CHICAGO | General Developments

[harryc]

July 24

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48396279266_5b0e2942be_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gJBzJ3)Chicago | Riverline (https://flic.kr/p/2gJBzJ3) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48396276151_39a0fe0c9b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gJByNk)Chicago | Riverline (https://flic.kr/p/2gJByNk) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr

Bird houses
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48396415557_de11452f37_b.jpghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48396273991_9710ee0588_b.jpg[/url]

My Park !!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48396281101_5595640fc2_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gJBAgF)Chicago | Riverline (https://flic.kr/p/2gJBAgF) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr

[spyguy]

534 East Pershing
https://i.postimg.cc/65NmRWT8/534-Pershing-Exterior-Rendering.jpg
Not sure how well the retail will do right now, but perhaps a good investment for the future

[marothisu]

534 East Pershing
https://i.postimg.cc/65NmRWT8/534-Pershing-Exterior-Rendering.jpg
Not sure how well the retail will do right now, but perhaps a good investment for the future

Not bad. An interesting question/point. A bunch of nice new homes just a few blocks south of this site that are going for $500K-$600K+ now. In one of the tracts just south of here in 2017, 24.5% of households made $50K+. If it continues then in a few years retail could be OK?

[SamInTheLoop]

I was at Navy Pier yesterday with some out of town guests.

Not only was it jam packed, but I was impressed with how much less tacky it appears since the renovation. It will always be a tourist trap, but it’s definitely more tasteful now.

I think that the hotel going up there will do very well.



Completely agree. I was there recently for the first time in many years. It is aesthetically much more pleasing.

[harryc]

July 24

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48400155146_0c7be5a3ed_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gJXrTy)Dearborn Station (https://flic.kr/p/2gJXrTy) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48400300777_9312180370_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gJYcbr)Dearborn Station (https://flic.kr/p/2gJYcbr) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48400301827_90b3a0f547_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gJYcux)Dearborn Station (https://flic.kr/p/2gJYcux) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr

[harryc]

July 24

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48401028682_d1b0756355_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gK2Vyw)Chicago | Sears Tower - debasement (https://flic.kr/p/2gK2Vyw) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48401027917_691cfa0456_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gK2Vkk)Chicago | Sears Tower - debasement (https://flic.kr/p/2gK2Vkk) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48401029287_cc25d89d5f_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gK2VJX)Chicago | Sears Tower - debasement (https://flic.kr/p/2gK2VJX) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr

[aaron38]

534 East Pershing
https://i.postimg.cc/65NmRWT8/534-Pershing-Exterior-Rendering.jpg
Not sure how well the retail will do right now, but perhaps a good investment for the future

Just a few blocks from Indiana on the Green line. A great spot. That’s a hollowed out area that should be able to infill. 34 minutes to Morgan station. I agree that retail there on Pershing should be successful.

[Skyguy_7]

I loooove the new glass on Sears Tower reno. Can you imagine if they reclad the entire tower with that stuff? There was once talk about replacing the facade. I'm wondering if it's still on the table. $500 million for the reno always seemed like a lot of money just for a 3-storey addition...

[ardecila]

Just a few blocks from Indiana on the Green line. A great spot. That’s a hollowed out area that should be able to infill. 34 minutes to Morgan station. I agree that retail there on Pershing should be successful.

This is part of CHA's Ida B Wells land. Just like all the other old CHA projects (Cabrini, Robert Taylor, ABLA, Ickes, Rockwell, Horner, etc) this one was stalled half-completed a decade ago with very little progress since then.

It's amazing that, with such a hue and cry about affordable housing in Chicago right now, CHA is sitting on hundreds of acres of vacant land in decent locations.

[LouisVanDerWright]

^^^ That's because the "affordable housing" rabble rousers aren't actually interested in housing people, they are interested in maintaining segregation in their political divisions so they can maintain power.

In other words, Carlos Rosa isn't interested in making CHA spend some of their vast war chest building on already owned lands. He instead want's to hand out city land in his ward to political organizations that got him elected so they can move a bunch of voters who are bought and paid for in and maintain Rosa's political power.

Honestly it's more of the same old school corrupt machine behavior. Not surprising when you consider Preckwinkle and Luis Guitterz are Rosa's political mentors/patrons.


Honestly it's totally absurd that the CHA lands in areas like Bronzeville and Chinatown have been left fallow. Thousands of units could have been built on them to allieviate housing shortages all over the city. Part of me suspects it was a conscious effort on Rahm's part to essentailly Red Line the poor out of Chicago. Definately one big failure on his part IMO.

[Randomguy34]

LVDW, I think you're making a swift generalization. No further comment, as to prevent derailment of this thread.

Did some quick searching and saw 534 E Pershing won LIHTC funding (https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dcd/Housing%20Programs/TC_1819_Selected_Recipients.pdf), so hopefully they start construction soon. The developer is Community Builders, which were the same ones that built the apartments w/ retail on 47th & Cottage Grove. Hopefully this one turns out nicely

[Baronvonellis]

I loooove the new glass on Sears Tower reno. Can you imagine if they reclad the entire tower with that stuff? There was once talk about replacing the facade. I'm wondering if it's still on the table. $500 million for the reno always seemed like a lot of money just for a 3-storey addition...

