CHICAGO | General Developments

[emathias]

I don't think so, it looks like it still transitions at the same height as the neighboring building.

It was just a guess on my part, but the height difference is only 8 1/2 feet.

I don't think they peeled off a residential floor.

I was actually mistaken, and you appear to have been right about the loss of a parking level:

https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/11038003_10153444357874015_8640002964696688337_n.jpg?oh=27029bed62b3bc7dfc16c54266d48ddd&oe=56037B0A
photo by me

[LouisVanDerWright]

A recommendation in FHA's underwriting standards, which became pointless and unenforceable in 1949, is not a literal statutory prohibition on black residence in suburbs.

It was not a "recommendation". Downright silly of you to try to write off the entire redlining era. There were multiple FHA policies (and VA policies) that made it illegal for the developers they were bankrolling to sell to blacks. The FHA would not guarantee the loans the suburban developers needed to create the suburbs if they sold any units to blacks. That was not a mere "recommendation" that was a policy set in stone. The FHA also sectioned off black neighborhoods (drew a red line around them) and said they would not guarantee any loans in those areas because they were "too risky". Also, there were multiple municipalities that literally did have a statutory prohibition on blacks including places like Baltimore which spent decades trying to cordon off and segregate it's black population. Then there were also the deed covenants which you touched on, but those did not simply disappear in 1948 just because the supreme court ruled them unenforceable, the government found multiple different ways to try to get around that ruling up until the passing of the Fair Housing Act at which point the damage was already done and they could discriminate against blacks by simply declining to allow public housing aid in the suburbs which continues to this day.

Seriously people, this is pathetic that you don't know this and are actively denying it. It's like denying the holocaust, this is something very real which very much did happen. There was a systematic conspiracy reaching down from the Federal level to destroy inner cities and create ghettos while allowing the construction of a new white paradise called the suburbs. Stop denying it. It happened.

Again, everyone should listen to this NPR piece on the subject:

http://www.wbur.org/npr/406699264/historian-says-dont-sanitize-how-our-government-created-the-ghettos

[Mr Downtown]

I heard Rothstein's interview when it ran on "Fresh Air," but it was quickly apparent that he's carefully cherry-picked bits of history, and elides rather dishonestly between different concepts, to prove his predetermined conclusion.

Indeed, you also seem to hop effortlessly from HOLC's 1937 maps—which it turns out very few lenders ever even saw (http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=cplan_papers)—forward to FHA's postwar underwriting guidelines (which made nothing illegal), or hop back decades to Baltimore's 1910 racial zoning (declared unconstitutional in 1917). You also don't seem able to distinguish between government action and private action regarding racial restrictive covenants.

We in the US have plenty to be ashamed of in our history of race relations. There's no need to invent entirely new offenses through revisionist history.

[wierdaaron]

British School Goes Green

Suddenly, the rooftop of the South Loop British School has grass and so does the field next to it. I didn't see it go in, so I can't say for sure whether it's sod or astroturf. They're painting the soccer field lines now.

http://i.imgur.com/RKXDE1bh.jpg (http://imgur.com/RKXDE1b)

Looking the other way from my balcony, something's been happening on this old Lasalle-street printer's row rooftop for a while but I'm not sure what. Either a new penthouse unit or a building amenity, I'm guessing.

http://i.imgur.com/HQrmHohh.jpg (http://imgur.com/HQrmHoh)

[Near North Resident]

Thankfully not everyone is pleased with NoCa as fifield is... what was wrong with the "Avant" anyway?

http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-83691899/

I LOVE some of the reccomendations, pretty hilarious

[rlw777]

That british school reminds me whatever happened to the tower proposed for the NW portion of the roosevelt collection?

[wierdaaron]

That british school reminds me whatever happened to the tower proposed for the NW portion of the roosevelt collection?
Still on the table. They recently cleared out some of the junk that was being stored on the site of it, so they might be getting ready to pull the trigger. With that CMK/Lend Lease thing going on across the street they might be able to get the money now.

I'm hoping they aren't still sitting on the original design from 10+ years ago.

[Jim in Chicago]

Looking the other way from my balcony, something's been happening on this old Lasalle-street printer's row rooftop for a while but I'm not sure what. Either a new penthouse unit or a building amenity, I'm guessing.

http://i.imgur.com/HQrmHohh.jpg (http://imgur.com/HQrmHoh)

I believe this is the building that's slated to become apartments. There was a great deal of work doing on to repair the brickwork around the windows, but I haven't seen much activity in awhile.

[SamInTheLoop]

We in the US have plenty to be ashamed of in our history of race relations. There's no need to invent entirely new offenses through revisionist history.


But what if the inventions neatly fit his narrative?

[SamInTheLoop]

Still on the table. They recently cleared out some of the junk that was being stored on the site of it, so they might be getting ready to pull the trigger. With that CMK/Lend Lease thing going on across the street they might be able to get the money now.

I'm hoping they aren't still sitting on the original design from 10+ years ago.



Interesting. I read a snippet recently from some sort of online trade rag I believe (can't remember what it was at the moment) that made almost offhand mention of this tower finally beginning construction this year (however, at about this time last year, McCaffery also claimed he would begin construction by the end of last year)......who knows, this time may be for real. Obviously don't expect quality architecture, even if there has been a massive redesign from the original placeholder 'design' from probably almost a decade ago........as it will undoubtedly be an Antunovich.........so I do suppose that McCaffery decided to hang onto this parcel (remember, last year they put the other development parcel(s) to the north up for sale, along with either the existing apartments or the retail (can't remember which one, but my guess would be the apartments).......I'd been wondering whether this parcel that is 'carved' into the NW corner of the movie theater was part of that sale package......

[ChickeNES]

^, ^^, ^^^
I was wondering why that corner is carved out like that, now I know. Was there a definitive proposal for the tower, or was the space just reserved for future use?

[wierdaaron]

There was a design for the tower as part of the original package, and the model of the development in the sales office has a tower there.

http://i.imgur.com/H8IlMXbl.jpg (http://imgur.com/H8IlMXb)

...which is why I'm hoping if they bring the project back, they redesign it. It seems likely, since none of the current stakeholders of RC had anything to do with it, in addition to it being ugly as sin and severely out of date (it's got one of those pagoda sun visors on the roof, like the worst of river north).

I'd be fine with bringing Antunovich in, if that's the only option for McCaffery, as long as it's as attractive as his Cermak/McCormick hotel design.

[marothisu]

Good news for the south side. That development of 64 townhomes in Brighton Park near McKinley Park received its first building permit for 9 townhomes yesterday:

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140509/mckinley-park/mckinley-square-townhomes-planned-near-35th-western

[LouisVanDerWright]

New Hancock sculpture I was talking about the other day, the lobby is SO much better now:

http://assets.dnainfo.com/generated/chicago_photo/2015/06/fountain-1433273134.jpg/extralarge.jpg

http://assets.dnainfo.com/generated/chicago_photo/2015/06/looking-woman-1433273135.jpg/extralarge.jpg

Doesn't translate very well into crappy DNA info cellphone photos, but it's totally stunning IRL.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150603/gold-coast/is-hancock-towers-lucent-sculpture-new-bean

[MultiModal]

Anyone know what is going on with the site directly south of pizzeria duo on Ontario and Wabash ? It's fenced off (has been for a while) and whatever was there is now gone, google maps shows it as a four story brick building.

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

I heard Rothstein's interview when it ran on "Fresh Air," but it was quickly apparent that he's carefully cherry-picked bits of history, and elides rather dishonestly between different concepts, to prove his predetermined conclusion.

