CHICAGO | General Developments

[marothisu]

Coyne College sale final as of 8/3/2016 (Here's an article from a handful of months ago talking about the pending sale: https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160209/west-loop/coyne-college-is-leaving-fulton-market-its-huge-building-is-for-sale). $25M total for the building and parking lot across the street. Wonder what's coming.....


Also, the former bank at Milwaukee & Western (1965 N Milwaukee) diagonally across from the Western Blue Line stop was sold on 8/1. It also looks like that crappy strip mall on Milwaukee a little north of North Ave was sold on 7/28 too (https://www.google.com/maps/place/1658+n+milwaukee+ave+chicago,+il/@41.9117581,-87.6796025,3a,90y,227.88h,90.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0lwL2y1p04s-WLKvWlLtnw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x9b78503467304916!6m1!1e1)

[MultiModal]

Just an interesting tidbit....

Brown Bag seafood is one of the restaurants moving into 412 N Wells.

[davytudope]

I ask that more seriously and less hypothetically, is there some reason we don't get many good looking developments? I'm truly curious. I don't believe money is the only reason.

The same reason that the Camry is the best selling car and the RAV4 is the best selling SUV in the country. When it comes to design, most people pay for bland and non-offensive.

[Via Chicago]

but this is offensive. more like a Pontiac Aztek

[ChiHi]

Not sure if this has been brought up but is this hotel rendering for real? My god that is ugly! It's 1992 Schaumburg office building ugly.

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160822/wicker-park/proposed-wicker-park-hotel-replace-shell-station-draws-mixed-reviews

[Via Chicago]

Not sure if this has been brought up but is this hotel rendering for real? My god that is ugly! It's 1992 Schaumburg office building ugly.

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160822/wicker-park/proposed-wicker-park-hotel-replace-shell-station-draws-mixed-reviews

see multiple posts above yours

[spyguy]

This hotel really makes no sense. Besides looking like a correctional facility, the basement + first + second floors are all parking and the lobby is somehow on the 7th floor? I don't think this developer has a clue as to what they're doing, so unfortunately I would rather stick with the current gas station than this half-baked hotel.

[LouisVanDerWright]

I don't know, this hotel is such a disaster that it is almost interesting. Would certainly become an interesting stretch of road between Ashland and the Freeway with the funky ass Audi dealership, those relatively nice looking apartments, and this freakshow. Honestly, I say go for it. The renderings are worrisome, but I doubt it will actually turn out so plastic looking. And if they somehow match the shiny looking renderings, that will be impressive in and of itself, lol. It looks like a factory that will program rest into it's guests. Your stay will be relaxed, the system assures it.


Edit: In light of the ground floor, nope shouldn't even be legal.

[maru2501]

looks more like a jail in ohio

[Jibba]

I don't know, this hotel is such a disaster that it is almost interesting. Would certainly become an interesting stretch of road between Ashland and the Freeway with the funky ass Audi dealership, those relatively nice looking apartments, and this freakshow. Honestly, I say go for it. The renderings are worrisome, but I doubt it will actually turn out so plastic looking. And if they somehow match the shiny looking renderings, that will be impressive in and of itself, lol. It looks like a factory that will program rest into it's guests. Your stay will be relaxed, the system assures it.


Edit: In light of the ground floor, nope shouldn't even be legal.

I almost thought the same thing. Like, this is so clueless that it's almost interesting? All of the crude geometry makes it look like it could be some winking meditation on corporate banality. Or a realized structure of an abstracted concept of what a building is.

But no. And they're sincere. I'm pretty sure. They've gotta be. Right?


...right???

[marothisu]

There's a building permit for the foundation of a new TOD project it looks like at Western & Eastwood right near the Western Brown Line stop. Lastly Maya Motors - mostly a little used car lot but also has the building for it:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9655903,-87.6888764,3a,75y,251.46h,79.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6WQHJ5T0VV5RIxi02lA1HA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

5 stories, 40 units, 10 parking spots, and ground floor retail. Article from last year about it:
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150820/lincoln-square/pawar-supports-transit-oriented-development-on-western-neighbors-object

http://assets.dnainfo.com/generated/chicago_photo/2015/08/western-avenue-tod-1440079089.jpg/extralarge.jpg

[PKDickman]

There's a building permit for the foundation of a new TOD project it looks like at Western & Eastwood right near the Western Brown Line stop. Lastly Maya Motors - mostly a little used car lot but also has the building for it:

5 stories, 40 units, 10 parking spots, and ground floor retail. Article from last year about it:
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150820/lincoln-square/pawar-supports-transit-oriented-development-on-western-neighbors-object

http://assets.dnainfo.com/generated/chicago_photo/2015/08/western-avenue-tod-1440079089.jpg/extralarge.jpg
Used car lot! That used to be the KFC
Frickin' ugly design.
Not as bad as those nitwits with the hotel, but darn it's close.