The new base looks promising so far, it's better than the weird base before and matches the tower better.

They were talking about doing the sears in a silver cladding a while back I think. I think the Sears is perfect and bad ass the way it is. I don't want it to change at all.

[the urban politician]

The Ald. Rosa downzoning proposal is

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK............. (https://therealdeal.com/chicago/2019/07/29/alderman-back-with-trimmed-plan-to-downzone-logan-square-properties/)

:tup:

We love you, Rosa!

[BrinChi]

Sorry, what's being planned at 534 E Pershing? A retail strip? Hopefully something urban in form.


Edit: apologies, spyguy's picture didn't load for me before. Actually it looks very nice for the area, considering the Dollar General across the street was just robbed by some youths last night lol. Will the units be mostly market rate? This area has enough subsidized housing imho.

[the urban politician]

Sorry, what's being planned at 534 E Pershing? A retail strip? Hopefully something urban in form.

Scroll up just a tad

[ardecila]

^^^ That's because the "affordable housing" rabble rousers aren't actually interested in housing people, they are interested in maintaining segregation in their political divisions so they can maintain power.


Honestly it's totally absurd that the CHA lands in areas like Bronzeville and Chinatown have been left fallow. Thousands of units could have been built on them to allieviate housing shortages all over the city.

Yeah but it's not just the politicians - there are lots of housing nonprofits in the city that continue to focus on things like the ARO in the pointless hope that it will reduce segregation and just because they want to own the libs... er, I mean developers.

And these same nonprofits turn a blind eye to the fact that we have thousands of acres of vacant or under-utilized land. We have manufactured our own housing "crisis" through counterproductive attitudes.

I have some hope that Lightfoot will give the new Housing Commissioner free reign to whip CHA into shape...

[harryc]

As rule of thumb - If it doesn't refer to a SPECIFIC development - then it should be in the discussion thread.

[bnk]

Can someone explain how the tiny addition to the Sears tower costs $500,000,000? That's insane. More than the cost of the entire building back in the day.

I know it was back in the 70's but the Sears tower was built for $150 million.

No way inflation went up that much.


July 24

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48401028682_d1b0756355_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gK2Vyw)Chicago | Sears Tower - debasement (https://flic.kr/p/2gK2Vyw) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr



500 million for that? For a food court.

https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/9/13/17854866/willis-tower-catalog-food-hall-renderings

[marothisu]

Can someone explain how the tiny addition to the Sears tower costs $500,000,000? That's insane. More than the cost of the entire building back in the day.

I know it was back in the 70's but the Sears tower was built for $150 million.

No way inflation went up that much.




500 million for that? For a food court.

https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/9/13/17854866/willis-tower-catalog-food-hall-renderings

You don't think inflation "went up" that much from 1973? LOL $150M in 1973 is not too far from $900M today. Also, the original permit for what they've done is $200M. That is a lot of money completely but also the scope of what they're building is 300,000 square feet of new structure. That's not huge, but not small either. I don't know why it costs so much, but I don't think the project is as small as it appears.

[the urban politician]

^ I think that this project included other improvements to the tower itself, not just the base

[glowrock]

^ I think that this project included other improvements to the tower itself, not just the base

I know part of that $500 million goes for entirely new elevator equipment along with upgrades to safety/fire infrastructure, and something tells me these alone are probably damn near $50 million! :eek:

Aaron (Glowrock)

[Cheap_Shot]

^ I think that this project included other improvements to the tower itself, not just the base

I used to work in the building as construction was getting started. There is much more to this project than the addition, as others have noted. There are at least 3 lower levels being remodeled and there was a rumor going around that a major grocery chain was leasing at least part of the lower levels, but I'm not sure if that's still true.

I also thought they were redoing the lobbies so when you entered on Wacker, you walked up to the main desk and not down. I'm not sure if that's started or even still in the works, but I believe something big like that was planned.

[BonoboZill4]

I know part of that $500 million goes for entirely new elevator equipment along with upgrades to safety/fire infrastructure, and something tells me these alone are probably damn near $50 million! :eek:

Aaron (Glowrock)

Yep, tons of rehab and overhauling of older stuff within. They really want to compete with the incoming generation of office towers

[moorhosj]

Common partnering with developers to revitalize South Works site (https://chicago.curbed.com/2019/7/29/20732433/south-works-redevelopment-common-film-studio-casino)

The proposal describes a massive film production complex with 15 to 20 sound stages on one end of the site. Another area would be designated for live music along with a theater, climbing wall, and skate park. There could also be a Greg Norman-affiliated golf practice facility and social club, reported the newspaper. It’s unclear what the project will cost to build, but its backers expect to pay $71 million to acquire the 415-acre site.

I would rather see the Park District buy this land if it only costs $71 million. I guess there are remediation costs on top of that.

[gebs]

Yep, tons of rehab and overhauling of older stuff within. They really want to compete with the incoming generation of office towers

And I'm pretty sure a big chunk of that budget went towards the mid-tier fitness center, lounge, and cafés, and bars that opened back in 2017.