Indeed, you also seem to hop effortlessly from HOLC's 1937 maps—which it turns out very few lenders ever even saw (http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=cplan_papers)—forward to FHA's postwar underwriting guidelines (which made nothing illegal), or hop back decades to Baltimore's 1910 racial zoning (declared unconstitutional in 1917). You also don't seem able to distinguish between government action and private action regarding racial restrictive covenants.

We in the US have plenty to be ashamed of in our history of race relations. There's no need to invent entirely new offenses through revisionist history.

Are you contending that redlining didn't happen? Or that, if it did, the government played no role in it? Did you even read the study you cited? The author takes redlining as a given; the only question is about authorship of the most influential maps and guidelines. (Spoiler alert: It was the FHA in collusion with private lenders.) Are you really arguing that federal guidelines absolve the government of responsibility for institutionalizing racism because they're not legally binding?

On guidelines (from the study):

Lenders interested in securing FHA insurance for their loans had an incentive to follow FHA’s guidelines because, in addition to protecting against losses, FHA insurance virtually guaranteed that a loan could be resold on the secondary mortgage market.

On the distribution of the guidelines:

More important than having conducted studies and created maps, FHA provided detailed instructions for appraising neighborhood risk through its Underwriting Manual. Unlike FHLBB’s City Survey Program materials and
some of the reports FHA generated, the underwriting manuals were intended for use outside the agency and were widely publicized and distributed.

What I find particularly troubling is the distinction you attempt to draw between government actions and those of private individuals. Even if we accept the impossible proposition that the federal government (via the FHA) didn't enable housing discrimination through covertly racist policies, and that, more broadly, such discrimination occurred solely within the private sphere and among private actors, the government must still be held responsible for simply allowing that type of discrimination to exist (thereby tacitly sanctioning it). That's why we had to have the Civil Rights Movement.

And it is for this reason that, though the HOLC may not be the correct government entity to blame for redlining (if we are persuaded by the study you cited), it was nevertheless still partly responsible for the problem of housing discrimination because it facilitated existing (and, at the time, legal) segregationist/racist policies:

HOLC did apparently reinforce racial segregation in some situations. When the agency acquired properties through foreclosure because homeowners were unable to make their payments to HOLC, they allowed the local brokers who were responsible for selling off those properties to follow local segregation standards.

Specifically, on the HOLC's role:

[T]he [HOLC's] map provides evidence that ecological and infiltration theories, racial prejudice, and real estate and appraisal industry codification of all these sentiments in combination with federal endorsement and promotion of them—not the maps, themselves—caused urban decline.

I think this is hardly the conclusion you wanted us to draw.

[r18tdi]

Anyone know what is going on with the site directly south of pizzeria duo on Ontario and Wabash ? It's fenced off (has been for a while) and whatever was there is now gone, google maps shows it as a four story brick building. I've been wondering that myself.

It's a shame we lost those great old trees overhanging Wabash and Pizzeria Due. Hopefully whatever is built has decent height and covers up some of that massive blank garage wall to the immediate south.

[harryc]

5/25
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gVMGrLRPnPM/VXDR7COcOkI/AAAAAAAETn4/FF43FmOCL64/w900-h563-no/P1240081.JPG


6/04
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vOfuxhR06Jk/VXDR8IitLfI/AAAAAAAEToA/cRLPnIiL8aY/w901-h563-no/P1240443.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nwgKv7tjwb0/VXDR8niOw1I/AAAAAAAEToI/R3ckiGLARZ4/w751-h563-no/P1240444.JPG

[harryc]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EdweLQUy25g/VXDvJGA9BJI/AAAAAAAEToo/fFoHXyTrAj4/w751-h563-no/P1240413.JPG

[Mr Downtown]

Are you contending that redlining didn't happen?

No, of course not. I'm merely refuting the assertion that

The segregation of the new white suburbs would not have have been so absolute if the government didn't make it literally illegal for blacks to move there.

Not only does this confuse de facto with de jure segregation, but those who don’t carefully read Kenneth Jackson’s claims often overstate the influence of redlining.

FHA and VA loan guarantees were important to postwar production homebuilders, but they weren't the only means of financing. According to Jackson’s own figures, for instance, they were used for less than a quarter of single-family units in Fairfax Co., Virginia. And racial stability was part of the “adverse influences” factor, which was only 20 percent of the FHA underwriting guideline formula.


What I find particularly troubling is the distinction you attempt to draw between government actions and those of private individuals. . . . the government must still be held responsible for simply allowing that type of discrimination to exist

I am not seeking to defend racial restrictive covenants. But the distinction you decry is important in our constitutional framework. Congress could not outlaw private prejudice, and—prior to the era of the Warren Court—it wasn’t even clear that it could outlaw racially discriminatory transactions between parties in the same state.

We can only understand our history. We can’t rewrite it.

[marothisu]

Saw a building permit issued on Monday, 6/1, for a 10 story building (foundation only) at 540 W Webster. Is this part of the CMH redevelopment?

[LouisVanDerWright]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nwgKv7tjwb0/VXDR8niOw1I/AAAAAAAEToI/R3ckiGLARZ4/w751-h563-no/P1240444.JPG

This area of downtown has more cranes than I've seen since the last boom. Driving in on the Kennedy and looping around on Randolph onto Lake you see another crane at every turn. This one should also be very visible. Hopefully 590 W Madison will join the party before Wolf Point's crane comes down.

[SamInTheLoop]

There was a design for the tower as part of the original package, and the model of the development in the sales office has a tower there.

http://i.imgur.com/H8IlMXbl.jpg (http://imgur.com/H8IlMXb)

...which is why I'm hoping if they bring the project back, they redesign it. It seems likely, since none of the current stakeholders of RC had anything to do with it, in addition to it being ugly as sin and severely out of date (it's got one of those pagoda sun visors on the roof, like the worst of river north).

I'd be fine with bringing Antunovich in, if that's the only option for McCaffery, as long as it's as attractive as his Cermak/McCormick hotel design.


Good call on the McHugh McCormick Place hotel design - that's definitely among Antunovich's best work and was a very pleasant surprise. BTW, anybody hear anything on that project starting this year? (I know the Marriott Marquis is supposed to begin this summer)........as for that original 'design' - AFAIK, it wasn't a baked design, just a placeholder, and now that I remember, it must have been by RTKL (the original architects of the retail for RC by Centrum), or potentially Hirsch (very modestly talented architect - although they can throw up an upside surprise I suppose every now and then) - Centrum's go-to residential architect (as Antunovich is for McCaffery).

All that being said, I'm not at all optimistic on the new design for the RC tower.....when in doubt, prepare for disappointment from Antunovich....

[Jibba]

Saw a building permit issued on Monday, 6/1, for a 10 story building (foundation only) at 540 W Webster. Is this part of the CMH redevelopment?

It's part of the old Lincoln Park Hospital redevelopment. Webster Square:

http://webstersquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Aerial_North_01.jpg
http://webstersquare.com/gallery/

That's my guess, anyway.

[emathias]

duplicate

[r18tdi]

Good call on the McHugh McCormick Place hotel design - that's definitely among Antunovich's best work Agreed, it's right up there with 805 N. LaSalle and 400 W. Huron.

[SamInTheLoop]

^ whoooaaaaaa - the designer on those is Berkelmamer - NOT Antunovich.....both - especially 805 - are better than McHugh hotel....and both are beyond Antunovich's extensively well-documented non-extensive skillset...........can you imagine Antunovich designing a box as elegantly refined as 805? Antunovich may have been the architect-of-record for those......

