CHICAGO | General Developments

[ardecila]

Of course they're gonna make the renderings look good, but that doesn't mean they are actually planning to fix the brickwork. If it were that simple to fix the appearance they would have done it already. Like I said, the city should be demanding this as a condition of receiving the money.

[r18tdi]

Of course they're gonna make the renderings look good, but that doesn't mean they are actually planning to fix the brickwork. If it were that simple to fix the appearance they would have done it already. Like I said, the city should be demanding this as a condition of receiving the money.
I would assume this would cost tens of millions of dollars. Fingers crossed, because it currently looks like hell.

[Randomguy34]

I'm actually curious how the building got so dirty in the first place. Buildings in London covered in from the Victorian era don't look as filthy as 105 W Adams

[Jibba]

One of the first permits for the 47th & St Lawrence development have been issued at 4706 S. St Lawrence

https://chicago.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/social_1200x630/public/background/2023-04/LEAD%20IMG%20535%20E.%2047th%20-%207%20-%20SGW%20Architecture%20%26%20Design.jpg?itok=SmoRWw4C
https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/mixed-use-development-planned-535-e-47th

Who is behind this building type with the fortress-like expanses of masonry and globs of faux limestone lintels/courses/etc. with the N A S T Y blown-up fake-chiseled numerals and building names inscribed. They're a veritable cancer in Andersonville all along Clark Street. Is it 360 Design?

I can't with this...

[r18tdi]

I'm actually curious how the building got so dirty in the first place. Buildings in London covered in from the Victorian era don't look as filthy as 105 W Adams
It's not a matter of cleaning off dirt, the facade was patched and repaired with mismatched materials. It will take significant investment to reverse that.

[Zerton]

April 27, 2023

https://imgur.com/XMbK4jJ.jpg



I live near this one. I always think it looks like a cross between a budget hotel and an oversized dispensary. Especially at night with the green lights.

[ardecila]

Who is behind this building type with the fortress-like expanses of masonry and globs of faux limestone lintels/courses/etc. with the N A S T Y blown-up fake-chiseled numerals and building names inscribed. They're a veritable cancer in Andersonville all along Clark Street. Is it 360 Design?

I can't with this...

SGW.

The St Lawrence building is a literal carbon copy of this one on Clark:
https://www.sgwarch.com/residential/4717-n-clark

They are capable of some pretty handsome original trad architecture, so I'm guessing the blame is with the client on this one.

[jpIllInoIs]

SGW.

The St Lawrence building is a literal carbon copy of this one on Clark:
https://www.sgwarch.com/residential/4717-n-clark

They are capable of some pretty handsome original trad architecture, so I'm guessing the blame is with the client on this one.

These are also a result of the neighborhood public meetings. People who dont have a clue on architectural styles.

[Jibba]

SGW.

The St Lawrence building is a literal carbon copy of this one on Clark:
https://www.sgwarch.com/residential/4717-n-clark

They are capable of some pretty handsome original trad architecture, so I'm guessing the blame is with the client on this one.

I knew I'd seen this before (bike past it practically every week, in fact). Yes, SGW can do well, for sure. Copy-and-paste job here, for whatever reason...

[jboy560]

Maybe I’m alone, but I actually like that building on Clark and the 47th & St Lawrence development. If I had a criticism, it would be that the Clark building has those weird recessed retail storefronts, but thankfully that’s not the case for the 47th & St Lawrence development. I like the big balconies/terraces, arches, and prairie style decorative touches. Plus, I think the flats and other multi-unit developments of similar styling age quite nicely and generally blend nicely with older buildings (and generally look better with age).

[Klippenstein]

Of course they're gonna make the renderings look good, but that doesn't mean they are actually planning to fix the brickwork. If it were that simple to fix the appearance they would have done it already. Like I said, the city should be demanding this as a condition of receiving the money.

It's not a matter of cleaning off dirt, the facade was patched and repaired with mismatched materials. It will take significant investment to reverse that.

They could be wrong, but YIMBY is reporting (https://chicagoyimby.com/2023/05/two-revised-proposals-to-be-considered-for-lasalle-reimagined-initiative.html) that there will be facade work:

Originally one of two proposals for the 1927-built, 41-story tower, the team plans to restore, clean up, and illuminate its famed patchwork facade visible from Federal Plaza.

Still not clear what the extent will be, but no matter what, it will certainly look better than it does now.