[Via Chicago]

Common partnering with developers to revitalize South Works site (https://chicago.curbed.com/2019/7/29/20732433/south-works-redevelopment-common-film-studio-casino)



I would rather see the Park District buy this land if it only costs $71 million. I guess there are remediation costs on top of that.

agreed, this could be such an incredible park if done right

[LouisVanDerWright]

Yep, tons of rehab and overhauling of older stuff within. They really want to compete with the incoming generation of office towers

Yeah, the expensive part of buildings is not the structure, it's the mechanicals. The mechanicals in Sears were like 40+ years old, time for an upgrade...

[Baronvonellis]

Film studios sound exciting, but they are just large blank industrial looking buildings with no windows. A film studio doesn't need to be on the lake front. The lake front should be for residential, parkland or some other more active use. They could buy up tons of vacant land or abandoned industrial buildings anywhere on the south or west side for a film studio. It would probably help revitalize another neighborhood more than putting it in the south works site.

If he wants to build some music venue or entertainment stuff that's fine at south works.

It's funny George Lucas wanted his lake front museum so bad, he should have put it at south works. No one would have complained then.

[Randomguy34]

Looks like the Wells St boom is gonna continue

10 acres of prime downtown land for sale
A stretch of 10 acres is up for grabs downtown, setting up the potential for one or more developers to redraw a big swath of the Near North Side.

In a rare offering of urban land that could be redeveloped with more than 5 million square feet of buildings, Moody Bible Institute is looking to unload a large portion of its downtown campus.

The evangelical Christian school, whose property spans a series of blocks between LaSalle Street and the CTA tracks north of Chicago Avenue, has hired investment sales firm HFF to sell a handful of "non-core" large properties it owns next to its main campus to help fund the school's new strategic growth plan.

Pricing is unclear for the parcels, west of LaSalle along Wells and Franklin streets. But HFF, which recently merged with Chicago-based real estate services giant Jones Lang LaSalle, is framing the property in a marketing flyer as an opportunity to transform underutilized property as the city's central core adds population, jobs and wealth.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/commercial-real-estate/10-acres-prime-downtown-land-sale

https://s3-prod.chicagobusiness.com/styles/width_792/s3/Screen%20Shot%202019-07-29%20at%2010.47.19%20PM.png

[nomarandlee]

Film studios sound exciting, but they are just large blank industrial looking buildings with no windows. A film studio doesn't need to be on the lake front. The lake front should be for residential, parkland or some other more active use. They could buy up tons of vacant land or abandoned industrial buildings anywhere on the south or west side for a film studio. It would probably help revitalize another neighborhood more than putting it in the south works site.

If he wants to build some music venue or entertainment stuff that's fine at south works.

It's funny George Lucas wanted his lake front museum so bad, he should have put it at south works. No one would have complained then.

I have similar concerns as you but without knowing just the environmental degradation that has scared off at least two other parties perhaps it will be a hard, if not impossible sell, to clean up the site and build loads of residential on the site?

And while a huge park would be great I don't see it spurring too much economic activity or tax coffers in the future.

A glorified office/industrial park that this sounds like it would be doesn't sound very appealing either. Hard to know what to do with this site at this point.

[ChiPlanner]

Looks like the Wells St boom is gonna continue

10 acres of prime downtown land for sale

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/commercial-real-estate/10-acres-prime-downtown-land-sale

This is so exciting- not only for the future development, but to get this land back on the property tax rolls!

It's a real hole in the urban fabric between Gold Coast, River North, Old Town, and former Cabrini.

[OrdoSeclorum]

This is so exciting- not only for the future development, but to get this land back on the property tax rolls!

It's a real hole in the urban fabric between Gold Coast, River North, Old Town, and former Cabrini.

Agreed. The Gold Coast is vibrant and unique and the Chicago red line stop is steps away from these 10 acres and you walk by it and are like, "Is... is this a water treatment facility?" When this develops, it will also put some positive development pressure on the former public housing sites to the north and west.

[moorhosj]

And while a huge park would be great I don't see it spurring too much economic activity or tax coffers in the future.

And it doesn't have to. Nothing has in the 27 years since the plant closed. Make it a 400-acre adventure park with a newly planted forest. Connect it to Big Marsh, add biking and hiking trails. Make it a summer jobs program and get financial support from places like CRED.

Pros: Trees are the best weapon against climate change. It helps clean the air in a particularly industrial part of town. It keeps the lakefront "free and clear" of development. When grown it can provide wilderness for people to explore (fish, hike, snow-mobile, off-road, cc ski, etc.), something our city (and especially this part of the city) could use more of.

Cons: Doesn't generate hard financial returns. Government costs to remediate and re-build.

[maru2501]

so walter payton high school is playing soccer on moody property? Didn't know that


and that easternmost parking lot should develop in ten seconds

[Via Chicago]

people who think modern parks arent capable of spurring economic development are conveniently forgetting Millennium/606/The High Line etc.

the thing is, by virtue of leaving the land alone, the passage of time has transformed it into the kind of contemplative reclaimed prairie that would suit this site well

[nomarandlee]

people who think modern parks arent capable of spurring economic development are conveniently forgetting Millennium/606/The High Line etc.

the thing is, by virtue of leaving the land alone, the passage of time has transformed it into the kind of contemplative reclaimed prairie that would suit this site well

Utterly different kind of potential parks and programming obviously. This would be more forest preserve/athletic compound I would imagine.

