdB did not open yesterday, announced they are giving up their appeal of the judge's ruling, and will be vacating by today (3/15) so that Eataly can work on moving in. It must be because of the pressure brought to bear by this forum. ;)

[Mr Downtown]

weirdaaron can probably see just how much has been done, but I could hear pilings being driven all day for Amli's Clark & Polk project.

[the urban politician]

weirdaaron can probably see just how much has been done, but I could hear pilings being driven all day for Amli's Clark & Polk project.

^ Just curious, are there any discussions or plans about introducing some traffic calming measures on Clark St south of Polk? The way it is designed right now, as pretty much a straight shot from Roosevelt, seems to encourage cars to speed.

[wierdaaron]

weirdaaron can probably see just how much has been done, but I could hear pilings being driven all day for Amli's Clark & Polk project.
Is there a special Darwin Award category for people who die from leaning too far over their balcony to try to get a view of a construction site to report to a forum?

[Mr Downtown]

No need, I finally took a walk. I think maybe the pilings that went in today are only to support the construction crane, which hasn't yet arrived. The rig delivered this week is simply a crawler crane, which I assume they'll primarily use for driving sheet piling and to eventually erect the tower crane.

No discussions about Clark Street with this project. This was an as-of-right project, so we've never even seen renderings except for the photo I shot one night in a dark barroom (below). With no PD in play, there's no leverage.

We all hate Clark, but I'm not sure what can be done with no cross-streets. Perhaps the eventual completion of 9th, 13th, and (if I'm lucky) 15th will help somewhat. And there will be a new signal at 16th for the Mariano's.

http://i.imgur.com/jpgj0ZD.jpg

[wierdaaron]

I'm looking forward to the retail frontage and the dynamic it'll bring to that corner, but as an architectural work that design is so... yeeeah.

[spyguy]

Meanwhile, a block west on the opposite side of Michigan, along the north side of Grand, the Nordstrom liner retail storefronts have all closed except for one small one, and they are fully enclosed in a temporary structure protruding beyond the building envelope. So it looks like some major facade change and possibly a new large single tenant. At first I was hoping that this would be Eataly, but then I realized that's on Ohio Street, and ... (see next post)

I believe this is for the new Seasons 52 restaurant.

Other retail news:

Michigan Avenue
-Interesting that Cop. Copine is moving across the street to 900 N Michigan. I wonder if the new owners of the Palmolive Building's retail space want to attract a major flagship now - there were rumors that Louis Vuitton was also going to move to 900 North for a multi-level store with custom facade (see NY- 57th street store).
-Similarly, it seems like the owners of One Magnificent Mile (old Bank of America Branch and Dennis Basso store) are finally willing to let potential retailers change the building's exterior to fit their needs. Goodbye pink granite?

State Street
-The Gap/baby Gap/Gap Kids/Gap body store seems like it will be massive.
-The Office Depot/Charlotte Russe stores are for lease, so there's a possibility they could be combined or at least the building design could change.
-The horrible Beef 'n Brandy restaurant space is being shopped around. That building really needs a makeover, and hopefully a restoration.

[denizen467]

^ I assume the structure is unchanged from Old Navy, so are they just adding actual windows to the upper floors so it seems larger?

Also, Office Depot still lists a State Street store on their website; have they announced somewhere they are closing for sure or is the space just being tentatively shopped around?

[the urban politician]

I'm looking forward to the retail frontage and the dynamic it'll bring to that corner, but as an architectural work that design is so... yeeeah.

^ This is probably the only good thing about the Clark/Polk project, in my view.

All in all I have already long accepted that the 'west south loop' (ie west of Dearborn Park) will mostly get developed as a hodgepodge of towers-in-a-park with at best a partial streetgrid. If postwar planning gives you a hard-on, well then this area will be your fantasy world for years to come.

[the urban politician]

We all hate Clark, but I'm not sure what can be done with no cross-streets. Perhaps the eventual completion of 9th, 13th, and (if I'm lucky) 15th will help somewhat. And there will be a new signal at 16th for the Mariano's.

How about speed bumps?

[jet cm]

The 703 N Huron building is around the corner from me. It's very narrow, so either they also bought the 707 building directly north of 703, or they meant to say 10-12 units, not stories. I'm not sure student housing is my first choice on that block, but it's better than vacant storefronts.

This post was from January but I recently heard that the developer is having serious trouble with neighbors on this 12 story apartment (surprising to me). Wondering if anybody else has heard anything.

Quote:
Student housing, apartments planned in city (http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20130123/CRED03/130129920/student-housing-apartments-planned-in-city)

By: Micah Maidenberg January 23, 2013

...

A Chicago-based student housing developer known for projects in college towns is taking aim at the student population in the Loop and jumping into the city's white-hot apartment market.

For its first student housing project in its hometown, Campus Acquisitions LLC plans to convert two adjacent vintage office buildings near the northwest corner of Wabash Avenue and Jackson Boulevard into 160 units with 341 beds, said J.J. Smith, the firm's executive vice president of development.

A Campus Acquisitions affiliate recently paid about $13 million for the 16-story Gibbons and 19-story Steger building and a small, pre-Chicago Fire building known as Pickwick Stable, property records show. In all, it expects to spend about $60 million on the redevelopment.

...

Campus Acquisitions also is on the move in River North, where it plans an 80-unit apartment tower that would rise about 20 stories, according to Mr. Smith. The firm would build the high-rise on an 8,500-square-foot property at 4 E. Huron St. and 8 E. Huron St. that it recently bought for $6.1 million. It plans to demolish a three-story building on the site to make way for the apartment project.

Another Campus Acquisitions venture paid $237,000 for a small commercial building at 703 N. Wells St., which the firm would replace with a new, 10- to 12-story rental building. And the company also spent an undisclosed sum for six units in a residential building at 1651 W. Chicago Ave., Mr. Smith said.

...

[Mr Downtown]

How about speed bumps?

A tollbooth, maybe.