[sentinel]

Sweet

Woodlawn Social selected as RFQ winner

https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/woodlawn-social-selected-rfq-winner

https://chicago.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/2018_article_gallery_image_2000w/public/2023-01/Woodlawn%20Social%20-%203%20-%20KoningEizenberg%20and%20HED%20Architects.jpg?itok=XNz8nfpi

https://chicago.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/2018_article_gallery_image_2000w/public/2023-01/Woodlawn%20Social%20-%20KoningEizenberg%20and%20HED%20Architects.jpg?itok=MwVuHgQM

More pics on Urbanize

[SolarWind]

May 8, 2023

https://imgur.com/S2PC05t.jpg

https://imgur.com/Vp9t8NW.jpg

[SolarWind]

May 8, 2023

https://imgur.com/MrGaIyA.jpg

[SolarWind]

May 9, 2023

https://imgur.com/RtzdXPU.jpg

[SolarWind]

May 9, 2023

https://imgur.com/fyUOfnW.jpg

https://imgur.com/TyxEQyB.jpg

https://imgur.com/q2B8iR1.jpg

https://imgur.com/StMUd7q.jpg

[SolarWind]

May 9, 2023

https://imgur.com/54zZdp7.jpg

https://imgur.com/Eiojo15.jpg

https://imgur.com/qS0OC5B.jpg

[SolarWind]

May 11, 2023

https://imgur.com/sBMVO3v.jpg

https://imgur.com/I7bSem1.jpg

[SolarWind]

May 11, 2023

https://imgur.com/q1Z5loL.jpg

[Randomguy34]

The 11th & 12 ward alderwomen are going to upzone 35th St from Ashland to Archer to B2-3: https://mckinleypark.news/news/4108-35th-street-upzoning-aims-to-jump-start-commercial-development

[Rizzo]

Maybe I’m alone, but I actually like that building on Clark and the 47th & St Lawrence development. If I had a criticism, it would be that the Clark building has those weird recessed retail storefronts, but thankfully that’s not the case for the 47th & St Lawrence development. I like the big balconies/terraces, arches, and prairie style decorative touches. Plus, I think the flats and other multi-unit developments of similar styling age quite nicely and generally blend nicely with older buildings (and generally look better with age).

I like them too, and I don’t mind the copy and paste of it. Further up the street there’s a block of 100 year old buildings cloned a dozen times, so there’s precedent. The facades have plenty of fenestration, good proportion, well integrated balconies and materials that will look good after many years and last a long time

[Steely Dan]

I like them too, and I don’t mind the copy and paste of it. Further up the street there’s a block of 100 year old buildings cloned a dozen times, so there’s precedent.

Yeah. Something like 80% of "neighborhood Chicago" was copy and pasted.

Working and middle class people aren't rich enough to each get their own individualized, custom-designed home.

Throw in the extreme regularity of Chicago's hyper-gridded blocks divided into their extremely regular long and skinny rectanglular lots and, boom, It's almost like a recipe for mass producing the same damn building over and over.

And over.

And over.

And over.

For miles.

[ardecila]

The 11th & 12 ward alderwomen are going to upzone 35th St from Ashland to Archer to B2-3: https://mckinleypark.news/news/4108-35th-street-upzoning-aims-to-jump-start-commercial-development

Well, good to see this. Nicole Lee is already being ten times the alder that her predecessor was. I'm glad she won re-election instead of some of her buffoonish challengers.

McKinley is the last place I expected to see a proactive upzoning, but Balcer's original downzoning was completely wrong-headed. B2-3 is prime TOD zoning.

If they really want to go for the gold, upzone all the M lots around the 35th Orange Line station to B2-3 as well...

[Randomguy34]

The Jeweler's Building is looking for a new buyer, and potential conversion to residential: https://www.chicagobusiness.com/commercial-real-estate/35-e-wacker-jewelers-building-landmark-could-be-residential

[Ned.B]

^At 160'x140' it seems like it would make an non-ideal residential building below floor 25, and it would need a new elevator (or 2), in a new shaft that can serve every floor including the tower as a fireman elevator but I suppose anything is possible. There's a 5000 sf space in the center of each floor that a developer would need to figure out what to do with since it is too far away from a window to be desirable as part of a residential unit. Reintroduce the car elevator and parking in the center on each floor?

[Randomguy34]

3140 N Clybourn received construction permits, 34 units

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/77831f_296f9b906cd14a199101617eb8297fae~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_922,q_90/77831f_296f9b906cd14a199101617eb8297fae~mv2.webp
https://www.rangegrp.com/1st-project

[marothisu]

It's 39 units, not 34. Also includes ground floor retail. This is a parking lot and formerly vacant lot. Big upgrade.

