CHICAGO | General Developments

[harryc]

Can't keep em straight without a program - Curbed guide to West Loop Fulton Market (https://chicago.curbed.com/maps/west-loop-development-chicago-map)

Number 5

Aug 26
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4343/36861632821_72420b32c9_h.jpg

Sept 1
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4421/36193418593_bf76a9b13c_h.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4342/36193412813_eaa15010d8_h.jpg

May 2016
The parking garage that never was. The ramps are on the North side and the back 1/2 is still a parking garage. The rest is difficult to recognize.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4343/36166357534_335b82f9b8_h.jpg

[harryc]

Can't keep em straight without a program - Curbed guide to West Loop Fulton Market (https://chicago.curbed.com/maps/west-loop-development-chicago-map)

Number 43

April 2012
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4343/37002367115_65da9572f6_h.jpg

Oct 2016
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5657/30191805236_9c48ac7db3_h.jpg

[harryc]

Not even on the Curbed map

March 2017
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4172/33883153803_bebd296e59_k.jpg

Aug 26
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4360/36606031210_81c9a5afae_h.jpg

Rail for the carcasses (hung from hooks on little dollies that hung on the rail)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4434/36831660532_58b8cb2bc3_h.jpg

Modern - enhanced - cap for a brand new column
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4372/36606025930_d360f144f8_h.jpg

A more ornate solution
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4422/36831655752_c7f08f1a5d_h.jpg

[KWILLSKYLINE]

Cool butchershop photos harry.

[VKChaz]

Do you know what this building was previously used for?
Not even on the Curbed map
March 2017
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4172/33883153803_bebd296e59_k.jpg

[Randomguy34]

Do you know what this building was previously used for?

According to Curbed, the building used to be a meat packing facility and is being renovated w/ a 1 story addition.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dNObeDcwE53gHeWJXG4SCPNCJpo=/1000x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7924889/Screen_Shot_2017_02_03_at_9.23.27_AM.png
Source: https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/2/3/14497406/chicago-fulton-market-development-meatpacker-renovations

Seriously, can we embed the curbed map in the front page. I would like to see a West Loop development rundown.

If the rest of the forum is down, I'd be willing to start a "West Loop Development" thread. Plus, Curbed would probably be happy being the main guide map for West Loop development.

[Rocket49]

If the rest of the forum is down, I'd be willing to start a "West Loop Development" thread. Plus, Curbed would probably be happy being the main guide map for West Loop development.
FWIW, you got my vote.

[emathias]

Who paints over Indiana limestone???

Any chance that's primer and Apple is going to have some sort of mural painted there? That might actually be interesting.

[harryc]

Aug 28

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4387/36839500882_9f378f69e4_h.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4363/36174945694_6695721f82_h.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4381/36839506592_f16e086e2a_h.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4432/36839504392_711b352974_h.jpg

[harryc]

w,t,

[aaron38]

I love row houses in the right environment, but that's not it. They look so out of place. That corner needed 8 stories minimum.

[marothisu]

I love row houses in the right environment, but that's not it. They look so out of place. That corner needed 8 stories minimum.

It's semi out of place now due to the temple and the high rise being built right near it. However, if you compare it to the housing stock of a block or so radius then it's not out of place as there's a number of row homes nearby.

[aaron38]

Can't keep em straight without a program - Curbed guide to West Loop Fulton Market (https://chicago.curbed.com/maps/west-loop-development-chicago-map)

The epicenter of that map is definitely the new Morgan Street Station. 5 years later that investment is paying dividends. Imagine once the Damon Ave station opens in 3 years. There are tons of empty lots north of the United Center that are all going to go. There's land to ensure that lots of first floor retail goes in. Can get a United Center entertainment district going maybe.

[Via Chicago]

.

[maru2501]

yeah united center area just begging to explode

[Near North Resident]

yeah united center area just begging to explode

nah, too many parking lots and subsidized housing in the immediate area... I'm sure if reinsdorf or whoever owns them decides to ever sell them, we'll be treated to some god awful megablock development dreck like the stuff that is going up around Wrigley right now

[woodrow]

^^ to be clear, the only dreck going up around Wrigley is the Addison on Clark development. And it is going to be bad. very very bad.

The Cub's office building is nice and the Hotel Zachary will be even nicer.

[Vlajos]

^^ to be clear, the only dreck going up around Wrigley is the Addison on Clark development. And it is going to be bad. very very bad.

The Cub's office building is nice and the Hotel Zachary will be even nicer.

And even that building is an improvement for the single story stuff there now. Just wish the corner could have been demolished along with the other buildings.

[i_am_hydrogen]

https://chicago.curbed.com/chicago-construction/2017/9/5/16255216/grand-milwaukee-apartments-construction-rentals?utm_campaign=chicago.curbed&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DI-IR9AWsAAdcUF.jpg:large

[aaron38]

Wow that's great! Leaves that little building at the tracks, abuts them and sets the stage perfectly for the corner to be developed later.

[10023]

Wow that's great! Leaves that little building at the tracks, abuts them and sets the stage perfectly for the corner to be developed later.
But then we lose the Dawson. It's not a parking lot, it's outdoor restaurant space (which Chicago doesn't have nearly enough of close to downtown).