Which would be perfectly good and fine but it is not likely to bring an influx of activity and new residents scrambling to live near it in an area that is already not in high demand. Which again is fine, not every new space needs to have the goal of spurring maximum economic activity and hopefully whoever lives in the area in future generations will appreciate a real sizable lakeside forest preserve/park if that is the direction that Southworks eventually takes.

[the urban politician]

https://chicago.curbed.com/2019/7/30/20732465/downzone-milwaukee-avenue-pilsen-st-adalbert-church

Can zoning changes save Avondale’s Milwaukee Avenue and Pilsen’s St. Adalbert church?

Two aldermen will use “downzoning” as a preservation tool in Avondale and Pilsen

By Jay Koziarz Jul 30, 2019T

Despite Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s calls to curtail aldermanic power when it comes to unilateral zoning changes, a pair of aldermen have introduced ordinances to preserve businesses along Avondale’s gentrifying Milwaukee Avenue and Pilsen’s threatened St. Adalbert Parish.

If approved, the downzoning measures would limit new buildings to just three stories by moving the zoning down to a lower classification.

In Chicago’s 35th Ward, Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa recently revised and narrowed the scope of his 2017 proposal to “blanket downzone” 99 parcels on Milwaukee Avenue between Kedzie and Central Park. The plan now focuses on just 14 specific properties.

[Via Chicago]

Utterly different kind of potential parks and programming obviously. This would be more forest preserve/athletic compound I would imagine.

Which would be perfectly good and fine but it is not likely to bring an influx of activity and new residents scrambling to live near it in an area that is already not in high demand. Which again is fine, not every new space needs to have the goal of spurring maximum economic activity and hopefully whoever lives in the area in future generations will appreciate a real sizable lakeside forest preserve/park if that is the direction that Southworks eventually takes.

sure, i agree with all that. i far prefer spaces like Palmisano Park which respect native prairie ecosystems while still nodding to former industrial uses. i think southworks would have the potential to be something like that on steroids.

less is more

https://assets.chicagoparkdistrict.com/s3fs-public/styles/558x314/public/images/locations/Palmisano%20Park%20Natural%20Area-017-Summer091716-DSX-5365%20.jpg?itok=U6ierRUl

https://www.landscapeperformance.org/sites/default/files/styles/lightbox/public/Palmisano-Pond.jpg?itok=F0C0aaO-

https://www.landscapeperformance.org/sites/default/files/styles/lightbox/public/Palmisano-Wetland%20Cells.jpg?itok=p-fnJuIL


Chicago has far too few places to truly escape. there are plenty of other vacant lots that could suit film studios. hell, even on the other side of the street. no need for this type of use to go on the waters edge and further restrict access for decades more.

[harryc]

sure, i agree with all that. i far prefer spaces like Palmisano Park which respect native prairie ecosystems while still nodding to former industrial uses. i think southworks would have the potential to be something like that on steroids.

less is more


Well thank you ! An uncle is coming to visit next month and specifically asked to see some Prairie. He is in his late 80s so long hikes are not in the cards. Had never heard of this will be checking it out.

[ardecila]

Can zoning changes save Avondale’s Milwaukee Avenue and Pilsen’s St. Adalbert church?

Obviously no. Sigcho thinks he can force the Archdiocese to keep St Adalbert open by taking away the resale value of the land. It's utterly, utterly boneheaded, he's in denial. There's no viable path to keep the church open. If he wanted to preserve the building, there are much better tools available - he could simply push to repeal the ban on landmarking churches, or at least to make an exception, and extend historic protection to the building.

The problem is, the Archdiocese can't afford to keep the lights on for a tiny handful of people who actually bother to show up for services on Sunday, many of whom don't even live in Sigcho's ward. And if they can't afford the basic operation of the church, they certainly can't afford a supremely costly historic restoration project for a dying congregation. Heck, they're selling the family jewels (like the Holy Name parking lot) to pay for almost a billion dollars in sexual-abuse settlements.

Mark my words, this is going to result in the destruction of that beautiful church, not by a developer's wrecking ball but by sheer neglect, and it will be entirely Sigcho's fault.

[Via Chicago]

Well thank you ! An uncle is coming to visit next month and specifically asked to see some Prairie. He is in his late 80s so long hikes are not in the cards. Had never heard of this will be checking it out.

its a neat little hidden gem!

theres also a nice little pocket in Westchester (if you dont follow this guys channel you should)

oz9I2YwmV8M

[jpIllInoIs]

its a neat little hidden gem!

theres also a nice little pocket in Westchester (if you dont follow this guys channel you should)

oz9I2YwmV8M

Dats hilarious, I mean this guy...he knows bout the prayries over by dere :tup:

[Skyguy_7]

Well thank you ! An uncle is coming to visit next month and specifically asked to see some Prairie. He is in his late 80s so long hikes are not in the cards. Had never heard of this will be checking it out.