No, seriously, a lot can be done to shape driver behavior with things that are urban design aspects rather than asphalt bumps that mostly punish the neighbors when their windows are open. Curb parking is a good start, as are frequent signals and crossings where people actually cross (Dearborn Park, tear down this wall). You can use vegetation and walls to make the street seem more compressed and urban, but that can also go the other way if you aren't careful. South of Roosevelt, for instance, Clark is in between two walls and feels like a controlled-access freeway.

CDOT is about to do some serious planning for the Wells-Wentworth Connector through the Riverside Park site, and the big question is how to prevent it from becoming another auto sewer like Clark. I want people to think of it as "Riverside Boulevard" for the vision that conjures up, and I think I want to have a 120-foot ROW to allow a planted median, on-street bike lanes, and curb parking. But I get some pushback that such a wide ROW will inevitably mean speed.

[pilsenarch]

totally on board with all of that, Mr. D., except for the 120' row :P

however, do you ever see a way that Dearborn Park nimbys would allow that wall to be 'teared down'?

[Mr Downtown]

Only if they start to perceive the wall as holding them in. So if there are attractions west of Clark that they want to get to, there's a possibility. But people tend to want their neighborhoods to stay the way they are; they don't get excited about things being better. They'll just continue to walk the long way around or drive to Whole Foods rather than trying to imagine things being any different.

What's your problem with a 120-foot cross-section? That gives us a planted median, four moving lanes, parking lanes, bike lanes, and sidewalks that can hold cafés. Or you could do a true boulevard with side drives.

[wierdaaron]

Is there such thing as an area being too residential? South of Harrison (or even Congress, really) it's pretty much entirely homes, student housing, and streetfront retail of various kinds. Not much in the way of office space. Seems like that might be holding the area back, and acting like a barricade preventing the loop business district from spreading southward.

[emathias]

This post was from January but I recently heard that the developer is having serious trouble with neighbors on this 12 story apartment (surprising to me). Wondering if anybody else has heard anything.
...

I'm not sure a building marketed to students as a neighbor would be my first choice, but I'd be unlikely to cause serious trouble about it as I'd like having that block livened up. I live just around the corner on Huron so the building would/will be just across the alley from me.

At any rate, they haven't even sent us any notice (that I've received anyway), so from a "trying to win over the neighbors" standpoint, they've so far earned a fail in my opinion.

I did hear rumors from another neighbor that, ideally, they'd like to start construction this summer. I'd really be annoyed if they tore down the buildings and then didn't even actually build anything. A vacant building isn't ideal, but it beats having a surface lot across the alley - at least in this neighborhood it does.

[Mr Downtown]

South of Harrison. . . not much in the way of office space.

Twenty years ago, we thought there would be much more office. River City had office space that never leased. Central Station expected office buildings to front Roosevelt. LaSalle Park expected office buildings where Target and Amli ended up.

But it turns out that office buildings want to cluster very tightly around the West Loop train stations, and around the Brown Line for tech tenants. A lot of office space has been turned into residential or hotel in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area and in the East Loop. Obviously there's been a huge amount of that in the South Loop as well: Standard Oil (910 S. Michigan), The Buckingham, Old Colony, Manhattan Building, Transportation Building, etc. So it looks like Congress is the effective boundary for office.

[jcchii]

office went west around the metra disembarks

[spyguy]

This post was from January but I recently heard that the developer is having serious trouble with neighbors on this 12 story apartment (surprising to me). Wondering if anybody else has heard anything.


Hopefully they aren't complaining about the height, because it's pretty much in scale with the rest of the neighborhood and Magellan is going to eventually announce a ~40 story building on the Gino's site.
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/3096/wells1.png
http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/4350/wells2.png

The same developer is also reviving that old "Grand Station" project on Milwaukee Avenue:
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/49/grandmilwaukee.jpg

And going back to Wells for a second, here's a decent rendering of the JDL Wells & Scott apartment/retail project, across the street from the future Plum Market and Intelligentsia.
http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/1205/211scott3k01400x280.jpg

[the urban politician]

Thanks for the updates, Spyguy.

I am especially excited to see that the "Grand Station" project is still active. One would hope to continue to see a trend of highrise TOD along the Blue Line/Milwaukee Ave

[emathias]

Hopefully they aren't complaining about the height, because it's pretty much in scale with the rest of the neighborhood and Magellan is going to eventually announce a ~40 story building on the Gino's site.
...

My condo association is composed of several buildings on Huron, including that graystone in the render. All the owners in the association (I know them all personally) are mostly pro-development and like seeing the area growing and popular. The only issue I think we as an association might have is if they're planning to use the alley as the sole means of access to the parking and deliveries for the commercial component of that building, it will make the alley much busier than it currently is and potentially make access to our parking spaces difficult (and noisier for some of the first-floor units). But I don't see that as an insurmountable issue.

[emathias]

Twenty years ago, we thought there would be much more office. River City had office space that never leased. Central Station expected office buildings to front Roosevelt. LaSalle Park expected office buildings where Target and Amli ended up.

But it turns out that office buildings want to cluster very tightly around the West Loop train stations, and around the Brown Line for tech tenants. A lot of office space has been turned into residential or hotel in the Mag Mile/Streeterville area and in the East Loop. Obviously there's been a huge amount of that in the South Loop as well: Standard Oil (910 S. Michigan), The Buckingham, Old Colony, Manhattan Building, Transportation Building, etc. So it looks like Congress is the effective boundary for office.

The reason they want to cluster there is because of the poor transit between them and other parts (and don't try to dispute that it's bad - the fact that it takes nearly 30 minutes to travel less than 2 miles from the West Loop stations to Water Tower at rush hour is utterly unacceptable and a total non-starter for most businesses). When a lot of those areas were in the planning stages, the 1968 Chicago Central Area Transit Plan (http://www.chicago-l.org/plans/CUTD.html) basically laid out the plot to tie together all of the central area with better transit. I don't think it's overstating things to say that the Hancock Building was built as big as it is where it is partially because of that plan. Then that plan didn't come to fruition, a lot of the expanding office space stopped or at least slowed, but even so here we are 30 years later with growth exploding in exactly the places that plan would have served. If Chicago got its act together to provide frequent, fast, high-capacity service between the West Loop stations and the areas that the 1968 plan would have gone, offices would suddenly make sense in a lot more areas.