[ithakas]

Used car lot! That used to be the KFC
Frickin' ugly design.
Not as bad as those nitwits with the hotel, but darn it's close.

Meh, this kind of thing reminds me of an inoffensive West Coast semi-urban neighborhood design that you might find in Seattle or Portland. The rendering looks cheap but I'm sure the result will be fine.

[PKDickman]

Meh, this kind of thing reminds me of an inoffensive West Coast semi-urban neighborhood design that you might find in Seattle or Portland. The rendering looks cheap but I'm sure the result will be fine.

It's a bunch of disparate elements stuck together higgledy-piggledy.
Like someone mixed their Lincoln logs up with their Jenga blocks and designed a building with them.

The visual movement is static and no attempt seems to have been made to mitigate this by controlling the spacial relationships between the elements.

The overall design criteria seems to be to make no single element look large.

Design is a privilege, not a right.

[the urban politician]

Used car lot! That used to be the KFC
Frickin' ugly design.
Not as bad as those nitwits with the hotel, but darn it's close.

Are you fucking me? Get out of town!

You are seriously going to become an architecture critic for a small filler building way the fuck out near the Brown Line and Western?

Really? Do you have any idea how great of a development this is for that part of town? Chicago literally needs 1000 more of these buildings, all over, all right next to L stops. And it needs them now.

40 apts. 10 parking spots. Active ground level retail. With a larger project at a more prominent site we can talk about spandrels, spindrels, fins, structural expression this, flying unicorns that, whatever the fuck. Why is that important at this particular site?

If you can't understand the reason why this project is GREAT and the hotel at North/Ashland is such a crime, then I don't know what to say. This brings urbanism, people, and patrons to transit and local storefronts. That hotel brings cars to a car lot, no retail, and oh by the way people sleep there too I guess. They are not comparable at all.

[pilsenarch]

And speaking of the architect, I think it speaks volumes that his website appears as an 8th graders half finished school project, most current "news" is from 2010, and contains a blank "Projects" page

http://variarchitects.com/?page_id=17

sorry to kick the horse carcass, but this is a link to a project just down the street from me which is a total disaster at the SW corner of Archer and Halsted...

for some reason this guy is the architect of choice for many small-time developers in Chinatown...

[ithakas]

Crain's is reporting that Sterling Bay plans a 9-story building on the land east of the current Coyne College building.

[marothisu]

Crain's is reporting that Sterling Bay plans a 9-story building on the land east of the current Coyne College building.

I swear Crain's must be reading this forum or something. Seems like the 5th time I've talked about something like this only to have an article emerge on it from Crains the next day:

Coyne College sale final as of 8/3/2016 (Here's an article from a handful of months ago talking about the pending sale: https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160209/west-loop/coyne-college-is-leaving-fulton-market-its-huge-building-is-for-sale). $25M total for the building and parking lot across the street. Wonder what's coming.....

...


They bought both the building AND the parking lot. The article talks about something for the parking lot, but I'm wondering if they're planning on tearing down the building and replacing it with something.

[marothisu]

Really? Do you have any idea how great of a development this is for that part of town? Chicago literally needs 1000 more of these buildings, all over, all right next to L stops. And it needs them now.


40 apts. 10 parking spots. Active ground level retail. With a larger project at a more prominent site we can talk about spandrels, spindrels, fins, structural expression this, flying unicorns that, whatever the fuck. Why is that important at this particular site?


Agreed. This is great - especially because some of the residents opposed it because it was a "monstrosity" but still got the foundation permit. As far as the design goes, it's not bad and I agree it's kind of west coast-ish. Pretty inoffensive. I've seen much worse in town. I think with a higher quality rendering, it would look better but the rendering is kind of cheap. Also how long ago was that KFC? It's been used cars for at least a decade right outside of a train stop.