That park looks awesome! Love the "cliffs".

Even better, the Sugar Shack is just a few blocks to the east if you want to re-invigorate your uncle. Would make for a memorable day, that's for sure!

[Freefall]

Edit: Moody sale already posted. Seems like a big opportunity to expand the core

[JK47]

Obviously no. Sigcho thinks he can force the Archdiocese to keep St Adalbert open by taking away the resale value of the land. It's utterly, utterly boneheaded, he's in denial. There's no viable path to keep the church open. If he wanted to preserve the building, there are much better tools available - he could simply push to repeal the ban on landmarking churches, or at least to make an exception, and extend historic protection to the building.


The rezoning of the property as a cemetery is such a drastic reduction of value that it arguably violates the takings clause (which is pretty hard to do in the zoning context) since it has no economic or beneficial use. Other downzoning efforts, to single family or single story uses, at least preserved some residual economic value.

[BonoboZill4]

Apple store renovations:

https://i.imgur.com/AOCf8YN.jpg?1

Navy Pier Hotel:

https://i.imgur.com/S85Xgv0.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/8L6P1sQ.jpg?1

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

[marothisu]

The Western Center Townhouses. 3600 S Western. 12 of the townhouses already issued permits. There will be 6 total buildings like this - each door is to townhouse and all 3 floors. Not sure what they were thinking LOL.

Land is currently vacant and there's a bunch of new homes right near this that were built a few years ago:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/3600+S+Western+Ave,+Chicago,+IL+60609/@41.828457,-87.6853463,3a,75y,177.29h,91.17t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sSDL_93392JOMCXW2kEfuaA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x880e2def970c1e4b:0xd817cceaff6c9f32!8m2!3d41.8279832!4d-87.6859469

https://chicago.nychinaren.com/components/com_forum/files/thumbs/4984__15611593664984.jpg

[LouisVanDerWright]

The Western Center Townhouses. 3600 S Western. 12 of the townhouses already issued permits. There will be 6 total buildings like this - each door is to townhouse and all 3 floors. Not sure what they were thinking LOL.

Land is currently vacant and there's a bunch of new homes right near this that were built a few years ago:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/3600+S+Western+Ave,+Chicago,+IL+60609/@41.828457,-87.6853463,3a,75y,177.29h,91.17t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sSDL_93392JOMCXW2kEfuaA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x880e2def970c1e4b:0xd817cceaff6c9f32!8m2!3d41.8279832!4d-87.6859469

https://chicago.nychinaren.com/components/com_forum/files/thumbs/4984__15611593664984.jpg

Wrong thread, but I'm looking at an 8 unit two blocks north of the Western Orange Line, so I'll take it. Probably targeting Chinese buyers?

[marothisu]

Wrong thread, but I'm looking at an 8 unit two blocks north of the Western Orange Line, so I'll take it. Probably targeting Chinese buyers?

LOL oops. Hopefully a mod moves this to General Discussion. Yes absolutely from a Chinese company. Also not too far around the corner on Pershing near the actual park has a few more small developments plus the big warehouse renovations planned or already started on Pershing.

[The Lurker]

There will be 6 total buildings like this

https://chicago.nychinaren.com/components/com_forum/files/thumbs/4984__15611593664984.jpg

I just puked 6 times.

[Busy Bee]

https://chicago.nychinaren.com/components/com_forum/files/thumbs/4984__15611593664984.jpg

I'm so... thrilled?

[the urban politician]

I think it's great news, whether or not you're a huge fan of the house designs.

New housing replacing vacant land, new residents investing on the south side of the city. I mean, that's what we need more of on the south side.

[marothisu]

I think it's great news, whether or not you're a huge fan of the house designs.

New housing replacing vacant land, new residents investing on the south side of the city. I mean, that's what we need more of on the south side.

Agree on that. And hopefully opening up of more Chinese restaurants in some of these areas. It'll happen on Archer with the big new development there if it sells well - some other companies are building smaller buildings with ground floor business space across the street from that too.

[FlashingLights]

Barneys Chicago closing


Will leave huge hole for Oak/Rush retail

[SamInTheLoop]

^ That was inevitable. A lot more of that to come....

[SamInTheLoop]

I think it's great news, whether or not you're a huge fan of the house designs.

New housing replacing vacant land, new residents investing on the south side of the city. I mean, that's what we need more of on the south side.



Disagree with both you guys. We're not talking about an area that is starved for new housing investment - where anything being built should be blindly cheered. Not by a long shot. This is McKinley Park - Redfin ranked it as the nation's hottest affordable neighborhood earlier this year. Capital is flooding the area, focused primarily on residential, but also now increasingly on the commercial side as well. This is awful anti-urban design. There's a lot of this from Chinese developers (obviously focused on Chinese buyers) in particular - where you see rows of townhomes that end to the main street, with a very unattractive, uninviting, anti-pedestrian/urban presence streetside. I mean, c'mon - this is Western, a commercial thoroughfare that these abut. This is junk design. Period. Zoning shouldn't alow these to be configured as such. Mistake.