[ardecila]

What's your problem with a 120-foot cross-section? That gives us a planted median, four moving lanes, parking lanes, bike lanes, and sidewalks that can hold cafés. Or you could do a true boulevard with side drives.

Is this a possibility? 2 travel lanes (not 4) with a center turn lane, small medians, then side drives with parallel or angled parking? You could easily do this in 120', and have room for 10' medians that could host a cycle track, bike parking, and plenty of trees. Basically a junior version of Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway. Also, there's no reason to use a symmetrical cross-section if there's a park on the river side; you don't need a service drive on that side.

[pilsenarch]

What's your problem with a 120-foot cross-section? That gives us a planted median, four moving lanes, parking lanes, bike lanes, and sidewalks that can hold cafés. Or you could do a true boulevard with side drives.

I just think 120' row's should be kept to a minimum to maximize the 'vibrancy' of high-density neighborhoods in the city... I would still like to achieve everything you listed above but maybe by reducing moving lanes to one in each direction and using a little creativity in locating the sidewalk cafe's...

[LouisVanDerWright]

^ This is probably the only good thing about the Clark/Polk project, in my view.


Isn't this a major change from the previous AMLI design? I thought these were originally going to have a "front yard" type landscaping between the buildings and street? I don't care about the design of the towers so much as long as they have an urban format.

[harryc]

535 North Michigan - updated retail facade and elevated sidewalk over Grand
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/7177/535nmich2.jpg
http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/2538/535nmich1.jpg

As it sits today - heading E along Grand under Michigan
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1ju0vgMzDQM/UUYLmlib7wI/AAAAAAABuDk/Vth1Uk74L_o/s902/P1110496.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-syIqhz02Ezw/UUYLoPIp56I/AAAAAAABuDs/C7i02DpKyKw/s902/P1110497.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I3VQ_pVw8O8/UUYLq8TAlHI/AAAAAAABuD0/rixDy6NBMaI/s902/P1110500.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_D9wYh15OVA/UUYLslO1csI/AAAAAAABuD8/I4zsRmzqcqI/s901/P1110505.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-syGaB8x46-w/UUYLuO_eQGI/AAAAAAABuEE/5dV65Y_kcLo/s902/P1110506.JPG

[VivaLFuego]

We all hate Clark, but I'm not sure what can be done with no cross-streets.
nevermind, needed to read further down the thread before posting...

[spyguy]

Beitler is proposing a massive development project in Moline, IL. The master plan is by James DeStefano, hotel by Helmut Jahn, and residential and retail buildings by Tigerman-McCurry.

Fountainhead
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/7183/revisedmasterplanareas.jpg

Retail plans:
http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/6053/retailsiteplan.jpg

CVS
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/2919/retailpharmacycvs3.jpg
Bank
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/484/retailbank1.jpg
Shops and restaurants
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/200/retailfoodbev2.jpg
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/6692/retailfoodbev1.jpg
Gas station
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3081/retailfillingstation1.jpg

Hyatt Place and Hyatt House
http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/5096/hotelscalemodel.jpg
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7350/hotel3e.jpg
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/324/hotel2r.jpg

[ardecila]

What an odd place for a megadevelopment. I believe this is East Moline and not Moline proper.

Still, with Amtrak service coming in, John Deere, several colleges/universities, and a small but flourishing indie scene, maybe the Quad Cities are actually primed for growth?

I can't believe CVS would ever accept that building, though. Yuck.

[HomrQT]

The CVS and that Bank just look bad.

[Rizzo]

- Rubs Eyes -

[Busy Bee]

I wouldn't wish a Tigerman on anybody. All theory, no taste.

[J_M_Tungsten]

Hunt club in Gold Coast came down.
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt1/JMTUNGSTEN/274F5E27-AD4F-4F38-B744-893D28D50CA7-4228-00000206D990B88C.jpg

[denizen467]

Amazing upper-floor space that is part of Howells and Hood -- interesting thing is that they refer to it, but don't picture it, on their website. Probably very intentional.

http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2013/03/14/howells-hood-opening-saturday-see-whats-on-the-menu.php
http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/5141d5acf92ea14a050511bd/2DC_7256.jpg

[denizen467]

I'm surprised I haven't seen this in Eater or any other local media, but it looks Chicago is about to finally get an Espressamente cafe. Espressamente is the global cafe brand of Italian roaster Illy, and their modern-Italian design cafes (not unlike the red "Espressions" cafes by Lavazza throughout downtown) are scattered throughout premier locations in Europe and Asia. They are also apparently already in SF, LA/Vegas, DC, Boston, and Miami; presumably those are as slick as the ones I've seen overseas. For several years Chicago has had the only Lavazza cafes in the US (with Lavazza and Illy being Italy's two main global coffee brands), so I guess it's only fair that now Espressamente comes to town while Lavazza is beginning its expansion beyond Chicago. This further adds to Chicago's position as one of the top two or three coffee cities in the country, alongside SF and debatably one of the Pacific Northwest cities. Not that Illy approaches the quality of all the third-wave coffee we already have in Chicago, but it adds variety and cosmopolitan flair to the cafe scene; also, their (presumed) pastry and food should raise the bar for urban cafes at a time when we have let Starbucks and their cliched offerings (as well as random paraphernelia peddling) define public cafe life for too long.

The cafe's space will apparently be in the southwest corner of NBC Tower. This should mark a big evolutionary step for Cityfront Plaza - along with Optima Center and Howells and Hood, the Cityfront Plaza area will finally begin maturing as an urban street and plaza as opposed to something more reminiscent of a motor court in a suburban office park. We've been rooting for this for a long time, and the 4 vacant tower lots still remaining will take many years to fill, but this year should be a big one in enhancing the pedestrian atmosphere in this small gap between Streeterville proper and Michigan Ave.