[denizen467]

^ At this time .. can I point out your handle is 10023 (being Manhattan), your avatar represents Wisconsin, and you seem to now be a relatively longtime resident of London. But with respect to a restaurant patio at a minor intersection in downtown Chicago, you're feeling "we". Are your ties with Chicago the deepest of all? Although with as many posts as you've got, maybe you've colonized all the world's cities with your ponderings. (Edit: See continuation next page)

[ithakas]

^ At this time .. can I point out your handle is 10023 (being Manhattan), your avatar represents Wisconsin, and you seem to now be a relatively longtime resident of London. But with respect to a restaurant patio at a minor intersection in downtown Chicago, you're feeling "we". Are your ties with Chicago the deepest of all? Although with as many posts as you've got, maybe you've colonized all the world's cities with your ponderings.

I'm pretty sure he grew up here, and I always appreciate his contributions...he's usually right, in my opinion.

[aaron38]

I like outdoor seating as much as anyone, but this is Chicago and it's useless from November to April. And it's right at a major L station, minutes from the Loop.
I'm not saying tear the Dawson down today, but I'm not going to fight for it. That's not the highest and best use for that land.
Put the outdoor restaurants along the river, just a couple blocks away.

[Skyguy_7]

As long as no one touches Richard's Bar, I'm fine with this development and any other in the vicinity. :yes:

[jc5680]

The Best Western on Ohio is getting painted. Gray, of course, with a pretty nice dark taupe accent:

http://www.j-carlson.com/ancilary/bw_sep3.jpg

There is a skip installed on the west side of Union Station. Not sure what this is for.

http://www.j-carlson.com/ancilary/union_sep3.jpg

[Mr Downtown]

Union Station headhouse is set for a big roofing/waterproofing/skylight repair project. That would be my guess.

[LouisVanDerWright]

Union Station headhouse is set for a big roofing/waterproofing/skylight repair project. That would be my guess.

Just in time for them to rip it all up again in a few years when they build those expansions!

[KWILLSKYLINE]

Another lot bites the dust.

https://chicago.curbed.com/chicago-development/2017/9/6/16262440/jefferson-parking-lot-apartments-construction

[denizen467]

^ At this time .. can I point out your handle is 10023 (being Manhattan), your avatar represents Wisconsin, and you seem to now be a relatively longtime resident of London. But with respect to a restaurant patio at a minor intersection in downtown Chicago, you're feeling "we". Are your ties with Chicago the deepest of all? Although with as many posts as you've got, maybe you've colonized all the world's cities with your ponderings.
Having somebody care about the city so much from afar is greatly appreciated and of course not a complaint - the impetus here is more a vain partisan hope that you might adopt a Chicago avatar or username (is that even changeable?) or tagline to spread the gospel in all those other places, if in fact that's how you feel. This stood out because there aren't many people with such active interest in hyperlocal developments who otherwise appear to be focused on other places.

[Randomguy34]

Looks like the 3100-3300 S. block of Archer Ave is gonna have a mini-boom:
1x - 4 stories, 24 unit w/ retail, 32 parking
2x - 4 stories, 24 unit w/ retail, 27 parking
2x - 1 story retail w/ parking
There is a good number of parking for these development, despite them being in a TOD zone.

[Randomguy34]

Alderman zoning news:

- Ald. David Moore (17th) is trying to downzone the B & C districts on 69th St, from Ashland to Damen, into RS-3
- Ald. Cardenas (12) is zoning the manufacturing on the 1900 S. block of Fairfield Ave to RS-3
- Ald. Rod Sawyer (6) is changing the PD from 6700-6900 S. block of Wentworth to RS-3

Geez, with all the downzonings the past couple of months, it'll become difficult for businesses on the South Side to operate if everything becomes a RS-3

[the urban politician]

Looks like the 3100-3300 S. block of Archer Ave is gonna have a mini-boom:
1x - 4 stories, 24 unit w/ retail, 32 parking
2x - 4 stories, 24 unit w/ retail, 27 parking
2x - 1 story retail w/ parking
There is a good number of parking for these development, despite them being in a TOD zone.

That sounds like Chinese developers to me

[the urban politician]

Alderman zoning news:

- Ald. David Moore (17th) is trying to downzone the B & C districts on 69th St, from Ashland to Damen, into RS-3
- Ald. Cardenas (12) is zoning the manufacturing on the 1900 S. block of Fairfield Ave to RS-3
- Ald. Rod Sawyer (6) is changing the PD from 6700-6900 S. block of Wentworth to RS-3

Geez, with all the downzonings the past couple of months, it'll become difficult for businesses on the South Side to operate if everything becomes a RS-3

Lol, let's just take the least desirable real estate in all of Chicagoland and DOWNZONE it! Great plan, Alderman Asswipe. Go get a job doing something useful for a change.

[the urban politician]

Why don't downzonings have to go through a community approvals process like upzonings do? The "way of doing business" in Chicago is just asking for a major, class action lawsuit.