[nergie]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/globalcity/ct-met-chinese-condo-buyers-0607-20150605-story.html#page=1Interesting story in this today's Chicago Tribune

<<http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/globalcity/ct-met-chinese-condo-buyers-0607-20150605-story.html#page=1>>

[the urban politician]

^ I wish Chinese investors would indeed see the "light" and just start flooding Chicago with more of their money. Perhaps indeed we will see more after the Wanda Tower project.

It's interesting: Indian subcontinent types have "discovered" Chicago to a much greater degree than east Asians (relatively speaking, of course), who still seem to be hung up on the coasts for some reason.

I'm guessing it's a legacy thing, as California in particular has been an immigrant hub for the Chinese for well over a century.

[Ryanrule]

helps to have been a port city. lots of people came to the country before they were more locked down.

[wierdaaron]

Bloomington, IL down south a few hours has a very large Indian population for whatever reason, maybe they've started to filter into Chicago recently as urban life has become more attractive in general.

The Chinese millionaires thing is understandable too. Rahm has been pretty aggressive in trying to promote Chicago-China relations, including a big and highly-publicized (over there) visit by the Chinese president around 2011 or so, and some kind of Chinese-American summit that was held here last year (when the Wanda tower was prematurely announced). I know some young adults whose parents are still Chinese nationals and they say that the very wealthy Chinese are looking for any safe way they can find to move their money outside of China because they're worried the corrupt government will take it from them.

So, plopping down a half-million or so on a Chicago condo can be an attractive investment for some people. Give their kids a safe and comfortable place to stay during college, and a relatively safe way to store some value outside of China's grasp.

[harryc]

Bloomington, IL down south a few hours has a very large Indian population for whatever reason, maybe they've started to filter into Chicago recently as urban life has become more attractive in general.

The Chinese millionaires thing is understandable too. Rahm has been pretty aggressive in trying to promote Chicago-China relations, including a big and highly-publicized (over there) visit by the Chinese president around 2011 or so, and some kind of Chinese-American summit that was held here last year (when the Wanda tower was prematurely announced). I know some young adults whose parents are still Chinese nationals and they say that the very wealthy Chinese are looking for any safe way they can find to move their money outside of China because they're worried the corrupt government will take it from them.

So, plopping down a half-million or so on a Chicago condo can be an attractive investment for some people. Give their kids a safe and comfortable place to stay during college, and a relatively safe way to store some value outside of China's grasp.

There is a rather cool Hindu temple in Bartlette
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VQpB1DVwioU/VXHs2Dg48VI/AAAAAAAETrA/8YlbflMts3c/w1044-h415-no/P1080413.JPG

[emathias]

^ I wish Chinese investors would indeed see the "light" and just start flooding Chicago with more of their money. Perhaps indeed we will see more after the Wanda Tower project.

It's interesting: Indian subcontinent types have "discovered" Chicago to a much greater degree than east Asians (relatively speaking, of course), who still seem to be hung up on the coasts for some reason.

I'm guessing it's a legacy thing, as California in particular has been an immigrant hub for the Chinese for well over a century.

San Francisco will likely always hold a certain cachet in China. Most global cities just get phonetically determined names in Chinese, but San Francisco has been called Gold Mountain for a long time. It's hard to compete with a place named for being a place people went to strike it rich.

[sentinel]

There is a rather cool Hindu temple in Bartlette
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VQpB1DVwioU/VXHs2Dg48VI/AAAAAAAETrA/8YlbflMts3c/w1044-h415-no/P1080413.JPG

Indeed, and then there's another large, gopuram, or tower-style temple in Lemont - there is a huge Indian population in western Chicagoland, essentially along the BNSF metra line, in addition to the north side of the City. But there is a very large SE and East asian influence as well in the same general vicinity, with the latter becoming more pronounced over the last decade, if not longer.

I think one thing to remember is that many of these very large ethnic populations in Chicagoland have more or less followed traditional immigration patterns over the past 45+ years, and were initially driven by necessity and a desire for a better life since many who arrived in the US from those parts of Asia were coming from countries that were far less affluent or ascendant than they are today. Whereas the article that nergie posted shows a pretty clear contrast to what's happening today in Chicago because those in China who have wealth are still in China, and acting primarily to 'diversify' their wealth, both with their offspring and american condos as investments - the economic juggernaut that is China won't be able to maintain the same momentum forever, and coupled with the current corruption crackdown (CCC?), which ironically, has been one of the primary drivers of the most recent economic boom in the mainland, I'm not surprised that many wealthy are looking to the US as an escape.

One other thing, regardless of how 'hot' the coastal US markets are now, anyone with wealth, regardless of provenance, didn't get that way by spending their money, unless they expect a return on an investment in whatever capacity. Chicago is a potential hidden jewel, now for both regular Americans as well as foreign real estate investors.

[LouisVanDerWright]

The Chinese floodwaters have been lapping at Lake Michigan's shores for a while now. I've noticed a huge number of inquiries from Chinese money about school districts and acquiring land for condo construction for a couple of years now.

[Ryanrule]

my future wife is native chinese. I want her to get into real estate sales, and start a business to acclimate recent arrivals to their area.

[marothisu]

^ I wish Chinese investors would indeed see the "light" and just start flooding Chicago with more of their money. Perhaps indeed we will see more after the Wanda Tower project.

It's interesting: Indian subcontinent types have "discovered" Chicago to a much greater degree than east Asians (relatively speaking, of course), who still seem to be hung up on the coasts for some reason.

I'm guessing it's a legacy thing, as California in particular has been an immigrant hub for the Chinese for well over a century.

They will slowly discover it until Wanda. My girlfriend, originally from China, was shocked at how cheap everything is. She knew about Chicago and says many other Chinese do, but it's such a huge country and yes they will think "country bumpkins" until they learn something about it. I showed her places in my neighborhood and she was just like "This is so cheap compared to NYC, LA, and Shanghai." and told some of her friends and family about the prices. She's half joked with her parents a few times now about buying a place in Chicago even though she lives in NYC.

[petey2428]

I'm from Bangkok, and surprisingly a lot of units in Bangkok are more expensive than the nice places in Chicago.

[nergie]

^ I wish Chinese investors would indeed see the "light" and just start flooding Chicago with more of their money. Perhaps indeed we will see more after the Wanda Tower project.

It's interesting: Indian subcontinent types have "discovered" Chicago to a much greater degree than east Asians (relatively speaking, of course), who still seem to be hung up on the coasts for some reason.

I'm guessing it's a legacy thing, as California in particular has been an immigrant hub for the Chinese for well over a century.

My parents are among the first Indians to immigrate to Chicago in the early 60s. The huge push came once LBJ passed immigration reform opening up more slots for those from Asia, in particular professional types.

[wierdaaron]

Is this building sagging at the top?

http://i.imgur.com/JKjn77ql.jpg (http://imgur.com/JKjn77q)

Strange that the windows are perfectly aligned. Maybe they were knocked out after the sag happened? Are those diagonal pieces of metal supposed to help with the sag? Any experts on this stuff?

[PKDickman]

Is this building sagging at the top.

Strange that the windows are perfectly aligned. Maybe they were knocked out after the sag happened? Are those diagonal pieces of metal supposed to help with the sag? Any experts on this stuff?

No, it' just a long building.

To maintain one slope from front to rear, would leave you with a 6 ft cockloft.

They made the roof slope to a drain in the middle and laid the side parapet to match.

[SamInTheLoop]

^^^^ (Petey) Why is that surprising? We have relatively few supply constraints, lots of easily developable and re-developable acreage.....it's actually in many ways a great advantage for Chicago, and one that will be reduced only fairly slowly over time, relatively.....