[BWChicago]

That exposed conduit on the uplights looks like hell. At least paint it ivory.

[the urban politician]

Some interesting tidbits of news today:

1. Depaul has ruled out using the United Center for games.

2. The Illinois Medical District is seeking developers for a hotel and retail development at Damen and Ogden (GOD please no massive parking lots! I pray that these people have at least some sense that it is 2013 and pedestrian-oriented shopping (at least the appearance of it) is much more in line with what city shoppers want, plus would make it more accessible to daytime workers in the area

3. Rosemont is courting the Cubs to relocate to the 'burbs

[joeg1985]

This further adds to Chicago's position as one of the top two or three coffee cities in the country, alongside SF and debatably one of the Pacific Northwest cities. (as

Debatably one of the Pacific Northwest cities? Have you ever been to Seattle? The coffee scene there is way more advanced than it is here in Chicago. I look forward to the day that Chi is at the same level.

[XIII]

Debatably one of the Pacific Northwest cities? Have you ever been to Seattle? The coffee scene there is way more advanced than it is here in Chicago. I look forward to the day that Chi is at the same level.

I would argue that Chicago is pretty far up the list. We may not be the home of Starbucks, but I can't think of many other cities where great coffee is so prevalent. You can walk into just about any cafe in Chicago and get a coffee which makes Starbucks look shabby.

Just of the top of my head, we have:
The "big 3" of craft coffee
Intelligentsia - Home to the best barista training program in the US. There is actually a "world barista championship" and Intelligentsia consistently places at or near the top. They've also got some of the best bean sourcing I've ever tasted.
Stumptown coffee - They're distributed at a number of places and have been looking into setting up a roasting facility here. The founder, Duane Sorenson has said he loves the city and may want to move here.
La Colombe - Philly based brand that set up a roasting facility in Chicago in response to the growing scene. Not my fav, but regarded by some to be the best.

A number of other exceedingly good roasters:
Metropolis coffee, BowTruss, Halfwit, Gaslight Roasters, Dark Matter, Big Shoulders Coffee

There are a ton of one shop and growing roasters in the city, as well. I can think of 2 or 3 more in my neighborhood alone.

[the urban politician]

Wow, I guess I'm cursed with a coarse palate.

While I can discern the difference between "good" coffee and "bad" coffee, and "good" wine and "bad" wine, that's about where my refinement ends. And while I imagine this stuff is very important to some people and is worth spending extra money on, to me coffee is just a stimulant and wine is just...a nice way to get drunk.

Getting back to Chicago Development:

Anyone else notice the news about them expanding the number of seats for the Northerly Island Pavilion?

[PerryPendleton]

3. Rosemont is courting the Cubs to relocate to the 'burbs

Not that I actually think there is a legitimate chance of this happening, but if the Ricketts waste even one moment thinking about this I will be severely disappointed.

I wanna puke just seeing that this is even news.

[the urban politician]

Not that I actually think there is a legitimate chance of this happening, but if the Ricketts waste even one moment thinking about this I will be severely disappointed.

I wanna puke just seeing that this is even news.

Well, why shouldn't the Ricketts use some leverage here?

I'm irritated and baffled that they haven't already reached a deal with the city already. They want to renovate their stadium & build a hotel with retail space next door, all without a penny of public funds.

But now, special interests (rooftop owners) are getting in the way. It's about fucking time the city start straightening out its priorities. Rahm is really letting me down on this one, seeming feeble and weak under a posturing Alderman.

[PerryPendleton]

Well, why shouldn't the Ricketts use some leverage here?

I'm irritated and baffled that they haven't already reached a deal with the city already. They want to renovate their stadium & build a hotel with retail space next door, all without a penny of public funds.

But now, special interests (rooftop owners) are getting in the way. It's about fucking time the city start straightening out its priorities. Rahm is really letting me down on this one, seeming feeble and weak under a posturing Alderman.

Sure... If this is used purely as leverage then I suppose its a blessing in disguise.

It is absurd that they can't move forward already with the plans you mentioned above.

[ardecila]

Supposedly Rahm and the Ricketts are engaged in productive talks right now. Rahm's an old-school politician, though... He doesn't want to show the public how the sausage is made. Whenever they reach a deal, Tunney will be defeated and probably receive something in return that he can take to his constituents.

Considering your handle, TUP, you seem awfully impatient. This is the Cubs we're talking about. Another century can't hurt...

[emathias]

...
This further adds to Chicago's position as one of the top two or three coffee cities in the country, alongside SF and debatably one of the Pacific Northwest cities.
...

Debatably one of the Pacific Northwest cities? Have you ever been to Seattle? The coffee scene there is way more advanced than it is here in Chicago. I look forward to the day that Chi is at the same level.

I would argue that Chicago is pretty far up the list. We may not be the home of Starbucks, but I can't think of many other cities where great coffee is so prevalent. You can walk into just about any cafe in Chicago and get a coffee which makes Starbucks look shabby.
...

I think Chicago has a great coffee scene.

Triva: Chicago was the first city outside of the Northwest that Starbucks launched a major expansion in.

[emathias]

...
He doesn't want to show the public how the sausage is made.
...

I don't care how it's made as long as it tastes great.

[denizen467]

Debatably one of the Pacific Northwest cities? Have you ever been to Seattle? The coffee scene there is way more advanced than it is here in Chicago. I look forward to the day that Chi is at the same level.
Wrong - maybe you are talking about just the "scene", i.e. the sheer quantity and variety of cafes, but not quality at the top end. I've spent enough time in Seattle in the past couple years to have visited over a dozen of what word-of-mouth, and various media, consider the best places for coffee - only two or three get close to matching top SF and Chi (and other city) places like Intelligentsia. One problem is that people just take it for granted there; everyone has excellent equipment (the usa headquarters of Marzocco happens to be there, simplifying maintenance visits) but then doesn't do enough with it, whereas in Chicago the people working in coffee feel they're living on the cutting edge of a movement and are always striving to improve further, coaxing better flavor out of ever changing beans using better grinders, filters, and trial and error, challenging things as though a clock was ticking. It's not unlike the internet boom of fifteen years ago, where an ethos of innovation and competition flourished in Silicon Valley, while Seattle and Microsoft fell behind. (No knock on Seattle, which I love.) Moreover, the northwestern city that coffee industry people respect is actually Portland. However, its scale limits its influence.
A number of other exceedingly good roasters:
Nice list of local roasters. However the national Big 3 usually includes Counter Culture, not La Colombe, which is not third-wave coffee. Todd Carmichael is great at marketing but he is basically a social activist and adventurer (walking across Antarctica, cable tv shows, celeb wife etc.), not a foodie, and seems interested more in buying "coffees from from the worlds newest and/or yet to be discovered regions" (literally, per their website) than cultivating, over a long range of years, quality harvests from plantations best suited for coffee and where a skill base exists among farmers, as Intelly does. This reflects what Chicago usually excels at - substance first, style second.