[marothisu]

Looks like the 3100-3300 S. block of Archer Ave is gonna have a mini-boom:
1x - 4 stories, 24 unit w/ retail, 32 parking
2x - 4 stories, 24 unit w/ retail, 27 parking
2x - 1 story retail w/ parking
There is a good number of parking for these development, despite them being in a TOD zone.

Cool, minus the parking ratio. Where is this info coming from?

[Randomguy34]

Cool, minus the parking ratio. Where is this info coming from?

It's on the City Clerk website if you go to the Legislation tab and search "zoning" and list the sponsor as "Misc. Transmittal". That's generally how I search for new projects by developers. Here are links to the projects' PDF:

3204-3260 S Archer Ave: https://chicago.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3145072&GUID=B623892B-B698-4973-9F21-3269A6EC5342&Options=Advanced&Search=
3172-3178 S Archer Ave: https://chicago.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3145073&GUID=7BF72970-C89B-4DF4-B8F1-7F76B92EE25B&Options=Advanced&Search=

Why don't downzonings have to go through a community approvals process like upzonings do? The "way of doing business" in Chicago is just asking for a major, class action lawsuit.

It's cause Aldermen, unlike developers, have complete power to change the zonings in their ward. Community members could pressure the aldermen to hold a community meeting, but often these zoning changes are done with little knowledge. A watchdog group recently produced a report of the ethical concerns and possible corruption from aldermen zoning powers, with the Double Door case being the prime example: https://thesecretsix.com/investigation/how-a-chicago-alderman-has-used-zoning-law-and-political-strongarming-to-control-private-businesses/

[marothisu]

^ Nice, thanks. As someone noted before, this is probably from Chinese developers of some kind. That one new retail/commercial development at 2300 S Archer that just scored permits is from Skyriver Canal Development LLC. This one is from Skyriver Archer Development LLC - they have the same address (2918 S Wentworth Ave - which is also an office of Mark Properties).

I also found something for a "Skyriver Throop Development LLC" for 20 new SFH, 27 townhomes, and 94 garage parking spaces in that area between I-55 and the Chicago river in Bridgeport not far from The Duck Inn. All sites are either industrial parking lots or more industrial types of buildings:

* 2601-39 S Throop: https://www.google.com/maps/place/2601+S+Throop+St,+Chicago,+IL+60608/@41.8450394,-87.6554747,3a,75y,3.52h,79.87t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQWIWAiFfhOP0HA5zBZwBNQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x880e2c4dbb3574cb:0x7834dd3b0b8ca3c1!8m2!3d41.8455185!4d-87.6558951

* 2553-79 S Hillock: https://www.google.com/maps/place/2553+S+Hillock+Ave,+Chicago,+IL+60608/@41.8465892,-87.65179,3a,75y,88.11h,80.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTBU4JbngNjw6h8HkOhDEAg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x880e2c51fbaa409b:0x93921793dac30525!8m2!3d41.8466176!4d-87.6518858

* 2512-36 S Stark: https://www.google.com/maps/place/2512+S+Stark+St,+Chicago,+IL+60608/@41.8458824,-87.6542181,3a,75y,200.55h,87.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBq3v-xJ6oBoegkUfpy4YIg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x880e2c4d8ceaaded:0x632ccc3e04323eef!8m2!3d41.845754!4d-87.654493

[Mr Downtown]

Why don't downzonings have to go through a community approvals process like upzonings do?

Wait. In what multiverse do upzonings have to go through any sort of community process?

[marothisu]

Here's a good one. A developer is seeking a zoning change for the NW corner of Chicago Ave and Milwaukee Ave right near the Chicago Blue Line stop for a new 7 story, up to 106 unit building with ground floor commercial with only 18 parking spaces. Looks like it would get rid of that currency exchange, the vacant (?) People's Action building, and that building along Chicago Ave with Upgrade Cycle Works - and of course the empty surface space mostly on that entire site. Definitely an upgrade.

From Chicago Ave: https://www.google.com/maps/place/800+N+Milwaukee+Ave,+Chicago,+IL+60642/@41.8962345,-87.6563804,3a,75y,36.57h,89.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svGaUjYP_o0yJeQXVrl2rnw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x880fd32ad7555761:0xb30d2fd5dc75a3bd!8m2!3d41.8964246!4d-87.6559527
From Milwaukee Ave: https://www.google.com/maps/place/800+N+Milwaukee+Ave,+Chicago,+IL+60642/@41.896446,-87.6557964,3a,75y,270.98h,86.13t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sqwZxuDmkIIYjA0vy3pAloQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x880fd32ad7555761:0xb30d2fd5dc75a3bd!8m2!3d41.8964246!4d-87.6559527

https://chicago.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3145438&GUID=E287B3E3-9255-4035-8857-DF99DF97D5C6&Options=Advanced&Search=

[LouisVanDerWright]

Alderman zoning news:

- Ald. Cardenas (12) is zoning the manufacturing on the 1900 S. block of Fairfield Ave to RS-3

I own lots of property in this pocket and had a good conversation with the Alderman about this. His intentions are pure, but I told him it should be zoned RT-4 like literally everything else in the area that isn't B, C, or M. He is rezoning that block because existing owners are having problems getting permits to retain residential uses in the M district.