[Vlajos]

There's a building permit for the foundation of a new TOD project it looks like at Western & Eastwood right near the Western Brown Line stop. Lastly Maya Motors - mostly a little used car lot but also has the building for it:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9655903,-87.6888764,3a,75y,251.46h,79.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6WQHJ5T0VV5RIxi02lA1HA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

5 stories, 40 units, 10 parking spots, and ground floor retail. Article from last year about it:
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150820/lincoln-square/pawar-supports-transit-oriented-development-on-western-neighbors-object

http://assets.dnainfo.com/generated/chicago_photo/2015/08/western-avenue-tod-1440079089.jpg/extralarge.jpg

I live near this, they demo'd the crap shack a month or so ago. Glad to see this finally move forward. There was a lot of NIMBYism about scary renters and not enough parking.

[marothisu]

I live near this, they demo'd the crap shack a month or so ago. Glad to see this finally move forward. There was a lot of NIMBYism about scary renters and not enough parking.

Really glad - your alderman seems like he knows what's up and what is good for the area. It's crazy how much NIMBYism people have. "MONSTROSITY!!!" - there's literally 3 story buildings right near there and this is 5. They'd probably have a point if it was some hulking 15+ story building, but I'm glad the alderman has more sense than to listen to those severe people.

[Near North Resident]

Used car lot! That used to be the KFC
Frickin' ugly design.
Not as bad as those nitwits with the hotel, but darn it's close.

those windows will likely be black tinted... I think the building looks pretty sharp IMO and its very urban, kind of reminds me of a knock off of 858 n franklin

[spyguy]

https://s10.postimg.org/es02ea5s9/Water_Street_Wine_Bar_1_copy.jpg
Nothing amazing but also not terribly offensive. Ground floor retail will be nice.

3220 N Lincoln - 19 units, 4 parking spots
https://s13.postimg.org/79qujx23b/Screen_Shot_2016_08_24_at_10_18_57_AM.jpg

[Steely Dan]

^ so long Fizz.

[PKDickman]

http://assets.dnainfo.com/generated/chicago_photo/2015/08/western-avenue-tod-1440079089.jpg/extralarge.jpg
https://s10.postimg.org/es02ea5s9/Water_Street_Wine_Bar_1_copy.jpg
Nothing amazing but also not terribly offensive. Ground floor retail will be nice.




Is that the same building?
Jeez, what an improvement.

I'm not crazy about the beige, but gone is the staccato of vertical windows, gone is the goofy black and white horizontal bands, gone is the intrusion of the masonry and metal banding into the corner of the storefront.

I think I would have left the dark brick parapet on the Western side and the eave on the top floor. Those were the only things that worked

[maru2501]

Fizz has in fact closed I think

[k1052]

I swear Crain's must be reading this forum or something. Seems like the 5th time I've talked about something like this only to have an article emerge on it from Crains the next day:



They bought both the building AND the parking lot. The article talks about something for the parking lot, but I'm wondering if they're planning on tearing down the building and replacing it with something.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20160824/CRED03/160829955/google-mcdonalds-developer-plans-next-big-office-project

Sterling Bay at it again with 9 floors and 400,000 sq ft. Presumably they wouldn't be talking to the city unless they have an anchor tenant pretty much in hand.

Must be another stupid company who doesn't understand office leasing. ;)

[the urban politician]

^ I hope this would be new jobs for the area rather than the typical tenant churn

[UrbanLibertine]

I swear Crain's must be reading this forum or something. Seems like the 5th time I've talked about something like this only to have an article emerge on it from Crains the next day:



They bought both the building AND the parking lot. The article talks about something for the parking lot, but I'm wondering if they're planning on tearing down the building and replacing it with something.

They're not the only ones...

[Rizzo]

Fizz has in fact closed I think

It just closed. I feel like Fizz was better a couple years ago. Last two times I've been it was dead on a Saturday night. I kind of liked the original building, but I hated that gap in the streetwall. The patio was ok.

[ithakas]

Must be another stupid company who doesn't understand office leasing. ;)

Walgreens?

[k1052]

Walgreens?

Doesn't seem like it would be close to enough space for even a slimmed down workforce but who knows. Also SB plans have a habit of coming out bigger than early info indicates.

[maru2501]

It just closed. I feel like Fizz was better a couple years ago. Last two times I've been it was dead on a Saturday night. I kind of liked the original building, but I hated that gap in the streetwall. The patio was ok.