[Mr Downtown]

The missing element for Chinese investors in Chicago is growing demand. This is a city that only grew by 82 people last year.

http://www.metroplanning.org/uploads/cms/images/top_20_cities.jpg/image-full;size$700,510.ImageHandler

Even if a California or New York condo is more money, you have some assurance that fundamental market forces will keep its value growing at least with inflation, and probably with the rate of population growth.

[J_M_Tungsten]

No wonder Seattle is building so much.

[the urban politician]

The missing element for Chinese investors in Chicago is growing demand. This is a city that only grew by 82 people last year.

http://www.metroplanning.org/uploads/cms/images/top_20_cities.jpg/image-full;size$700,510.ImageHandler

Even if a California or New York condo is more money, you have some assurance that fundamental market forces will keep its value growing at least with inflation, and probably with the rate of population growth.

A very flawed argument. Property values are hardly related to population numbers. They are related to who wants to live there, and how a place is perceived. Hence Lincoln Park's rising property values despite a falling population.

[BVictor1]

The missing element for Chinese investors in Chicago is growing demand. This is a city that only grew by 82 people last year.

http://www.metroplanning.org/uploads/cms/images/top_20_cities.jpg/image-full;size$700,510.ImageHandler

Even if a California or New York condo is more money, you have some assurance that fundamental market forces will keep its value growing at least with inflation, and probably with the rate of population growth.

That number should be taken with a grain of salt.

[Mr Downtown]

^Why? What about the Census Bureau methodology was flawed? In what way is it not indicative of the long-term trend?

Metropolitan Chicago remains caught in an ultra-slow growth mode, with the region adding just an estimated 23,230 residents [in 2013].

. . . the Chicago Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area grew to 9,537,289 in the year ended July 1 [2013] — a growth rate of less than 0.3 percent. The CMSA includes not only the inner region but portions of southeast Wisconsin and northwest Indiana.

That's about the same rate as the 30,178 and 22,776 annual growth in the two prior years since the 2010 census, and an indication that, for whatever reason, the Chicago region remains pretty much caught in the economic recession that followed the subprime mortgage crisis.

With just under 70,000 more people since 2010, the CMSA markedly trails booming Sun Belt cites such as Houston, Dallas and Phoenix as well as two other cities that arguably are the Windy City's peers: New York and Los Angeles. The New York CMSA added 382,000 people since 2010, while Los Angeles added 303,000, according to [Census B]ureau estimates.

The Houston metropolitan area added about 138,000 people [in 2013], the most in the nation. Of the nation's 381 metropolitan areas, 289 gained population [in 2013], with an average hike of 0.9 percent, while 92 lost population.

Crain's Chicago Business, March 27, 2014 (http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140327/BLOGS02/140329808/chicago-area-population-barely-grows)

[the urban politician]

I'm not disputing the census. I just don't know what that has to do with property values in Bucktown or rents in Streeterville.

A better list of indicators would be household incomes, job growth, and foreign investment.

[OrdoSeclorum]

The missing element for Chinese investors in Chicago is growing demand. This is a city that only grew by 82 people last year.

http://www.metroplanning.org/uploads/cms/images/top_20_cities.jpg/image-full;size$700,510.ImageHandler

Even if a California or New York condo is more money, you have some assurance that fundamental market forces will keep its value growing at least with inflation, and probably with the rate of population growth.


Why not? And Columbus is an even better investment opportunity than San Fransisco it appears!

Obviously--it literally should go without saying--that Chicago's core has been the fastest or one of the fastest growing areas in the country in the last decade and Chicago's poor, rust-belty areas have seen some of the largest population declines. It is literally booming and appreciating faster than just about any other North American city, save Toronto and New York. It is jejune and insipid to suggest that an area with a booming population isn't worthy of investment because there is a shrinking population nearby. In fact, the only reason a lettered person might suggest that's the case is to be a stick-in-the-mud.

Chinese and Russian investment goes to New York and San Francisco because they are a known commodity that is viewed as cash among people who are trying to secret money away from autocratic regimes. If you want to put cash in a condo, you don't have to do any research or take any leaps of faith to make that transaction in Manhattan. The path to get money in or out is extremely well-worn. Some people invest in Chicago or Seattle; many more of them hide money in New York. Miami has a different relationship in that it's viewed as a culturally friendly gateway to the U.S. by all of Latin America. If you're a Columbian executive, "I'm buying a place in Miami" is something people expect you to say. "I'm buying a place in Denver", would be followed with requests to borrow an atlas.

[marothisu]

^Why? What about the Census Bureau methodology was flawed? In what way is it not indicative of the long-term trend?

Metropolitan Chicago remains caught in an ultra-slow growth mode, with the region adding just an estimated 23,230 residents [in 2013].

. . . the Chicago Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area grew to 9,537,289 in the year ended July 1 [2013] — a growth rate of less than 0.3 percent. The CMSA includes not only the inner region but portions of southeast Wisconsin and northwest Indiana.

That's about the same rate as the 30,178 and 22,776 annual growth in the two prior years since the 2010 census, and an indication that, for whatever reason, the Chicago region remains pretty much caught in the economic recession that followed the subprime mortgage crisis.

With just under 70,000 more people since 2010, the CMSA markedly trails booming Sun Belt cites such as Houston, Dallas and Phoenix as well as two other cities that arguably are the Windy City's peers: New York and Los Angeles. The New York CMSA added 382,000 people since 2010, while Los Angeles added 303,000, according to [Census B]ureau estimates.

The Houston metropolitan area added about 138,000 people [in 2013], the most in the nation. Of the nation's 381 metropolitan areas, 289 gained population [in 2013], with an average hike of 0.9 percent, while 92 lost population.

Crain's Chicago Business, March 27, 2014 (http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140327/BLOGS02/140329808/chicago-area-population-barely-grows)

No, the Census numbers may be right (who knows), but in reality it's a very simple and superficial way to look at the health of a city. What is happening in Chicago right now is a growing population that makes a healthy amount of money per year. Do you think the fact that housing prices have been rising some multiple areas as well as rent prices and new luxury buildings being built is some kind of accident? Rental prices downtown are higher than they've ever been for a reason - people aren't just building luxury high rises and sitting on them.They're actually renting out and it's because the population of people that can afford them and actually want them is increasing enough to warrant a good amount of the construction.

Between 2010 and 2013, the census estimates that Chicago gained 15,000 households total. However, there was a loss of 12,000 households making less than $25K per year. BUT there was an increase of 28,000 households making at least $100K per year. This growth of 6 figure earning households, relative to overall household change, is one of the top 5 in the US right now. The percent change in this time is even greater than San Francisco believe it or not and even slightly ahead of Houston (and far ahead of cities like Dallas, Phoenix, etc). NYC and LA are above Chicago, but Chicago is above most other US cities in this regard if you take the time to calculate it.

What is going on right now in Chicago is not that much different than a few other cities. There is a demographic shift. In come in the people making at least a decent salary and out goes the lower class. In other cities, it's much more noticeable. In Chicago, it's not if you're naive enough to just look at an overall population of a city that's almost 3 million people and think it actually gives you an entire story of what's happening. However, if you pay close enough attention to the economic news, you'll start to see the shift. More white collar jobs coming in, and people who were doing more factory, industrial, manufacturing, etc types of blue collar jobs out and moving elsewhere. It's not an accident that Chicago is currently the third fastest growing market for tech related jobs after Houston and Seattle. Even 5 years ago, this wasn't even CLOSE to reality. It's come on strong in the last few years. There is also a fast growing professional services (i.e. consulting) industry - it was big before but it's growing even more now.