[Ned.B]

Just in time for them to rip it all up again in a few years when they build those expansions!

Have no fear, the work that is being done on Union Station now is being done in coordination with the Master Developer work and most will not be touched in a vertical expansion. And it is absolutely necessary work: the Great hall skylight and surrounding exterior walls have been taking in enough water over the last 20+ years to completely destroy a building of lesser construction. This project will provide a new weather tight and energy efficient skylight, restore the historic skylight below, restore the deteriorating plaster and stone surfaces in the Great Hall and original interior paint scheme as well as various exterior masonry repairs. Should all be positive improvements.

[harryc]

One of the cranes was coming down at McDonalds HQ yesterday.

[brian_b]

New 4 story elementary school in the South Loop was permitted yesterday (1601 S Dearborn, aka 16th and Dearborn) - will replace some industrial looking buildings which are looking out of place:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/1601+S+Dearborn+St,+Chicago,+IL+60616/@41.8600866,-87.6288258,3a,75y,120.45h,89.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7gcgRqyj6uire1HbwijMvg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x880e2c861e7119c9:0x8255a0ee3fd451af!8m2!3d41.8595478!4d-87.628406

It was a long-vacant US Postal Service maintenance facility and the site was cleared in the spring. Glad to hear that construction will start soon.

[Mr Downtown]

^Not sure if this is the absolute final design. I guess this is looking northwest, with Mariano's parking garage in the background:

https://i.imgur.com/iAPAnBG.jpg?1

[ardecila]

^Not sure if this is the absolute final design. I guess this is looking northwest, with Mariano's parking garage in the background:

https://i.imgur.com/iAPAnBG.jpg?1

I think this is looking southeast from 16th/Dearborn. The building in the background is Jeanne Gang's Media Production Center, which is actually a blank featureless box on that side. Anyway, 16th Street is a much more pleasant front door for the school than 17th, which has trucks going to the Marianos loading dock, as well as lots of police reserved parking zones and an auto parts warehouse.

Also, if this was looking northwest, then that would mean the building has a setback with trees and a wide sidewalk along the alley, which doesn't make much sense on a tight site.

[marothisu]

Here's a good one. A developer is seeking a zoning change for the NW corner of Chicago Ave and Milwaukee Ave right near the Chicago Blue Line stop for a new 7 story, up to 106 unit building with ground floor commercial with only 18 parking spaces. Looks like it would get rid of that currency exchange, the vacant (?) People's Action building, and that building along Chicago Ave with Upgrade Cycle Works - and of course the empty surface space mostly on that entire site. Definitely an upgrade.

From Chicago Ave: https://www.google.com/maps/place/800+N+Milwaukee+Ave,+Chicago,+IL+60642/@41.8962345,-87.6563804,3a,75y,36.57h,89.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svGaUjYP_o0yJeQXVrl2rnw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x880fd32ad7555761:0xb30d2fd5dc75a3bd!8m2!3d41.8964246!4d-87.6559527
From Milwaukee Ave: https://www.google.com/maps/place/800+N+Milwaukee+Ave,+Chicago,+IL+60642/@41.896446,-87.6557964,3a,75y,270.98h,86.13t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sqwZxuDmkIIYjA0vy3pAloQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x880fd32ad7555761:0xb30d2fd5dc75a3bd!8m2!3d41.8964246!4d-87.6559527

https://chicago.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3145438&GUID=E287B3E3-9255-4035-8857-DF99DF97D5C6&Options=Advanced&Search=

Curbed ran an article on this after this was posted:
https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/9/7/16266580/transit-oriented-apartment-development-river-west

[denizen467]

The Amazon HQ relocation (if that's their long term endgame) news today has overshadowed news of a smaller but notable local relocation: The 111 East Wacker lobby reconfiguration's main tenant will be the Chicago Architecture Foundation (http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170907/NEWS07/170909927/chicago-architecture-foundation-building-new-center)

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/CG/20170907/NEWS07/170909927/AR/0/AR-170909927.jpg&maxw=620&q=100&cb=20170908001959&cci_ts=20170907143008

[harryc]

Sept 6

Crane taking down a crane - later in the day they were using the yellow mobile crane to finish up.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4414/37106297945_8acde5353a_h.jpg

[aaron38]

Is McD's almost done? What's left to do in that shot?

[LouisVanDerWright]

Is McD's almost done? What's left to do in that shot?

Well none of the walls are up.

[maru2501]

they want a true open-air plan

[the urban politician]

Is McD's almost done? What's left to do in that shot?

Huh?

Yeah, the tenants are moving in tommorrow. :uhh:

[aaron38]

I just meant topped out.

[spyguy]

Drone shot of McD HQ (and other West Loop developments)

https://s26.postimg.org/h4m3ohxe1/21435909_1974133069489060_8060612763627552768_n.jpg
Gensler (https://www.instagram.com/p/BYyPGZ3FrP9/)

[10023]

they want a true open-air plan
I hear that works really well in Chicago.