It was better. Went under new management I heard because the owner didn't like the partyish atmosphere there and people giving out free drinks and stuff. Went downhill fast

[marothisu]

They're not the only ones...

Everyone knows that Curbed reads this forum haha. Luckily there's a building permit site that's easily linkable, so in case anyone breaks that news here they can just look up the permit on that site and not cite where it actually broke :)

[UrbanLibertine]

Everyone knows that Curbed reads this forum haha. Luckily there's a building permit site that's easily linkable, so in case anyone breaks that news here they can just look up the permit on that site and not cite where it actually broke :)

LOL, exactly

[James_Mac]

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned this, but they've started gutting the former Atlantic Bank Building - the building directly north of Smurfit Stone on Michigan Ave that Oxford Capital is turning into a hotel.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-millenniun-park-hotel-redevelopment-0512-biz-20160511-story.html

There's a security guard at the Randolph entrance to the alley that services the back of the building, and if you look down the alley there's a large number of dumpsters down there, with activity. I've also seen trucks carrying full dumpsters out of there. They've been working for at least a week now. I haven't seen any sign of work on the facade of the building, though.

[BrandonJXN]

Anyone know what's going on at Milwaukee and Leavitt (former Aldi's)?

[lu9]

Anyone know what's going on at Milwaukee and Leavitt (former Aldi's)?

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160324/wicker-park/aldi-wicker-park-shutters-but-will-return-next-year-new-complex

http://i63.tinypic.com/2i79r3q.jpg

[marothisu]

The Aldi development got its first permit in early May and then the 2nd one in mid July.

[marothisu]

New report that Curbed is citing shows Chicago area construction spending up a lot YTD compared to last year. Compares Chicago versus Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, LA, Miami, NYC, SF, and Seattle. Chicago, YTD thru July has by far the highest increase in spending compared to any of those other areas. It is about even with Atlanta area in spending thru July, slightly ahead of Miami, far ahead of SF and Seattle, and not too far behind LA. Very interesting to say the least

http://chicago.curbed.com/2016/8/25/12644600/chicago-real-estate-market-report-2016-new-construction-spending-up

More original article:
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2016/08/25/chicagoland-new-construction-surging-2016/

[the urban politician]

^ Interestingly, in residential construction spending Chicago is doing even better, beating every other metro except NYC and Dallas.

LA's numbers are remarkably low, which I found quite interesting.

[marothisu]

^ Interestingly, in residential construction spending Chicago is doing even better, beating every other metro except NYC and Dallas.

LA's numbers are remarkably low, which I found quite interesting.

How does one see the full report? That is interesting...would love to see the numbers.

[the urban politician]

^ I pulled those numbers from the very same graph they displayed

[marothisu]

^ I pulled those numbers from the very same graph they displayed

I thought you meant YTD which would be the right. I took that to mean overall, but maybe it's just residential.

[IrishIllini]

I thought you meant YTD which would be the right. I took that to mean overall, but maybe it's just residential.

Residential is great in my book.

[Randomguy34]

While I was at Big&Little's today with friends, I saw a bulldozer moving brick and dirt around on the vacant lot across Orleans. All the weeds and grass in that lot also seemed to be gone. I believe it may be for the office project planned at 863 N. Orleans, but I haven't heard much news about the project in the past couple of months.

[the urban politician]

^ I never knew about that project till you mentioned it. A nice, sleek building. Great to see this getting started!

[marothisu]

New 120,000 sq ft shopping center at Jefferson & Taylor got its first permit yesterday for the foundation (http://chicago.curbed.com/2016/1/14/10846712/new-mall-proposed-for-jefferson-and-taylor). Permit says 5 stories, but the rendering shows 4 stories.


Also, very small news but that crappy vacant lot across from the original Kuma's Corner and next to Burger King (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9393971,-87.6999388,3a,75y,8.3h,78.21t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_FAMTqoXwx2UqQL633ZCCw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1) got a permit for 9 units.

[Near North Resident]

While I was at Big&Little's today with friends, I saw a bulldozer moving brick and dirt around on the vacant lot across Orleans. All the weeds and grass in that lot also seemed to be gone. I believe it may be for the office project planned at 863 N. Orleans, but I haven't heard much news about the project in the past couple of months.