[ChiPlanner]

Barneys Chicago closing


Will leave huge hole for Oak/Rush retail

Real talk: this building is only about a decade old. Do we think a tear-down is possible? What could/would conceivably fill this spot? With stores like Bloomingdale's down-sizing by combining their home and regular stores, a department store seems highly unlikely.

The current site is zoned DX-12 (FAR of 12.0) though it's an odd size/shape- basically just the Barney's.

[SamInTheLoop]

^ Not a likely near-term tear-down prospect.

The eventual new owner/developer will likely try to creatively re-tenant. It will take quite a bit of time, and will sit vacant for an extended spell. The plus side is that this is obviously very prime real estate, and eventually it will be filled. It's really all about the team (new owner/leasing team/design team, etc) that will be working on it. All about their experience, competence and motivation/drive. Varies all over the map, of course.

If it sits empty for long enough, than yes, it's a possible tear-down for a developer that can put together a plan with political backing for a high-rise (my guess as most likely would be very high-end condos).

[tjp]

I'm disappointed Barney's decided to close this location considering they're keeping their NY/California flagships open. Maybe it could be split into several smaller stores, with a food hall taking up a good amount of the space?

Edit: The current owner (ASB) is a pretty impressive company that focuses on high quality, core retail assets. I think they're as well equipped to re-lease it as anybody.

[marothisu]

Lol, Barney's building...tear down. Yeah right. That building was purchased in 2011 for $117M. Only 2 years later, Th

[marothisu]

Lol...barney's building..tear down. Yeah right. In 2011, it was bought for $117M. Only 2 years later, Thor Equities bought it for $154M. A 32% increase in value in only 2 years and some change.

[the urban politician]

Lol...barney's building..tear down. Yeah right. In 2011, it was bought for $117M. Only 2 years later, Thor Equities bought it for $154M. A 32% increase in value in only 2 years and some change.

Well, Barneys still has lease obligations to this building I'm sure. I have no idea how the bankruptcy will affect that but I'm pretty sure that Thor Equities is royally screwed if they don't get their rent, given the huge debt service payments they will continue to have to make.

I'm guessing that they are going to scramble to retenant or else.....uh oh.

Nightmares like this are exactly why I've never taken an interest in purchasing single tenant commercial retail (Walgreens, etc). Sure the rewards can be great but once you lose your tenant, you're screwed.

[LouisVanDerWright]

Lol...barney's building..tear down. Yeah right. In 2011, it was bought for $117M. Only 2 years later, Thor Equities bought it for $154M. A 32% increase in value in only 2 years and some change.

Sunk costs my friend... The improvements on this site are not worth $110m, more like $10m...

Unfortunately most of that $110 million figure was the value of the tenant...

[marothisu]

^ yeah that's true. Forgot they are the singular tenant. The land is still very expensive. I wonder who they could get to go in there. What big retailer (either trendy or upacale) doesn't have a Chicago store or could use another big one?

It's a big store and I always liked the interior. I wonder also how much it would cost to renovate to multiple clients. Probably a lot...

[wchicity]

Real talk: this building is only about a decade old. Do we think a tear-down is possible? What could/would conceivably fill this spot? With stores like Bloomingdale's down-sizing by combining their home and regular stores, a department store seems highly unlikely.

The current site is zoned DX-12 (FAR of 12.0) though it's an odd size/shape- basically just the Barney's.

Yeah I would imagine there is about a 0% chance another department-type store will take its place. If I had to guess, they'll probably try to parse up the first two floors to a few different retailers and maybe even turn the upper floors into office space.

[-Nick-]

Sears Tower base update 8/6/19.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48477519582_ee8c21d619_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48477519207_1a4901331b_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48477371476_931511e1fd_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48477518997_ca029cd674_b.jpg

[gebs]

Something is happening at Dearborn + Polk. Recent articles indicate that it's going to be a Roots Pizza, and not micro-apartments as older proposals suggest.

https://i.imgur.com/hXkfHnzh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/CEJJKDSh.jpg

[Jim in Chicago]

Something is happening at Dearborn + Polk. Recent articles indicate that it's going to be a Roots Pizza, and not micro-apartments as older proposals suggest.



Chatter around the Sloop is that it is indeed going to be a two story Roots Pizza, with a roof deck - not sure if that's the 2nd floor or above it. There are some renderings floating around as well. I don't think the Roots part has been confirmed by a reliable source, there was some PR about a year ago that gave an Early 2020 opening date.

Meanwhile, yes, work has begun, they cleared away the mess of debris from previous work, have dug the foundation hole and it looked like they were setting up concrete forms this week. You can see of this in the pics in the previous posting. Work has been sporadic. Some of the gossip was that the tall building didn't happen since the ground couldn't support the weight, but I have no way of knowing if that's true. At the time the building was canceled it was for other reasons involving developer backing away, etc. It was meant to be an upscale microapartment building.

In the background you can see a peekaboo shot of the building on the next corner. This was controversial since many thought it was an underutilization of the site. I fund the dark brink rather handsome, and an upscale sort of convenience store has opened on the street and is receiving good reports.

[SamInTheLoop]

Yeah I would imagine there is about a 0% chance another department-type store will take its place. If I had to guess, they'll probably try to parse up the first two floors to a few different retailers and maybe even turn the upper floors into office space.