[harryc]

Sept 8

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4423/36317659834_da2057c578_h.jpg

Old school foundation work
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4372/37153779875_a8bc1fbe28_h.jpg

Modular design - heat exchanger
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4339/37011314361_1ab9f765e7_h.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4343/36317663854_73441f802d_h.jpg

[harryc]

Sept 8

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4387/36965428996_f5981c0792_h.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4416/36341069473_280967d997_h.jpg

[the urban politician]

Decent infill. Parking lots just keep disappearing in the central area

[harryc]

Decent infill. Parking lots just keep disappearing in the central area

No only parking lots - abandoned gas stations as well !
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2169/32804901535_b31f7ba508_h.jpg
2013

Sept 8

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4350/36973460576_42a5777054_h.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4368/36348926983_4ddf8735f5_h.jpg

[maru2501]

that drone shot is great

[harryc]

Sept 8

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4436/36788361540_28180e811b_h.jpg

Love all the nooks and crannies.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4334/36371833613_07ee643245_h.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4442/36788360420_afcb0ee6ff_h.jpg

Did a double take on this as the brick pattern is almost exactly what is being used on the E face of Oak St Market.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4437/36371832963_46ff092644_h.jpg

[harryc]

Sept 8

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4427/36380700393_b84b95cde8_h.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4336/37194566755_c875815d25_h.jpg

With the Marlowe next door in the background.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4363/36380697843_5ef9c8aae9_h.jpg

[J_M_Tungsten]

Does anyone have insight into how they are building the Flats? It looks like they are building half of it right now. The floors are all prefabricated slabs of concrete just set in place. Very odd

[harryc]

Does anyone have insight into how they are building the Flats? It looks like they are building half of it right now. The floors are all prefabricated slabs of concrete just set in place. Very odd

Pretty standard - steel frame with slabs put on for the floor (pretty sure they are affixed somehow).

[Stunnies23]

Is Flats going to take a year plus to have one person move in like they are with the Bush music hall on Clark?

[the urban politician]

^ Good things come to those who wait... ;)

[Kngkyle]

It didn't take Sterling Bay long to go public with their proposal....


Chicago developer aims at Amazon with $10B vision for former steel plant site

Sterling Bay's massive development planned for the former A. Finkl & Sons steel plant site has a name, a high-powered planning team and one big target: Amazon's second headquarters.

The mixed-use development could take up as much as 100 acres of land along Lincoln Park and Bucktown, cost as much as $10 billion and take a decade to complete, said Sterling Bay managing principal Andy Gloor.

...

Sterling Bay's master planning team includes urban planning and architecture firm CBT, architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; landscape architecture firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates and transportation consultant Nelson\Nygaard.

...

One concern from neighbors is likely to be traffic. To address that, Gloor said Sterling Bay — working with the city and Metra — wants to create a sort of transportation hub based around a new Metra station, possibly at a property it owns on Besly Court just east of the expressway. The facility would include more than 2,000 parking spaces, a connection to The 606, a nearby water taxi station and shuttle buses to CTA trains, Gloor said.

...

Gloor declined to estimate the amount of space Sterling Bay is likely to build, or how high the buildings would be. But he said constructing taller buildings would allow Sterling Bay to set aside larger open spaces, particularly along the river.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ori/ct-lincoln-yards-finkl-amazon-ryan-ori-0913-biz-20170912-column.html

http://kngkyle.com/uploads/014154.png

[Randomguy34]

The name of the project is going by Lincoln Yards, and is going to include a lot of open space. I know the city wants to have a transitway, which connects to Ogilvie, by following the old ROW running through Lincoln Yards, then Goose Island, and the Tribune site. Hopefully the cost of the transitway can be figured into the $10 billion planned for this site.

[10023]

Horrible idea. There's no transit up there (just the Metra, no L). The traffic in the Clybourn corridor is already too much. It's not a good place to stick 50k employees.

This kind of thing should really stay south of Division, ideally in the West Loop, or if you want it to spur some local regeneration then Cabrini-Green or the South Loop. But it needs to be in the central area, not out in the neighborhoods where the road infrastructure can't handle it.

One concern from neighbors is likely to be traffic. To address that, Gloor said Sterling Bay — working with the city and Metra — wants to create a sort of transportation hub based around a new Metra station, possibly at a property it owns on Besly Court just east of the expressway. The facility would include more than 2,000 parking spaces, a connection to The 606, a nearby water taxi station and shuttle buses to CTA trains, Gloor said.
2,000 parking spaces? Shuttle buses?

:haha:

This thing is a horrible, horrible idea without new CTA lines. The old proposed Circle Line would need to be built for this to be even remotely viable.

Hopefully the city doesn't decide to cooperate with Sterling Bay and insist on this parcel, because Chicago could forget about Amazon in that case.

[Kenmore]

Horrible idea. There's no transit up there (just the Metra, no L). The traffic in the Clybourn corridor is already too much. It's not a good place to stick 50k employees.

This kind of thing should really stay south of Division, ideally in the West Loop, or if you want it to spur some local regeneration then Cabrini-Green or the South Loop. But it needs to be in the central area, not out in the neighborhoods where the road infrastructure can't handle it.