Big& Littles is for sale as well, only a matter of time before that gets developed too!

Also it makes sense they are starting 863 N Orleans now that NEXT is nearly complete, they were using that lot as a staging area for equipment and supplies

[harryc]

http://luxeonchicago.com/

Aug 13
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8030/29136050842_8e5280aeb4_h.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8061/29210372846_d905e55af8_h.jpg

[emathias]

http://luxeonchicago.com/

Aug 13
...

That really livens up that stretch of Chicago. Although that storefront church already makes that block quite lively on Sundays - if you've ever been near there on a Sunday morning, it really jams!

[XIII]

While I was at Big&Little's today with friends, I saw a bulldozer moving brick and dirt around on the vacant lot across Orleans. All the weeds and grass in that lot also seemed to be gone. I believe it may be for the office project planned at 863 N. Orleans, but I haven't heard much news about the project in the past couple of months.

http://www.chicagoarchitecture.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Page-1-1024x854.jpg

This is really good infill for that area. It's a fancy little building, too

[LouisVanDerWright]

New 120,000 sq ft shopping center at Jefferson & Taylor got its first permit yesterday for the foundation (http://chicago.curbed.com/2016/1/14/10846712/new-mall-proposed-for-jefferson-and-taylor). Permit says 5 stories, but the rendering shows 4 stories.


Also, very small news but that crappy vacant lot across from the original Kuma's Corner and next to Burger King (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9393971,-87.6999388,3a,75y,8.3h,78.21t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_FAMTqoXwx2UqQL633ZCCw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1) got a permit for 9 units.

If you like that, then you should be happy about this, the Ace hardware store and vacant lots will be biting the dust. This was the original proposal:

https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oFvppuPb0lO51yWvPGnV5Q_C1tU=/1400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6498737/2819%20W%20Belmont3.png
Curbed

The Neigbhorhood Association is pushing back on the design and some urban planning issues. I think they are going to ask for it to hold the corner of Elston and Belmont and possibly have some upper level setbacks or something more interesting than ye olde cheapo bullshit. I'm sure they will ask for some unit count reductions too to placate the neighbors, but overall this is a great way to mop up some of the missing teeth in this stretch of Belmont. I'd expect for this to be approved in some form and that this will not be the final design.

[marothisu]

^ Very interesting. Would be good to get that Ace Hardware out of there (and that Burger King), but that design sucks so much LOL. The buildings on the corner that Kuma's is on are actually pretty good. Wish it they could build stuff like that again.

[Busy Bee]

Didn't that same building go up in Morton Grove in the early aughts?

[the urban politician]

^ How does a 2 story building manage to carry retail space plus a K-8 school?

That's a lot to pack into that space.

[marothisu]

Was walking through Chinatown yesterday and saw that the hotel that was U/C for awhile is open. Looks like it's been about a month or two since it opened. The lobby actually looked half way modern and trendy. It's gotten good reviews on Trip Advisor and Hotels.com so far. Not luxury or anything, but looks like potentially a decent, comfortable option if you want to stay somewhere close to downtown for cheaper than a downtown hotel (Hotels.com has it at around $110/night right now. Average might be closer to $140/night):


http://www.jaslinhotel.com/
https://www.hotels.com/ho573431/jaslin-hotel-chicago-united-states-of-america/
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g35805-d9853570-Reviews-Jaslin_Hotel-Chicago_Illinois.html

[BuildThemTaller]

^ How does a 2 story building manage to carry retail space plus a K-8 school?

That's a lot to pack into that space.

AltSchool describes itself (https://www.altschool.com/about#faqs) as a "micro-school" with very small groups of mixed-aged classrooms. It's not a traditional K-8 school and doesn't need as much space, per se.

[SolarWind]

August 29, 2016

http://i.imgur.com/4ufErQG.jpg

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

[r18tdi]

While I was at Big&Little's today with friends, I saw a bulldozer moving brick and dirt around on the vacant lot across Orleans. All the weeds and grass in that lot also seemed to be gone. I believe it may be for the office project planned at 863 N. Orleans, but I haven't heard much news about the project in the past couple of months.
Nifty project for sure. What's its story? Is it going forward as of right?

[OhioGuy]

The new East Lakeview Mariano's at 3030 N Broadway officially opened today. While I'm sure the inside is perfectly acceptable, I'm anxious to see the building from the street. I'll be in Chicago exactly one month from today so I look forward to seeing it in person. From the few construction photos I've seen, I'm not expecting to be overly impressed... but maybe in the end it's not too horrible?