Also in other news, the Black Ensemble Theater wants to knock down the 1 story building across the street with the Japanese American Service Center (JASC) in it + surface and vacant lot and convert it to a new 78 foot tall, 50 unit building plus a new live theater, restaurant and retail space and a plaza out front too. Big upgrade from a building perspective. JASC is moving to West Ridge. Address is 4427 N Clark St just north of Montrose. Assuming BET is moving across the street once this is done into this much larger complex. Great to see this part get denser from a population (potential) perspective but also building and height perspective.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fwhkv1sXwAEZHMk?format=png&name=900x900

[gandalf612]

It's 39 units, not 34. Also includes ground floor retail. This is a parking lot and formerly vacant lot. Big upgrade.

Also in other news, the Black Ensemble Theater wants to knock down the 1 story building across the street with the Japanese American Service Center (JASC) in it + surface and vacant lot and convert it to a new 78 foot tall, 50 unit building plus a new live theater, restaurant and retail space and a plaza out front too. Big upgrade from a building perspective. JASC is moving to West Ridge. Address is 4427 N Clark St just north of Montrose. Assuming BET is moving across the street once this is done into this much larger complex. Great to see this part get denser from a population (potential) perspective but also building and height perspective.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fwhkv1sXwAEZHMk?format=png&name=900x900

Ahhh so the extremely vague theater/entertainment district that the director of BET had been talking about hoping to build for years while opposing the surrounding developments finally gets a concrete proposal.

[dewbs]

Ahhh so the extremely vague theater/entertainment district that the director of BET had been talking about hoping to build for years while opposing the surrounding developments finally gets a concrete proposal.

I assume this is all financed by the $5M Mackenzie Scott (Bezos) donation? I wonder about the long-term business case for this. I guess the residential should generate revenue, but I wonder about whether the rest of it will survive in the long run.

https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/07/22/uptowns-black-ensemble-theater-gets-5-million-grant-from-mackenzie-scott-moves-forward-with-plans-for-cultural-corridor/

[KWillChicago]

It's no Fulton Market but good to see another large empty lot getting filled.

https://chicagoyimby.com/2023/05/groundbreaking-held-for-chicago-fire-facility-in-near-west-side.html

[Briguy]

google earth model updated! Looks like July 2022 imagery

[gandalf612]

It's no Fulton Market but good to see another large empty lot getting filled.

https://chicagoyimby.com/2023/05/groundbreaking-held-for-chicago-fire-facility-in-near-west-side.html

No it's not good to see CHA land being sold off to not provide affordable housing

[Jibba]

3211 N Clark
https://i.imgur.com/GoR97lkl.jpg

Basically the finished product. Much better than what the renderings indicated, IMO. I wish the base wasn't so heavy and crude, but the masonry on the whole thing overall has nice fineness and variation.

[Briguy]

3211 N Clark
https://i.imgur.com/GoR97lkl.jpg

Basically the finished product. Much better than what the renderings indicated, IMO. I wish the base wasn't so heavy and crude, but the masonry on the whole thing overall has nice fineness and variation.

This is so bad. Why are there 20 different materials on this facade, would've looked so much better one single material.

[BrinChi]

No it's not good to see CHA land being sold off to not provide affordable housing

Well, keep in mind that before this land was CHA affordable housing it was largely private land parceled like a traditional neighborhood. Affordable housing may be important, but I think it's better to spread around the city in discrete developments than cluster in one large swath of land. Plus more availability of section 8 vouchers.

[bhawk66]

This is so bad. Why are there 20 different materials on this facade, would've looked so much better one single material.

Couldn't disagree more. This is quite good, and the variations in materials/tones help/not hurt the overall design. Though agree with Jibba's take, more glass or detail to the base would have raised the score even more.

[gandalf612]

Well, keep in mind that before this land was CHA affordable housing it was largely private land parceled like a traditional neighborhood. Affordable housing may be important, but I think it's better to spread around the city in discrete developments than cluster in one large swath of land. Plus more availability of section 8 vouchers.