Also between 2010 and 2013, the US Census estimates that the median household and family incomes in Chicago increased by around 5-10%. Think a little bit and dig deeper into the numbers. No legitimate economist or demographer, or even serious investor ever only looked at overall population and thought they knew what was going on in a city just based off of that.

[Ryanrule]

shedding low income people on public support and bringing in young high earners is not a problem.

[PKDickman]

No, the Census numbers may be right (who knows), but in reality it's a very simple and superficial way to look at the health of a city.

It's also a crummy metric to gauge investor interest.

Chicago's cap rates have plummeted in all sectors, meaning that investors need less roi here than other geographies.

They are on par with Nyc, Boston, LA etc (except Multi Fam Urban in the Bay area/Silicon Valley) and they are still trending down in all sectors except hotels.

[wierdaaron]

Here's the answer to my oft-asked question of how a fast food burger joint would be integrated into the lobby of the Chicago Athletic Association.

http://i.imgur.com/goOsSB1h.jpg (http://imgur.com/goOsSB1)

[i_am_hydrogen]

Senior Center on Halsted (Gensler)
http://imageshack.com/a/img913/3882/fZYHBK.jpg

[emathias]

Is this building sagging at the top?

http://i.imgur.com/JKjn77ql.jpg (http://imgur.com/JKjn77q)

Strange that the windows are perfectly aligned. Maybe they were knocked out after the sag happened? Are those diagonal pieces of metal supposed to help with the sag? Any experts on this stuff?

I'm not an expert, so these are non-expert statements:

I don't think that's a sag, I think it's designed for the roof to drain toward a central drain. It's not super-common, but it's not unheard of. The black metal are to tie the brick walls to each other to support the floors, to prevent outward bowing, not sagging.

[ChiTownWonder]

Senior Center on Halsted (Gensler)
http://imageshack.com/a/img913/3882/fZYHBK.jpg

I walk by this building alot. My favourite part is when you are north of the building looking south, you only see the green elements, then when you are south looking north you see the blue elements, kinda cool design.

[Via Chicago]

i generally like that although i wish the base was consistent with the rest of the design

[BVictor1]

shedding low income people on public support and bringing in young high earners is not a problem.

Yes, it's a problem as people don't need to be pushed out of their homes. The city needs to be made up of all aspects and incomes of people. That comment was pretty yuppified and demeaning of those who aren't as successful and wealthy. Those individuals have to go somewhere and the accessibility, transportation, and convenience that the city offers is better than anywhere else.

[emathias]

Yes, it's a problem as people don't need to be pushed out of their homes. The city needs to be made up of all aspects and incomes of people. That comment was pretty yuppified and demeaning of those who aren't as successful and wealthy. Those individuals have to go somewhere and the accessibility, transportation, and convenience that the city offers is better than anywhere else.

I agree with you. Economics are a multilevel game, though, and putting the burden of subsidy entirely on the city doesn't work. Ideally it would be a national program, but even a state level one would be workable. Putting in place a system where people can shirk a tax obligation by moving to the suburbs voluntarily because they can afford to doesn't help the remaining poor, and leaves the city in an impossible situation as we've seen.

[george]

6/06

606/Bloomingdale Trail is open
West Lawndale trailhead, stretches 2.7mi to Ashland Ave.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/673/JFjUvg.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/ipJFjUvgj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/673/y4iCHV.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/ipy4iCHVj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/901/EmGfMR.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/p1EmGfMRj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/910/6B7dbJ.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pa6B7dbJj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/661/rKfrkx.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/idrKfrkxj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/538/IlIuGS.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/eyIlIuGSj)

[george]

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/913/G1PAcH.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/pdG1PAcHj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/673/NWHDPV.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/ipNWHDPVj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/661/uvoDTl.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/iduvoDTlj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/673/wkNA8f.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/ipwkNA8fj)


Guy from Chicago Fire
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/661/y7d2ww.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/idy7d2wwj)

[joeg1985]

Yes, it's a problem as people don't need to be pushed out of their homes. The city needs to be made up of all aspects and incomes of people. That comment was pretty yuppified and demeaning of those who aren't as successful and wealthy. Those individuals have to go somewhere and the accessibility, transportation, and convenience that the city offers is better than anywhere else.

Here Here! The city must be home for ALL peoples to maintain it's long term health. Long live the city!!

[PKDickman]

shedding low income people on public support and bringing in young high earners is not a problem.

Yes, it's a problem as people don't need to be pushed out of their homes. The city needs to be made up of all aspects and incomes of people. That comment was pretty yuppified and demeaning of those who aren't as successful and wealthy. Those individuals have to go somewhere and the accessibility, transportation, and convenience that the city offers is better than anywhere else.

Yes, it was an elitist statement. It also wasn't true.
Based on the ACS estimates, The number of households earning less than $10k per year went up between 2007 & 2013.
Our biggest losses were in the $50-75k range. The working stiffs.

[marothisu]

Yes, it was an elitist statement. It also wasn't true.
Based on the ACS estimates, The number of households earning less than $10k per year went up between 2007 & 2013.
Our biggest losses were in the $50-75k range. The working stiffs.

I don't know if you were responding to mine, but I was merely presenting data. You're right, if you compare 2007 to 2013, that is the case. However, if you compare 2010 to 2013, then you can see there is actually a small gain in $50-$75K households. If you look into it some more, you see that this category actually jumped up a bunch from 2012 to 2013 after going down for the years previous. In fact, between 2012 and 2013, households earning $50K-$75K jumped up the most of any category followed by $100K-$149,999

[Rizzo]

The senior center on Halsted is one of the few designs I've seen where the random patterning of the facade has actually worked out well. I'm generally happy with anything Gensler designs.

[Rizzo]

Great photos George! I'm pleased with the 606. I walked the whole length on Saturday. I'm looking forward to the graffiti Art instalations on the retaining walls going up. It reminds me of the art walls Detroit did with the Dequindre. Also pleasantly surprised by the changes of grade occasionally and pockets of tree density. Can't wait to ride my bike on it when the crowds die down.

My only concern is I hope Chicago can keep it safe. There will need to be rigid enforcement from the get go. Ban large groups of people from walking side by side obstructing traffic would be a good start.

[Tom Servo]

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/538/IlIuGS.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/eyIlIuGSj)
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/673/wkNA8f.jpg

Wow. Just a stunning work of art... :uhh:

http://ad009cdnb.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/1323892773-highline-image-01.jpg
archdaily.net
http://www.e-architect.co.uk/images/jpgs/new_york/high_line_new_york_t210611_ib14.jpg
e-architect.co.uk
http://assets.thehighline.org/original_site/sites/files/images/DSR%20Highline%2011-08%202835%20WEB_0.jpg
thehighline.org

But seriously, this is just a fucking offensive and pathetic waste of nearly 100 million dollars! Especially when you consider how well NYC's High Line turned out; the comparison is just laughable. What a joke. :uhh:

[streetline]

Here Here! The city must be home for ALL peoples to maintain it's long term health. Long live the city!!

This is mostly true, but when you look at the statistics, the people disproportionately missing from the city aren't the poor, they're the middle class. And we kind of need the middle class to pay for the city's services.

When comparing against either the country or the state as a whole, poor households (making <$25k) are overrepresented in Chicago, while the middle / upper-middle class (making $50-150k) are underrepresented. The lower-middle class (making $25k-50k) and the upper class (making >$150k) are closer to evenly represented in the census numbers.