[Via Chicago]

The new East Lakeview Mariano's at 3030 N Broadway officially opened today. While I'm sure the inside is perfectly acceptable, I'm anxious to see the building from the street. I'll be in Chicago exactly one month from today so I look forward to seeing it in person. From the few construction photos I've seen, I'm not expecting to be overly impressed... but maybe in the end it's not too horrible?

i wouldnt waste your limited time in chicago gazing at a crapbox of a grocery store. i can assure you its garbage.

[OhioGuy]

i wouldnt waste your limited time in chicago gazing at a crapbox of a grocery store. i can assure you its garbage.

I'll be in Lakeview anyway, so it's not out of my way to walk by and gauge how bad the building is along Broadway.

[marothisu]

I'll be in Lakeview anyway, so it's not out of my way to walk by and gauge how bad the building is along Broadway.

Not sure I understand why you would want to check this out? It's literally an afterthought project other than it brings back a grocery store into the area. There's much better things in town to check out that are new.

[Randomguy34]

Nifty project for sure. What's its story? Is it going forward as of right?

The Chi Arch Blog post about 863 N. Orleans said that they were seeking a zoning change from C1-2 to C1-5. However, they will have to seek a DX-3 zoning instead because of the recent downtown zoning ordinance.

[ardecila]

The Chi Arch Blog post about 863 N. Orleans said that they were seeking a zoning change from C1-2 to C1-5. However, they will have to seek a DX-3 zoning instead because of the recent downtown zoning ordinance.

Hmm, interesting.

So now everybody seeking a zoning change, even in the downtown expansion areas, has to apply for downtown zoning and pay into the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund.

[OhioGuy]

Not sure I understand why you would want to check this out? It's literally an afterthought project other than it brings back a grocery store into the area. There's much better things in town to check out that are new.

Because walking by when I'm already in the neighborhood is going to require hours of my time? I walked by that vacant lot many many times when I lived in East Lakeview. The point is to simply see how it works (or likely doesn't work) in the context of its setting. Since I'll already be in the neighborhood, I doubt the energy it takes to turn my head and observe the building for a few seconds as I pass by on Broadway is going to prevent me from checking out other developments elsewhere.

[the urban politician]

^ Wrong. Head turning is a very tiring and time consuming activity. Keep your head facing forward to save your calories for more interesting pursuits ;)

[Randomguy34]

Hmm, interesting.

So now everybody seeking a zoning change, even in the downtown expansion areas, has to apply for downtown zoning and pay into the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund.

Yeah, it seems silly having to apply for downtown zoning for each individual development, rather than apply that level of zoning to the whole expanded area. I guess these areas weren't automatically upzoned because there would be a lot of push back from the NIMBYs about the plan, since they would no longer have a say in developments that have become right of way. I do not believe they have to pay into the Opportunity Fund unless they want an upzone that is greater than what was recommended.

Also, it appears they would have to apply instead for a DX-5 zoning, not a DX-3 zoning like I mentioned earlier, since Cabrini Green was recommended to have that level of zoning: http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/dcd/general/maps/NearNorth_ForWebSite_2016_06_01.pdf

[k1052]

Yeah, it seems silly having to apply for downtown zoning for each individual development, rather than apply that level of zoning to the whole expanded area. I guess these areas weren't automatically upzoned because there would be a lot of push back from the NIMBYs about the plan, since they would no longer have a say in developments that have become right of way. I do not believe they have to pay into the Opportunity Fund unless they want an upzone that is greater than what was recommended.



You answered your own question. It will be impossible for NIMBYs to effectively oppose a significant number of seperate developments seeking bumps...which apparently can even be granted mid-construction. Payments into the NOF are icing on the cake for aldermen who's main base of power doesn't necessarily include all the people opposed to said developments thanks to an amazing ward map.

[PKDickman]

Yeah, it seems silly having to apply for downtown zoning for each individual development, rather than apply that level of zoning to the whole expanded area. I guess these areas weren't automatically upzoned because there would be a lot of push back from the NIMBYs about the plan, since they would no longer have a say in developments that have become right of way. I do not believe they have to pay into the Opportunity Fund unless they want an upzone that is greater than what was recommended.