More on-topic of general developments, and as fresh examples of the above, it looks like el stations are getting some quality coffee retail, including from a brand new local roaster:

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130314/wicker-park/cafe-transit-coffee-shop-coming-damen-california-blue-line-stations

'Cafe Transit' Coffee Shop Coming to Damen, California Blue Line Stations
March 14, 2013

... Cafe Transit signed a 10-year-lease through 2023 for an 80 square-foot space inside the Damen "L" at 1558 N. Damen Ave. in Wicker Park and a 199 square-foot space inside the California Blue Line "L" Stop at 2211 N. California Ave. in Logan Square, the CTA announced Wednesday. ...

Calling the Damen space "an 80 square-feet challenge," Arandjelovic said he hopes Cafe Transit can be open by the summer. One thing that needs to be worked out, though, is figuring out how to fit the equipment needed to serve coffee and food to commuters. The coffee served at Cafe Transit will come from Metric Coffee Roasters, a nascent separate venture in the works between Arandjelovic and a private partner. Metric Coffee Roasters will be a "fully new wholesale coffee roasting company" that will roast coffee beans locally, using a refurbished 1961 roaster from Germany ...

Anyway enough coffee talk I guess.

[george]

I vote Big Shoulders at Chicago & Milwaukee as preferred upshot Chicago coffee.
http://www.bigshoulderscoffee.com/

(Is there a favorite coffee thread?)

[Tom Servo]

...This further adds to Chicago's position as one of the top two or three coffee cities in the country, alongside SF and debatably one of the Pacific Northwest cities....

i'm not gonna argue that Chicago may stand out in the national scene, but dude, come on... Seattle and Portland are in a league all their own when it comes to cafes and the coffee 'scene' etc... just saying, we're still (and for that matter, most of the nation) in the minors...

EDIT: just read all the other posts about coffee... yeah, i totally disagree. we may have high quality options over Starbucks or 'the best coffee' and so on... but that's all opinion anyway. fact is, in Seattle and Portland, there are cafes fucking EVERYWHERE! there are areas of Portland where there are three or four within walking distance to one another. Chicago just doesn't stack up against the Northwest. now, outside of the Northwest, i might agree we're top 3...

quick anecdote: when my sister comes to visit from Portland she scoffs, "where are all the coffee shops here?!"
point is, they're few and far between. unless you count Starbucks and Caribou, which rarely have that nice coffee shop vibe.

i honestly feel like we're pretty far behind San Fran and NYC too, maybe even a handful of other cities now that i'm thinking about our notable LACK OF a strong coffee scene.

and incidentally, i live across the street from Metropolis. that place sucks. the coffee and espresso are AWFUL, just not good. and the hours suck. you'd think being located on a major college campus it'd be open later than 8 or whenever the fuck it closes...

[denizen467]

EDIT: just read all the other posts about coffee... yeah, i totally disagree. ... but that's all opinion anyway. fact is, in Seattle and Portland, there are cafes fucking EVERYWHERE!

incidentally, i live across the street from Metropolis. that place sucks.
It's not opinion, it's the main consensus of coffee professionals, and of coffee geeks. You are talking about quantity and pervasiveness, not quality - ok, that's what most people understand, fine. Meanwhile, Intelly is conquering the country and beyond (opening in SF and NYC this spring, already ruling LA, preparing for Seoul, footprint in Tokyo). NYC mostly relies on other cities' companies for its best coffee; insane rents shove roasters and the quality coffeebars into outer boroughs; think of how much that situation sucks. You're right that Metropolis is now an underachiever.

This is making me hungry. What if the burger fairy also waved her wand Chicago's way and...

Smashburger began building out a space on Clybourn near Armitage, for an opening this spring. This will be their first city location after entering the suburbs a couple years ago with burgers and salads.

Adding to the just-opened Kuma's Too and Edzo's, this cements Lincoln Park - Lakeview as the epicenter of an unprecedented gourmet burger orgy: Butcher & The Burger, Indie Burger, Meatheads, Urban Burger Bar, Fatty's, DMK, and Epic are all only a couple years old. Add to that Etno (meat of all kinds) and Big & Little's in River North, and others. And all of that doesn't even include Five Guys, all the old indie standbys still operating, and pubs famous for burgers, like Grafton. I have no idea what the burger scene is in other cities and I don't care because I will be too busy eating. Bon bovine appetit.

[j korzeniowski]

i'm not gonna argue that Chicago may stand out in the national scene, but dude, come on... Seattle and Portland are in a league all their own when it comes to cafes and the coffee 'scene' etc... just saying, we're still (and for that matter, most of the nation) in the minors...