I'm not saying they have to build 100% affordable, even mixed-rate housing is vastly preferable to a dumb soccer facility that provides 0 housing. It doesn't matter what the land was before it was CHA. CHA has a LEGAL REQUIREMENT to replace what they tore down and they haven't

[Randomguy34]

I'm looking at the proposed Illinois 2024 budget (https://budget.illinois.gov/), apparently Woodlawn Central is receiving $30 million. Did some digging, and apparently it was a part of HB 969. The money is meant to establish a community center: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/102/HB/PDF/10200HB0969sam004.pdf

The one thing though is that the old version of the text said it would be for the Village of Woodlawn. The new text now just says Woodlawn Central, it doesn't specify if it's in the village or the Chicago neighborhood. Woodlawn Central though could only correspond to the neighborhood, so it's possible the old text was deleted because it mistook it for Woodlawn, IL. I also doubt a village of 607 people would need a $30 million community center.

[Via Chicago]

new proposal for expansion to uptown's Black Ensemble Theater

https://lede-admin.blockclubchicago.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/BET1.png?resize=1366,768

https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/05/25/uptowns-black-ensemble-theater-plans-massive-expansion-with-media-center-education-hub-and-artist-residences/

also including artist residences. this portion of the design looks a bit more generic

https://lede-admin.blockclubchicago.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/05/BET4.png?resize=1366,768

[west-town-brad]

I'm not saying they have to build 100% affordable, even mixed-rate housing is vastly preferable to a dumb soccer facility that provides 0 housing. It doesn't matter what the land was before it was CHA. CHA has a LEGAL REQUIREMENT to replace what they tore down and they haven't

so the alternative is to leave the land vacant for the next 30 years? CHA has more land than they need, which is clear to see based on the amount of vacant land they own across the city.

[ardecila]

That's a false choice, man. The Fire complex is a terribly designed, suburban-style campus that walls off Roosevelt Square/ABLA from the grocery store and retail that was purpose-built to serve them. It's every bit as bad as Dearborn Park is in the South Loop, maybe worse.

At the very least, the city and CHA should have taken a stronger hand in making sure the complex fit into the community.

That said, CHA put forward a plan to concentrate more density along Taylor St to make up for the land that was lost over here. I think that's a positive thing. It's not the early 2000's anymore and the HOPE VI concept of low density vernacular buildings is out of date, there's no reason we should be building 6-flats next to transit or in downtown-adjacent areas. It seems better to build more densely along Taylor where there are restaurants, shops, etc.

[Kenmore]

fire complex so bad it feels criminal (probably is)

[JN12Franklin]

I'm not saying they have to build 100% affordable, even mixed-rate housing is vastly preferable to a dumb soccer facility that provides 0 housing. It doesn't matter what the land was before it was CHA. CHA has a LEGAL REQUIREMENT to replace what they tore down and they haven't

Yea, I just disagree with this take. This is a win win win for the Fire, for the CHA, and for the community. The Fire get their facility. The community will get lots of access to it as well. It activates a blighted area. And the CHA gets a boatload of money to build housing. The CHA needs money more than it needs land anyway.

[rgarri4]

Façade renovation on 801 S. Canal.

https://images2.imgbox.com/45/0a/OSmrB5Vg_o.jpg

https://images2.imgbox.com/02/8f/WR5HoS8R_o.jpg

https://images2.imgbox.com/f1/39/2xXEWmrM_o.jpg

Renderings me and my studio did for the project.

https://images2.imgbox.com/ef/22/BPOg3Vt8_o.jpg

https://images2.imgbox.com/cc/73/vBZxEEUT_o.jpg

UmaZUrJpDos

[kolchak]

Great job. The improvements to the entrance work really well.

[SolarWind]

May 16, 2023

https://imgur.com/alxrTVn.jpg

[SolarWind]

May 22, 2023

https://imgur.com/snRuPrs.jpg

https://imgur.com/xS0LEWW.jpg

May 25, 2023

https://imgur.com/DmwQJbq.jpg

https://imgur.com/2pYUrvW.jpg

https://imgur.com/nzdZDmV.jpg

[SolarWind]

May 25, 2023

https://imgur.com/pUbuFzx.jpg

https://imgur.com/IvNLE01.jpg

https://imgur.com/phsbWwg.jpg

[Randomguy34]

I missed that an ordinance to expand ADUs citywide was introduced last week by Ald. Lawson. It was one of Johnson's housing platforms, so there's a good chance it'll pass

Article: https://www.chicagocityscape.com/blog/adu-news-you-can-use-for-may-2023-2b89dc1b72

[west-town-brad]

I missed that an ordinance to expand ADUs citywide was introduced last week by Ald. Lawson. It was one of Johnson's housing platforms, so there's a good chance it'll pass

Article: https://www.chicagocityscape.com/blog/adu-news-you-can-use-for-may-2023-2b89dc1b72

sure, it will pass as long as it has all kinds of carve outs and exceptions just like the patio dining ordinance and the migrant funding.... neither passed easily.