Also, it appears they would have to apply instead for a DX-5 zoning, not a DX-3 zoning like I mentioned earlier, since Cabrini Green was recommended to have that level of zoning: http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/dcd/general/maps/NearNorth_ForWebSite_2016_06_01.pdf

I'm not sure why they didn't globally change everything to a D zone with matching bulk and density of the underlying zoning. They limited the new downtown to areas with a -3 or above which would have translated directly and allowed the new buy-a-bonus system in the entire area.

My reading of the ordinance shows a different path.

An as of right project would continue being a B-C-M without any change and have no access to the new bonus.

Any project that applies for a zoning change has the application automatically changed to a D and has access to the bonus that applies to the new bulk and density .
But the act of applying for the change triggers the ARO requirement and you can't get at the bonus until you apply for the change.

[KWILLSKYLINE]

A friend told me they moved the Jordan statue back to it's original place inside the new United Center atrium. Any word when the atrium and stores will be open to the public? Also any updates on construction of the new Hawks practice facility?

[ChickeNES]

Planning Commission legal notice is up. The Nobu Hotel rezoning (from 7 to 11 floors), this thing: http://chicago.curbed.com/2016/7/6/12105708/chicago-development-news-river-north-condo-project , a 4-story retail + office replacement for 46 E Oak, and the godawful renovation of Graeme Stewart School are on the agenda.

[go go white sox]

I just wanted to share this video i came across. I have never attended any these public meetings, and honestly thought when others described how delusional those NIMBYs acted, they were exaggerated, but after seeing this wow lmao.

https://youtu.be/8MmUQ5A9X1M

[brandon03]

One story building, near Morgan CTA stop in a quickly densifying neighborhood, coming down to make way for....

http://i.imgur.com/vFqDJ59h.jpg (http://i.imgur.com/vFqDJ59.jpg)


...another one story building?! :hell: :shrug:

[SolarWind]

August 31, 2016

http://i.imgur.com/Ivtcg34.jpg

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

http://i.imgur.com/0vOTGi5.jpg

[SolarWind]

August 31, 2016

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

[SolarWind]

August 31, 2016

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

[emathias]

I just wanted to share this video i came across. I have never attended any these public meetings, and honestly thought when others described how delusional those NIMBYs acted, they were exaggerated, but after seeing this wow lmao.

https://youtu.be/8MmUQ5A9X1M

And that's not even a particularly bad example.

[Mr Downtown]

Yeah, I'm puzzled by what you find delusional. The only person we hear asking a question simply expresses concern about the parking garage curb cut being directly opposite the busy entrance to Trader Joe's. When the reporter asks some other folks leaving the meeting what they thought of the project, they just say "well, I hope it's not more development than the infrastructure can handle." They didn't raise their hands to say that.

Now delusional was what I heard at last week's meeting about the apocalyptic horrors that will result from painting a bike-street "sharrow" on Ninth St. in Dearborn Park.

[go go white sox]

Yeah, I'm puzzled by what you find delusional. The only person we hear asking a question simply expresses concern about the parking garage curb cut being directly opposite the busy entrance to Trader Joe's. When the reporter asks some other folks leaving the meeting what they thought of the project, they just say "well, I hope it's not more development than the infrastructure can handle." They didn't raise their hands to say that.

Now delusional was what I heard at last week's meeting about the apocalyptic horrors that will result from painting a bike-street "sharrow" on Ninth St. in Dearborn Park.
I found the comments from the last woman strikingly delusional imo. She says the residents in the south loop like their neighborhood the way it is. No way she can speak for everyone and assume that. She then says they are not only replacing it but filling it, with an almost cringe worthy expression to over capacity? I mean this is Chicago and the south loop has so many lots and land that would obviously be developed sooner or later, and if those residents somehow believed when they moved there, it was going to stay as is is ignorant, after all this is the third largest city in USA.

[ithakas]

I found the comments from the last woman strikingly delusional imo. She says the residents if the south loop like their neighborhood the way it is. No way she can speak about everyone and assume that.

She certainly doesn't speak for everyone. My mother, who has lived in the South Loop for over 30 years, was just expressing disappointment that the area still has yet to develop any real interesting retail district. I told her that I personally believe it's because of how Dearborn Park chokes the neighborhood, and of course the encouragement of big-box retail at Roosevelt.