EDIT: just read all the other posts about coffee... yeah, i totally disagree. we may have high quality options over Starbucks or 'the best coffee' and so on... but that's all opinion anyway. fact is, in Seattle and Portland, there are cafes fucking EVERYWHERE! there are areas of Portland where there are three or four within walking distance to one another. Chicago just doesn't stack up against the Northwest. now, outside of the Northwest, i might agree we're top 3...

quick anecdote: when my sister comes to visit from Portland she scoffs, "where are all the coffee shops here?!"
point is, they're few and far between. unless you count Starbucks and Caribou, which rarely have that nice coffee shop vibe.

i honestly feel like we're pretty far behind San Fran and NYC too, maybe even a handful of other cities now that i'm thinking about our notable LACK OF a strong coffee scene.

and incidentally, i live across the street from Metropolis. that place sucks. the coffee and espresso are AWFUL, just not good. and the hours suck. you'd think being located on a major college campus it'd be open later than 8 or whenever the fuck it closes...

would rather have a better craft brew scene, but they may have us beat there, too, in the nw!

if you want to see an insane beer scene nearby, go to grand rapids. if they do not have more breweries and brewpubs than chicago, at about a tenth the population (metro), i'd be shocked.

great beer scene in gr and michigan as a whole.

[kolchak]

I don't really like all the new yuppie coffee and burger places. They have a tendency to whitewash neighborhoods that still have some old school character and urban diversity left.

As Tom Waits said: "It's getting harder and harder to find a bad cup of coffee these days"

[Tom Servo]

...

right, so we agree. i don't know anything about coffee quality, but yeah, other cities certainly has a way more pervading coffee scene

and idk what got you on the burger topic, but yeah! i have notice we have a kick ass burger scene! :tup:

j korzeniowski

chicago isn't really a craft brew place like portland. we're more of a domestic beer, get drunk kind of place! :cheers:

As Tom Waits said: "It's getting harder and harder to find a bad cup of coffee these days"

well that's just hipster silliness

[jc5680]

chicago isn't really a craft brew place like portland. we're more of a domestic beer, get drunk kind of place! :cheers:


this is just wrong too

[the urban politician]

Uhhhh....so getting back to the actual topic of 'Chicago Development' for which this thread exists, did anyone read the news of Robert de Niro's plan for a boutique hotel/restaurant on Randolph St in the west loop?

Damn that area really has heated up FAST.

[sammyg]

I don't really like all the new yuppie coffee and burger places. They have a tendency to whitewash neighborhoods that still have some old school character and urban diversity left.

As Tom Waits said: "It's getting harder and harder to find a bad cup of coffee these days"

You know Blacks and Latinos like good coffee too, right?

[Mikemak27]

WLCO, West Loop Community Organization, will shoot down any plan that is higher than their apparent 10 story limit west of Halsted. With bozo NIMBY'S like them in charge, they will only hurt their own property values. They should stop drinking the kool-aid.

[Rizzo]

Uhhhh....so getting back to the actual topic of 'Chicago Development' for which this thread exists, did anyone read the news of Robert de Niro's plan for a boutique hotel/restaurant on Randolph St in the west loop?

Damn that area really has heated up FAST.

No I did not read it, but I would have liked to have read it.

[Steely Dan]

did anyone read the news of Robert de Niro's plan for a boutique hotel/restaurant on Randolph St in the west loop?

say what?

link, please.

where on randolph exactly?

[BorisMolotov]

Smashburger began building out a space on Clybourn near Armitage, for an opening this spring. This will be their first city location after entering the suburbs a couple years ago with burgers and salads.

I walked by one once in a strip mall once and just smelling the air significantly raised my cholesterol. It probably tastes pretty awesome though.

[tintinex]

say what?

link, please.

where on randolph exactly?

I found this article doing a quick search

http://chicago.grubstreet.com/2013/03/hey_randolph_street_robert_de.html

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20130320/CRED03/130319725?template=mobile&X-IgnoreUserAgent=1

[Vlajos]

The burger thing is really boring.

[kolchak]

As Tom Waits said: "Its getting harder and harder to find a bad cup of coffee these days."

well that's just hipster silliness

Well, actually its a metaphor:

That cities are becoming places for the upper class. The proliferation of upscale eateries and cafes and clothing stores serves as a constant reminder.

For me it is exactly an urban development issue. Chicago would be better served were the focus on keeping Chicago's population economically diverse and unfortunately development these days isn't like that. We're looking at long term transformation into a giant bedroom community. Its the parking podium plague.

[the urban politician]

Well, actually its a metaphor:

That cities are becoming places for the upper class. The proliferation of upscale eateries and cafes and clothing stores serves as a constant reminder.

For me it is exactly an urban development issue. Chicago would be better served were the focus on keeping Chicago's population economically diverse and unfortunately development these days isn't like that. We're looking at long term transformation into a giant bedroom community. Its the parking podium plague.

Chicago's population is economically diverse. It's time to stop excluding the suburbs when talking about Chicago. In fact, Chicago's numbers look really bad when we only talk about city limits. Chicago's numbers look a whole lot better when we include the burbs.

Chicago needs the suburbs, and the burbs need Chicago. And plenty of middle class and lower income people, as well as wealthy people, live outside the borders. The fact that areas of the city are really gentrifying are a blip in the radar, as much of the region (and many parts of the city) are absolutely not turning into Paris 2.0.

[kolchak]

Chicago's population is economically diverse. It's time to stop excluding the suburbs when talking about Chicago. In fact, Chicago's numbers look really bad when we only talk about city limits. Chicago's numbers look a whole lot better when we include the burbs.

Chicago needs the suburbs, and the burbs need Chicago. And plenty of middle class and lower income people, as well as wealthy people, live outside the borders. The fact that areas of the city are really gentrifying are a blip in the radar, as much of the region (and many parts of the city) are absolutely not turning into Paris 2.0.

I apologize for excluding the suburbs but I have to cordially disagree. Declining incomes in Palatine and Blue Island don't counterbalance shrinking diversity in the city center - which as an urban dweller is more chiefly my concern.

[joeg1985]

Chicago's population is economically diverse. It's time to stop excluding the suburbs when talking about Chicago. In fact, Chicago's numbers look really bad when we only talk about city limits. Chicago's numbers look a whole lot better when we include the burbs.

Chicago needs the suburbs, and the burbs need Chicago. And plenty of middle class and lower income people, as well as wealthy people, live outside the borders. The fact that areas of the city are really gentrifying are a blip in the radar, as much of the region (and many parts of the city) are absolutely not turning into Paris 2.0.