I think this is right.

There is the possibility - there are certain retail/entertainment/experience type tenants that could fit the bill - that you have one retail or retailish tenant taking up the lower 2-3 floors.....then some sort of office or officish space above. Or could be split between two larger multifloor tenants. Just spitballing - Some sort of food emporium on 1-2 or 1-3.....and then medical office on 4-6. Or - a gym on 4-6??

Also I forgot that Thor owns this. I forget how much term is left on Barney's lease. It might not be an emergency situation for them, depending on the answer to that and other factors. I just would like to see them break ground on their SOM-designed 800 W Fulton project.....sweet design.

[SamInTheLoop]

Chatter around the Sloop is that it is indeed going to be a two story Roots Pizza, with a roof deck - not sure if that's the 2nd floor or above it. There are some renderings floating around as well. I don't think the Roots part has been confirmed by a reliable source, there was some PR about a year ago that gave an Early 2020 opening date.

Meanwhile, yes, work has begun, they cleared away the mess of debris from previous work, have dug the foundation hole and it looked like they were setting up concrete forms this week. You can see of this in the pics in the previous posting. Work has been sporadic. Some of the gossip was that the tall building didn't happen since the ground couldn't support the weight, but I have no way of knowing if that's true. At the time the building was canceled it was for other reasons involving developer backing away, etc. It was meant to be an upscale microapartment building.

In the background you can see a peekaboo shot of the building on the next corner. This was controversial since many thought it was an underutilization of the site. I fund the dark brink rather handsome, and an upscale sort of convenience store has opened on the street and is receiving good reports.


Haven't tried Roots, but hope this is a hit, as it will help liven up Printer's Row (not that I see it as struggling or anything). Just quite fond of the neighborhood, and would like to see it thrive.

[Steely Dan]

Haven't tried Roots.

Roots pizza seems to strongly divide opinions.

i guess you either like that malted quad cities style crust or you don't.

we have one up in lincoln square, and while i like their pizza, it's not a regular go-to for us.


CHICAGO: so much pizza and so little time. there are worse problems to have, i suppose.

[BonoboZill4]

Haven't tried Roots, but hope this is a hit, as it will help liven up Printer's Row (not that I see it as struggling or anything). Just quite fond of the neighborhood, and would like to see it thrive.

It'll be the perfect capper for that street there. Many good little restaurants and stores on Dearborn. It's my favorite sliver in Printer's Row by far, so adding a pizza joint makes me ecstatic!

[ChiPlanner]

River West site next to Tribune Media megaproject hits the market

The Salvation Army is looking to sell its main downtown campus, setting up a potential big redevelopment.

The 74,000-square-foot site, which the Salvation Army has owned since 1931 and today serves as its Chicago Adult Rehabilitation Center, does not have a specific asking price. But a source familiar with the offering estimated it could fetch between $30 million and $40 million based on the potential to develop as much as 600,000 square feet on the property.

The Salvation Army site is within one of the new expansion areas, which means a buyer could purchase extra density through the city's Neighborhood Opportunity Bonus system allowing as much as 600,000 square feet of new development, according to SVN. Under that system, developer contributions go into the city's Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, which is used to dole out grants to businesses in neighborhoods on the South, Southwest and West sides that lack significant private investment.

The site also qualifies as a transit-oriented development property, according to the SVN flyer. That lowers the minimum number of parking spaces a new development would need to include.

https://s3-prod.chicagobusiness.com/styles/width_792/s3/Screen%20Shot%202019-08-06%20at%2012.45.40%20PM.png

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/commercial-real-estate/river-west-site-next-tribune-media-megaproject-hits-market

[Jim in Chicago]

Haven't tried Roots, but hope this is a hit, as it will help liven up Printer's Row (not that I see it as struggling or anything). Just quite fond of the neighborhood, and would like to see it thrive.

It'll be the perfect capper for that street there. Many good little restaurants and stores on Dearborn. It's my favorite sliver in Printer's Row by far, so adding a pizza joint makes me ecstatic!

Except the last thing we need is another pizza joint - you can throw a stone and hit like a dozen of them. At least it isn't a nail salon.

[gebs]

Except the last thing we need is another pizza joint - you can throw a stone and hit like a dozen of them. At least it isn't a nail salon.

Or a novelty gym.

Don't get me wrong, gyms are great. But it feels like the South Loop has one every block.

[Jim in Chicago]

Or a novelty gym.

Don't get me wrong, gyms are great. But it feels like the South Loop has one every block.

This Sloop chat reminds me to ask if anyone knows what's going on at the formerly derelict small building on Clark just south of the ArtCraft/Scientology building, directly across from the rapidly rising new high rise at 717.

We chatted when the facade was abruptly torn off, and then it was completely boarded up for awhile. The boarding is still there, but what has risen behind the boards is a split facade, with two completely different treatments, two colors of brick and with different elevations. I guess it will be two storefronts, but it sort of looks like a bad attempt to imitate the newer Portillos where the exterior has like 50 kinds of treatment. Perhaps they'll open TWO pizza places, we need more.