[maru2501]

Roosevelt looks like LA

[Mr Downtown]

I found the comments from the last woman strikingly delusional imo. She says the residents in the south loop like their neighborhood the way it is.

But almost by definition, people with the ability to choose among neighborhoods like theirs the way it is. Except for a few of us weird urban-pioneer types, people choose a neighborhood because they like it, not because they hope it will become something completely different.

[MultiModal]

The Chili's in River North closed permanently. It was at 10 E Ontario, I am ecstatic by this news.


https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7530/29278819032_950befecb6_c.jpg

[marothisu]

^ Best news of the day! Wasn't that building just recently purchased too? I hope something good replaces it

[Steely Dan]

^^ "other nearby locations" LOL!

so i'm in river north, and i have this insatiable craving for an awesome blossom, what to do?

easy, just hop in my car and drive up to evanston or down to morgan park. how convenient!

[k1052]

There is a caisson rig drilling away on the Nobu site today.

[go go white sox]

But almost by definition, people with the ability to choose among neighborhoods like theirs the way it is. Except for a few of us weird urban-pioneer types, people choose a neighborhood because they like it, not because they hope it will become something completely different.

I'm not so sure about that. I for one literally almost bought property in the south loop several years ago. One reason was because i was looking at it as in an investment based on what the south loop could potential become one day. I settled in oak park where development is booming and I'm loving the vibranvy, density, and urban infill it's generating.

[Vlajos]

Roosevelt looks like LA

Yep, it makes me gag.

[Vlajos]

The Chili's in River North closed permanently. It was at 10 E Ontario, I am ecstatic by this news.


https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7530/29278819032_950befecb6_c.jpg

^ Best news of the day! Wasn't that building just recently purchased too? I hope something good replaces it

^^ "other nearby locations" LOL!

so i'm in river north, and i have this insatiable craving for an awesome blossom, what to do?

easy, just hop in my car and drive up to evanston or down to morgan park. how convenient!

Great news! I have no idea who Chili's appeals to. I mean not great food at a not great price is not particularly appealing. Just go to McDs.

[Swicago Swi Sox]

Great news! I have no idea who Chili's appeals too. I mean not great food at a not great price is not particularly appealing. Just go to McDs.

I have not had an Awesome Blossom or Bloomin' Onion in like 15 years...but oh man...i'd eat one right now if it didn't mean sitting in a Chillis.

[Vlajos]

I have not had an Awesome Blossom or Bloomin' Onion in like 15 years...but oh man...i'd eat one right now if it didn't mean sitting in a Chillis.

Lol, do they do take out?

[marothisu]

Great news! I have no idea who Chili's appeals to. I mean not great food at a not great price is not particularly appealing. Just go to McDs.

Small town tourists, or foreign tourists who have no idea what Chili's is and get sucked into it (seen it before walking by TGI Friday's and all the time in NYC at various places).

[maru2501]

Houlihans on south side of river just east of Mich also closed fairly recently. Now lets get a demo permit for rainforest cafe

[the urban politician]

There is a caisson rig drilling away on the Nobu site today.

:cheers:

[Busy Bee]

I have no idea who Chili's appeals to. I mean not great food at a not great price is not particularly appealing. Just go to McDs.

Michael Scott?

The Southwestern eggrolls appeal to me. Freakin delicious. "Just go to McDs" ? Give me a break. Yeah Chilis is mostly lame, but plenty of burbers and non-cosmo folks like it due to lack of any better options. Get off your high horse.

[JK47]

Great news! I have no idea who Chili's appeals to. I mean not great food at a not great price is not particularly appealing. Just go to McDs.


My parents called my (then girlfriend) wife to let her know that my cat had died. They weren't sure how to tell me. My wife decided that she didn't want the bad news to ruin my feelings about a particular place (e.g. "I hate being here since it reminds me of...") that we liked. So she tried to think of a terrible restaurant we'd never miss if I decided I never wanted to go back there due to bad memories.

That was the Chili's that just closed. Now I'll have to drive out to the suburbs in order to receive traumatizing news over an awesome blossom.

[emathias]

I live in River North and I've eaten at that Chilis a few times simply because of how few inexpensive places there are left in River North.

[Rizzo]

^ Best news of the day! Wasn't that building just recently purchased too? I hope something good replaces it

I'll admit we've gone to chillis when the wait at Quartino was too long. But that was like 3 years ago.