But isn't the point of talking about our Chicago's development and keeping Chicago alive and sustainable and thriving as a competitive city to only talk about Chicago as a city? I mean, we don't control how the suburbs are planning themselves and their economic vitality.

I'm not discounting the need to think like a region but you also have to think about keeping yourself sustainable. It's not fair to say that all the poor can simply go live in the burbs. That doesn't make for good city planning.

[Steely Dan]

For me it is exactly an urban development issue. Chicago would be better served were the focus on keeping Chicago's population economically diverse and unfortunately development these days isn't like that. We're looking at long term transformation into a giant bedroom community. Its the parking podium plague.

what?

the gentrified areas of chicago are a drop in the bucket compared to the unceasing vastness of chicago's ghettos and bungalow belt. i mean, we're talking like what, maybe, MAYBE, 20 sq. miles out of 225 that have seen full-blown yuppification. i have a hard time sounding the alarm over that. "oh no, almost 10% of chicago has fancy coffee shops and expensive hamburgers! how are we regular joes supposed to go on living? the horror!"

if you lived in some coastal hyper-gentrified boutique city like boston, you might be closer to having a point, but chicago ain't no coastal hyper-gentrified boutique city like boston. this city is gigantic and most of it is still pretty messy.

[kolchak]

what?

the gentrified areas of chicago are a drop in the bucket compared to the unceasing vastness of chicago's ghettos and bungalow belt. i mean, we're talking like what, maybe, MAYBE, 20 sq. miles out of 225 that have seen full-blown yuppification. i have a hard time sounding the alarm over that. "oh no, almost 10% of chicago has fancy coffee shops and expensive hamburgers! how are we regular joes supposed to go on living? the horror!"

if you lived in some coastal hyper-gentrified boutique city like boston, you might be closer to having a point, but chicago ain't no coastal hyper-gentrified boutique city like boston. this city is gigantic and most of it is still pretty messy.

I apologize. I don't think I have said anything that radical. I certainly don't want to engender the wrath of the powers that be!:worship: I am a third generation Chicagoan. I have been a reader here since 2008. I have followed entire threads from start to finish (boy is 111 taking a long time) I like this forum. It is very informational! :)

All I am saying is if one grew up in downtown or the surrounding areas where the city is most dense and urban, one notices that income disparity is up. Is it Boston? No. But I don't think I ever said it was. All I said was that most new development is geared towards the higher end of the market - and in the central area of the city there isn't really much going up that isn't. I would much prefer it weren't so but I don't see that changing much.

Is Devon and Western a cool, vibrant neighborhood full of economic and cultural diversity? You betcha. But there used to be more stuff like that much closer to downtown. Remember Halsted Street before they shut it down? Nothing like that around downtown anymore. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I miss those places.

[george]

Halsted St where... Maxwell St? Chicago's very own flea market where on weekends you could buy your neighbors stolen tools, hear some real blues and get a pork chop sandwich.

[XIII]

In topic convergence news:

Pickwick Stable, one of Chicago's oldest buildings and a survivor of the great fire, is going to be converted into a coffee roaster and cafe for the Loop U crowd.

http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info/2013/03/07/loop-building-that-survived-the-great-fire-will-become-a-roasting- (http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info/2013/03/07/loop-building-that-survived-the-great-fire-will-become-a-roasting-house/)house/http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info/2013/03/07/loop-building-that-survived-the-great-fire-will-become-a-roasting-house/

[HowardL]

I found this article doing a quick search

http://chicago.grubstreet.com/2013/03/hey_randolph_street_robert_de.html

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20130320/CRED03/130319725?template=mobile&X-IgnoreUserAgent=1
Nice! I love seeing awkward, vacant lots filled in. Even if the design isn't grand, it will help create/re-build that street wall.

[george]

3-20

1601 W Division

http://imageshack.us/a/img822/381/16014b.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img42/1872/16011.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img580/7373/16013.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img132/5208/16012.jpg

[J_M_Tungsten]

Great angles george! I wonder if the changed the design a bit. The windows on the angled part (front) are pretty big on the second story when compared to the renderings.

[george]

Thanks, JMT. The rendering and the actual window openings are noticeably different. Probably reflects further refinement to the interior unit layouts.

Still undecided if this project (at 11 floors) belongs in the the General Developments or Highrise Projects thread.

[denizen467]

Robert de Niro's plan for a boutique hotel/restaurant on Randolph St in the west loop?
where on randolph exactly?
Just continuing from migueltorres's link, this site should be that vacant lot on the NE corner of Peoria and Randolph. (Speak of the devil - this is next to Grange Hall Burger Bar, which I forgot to include in my earlier burger list.) About the WLCO/height comment, that continues to be an annoying issue but as far as this project goes, I think a boutique hotel selling intimacy to Randolph restaurant row would not necessarily be thwarted by a (for example) 10-story height restriction, depending on the size of their lot; the low-rise Clark-Addison hotel proposal from a while back comes to mind.

[killaviews]

Hyde Parkers Worry Proposed Tower Will Become '53rd Street Strangler'

http://www.dnainfo.com//chicago/20130320/hyde-park/hyde-parkers-pan-proposed-tower-dubbed-53rd-street-strangler

Complaining about traffic causued by a building that will replace a gas station. It hurts my head.

[the urban politician]

^ From the article:


“It’s really up to Ald. [Will] Burns (4th), and he’s said he wants to listen to the community and he thinks the community wants this,” said Robin Kauffman, one of the organizers.

Burns did attend the meeting, but arrived at the church near the end and declined to address the crowd. He referred questions from reporters after his meeting to his office staff. Prentice Butler, a spokesman for the alderman, said Burns clearly laid out his support for the project in a column in the Hyde Park Herald and would not comment further.

Representatives from the development team also attended the meeting but declined to comment.

The project is backed by the University of Chicago, which owns the gas station and vacant lot that make up most of the site. The university has been instrumental in many recent real estate developments on 53rd Street, giving up land for an office tower and funding the redevelopment of the Harper Theater.