[Handro]

Roots is fine. Totally forgettable, but fine. Much rather see Spacca napoli add a second location.

[Baronvonellis]

Yea, Roots is pretty average pizza, not bad not great. It tastes similar to Papa Johns to me. Spacca napoli is excellent! I'd rather see more of them personally.

[Chi-Sky21]

for a quick slice i am kinda partial to Art of Pizza over near Ashland/Belmont.

[Steely Dan]

It tastes similar to Papa Johns to me.

i would agree that roots is nothing spectacular, but......... papa johns!?!

no, i won't get on board that train with you.

roots pizza is absolutely several notches above fucking papa johns, IMO.

[Baronvonellis]

i would agree that roots is nothing spectacular, but......... papa johns!?!

no, i won't get on aboard that train with you.

roots pizza is absolutely several notches above fucking papa johns, IMO.

Lol, ok it's a couple notches above papa johns.

[Busy Bee]

Since we're talkin tavern style pies, anybody had Monicals downstate? I think there is one in Kankakee. Actually I think they're based there.

[SamInTheLoop]

xuk21IS3PCo#t=9m59s

Here’s a good speech from our new Head of Planning and Development, Maurice Cox.

It starts at 10 minutes.


Hey Hey. From what I'm reading, seems like a very solid choice.

I mean - a Chicago DPD Commissioner that's actually qualified for the job?
We're already coming out ahead!

[harryc]

Aug 6

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48491890926_ec76dc5aec_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gT4BJW)Chicago | 318 N Carpenter (https://flic.kr/p/2gT4BJW) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48492041937_1d07eea61c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gT5oCz)Chicago | 318 N Carpenter (https://flic.kr/p/2gT5oCz) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr

July 16

in context
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48491890231_9495bb8f52_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gT4BwX)Chicago | 318 N Carpenter (https://flic.kr/p/2gT4BwX) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr

[harryc]

Aug 6

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48492448782_ab616b0069_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gT7tz9)Chicago | 1001 W Fulton Market (https://flic.kr/p/2gT7tz9) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48492280256_2c41b3cf58_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gT6Btw)Chicago | 1001 W Fulton Market (https://flic.kr/p/2gT6Btw) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48492281206_356bd1cfb9_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gT6BKU)Chicago | 1001 W Fulton Market (https://flic.kr/p/2gT6BKU) by Harry Carmichael (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harryrcarmichael/), on Flickr

[ChickeNES]

for a quick slice i am kinda partial to Art of Pizza over near Ashland/Belmont.

There's an Art of Pizza location about a 10 minute walk from this new Roots at Polk and State.

[SolarWind]

July 19, 2019

https://imgur.com/BFUauTR.jpg

July 23, 2019

https://imgur.com/8AYxQvC.jpg

https://imgur.com/NssFGE0.jpg

July 24, 2019

https://imgur.com/byaqYp1.jpg

https://imgur.com/WKL2G5I.jpg

https://imgur.com/64Zi1uT.jpg

July 31, 2019

https://imgur.com/0rNAZBA.jpg

https://imgur.com/P4XXao3.jpg

^ Underneath Columbus Drive's William P. Fahey Bridge

[SolarWind]

August 1, 2019

https://imgur.com/zHOS778.jpg

https://imgur.com/m3Xut9l.jpg

[SolarWind]

August 1, 2019

https://imgur.com/Sx9nmTc.jpg

https://imgur.com/9Dhis1g.jpg

https://imgur.com/Cs9aCrq.jpg

[SolarWind]

August 7, 2019

https://imgur.com/0Vmzq2G.jpg

https://imgur.com/qz3O4tc.jpg

[SolarWind]

August 7, 2019

https://imgur.com/LfdGuV2.jpg

[SolarWind]

August 7, 2019

https://imgur.com/KqNYflZ.jpg

[SolarWind]

August 7, 2019

https://imgur.com/Sb6qS0i.jpg

https://www.1114fulton.com/renderings-1 (https://www.1114fulton.com/renderings-1)

[SolarWind]

August 7, 2019

https://imgur.com/G4lM9xa.jpg

https://imgur.com/4bPOQLF.jpg

https://imgur.com/iBgLkwU.jpg

[SolarWind]

August 7, 2019

https://imgur.com/Q7PKbZo.jpg

https://imgur.com/UGwUjem.jpg

[nomarandlee]

Wonderful updates Solar! Thank you

[mark0]

^^Is 1040 West Fulton a brand new timber loft? Those look like lam beams in the framing system.

[Jim in Chicago]

There's an Art of Pizza location about a 10 minute walk from this new Roots at Polk and State.

More like 2 minutes. It's a block away.

[RedCorsair87]

It's unbelievable the volume of construction in FuMa.

[ardecila]

^^Is 1040 West Fulton a brand new timber loft? Those look like lam beams in the framing system.

Yes, it is. Neat idea from LG. If it turns out to be cost-effective compared to steel, I think we'll see a lot more of this.

If nothing else, the wood construction is greener than steel or concrete with a lower carbon footprint. CLT would be greener still, but it's presently not allowed under Chicago Building Code. Maybe the switch to IBC will finally allow CLT to be used, though.