2,000 parking spaces? Shuttle buses?

:haha:

This thing is a horrible, horrible idea without new CTA lines. The old proposed Circle Line would need to be built for this to be even remotely viable.

Hopefully the city doesn't decide to cooperate with Sterling Bay and insist on this parcel, because Chicago could forget about Amazon in that case.

yup and yup

[Via Chicago]

Could you imagine how much worse north Ave traffic would be (which is already nearly a state of perpetual dridlock)

Agreed on all points

[k1052]

Sterling Bay would be remiss in not trying to land them but transportation has always been the problem with locating a massive office development there. That said it sounds like Amazon is open to a mixed use campus so housing would surely be part of the picture on site which would alleviate some of that issue.

[Randomguy34]

Much of the land is actually about 10 minutes by walking from Armitage and North/Clybourn. North/Clybourn could take some of the load if upgraded properly, but I see no hope for Armitage without it being overrun with workers. The CTA really needs to prioritize the transitway for the site so that the other L lines don't collapse from carrying the extra load. There also needs to be several bus lines running up and down Clybourn and Elston.

[BVictor1]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ori/ct-lincoln-yards-finkl-amazon-ryan-ori-0913-biz-20170912-column.html

Chicago developer aims at Amazon with $10B vision for former steel plant site

http://www.trbimg.com/img-59b862c5/turbine/ct-cth-sterling-bay-lincoln-yards-1-20170912/750/750x422

Ryan OriContact Reporter
Chicago Tribune
September 13, 2017

Sterling Bay's massive development planned for the former A. Finkl & Sons steel plant site has a name, a high-powered planning team and one big target: Amazon's second headquarters.

About two years after it struck a deal to buy the North Side parcel along the Chicago River, the Chicago developer is disclosing new details, including the name: Lincoln Yards.

The mixed-use development could take up as much as 100 acres of land along Lincoln Park and Bucktown, cost as much as $10 billion and take a decade to complete, said Sterling Bay managing principal Andy Gloor.

Sterling Bay is sharing its first detailed description of Lincoln Yards at an ideal time to be in possession of a sprawling, well-located development site. Seattle-based Amazon last week announced it will search North America for a city where it can create a second headquarters for up to 50,000 new employees.

http://www.trbimg.com/img-59b862c7/turbine/ct-cth-sterling-bay-lincoln-yards-2-20170912/750/750x422Sterling Bay also wants to create a new Metra station east of the Kennedy Expressway for its development planned for the former A. Finkl & Sons steel plant site. The new station would be linked to The 606 trail by a bridge winding over Metra trains but under the expressway. The easternmost part of The 606 is currently just west of the Kennedy. (Sterling Bay rendering)

http://www.trbimg.com/img-59b862c8/turbine/ct-cth-sterling-bay-lincoln-yards-3-2-20170912/450/450x450

[LouisVanDerWright]

Lincoln Yards??? *Pukes*

Seriously Sterling Bay? You are going to ape Related's naming convention for a site that was never any kind of "yards"? Gross.

[BuildThemTaller]

Lincoln Yards??? *Pukes*

Seriously Sterling Bay? You are going to ape Related's naming convention for a site that was never any kind of "yards"? Gross.

Seemed like a decent name to me, referencing the former steel yard on which it lies and the neighborhood, Lincoln Park. I would have preferred Finkl Yards or Clybourn Yards, but it's not that bad. At least they didn't go with some stupid portmanteau like "NoCly" or something like that.

As for the overall plan, I'm a big big fan of the amount of green space proposed. The western park of Lincoln Park and eastern Bucktown lack green space. Part of the success of the 606 is that it serves this very strong desire for green space in this part of the city. And green space along the North Branch? Yes please.

One question to the forum: What exactly is a transitway?

[aaron38]

http://www.trbimg.com/img-59b862c8/turbine/ct-cth-sterling-bay-lincoln-yards-3-2-20170912/450/450x450

Article says "Southport at the bottom, extended Dominick Street at Right. But that doesn't look correct to me. In this view, which street is which?

[UPChicago]

Can we not with the Lincoln Yards bullshit, call it something else please.

[Jim in Chicago]

Can we not with the Lincoln Yards bullshit, call it something else please.

Doesn't matter what they call it, the infrastructure around there is already beyond capacity, the tramway will never be a reality (this is Chicago, after all) and a Metra station with a lot for 2,000 cars, still means people would need to get there down the eternally backed up Kennedy.

[Via Chicago]

i mean theres simply no way whatsoever the streets in that neighborhood can absorb the additional traffic. and Brown/Red lines would become more of a disaster than they already are.

i dont even see why theyre touting a new metra station as some exciting proposal, theres already a station a few blocks away. all this will do is slow down trains. and it would only benefit workers on that specific line...what percentage would that even conceivably be? i mean id expect SB to hawk their site as hard as anyone else in the country, but its not a good fit.

honestly, im pretty skeptical chicago will land this at all and i think you guys are setting yourselves up for a lot of hearbreak by getting too emotionally invested in this so early. gonna be Olympics Pt II up in here....

[Randomguy34]

One question to the forum: What exactly is a transitway?