INCOME AND BENEFITS (IN 2011 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)
USA Illinois Chicago
Less than $10,000 7.10% 6.80% 10.80%
$10,000 to $14,999 5.40% 4.70% 6.10%
$15,000 to $24,999 10.60% 10.10% 11.70%
$25,000 to $34,999 10.40% 9.70% 10.40%
$35,000 to $49,999 13.80% 13.20% 12.90%
$50,000 to $74,999 18.30% 18.50% 16.90%
$75,000 to $99,999 12.40% 13.20% 11.10%
$100,000 to $149,999 12.70% 13.70% 10.80%
$150,000 to $199,999 4.70% 5.10% 4.40%
$200,000 or more 4.50% 5.00% 4.90%


I hear a lot about cities excluding the poor, or becoming playgrounds for the rich, or being sharply divided into the rich and the poor, and I think those discussions would be a lot more meaningful if people would put some numbers to their arguments.

[streetline]

Wow. Just a stunning work of art... :uhh:
...
But seriously, this is just a fucking offensive and pathetic waste of nearly 100 million dollars! Especially when you consider how well NYC's High Line turned out; the comparison is just laughable. What a joke. :uhh:

The high line cost more than 4x as much per mile, and has had time for all of the plantings to be done and grow in, of course it's going to look nicer. If you want a shorter, more downtown, and more intensively developed trail that's still much cheaper than the high line, look at the new river walk.

High Line: ~$225M / 1.45miles = $155M/mi
606: ~$95M / 2.7miles = $35M/mi

I expect the 606 will look a lot nicer next summer when it's got a bit more foliage; it's a bit bare bones now, but they seem like good bones.

[PKDickman]

I don't know if you were responding to mine, but I was merely presenting data. You're right, if you compare 2007 to 2013, that is the case. However, if you compare 2010 to 2013, then you can see there is actually a small gain in $50-$75K households. If you look into it some more, you see that this category actually jumped up a bunch from 2012 to 2013 after going down for the years previous. In fact, between 2012 and 2013, households earning $50K-$75K jumped up the most of any category followed by $100K-$149,999

I was reinforcing Bvictor's response to Ryanrule's statement implying that the city was shedding its dole-scroungers and deadbeats.

Your original statement was true. Chicago's median income rise appears entirely due to the rise in six figure households.

However, I still see a decline in $50-75k from 2010-2013. Perhaps we're looking at slightly different data sets But I see a declining percentage of a declining number of households in this period.

Households
2010
Total 1,033,022
$50,000 to $74,999 17.2%
2013
Total 1,028,746
$50,000 to $74,999 16.1%

[Tom Servo]

The high line cost more than 4x as much per mile, and has had time for all of the plantings to be done and grow in, of course it's going to look nicer. If you want a shorter, more downtown, and more intensively developed trail that's still much cheaper than the high line, look at the new river walk.

High Line: ~$225M / 1.45miles = $155M/mi
606: ~$95M / 2.7miles = $35M/mi

I expect the 606 will look a lot nicer next summer when it's got a bit more foliage; it's a bit bare bones now, but they seem like good bones.

Good bones? No, that's my point. I'm not commenting about the foliage. I'm talking about the utterly cheap look of that concrete trail, which is only outdone in its tackiness by the unfinished looked of the railing. I mean seriously, who "designed" this, the gardening department at Home Depot? It's embarrassing. And that bridge. Oof. I've seen interstate highway overpasses with a stronger aesthetic. And when compared to the refined, polished look of the High Line, I cringe. It's a civic blunder. It only cements my opinion that it's money grossly wasted and a sad example of narrow-vision city planning. This town loves throwing around that silly "make no small plans" quote as often as possible... funny because that's exactly this: a Home Depot blowout with that distinctly low budget look and feel. If it was so necessary that all that money be wasted, it should've been done right. Done well. This? It's just sad and cheap.

[the urban politician]

^ hey genius, make up your mind. You bitch about the city spending money on this, then you bitch about the city not spending enough money on it. You need to learn how to form an informed opinion.

[OrdoSeclorum]

Good bones? No, that's my point. I'm not commenting about the foliage. I'm talking about the utterly cheap look of that concrete trail, which is only outdone in its tackiness by the unfinished looked of the railing. I mean seriously, who "designed" this, the gardening department at Home Depot? It's embarrassing. And that bridge. Oof. I've seen interstate highway overpasses with a stronger aesthetic. And when compared to the refined, polished look of the High Line, I cringe. It's a civic blunder. It only cements my opinion that it's money grossly wasted and a sad example of narrow-vision city planning. This town loves throwing around that silly "make no small plans" quote as often as possible... funny because that's exactly this: a Home Depot blowout with that distinctly low budget look and feel. If it was so necessary that all that money be wasted, it should've been done right. Done well. This? It's just sad and cheap.

I've been on the Highline and the Bloomingdale trail now and I prefer the experience of walking on the Bloomingdale trail. The Highline felt cramped, even though it's a bit wider. I also didn't feel like I was going anyplace. It functioned well as a public space, though. The Bloomindgale trail just feels like an awesome way to enjoy a walk. I'm really happy with it.

If the next four blocks on the Riverwalk are like the two new ones we have already, that's going to be the best new Public Space in the country since Millenium Park.

[Tom Servo]

that's going to be the best new Public Space in the country since Millenium Park.

LOL

^ hey genius, make up your mind. You bitch about the city spending money on this, then you bitch about the city not spending enough money on it. You need to learn how to form an informed opinion.

You to learn how to read better.

If it was so necessary that all that money be wasted, it should've been done right.

That is, I thought the project from the beginning was an unnecessary waste of tax-payer dollars. But now that the money's been spent, I think it's even more of a joke seeing how poorly it turned out.

[the urban politician]

^ It was done right. It's a trail, people like it and use it, it has it's own ROW.

It's a bike and walking path, dude. Wtf else do you want? Get over your weak excuse for outrage. Those of us who actually pay taxes aren't pissed, so why are you?

[J_M_Tungsten]

Northerly Island and Lucas site
Today
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt1/JMTUNGSTEN/more/6D48EF5E-E48C-4BDF-86D8-5F2CFD44D2B0.jpg (http://s592.photobucket.com/user/JMTUNGSTEN/media/more/6D48EF5E-E48C-4BDF-86D8-5F2CFD44D2B0.jpg.html)
My other camera isn't working well so I need to resort to my front facing camera of my phone :/

[marothisu]

However, I still see a decline in $50-75k from 2010-2013. Perhaps we're looking at slightly different data sets But I see a declining percentage of a declining number of households in this period.

Households
2010
Total 1,033,022
$50,000 to $74,999 17.2%
2013
Total 1,028,746
$50,000 to $74,999 16.1%

You're looking at percentages firstly, so it's a little harder to guage that considering the number of households went down. Second, yes we're definitely looking at different data sets. I'm looking at the 1 year ACS - my guess is that you're looking at the 5 year?

There's actually downsides to all of them - For example, the 1 year is more current, but maybe slightly less precise (but they don't know) than the 5 years. The 5 year data is less current but maybe more accurate since it's over 5 years. These things are actually hard to tell when dealing with estimates. The 1 year is best used when dealing with large populations but 5 year is better for small populations (i.e. a small town or perhaps a census tract):

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/guidance_for_data_users/estimates/

[marothisu]

I've been on the high line, recently, but haven't been on the 606 yet. My thoughts are that the High Line is interesting and serves its purpose. However, sometimes it gets so cramped you can't even move - that is not a joke.