Though these projects have been alternately praised and panned in the neighborhood, the attitude of the crowd on Monday was that the university was playing too dominate a role in the development of the neighborhood.


My guess is that the fix is in, and the U of C gets the zoning approval. And that's a good thing. If Hyde Park is going to be an island of wealth on the south side, it's time we fortify it a bit more.

[ardecila]

Yes, the University dominates the neighborhood. That's been the case since the 1960s at least... this is the natural state of affairs in Hyde Park. There's little private-sector interest.

Antheus, to their credit, sees a lot of potential in Hyde Park but hasn't been able to finance any new construction because lenders view the neighborhood as risky (echoes of redlining).

[the urban politician]

Yes, the University dominates the neighborhood. That's been the case since the 1960s at least... this is the natural state of affairs in Hyde Park. There's little private-sector interest.

Antheus, to their credit, sees a lot of potential in Hyde Park but hasn't been able to finance any new construction because lenders view the neighborhood as risky.

Actually I have an update on this, but I posted it in our dedicated "Hyde Park development" thread

[Via Chicago]

In topic convergence news:

Pickwick Stable, one of Chicago's oldest buildings and a survivor of the great fire, is going to be converted into a coffee roaster and cafe for the Loop U crowd.

http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info/2013/03/07/loop-building-that-survived-the-great-fire-will-become-a-roasting- (http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info/2013/03/07/loop-building-that-survived-the-great-fire-will-become-a-roasting-house/)house/http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info/2013/03/07/loop-building-that-survived-the-great-fire-will-become-a-roasting-house/

Awesome; I've had some of the best coffee of my life at their Irving Park location. Although at $4 a cup its kind of a rarity...

[Mr Roboto]

Ive already mentioned it elsewhere, but the PDNA meeting on Motor row and other topics was last night.

Suffice to say, I think with the new 6m TIF for beautification of Motor Row and the new CTA station that area is in for some big things.

The Motor Row 6M TIF Streetscape project will likely involve widening the sidewalk on Michigan ave from Cermak to 24th. They are still deciding how that would be done though and wether they want occasional outward extensions protected by bollards that would only be used by businesses for outdoor seating or of they should just make it a 13' wide sidewalk the entire way. I think the latter is the way to go.

Anyway, it seems a number of new businesses are headed for the area; such as a Brewery called Broad Shoulders Brewery, which would be in the 3 story building at 2337 S. Michigan Ave and would be awesome for the neighborhood I think, a new upscale liquor store at Cermak and Michigan, and a Cheap Trick themed live music performance venue along with a boutique hotel. All seems like a pretty exciting time for Motor Row, and I must say its about time.

I think it all has to do with the new CTA station, but thats just my hunch :sarcasm. The upscale-ness of the new proposals may bother some, but theres still the old restaurants on cermak and other areas that are not upscale. Having a mix doesnt bother me. Plus its a pretty blank slate, so almost anything is welcome.

Oh yeah, I also learned exactly where the proposed Depaul arena would go, right between Cermak, Cullerton, Calumet and Indiana, two entire blocks. It would destroy the American Book Company Building and the house on Indiana, and would ruin the awesome potential of this area and therefore would completely suck balls. No one at the meeting wants an arena at that location. Now, another area in the south loop/motor row area may be ok. Someone suggested the site of the old Ickes. I dont know, I just know an arena there would suck.

[k1052]

Oh yeah, I also learned exactly where the proposed Depaul arena would go, right between Cermak, Cullerton, Calumet and Indiana, two entire blocks. It would destroy the American Book Company Building and the house on Indiana, and would ruin the awesome potential of this area and therefore would completely suck balls. No one at the meeting wants an arena at that location. Now, another area in the south loop/motor row area may be ok. Someone suggested the site of the old Ickes. I dont know, I just know an arena there would suck.


The ABC building is landmarked. I think there was a later addition in the middle that could probably go and combined with possibly closing Prairie Ave off there would be sufficient space to save the ABC and still shoehorn in the arena. Rees House could probably be moved.

[Rizzo]

The ABC building is landmarked. I think there was a later addition in the middle that could probably go and combined with possibly closing Prairie Ave off there would be sufficient space to save the ABC and still shoehorn in the arena. Rees House could probably be moved.

Yeah, I was just thinking they'd pull off a design like Ford Field in Detroit where the historic warehouse was wedged in with the stadium. The house shouldn't be a problem to move. It's not like it's absolutely enormous.

[wierdaaron]

There's another Greater South Loop Association meeting tomorrow. Revised renderings for the British School "park" project are going to be displayed.

http://www.sloopin.com/2013/03/greater-south-loop-association.html

Will our friendly neighborhood MrDowntown be there to gather the details?

[k1052]

Yeah, I was just thinking they'd pull off a design like Ford Field in Detroit where the historic warehouse was wedged in with the stadium. The house shouldn't be a problem to move. It's not like it's absolutely enormous.

After looking at the PDNA presentation the exact footprint of an arena on the site isn't given, it's highly speculative to claim the ABC will be demolished at this point (which wouldn't' be allowed anyway since it's landmarked). Even the old Prairie Blocks render that somehow made it into the presentation (in spite of it's slow but inevitable demise) shows your solution, the ABC building is preserved with new development surrounding it on the West and North sides.

The issues cited mostly read like typical "we don't want a sports venue" stuff, even though it would greatly assist getting Motor Row off the ground.

[Mr Roboto]

Where has a neighborhood, particularly an urban one, got off the ground because of a sports venue? Im asking as a serious question. I cant think of any examples.

[k1052]

Where has a neighborhood, particularly an urban one, got off the ground because of a sports venue? Im asking as a serious question. I cant think of any examples.

The South Loop is well off the ground. The idea of Motor Row as an entertainment district is still solidly stuck in the mud, since you've got to have people to actually entertain and somewhere for them to stay nearby rather than relying on the river north hotels to do the heavy lifting (which already has a huge bar/restaurant scene right outside their doors). If the city wants to give up on Motor Row as an entertainment district then the arena won't really further any of the South Loop's (or the city's) goals.