A transitway is exactly as vague as it sounds. It's a dedicated corridor for some forms of transit. The city was speculating that a dedicated route only for pedestrians, cyclists, and BRT could be built for the site. It would be nice if there was some form of tram proposed (similar to the one in London's Canary Wharf), but that is highly unlikely at this point.

[gebs]

honestly, im pretty skeptical chicago will land this at all and i think you guys are setting yourselves up for a lot of hearbreak by getting too emotionally invested in this so early. gonna be Olympics Pt II up in here....

I always try to err on the side of optimism ... but ever since all media outlets began saying that this deal is Chicago's to lose, I keep getting flashbacks to the city's 2016 Olympic bid and how it was also the clear and obvious choice.

[tjp]

I wish Sterling Bay owned the Old Post Office instead of this site. The renderings 601W released were pretty uninspiring..

[Khantilever]

Why did Sterling Bay go public with this so early? Maybe a sign that the City is putting its weight behind another site in the formal proposal.

As for the Finkl site, the only way I see it being viable is if the Chicago Central Area Committee's "Chicago Connecter" L line is constructed.

[k1052]

Why did Sterling Bay go public with this so early? Maybe a sign that the City is putting its weight behind another site in the formal proposal.

My feeling is that if SB was in serious talks they would not have put this out, doesn't really track with their style IMO. Not that I fault them for giving it a try.

601 W COs is probably the preferred here if there is one. Between the OPO and 550 W Jackson they can accommodate Amazon's more immediate space needs on a tight schedule.

[Via Chicago]

I always try to err on the side of optimism ... but ever since all media outlets began saying that this deal is Chicago's to lose, I keep getting flashbacks to the city's 2016 Olympic bid and how it was also the clear and obvious choice.

actually, as usual its moreso the local media that is hyping it up as a sure thing. most national publications seem more bearish on chicagos chances. i think ppl need to realize a LOT of cities are going to be submitting similar flashy proposals, and plenty more are going to throw up massive tax breaks as an even bigger incentive

[maru2501]

charlotte NC maybe a better fit

[Steely Dan]

actually, as usual its moreso the local media that is hyping it up as a sure thing.

i haven't seen any chicago media outlets hype Amazon's HQ2 as a "sure thing" in chicago.

all i've seen out there are pieces to the effect of "chicago has a good shot at getting amazon, but it'll take a lot of effort (and money) to land them". which seems like a pretty clear and level-headed assessment to me. i think chicago does have a good shot at this, but that's all it is, a good shot, nothing more, nothing less. it's by NO means a sure thing, or done deal, or chicago's to lose, or anything silly like that. there are a handful of other cities that i could easily see Amazon choosing instead of chicago (boston, NYC, philly, DC, atlanta, Dallas, etc.).

[LouisVanDerWright]

One thing is for sure, if Amazon come here it won't land in "Lincoln Yards". Its by far the worst site I've heard proposed yet besides South works (South Works being an example of proper steel factory naming convention). Amazon would be better off partnering with Wirtz to develop the lots around United Center or locating in the IMD than going to industrial wasteland nowhere near any heavy transit. Amazon needs to go on an underutilized CTA line if at all possible. Something like the United Center area would be ideal as they could add a pink line stop and have access to three underutilized lines, West side blue line, Green Line, and Pink line.

Seemed like a decent name to me, referencing the former steel yard on which it lies and the neighborhood, Lincoln Park. I would have preferred Finkl Yards or Clybourn Yards, but it's not that bad. At least they didn't go with some stupid portmanteau like "NoCly" or something like that.


But that's just it, Finkl was not a"yard" in any capacity. You call that a "mill" or "works". Why couldn't they go with "North Works" or "Lincoln Mills"? Oh yeah, because then they wouldn't be properly circlejerking every NYC based element in the industry by ripping off Hudson Yards.

[Via Chicago]

i do find it kind of funny that our urban areas are now taking up the suburban passtime of naming developments after the things they replace

[Vlajos]

But that's just it, Finkl was not a"yard" in any capacity. You call that a "mill" or "works". Why couldn't they go with "North Works" or "Lincoln Mills"? Oh yeah, because then they wouldn't be properly circlejerking every NYC based element in the industry by ripping off Hudson Yards.

Lincoln Works would have been much better.

[LouisVanDerWright]

i do find it kind of funny that our urban areas are now taking up the suburban passtime of naming developments after the things they replace

It's almost as if place names almost all originate this way...

Oh yeah, that's exactly where they typically come from. The exception was explosive urban development in the 19th century where people just named streets after whatever words they fancied. The norm is describing whatever the defining feature of the place was. Look at England, almost all the place names are old English or Gaelic descriptions of what used to be there. They simply have had a name so long that the original meaning of the words is lost on those only familiar with modern tounge.