The people who made the high line also never envisioned it would be that popular. It's nice walking along it but the entire time it was kind of like "eh whatever - I'm walking in a park. So what?" Whoever said they didn't feel like they were going anywhere, I had the same feeling. If I were trying to get anywhere, I wouldn't go out of my way to go on there. With the people strolling along, walking on the streets and even waiting at lights is sometimes faster than going on the High Line.

The high line is definitely more expensive than the 606 and there's no question about it. The key differentiating factor though is the use of bikes/skateboards. You just can't do it on the High Line. I don't mean that it's so crowded sometimes that you can't do it - you just can't. They're banned. The 606 does not ban them and IMO this is very important. It makes the 606 more versatile as an actual avenue of transportation other than someone taking a stroll through a park. If it's not too busy, you could really get to where you need to go on a bike a lot faster as long as it's not too busy and IMO this is a key differentiating factor. There's also nothing we can do about the fact that there was no vacant trail line in the downtown area, but this is still good and it cuts through and near areas where a lot of people live.

[BVictor1]

Wow. Just a stunning work of art... :uhh:

But seriously, this is just a fucking offensive and pathetic waste of nearly 100 million dollars! Especially when you consider how well NYC's High Line turned out; the comparison is just laughable. What a joke. :uhh:

You're a hard nut to crack. The High Line is wider, more money was spent, and is submerged in a thicket of an extremely dense environment.

The 606 was designed by the same firm that gave us Maggie Daley park and the firm doing the redesign of the park in Streeterville.

Yes, this cost about $100 million, but the majority of that funding comes from federal sources and private donors, so please try and untwist your panties.

[clark wellington]

Wow. Just a stunning work of art... :uhh

I don't know what I dislike more, your incessant bitching and moaning or your random requests for information that could be answered by reading a page or two back on this forum. Both are increasingly tiresome and annoying.

This isn't meant as a "work of art" - it's meant as a trail. From riding on it today, I can tell you it serves that purpose very well, and it seems incredibly popular already. The lakefront path is also not a "stunning work of art" but you'd be hard-pressed to find people who don't think it's a tremendous asset.

Maybe you should try visiting the Bloomingdale Trail sometime before whining. Oh wait, sorry, you won't be able to fit your car up there so it's a no-go...

[PKDickman]

You're looking at percentages firstly, so it's a little harder to guage that considering the number of households went down. Second, yes we're definitely looking at different data sets. I'm looking at the 1 year ACS - my guess is that you're looking at the 5 year?

There's actually downsides to all of them - For example, the 1 year is more current, but maybe slightly less precise (but they don't know) than the 5 years. The 5 year data is less current but maybe more accurate since it's over 5 years. These things are actually hard to tell when dealing with estimates. The 1 year is best used when dealing with large populations but 5 year is better for small populations (i.e. a small town or perhaps a census tract):

http://www.census.gov/acs/www/guidance_for_data_users/estimates/

Ya, I rummaged around and guessed you were into the 1 years. They were the only version that fit what you were saying. Nice if it's right.

They won't even show you the 1 years at tract level. I can see why. In this case the MOE is almost as large as any reported change. By the time you multiply it out to the tract level, it'll be bigger than the number

[Arm&Kedzie]

The 606 is solid. I live a block away from one of the entrances and will use it all the time. The area it runs through in logan square desperately needed more greenspace and designated bike lanes. I have seen a lot of new development popping up along the length of the trail. Mostly townhouse, single family, and a couple 4-5 story. It is starting to put a dent in the vancant lots north of Humboldt park too. This is a major amenity for multiple neighborhoods it runs through. Having the Graffiti artists work on the sides of the walls was a storke of genius as well. Its the only thing that probably wont get tag'd over. The Neighborhood is pretty stoked about it and bringing a lot of people together that normally wouldn't meet each other.

[marothisu]

The 606 is solid. I live a block away from one of the entrances and will use it all the time. The area it runs through in logan square desperately needed more greenspace and designated bike lanes. I have seen a lot of new development popping up along the length of the trail. Mostly townhouse, single family, and a couple 4-5 story. It is starting to put a dent in the vancant lots north of Humboldt park too. This is a major amenity for multiple neighborhoods it runs through. Having the Graffiti artists work on the sides of the walls was a storke of genius as well. Its the only thing that probably wont get tag'd over. The Neighborhood is pretty stoked about it and bringing a lot of people together that normally wouldn't meet each other.

I wonder if it would spur some dense development like the High Line did. The High Line has some of the coolest looking buildings around it in Manhattan BTW. From doing my new construction maps for the last few years, I saw there was a ton of new construction in that general area. It has continued to this year - not a ton of it, but some.

Also, if you look at my renovation map for this year, you'll see a good number in a healthy proximity to the trail. Some right next to it and some not too far away and north of there around between Armitage and Fullerton at the western end of the trail. I can count 6 complete renovations of 2 flats i that general area without mentioning some other conversions to SFH.

[Via Chicago]

The High Line is designed to entice people to dwell. The Bloomingdale is designed to entice people to move. They serve different purposes.

Ill be honest that Im not the biggest fan of the design (I also dont really like Maggie Daley Park), but I also havent had a chance to see it in person yet. The fencing looks like the same they used on all the new CTA brown line stations, which I've always disliked. And a lot of the smaller details just look a little sloppy, but I agree its too soon to judge given a lot of the plantings arent even in yet.

I really wish they had found a way to preserve a more rustic feel that compared with what it was pre-renovation. It was truly a unique feeling being up there and really would have set it apart.
http://www.rhrphoto.com/bloomingdale-trail
But I also realize they had to make it a paved trail in order to get funding. It just looks kinda sterile.

[marothisu]

I actually had a dream months ago about something like the 606 - it might have been but in a more tropical setting - but same sort of thing. In my dream it was cool as there were some cool street performers here and there and some great restaurants/bars set up along the path where you could basically do a crawl if you wanted to. In the dream it was a hangout for a lot of people and place to be seen in the neighborhood area, but not overly crowded.

[PKDickman]

I actually had a dream months ago about something like the 606 - it might have been but in a more tropical setting - but same sort of thing. In my dream it was cool as there were some cool street performers here and there and some great restaurants/bars set up along the path where you could basically do a crawl if you wanted to. In the dream it was a hangout for a lot of people and place to be seen in the neighborhood area, but not overly crowded.

Before they slapped a "t" zoning on it, the whole thing was zoned for business.
I suggested that they dot it with kiosks for bike repair, cold drinks, churros etc. On week ends we should turn it into a 2.7 mile Maxwell street.
Nobody liked my idea.

[Tom Servo]

The High Line is designed to entice people to dwell. The Bloomingdale is designed to entice people to move. They serve different purposes.

To all you guys getting all riled up about how great and wonderful this thing is, please get something straight. My comments shouldn't be misconstrued. The purpose it serves as an elevated bike trail is fine. My criticisms were solely directed at its appearance. And my comparison to the High Line was, again, only to illustrate how cheap and ugly the Bloomington Trail looks. I really cannot understand anyone who can defend its appearance. Anyone who does is either blind or delusional.

Ill be honest that Im not the biggest fan of the design (I also dont really like Maggie Daley Park), but I also havent had a chance to see it in person yet. The fencing looks like the same they used on all the new CTA brown line stations, which I've always disliked. And a lot of the smaller details just look a little sloppy, but I agree its too soon to judge given a lot of the plantings arent even in yet.

The galvanized steel fencing is a joke. Even from street level it makes this thing look unfinished. And you're right; it definitely has that cheap, CTA station look and feel.

Regarding plantings to come... I doubt it will make a big difference. Even if the trail were flush with plants flowers, it would only lessen the cheap look.