[Near North Resident]

well Amazon did say they would need 100+ acres so Sterling would be stupid not to make a proposal, traffic be damned... and seriously its not that far from the brown line

regardless if they wanted some dense towers there are very few spots for that... did you know that they want a spot for 50,000 employees.... the sears tower capacity holds 12,000

so we would need the density of 4 sears towers on one block... or 4 city blocks... please find me any spot like that with El train access that isn't in the ghetto and you could build 4, 1500 foot towers there... lol


but I would imagine that Amazon would like a car accessible site as well (to draw talent from the entire metro area rather than just those with an el pass... this HQ2 is going to be MASSIVE in size and scope and at least SB is thinking big right

[JK47]

and Brown/Red lines would become more of a disaster than they already are.


I don't think that is necessarily true. With regard to generally southbound flow, most commuters don't even get off until Lake (Red Line) or Merchandise Mart (Brown Line). This could actually help to spread the commuter load over more stations which could actually be a positive particularly where we have so much development along the Brown and Red lines south of North Avenue. Indeed, those neighborhoods could actually provide commuters that could allow us to better utilize the northbound trains departing the Loop which are generally empty at this point.

[ithakas]

well Amazon did say they would need 100+ acres so Sterling would be stupid not to make a proposal, traffic be damned... and seriously its not that far from the brown line

regardless if they wanted some dense towers there are very few spots for that... did you know that they want a spot for 50,000 employees.... the sears tower capacity holds 12,000

so we would need the density of 4 sears towers on one block... or 4 city blocks... please find me any spot like that with El train access that isn't in the ghetto and you could build 4, 1500 foot towers there... lol


but I would imagine that Amazon would like a car accessible site as well (to draw talent from the entire metro area rather than just those with an el pass... this HQ2 is going to be MASSIVE in size and scope and at least SB is thinking big right

It's been said but a combination of the Old Post Office, the Union Station redevelopment, the 311 Wacker-adjacent sites, and the Holiday Inn block could probably accommodate most if not all of their employees, with multiple L lines, multiple commuter rail lines, and easy highway access all built in.

The area south of the Old Post Office to Roosevelt is also the least developed area of downtown, so there's even room for the multiplier effect companies, but transit gets scarcer the farther from the OPO you get. The 78 will also have office space to accommodate more growth as needed.

[Via Chicago]

honestly, i wonder why Amazon is so gung ho on trying to cram all of this onto one site to begin with. seems to me a few satellite offices across the country would work just as well and do a better job at spreading out/drawing upon talent and increase their available labor options, without overburdening a single locality. google already does this. at 50k employees, youre nothing but a faceless anonymous cog working for a faceless company and youre not going to interact with 99.9% of the people there so not sure the supposed benefits of all being under one roof or whatever would really play out.

[JK47]

i haven't seen any chicago media outlets hype Amazon's HQ2 as a "sure thing" in chicago.

all i've seen out there are pieces to the effect of "chicago has a good shot at getting amazon, but it'll take a lot of effort (and money) to land them". which seems like a pretty clear and level-headed assessment to me. i think chicago does have a good shot at this, but that's all it is, a good shot, nothing more, nothing less. it's by NO means a sure thing, or done deal, or chicago's to lose, or anything silly like that. there are a handful of other cities that i could easily see Amazon choosing instead of chicago (boston, NYC, philly, DC, atlanta, Dallas, etc.).


NYC is a no-go with the MTA running well beyond capacity (with only 75% or so operational at any given time) and just the hideous expense of trying to develop 5 million plus square feet of office space in Manhattan (the only borough with ready access to both Metro North, LIRR, NJ Transit, and PATH).

Same goes for DC with the WMATA system teetering on the verge of collapse as reliability and safety issues have become so endemic that ridership is spiraling down. At this point it just isn't a safe, let alone reliable, system. Trying to jam HQ2 anywhere on that system would likely cause it to collapse entirely.

Dallas doesn't have a mass transit system to speak of and Atlanta's system is basically useless due to the internecine county politics. Both of these cities also lack the access or exposure to the kind of concentrated top tier educational institutions that Amazon referred to in their request.

[HomrQT]

The cost of real estate in Chicago is climbing higher and higher at a pretty fast pace. If Amazon looks at the Chicago real estate investment aspect, they have to know locking down a huge portion of land in downtown Chicago would only give them huge equity advantage in the coming decades. I don't think many other cities in the US can make that claim confidently. Places like Boston, DC, SF, NYC are already super expensive, and places like Philly, Denver, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston I don't see that drastic of an increase in value coming to their real estate market just for holding down a good chunk of land.

[Via Chicago]

NYC is a no-go with the MTA running well beyond capacity (with only 75% or so operational at any given time) and just the hideous expense of trying to develop 5 million plus square feet of office space in Manhattan (the only borough with ready access to both Metro North, LIRR, NJ Transit, and PATH).

Same goes for DC with the WMATA system teetering on the verge of collapse as reliability and safety issues have become so endemic that ridership is spiraling down. At this point it just isn't a safe, let alone reliable, system. Trying to jam HQ2 anywhere on that system would likely cause it to collapse entirely.

Dallas doesn't have a mass transit system to speak of and Atlanta's system is basically useless due to the internecine county politics. Both of these cities also lack the access or exposure to the kind of concentrated top tier educational institutions that Amazon referred to in their request.

the perceived importance of public transit is kind of funny too considering seattles is pretty much a joke.