I also am not a fan of Maggie Daley Park, incidentally.

I really wish they had found a way to preserve a more rustic feel that compared with what it was pre-renovation. It was truly a unique feeling being up there and really would have set it apart.
http://www.rhrphoto.com/bloomingdale-trail
But I also realize they had to make it a paved trail in order to get funding. It just looks kinda sterile.

Exactly! But the thing is, there are hundreds of better paving design solutions than the aesthetic-less Quikrete concrete slab they went with. It is the most offensive part of the whole thing. It's absolutely hideous. And then, as if it weren't ugly enough, they had to paint in a traffic divide and a blue pedestrian designation. It looks like a shoddy CDOT project at best. I mean, literally endless better design solutions could have been introduced here... instead we got... idk, something very, very Midwest. :???:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f6/35/71/f6357165fdbb23c96e50865df162ed05.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/fe/33/e0/fe33e0878a11bbf94a1f820009b1e128.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/6d/79/75/6d797562e90c3651a2383dab2e304f8e.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/33/49/58/3349583d9576751dc132486e481d7376.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/93/d2/c9/93d2c9236749fd2d6ccdf6d481091eb2.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/46/3c/76/463c76a2ea917a367de9eaf9efeccef6.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/31/c7/0c/31c70c58a5ff492077b7e1408e140c4b.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/c0/f4/41/c0f44154a3600284c090fbd21c5184c5.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b4/2f/9c/b42f9c07c7ee5c37ea2039a41d7d4620.jpg
Pinterest

Fuck. Just about any other kind of paving system with some semblance of design would have made this trail something other than an embarrassment.

[sage]

^ The "blue pedestrian designation" is actually a rubber pad for runners to use, not pedestrians.

[Tom Servo]

^ The "blue pedestrian designation" is actually a rubber pad for runners to use, not pedestrians.

LOL, even worse. Whatever. I don't get it. What passes for great on this forum is beyond me. :koko:

...because runners need a blue pad...

http://archpaper.com/uploads/image/bloomingdale_trail_03.jpg
archpaper.com

Look, bottom line is, there is an offensively bad lack of design here, and it is embarrassing to me as a Chicagoan. I think the 606 (what a dumb name too) is a total disaster, aesthetically.

[sage]

LOL, even worse. Whatever. I don't get it. What passes for great on this forum is beyond me. :koko:

...because runners need a blue pad...


You clearly know nothing about running... https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&site=&source=hp&q=running+on+concrete it's pretty important to have if you want it to be at all runner-friendly..

[george]

6/06

More 606 which was hugely popular over the weekend

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/909/cMJP9O.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/p9cMJP9Oj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/540/FwQj76.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/f0FwQj76j)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/909/6OlTIb.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/p96OlTIbj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/540/nkqbkY.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/f0nkqbkYj)

[george]

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/673/X68DhG.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/ipX68DhGj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/909/pXCEpd.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/p9pXCEpdj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/538/sXpX9v.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/eysXpX9vj)

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/538/i1fuFQ.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/eyi1fuFQj)

[marothisu]

Before they slapped a "t" zoning on it, the whole thing was zoned for business.
I suggested that they dot it with kiosks for bike repair, cold drinks, churros etc. On week ends we should turn it into a 2.7 mile Maxwell street.
Nobody liked my idea.

Who is the nobody in that? I think it's a great idea. They could really drive some people from out of the area there and create some new economic opportunity. I mean the thing is great and all, but it seems like more of a neighborhood only type of thing or "I just happen to be in the area." A runner from Lincoln Square probably isn't going to go out of his or her way just to run on it every single day for a 6 mile circuit or something. You never know, I guess, but I don't see it happening. If they had some street performers or something, and what you suggested, I think it would take the thing to the next level.


Sometimes I really shake my head at some people in this city...

[marothisu]

You clearly know nothing about running... https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&site=&source=hp&q=running+on+concrete it's pretty important to have if you want it to be at all runner-friendly..

+1. It is pretty important. Running on concrete is pretty hard on the feet/legs after awhile.

[Rizzo]

The 606 and highline are nothing alike and the mention of them in the same dialogue is a pointless comparison and argument

The highline is designed outdoor spaces with program. The 606 is an upgraded rails to trails park. It has utility. The highlline doesn't. The 606 will be an expressway for cyclists and joggers to cross neighborhoods without having to contend with traffic or road conditions. It takes a liabilty...a crumbling abandoned rail line and makes it something of value. How hard is that to comprehend? Cities, states, counties have been building rails to trails for years. They vary in price from a small rural village that spends $3 million to a large city that spends $100 million (which is a reasonable cost btw)

Enough of this "wasting money" nonsense. It's federal money that had to be spent. The rest will be private donations. This isn't gouging any general funds for schools or police and fire departments so we can all rest easy on that.

[i_am_kyry]

The 606 is awesome. Rode it a few times today, you can really cruise on your bike after the sun goes down and the crowds thin out.

One of my first big projects when I was getting my planning degree was gathering neighborhood input for the design elements in tandem with CDOT. Of course, most picked the clunky fences you see. There were a couple cooler finishes but they were picked because of their ability to keep people on the trail and for plants to grow on to help block out some peoples windows (you do get close to some peoples units). I think the parts that cross over the streets are quite pleasant, particularly at Humboldt Blvd, and they definitely rushed to be open on 6/06...I mean there aren't even completed benches yet...In a couple of years, it'll hit its stride.

I think we got a lot for $100m. Completely reinforced foundation structure, multiple repaired bridges and access ramps, Bloomingdale Ave repaved, landscaping, a huge new bridge, multiple new access parks, electrical, new sidewalks, curbs, railings, an irrigation system, signage, and public art...plus labor...for something that's almost three miles long and 70% done...

[marothisu]

The 606 and highline are nothing alike and the mention of them in the same dialogue is a pointless comparison and argument

The highline is designed outdoor spaces with program. The 606 is an upgraded rails to trails park. It has utility. The highlline doesn't. The 606 will be an expressway for cyclists and joggers to cross neighborhoods without having to contend with traffic or road conditions. It takes a liabilty...a crumbling abandoned rail line and makes it something of value. How hard is that to comprehend? Cities, states, counties have been building rails to trails for years. They vary in price from a small rural village that spends $3 million to a large city that spends $100 million (which is a reasonable cost btw)

Enough of this "wasting money" nonsense. It's federal money that had to be spent. The rest will be private donations. This isn't gouging any general funds for schools or police and fire departments so we can all rest easy on that.

Honestly, I don't think you read more than one or two replies on this because most people, including myself, were saying the same exact thing as you. So..just saying...you might want to re-read what people not named Tom Servo were saying.

[nomarandlee]

LOL, even worse. Whatever. I don't get it. What passes for great on this forum is beyond me. :koko:

...because runners need a blue pad...
.

As a runnner who logs 20-30 miles per week I would say be thrilled at having such a running surface. It definitely helps save your legs after running high mileage. Plus giving runners there own area so they don't have to avert walkers and vice versa is very helpful speaking as someone who runs on paths that don't have such designations.

[the urban politician]

The other aspect of the 606 that is so nice, and I suspect is one of its greatest features, indeed is the chain of dedicated parks being created along its path.

[the urban politician]

Tom Servo in 1896:

Oh my God! These new office buildings in Chicago are so utilitarian and cheap! They are so mundane, nothing like the high quality towers going up in New York! What a joke, these buildings look so unfinished. So midwestern....

Frigging A, the guy wouldn't know the irony of his own histrionic whining if it slapped him in the face.