[ardecila]

sure, it will pass as long as it has all kinds of carve outs and exceptions just like the patio dining ordinance and the migrant funding.... neither passed easily.

What's wrong with the patio dining ordinance (assume you mean the one currently before City Council)?

It added an aldermanic veto point, which of course is annoying but we don't really have a better process to balance the needs of restaurants with other property owners and residents/other businesses on the same street.

Ultimately it's a lot better to have curb lane dining than sidewalk cafes that block the sidewalk for pedestrians and create ADA violations. I'm also hopeful that total street closures will return in places where they make sense (Fulton Market, S Oakley/Heart of Chicago, even N Clark St).

[sentinel]

https://www.archpaper.com/2023/06/progress-underway-on-dallas-highway-cap-over-interstate-35e/

Will look really nice when complete, not to mention that it will add more than two acres of new park space in Dallas. Too bad this isn't happening in Chicago.

[Briguy]

https://www.archpaper.com/2023/06/progress-underway-on-dallas-highway-cap-over-interstate-35e/

Will look really nice when complete, not to mention that it will add more than two acres of new park space in Dallas. Too bad this isn't happening in Chicago.

The real issue is none of the buildings fronting the Kennedy have any sort of curb appeal, naturally. So it'd be a cap of a park split by on/off ramps, flanked by blank walls and parking garages. Kindvof a waste of money to build a very expensive park in this location. The block bordered by kinzie green Halsted metra could be a little park. Or the already capped part between wayman Fulton Halsted and union.

It would cost SO much to cap the part with the ramps. Money better spent elsewhere.

[Randomguy34]

IMO, the better (and more radical) option would be to deconvert portions of the Kennedy running through West Loop & River West into a boulevard. Compared to just capping the expressway, deconversion would have the benefit of actually integrating the street into the urban fabric and opening up more land to development. This option is what Toronto is envisioning for the Gardiner expressway, here's how it could look:

https://www.cnu.org/sites/default/files/Toronto_GardinerOptions.JPG
https://www.cnu.org/highways-boulevards/campaign-cities/toronto

[glowrock]

IMO, the better (and more radical) option would be to deconvert portions of the Kennedy running through West Loop & River West into a boulevard. Compared to just capping the expressway, deconversion would have the benefit of actually integrating the street into the urban fabric and opening up more land to development. This option is what Toronto is envisioning for the Gardiner expressway, here's how it could look:

https://www.cnu.org/sites/default/files/Toronto_GardinerOptions.JPG
https://www.cnu.org/highways-boulevards/campaign-cities/toronto

Difference is that the Gardiner in Toronto is basically a simple spur of the 401, while the Kennedy/Dan Ryan is a massive trunk route connecting Chicago to much of the rest of the country. Decommissioning? Not a chance in hell.

Aaron (Glowrock)

[SIGSEGV]

Difference is that the Gardiner in Toronto is basically a simple spur of the 401, while the Kennedy/Dan Ryan is a massive trunk route connecting Chicago to much of the rest of the country. Decommissioning? Not a chance in hell.

Aaron (Glowrock)

I mean 401 is more like 294, isn't it?
Still, Gardiner is maybe closer to DLSD than the Kennedy/Dan Ryan...

[glowrock]

I mean 401 is more like 294, isn't it?
Still, Gardiner is maybe closer to DLSD than the Kennedy/Dan Ryan...

401 is by far the most major freeway through the entire GTA, acting much like 90/94 with the exception that never goes into the downtown core of Toronto. But yeah, I guess you could think of it more like 294. I think the DSLSD comparison is fairly apt, actually.

Aaron (Glowrock)

[ardecila]

Difference is that the Gardiner in Toronto is basically a simple spur of the 401, while the Kennedy/Dan Ryan is a massive trunk route connecting Chicago to much of the rest of the country. Decommissioning? Not a chance in hell.

Aaron (Glowrock)

It would be both. Basically you'd have "express lanes" underground with no offramps between 290 and the Ohio Spur. Anybody looking to exit would end up on the surface boulevard between Jackson and Lake. As part of the Circle Interchange project they have already partly configured this section with collector/distributor lanes, so park project would just extend the C/D lanes up to Lake and bring them up to surface level.

The other option I've seen is to float the park one level above the street. You'd have to build a bunch of stairs and elevators for people to get up there, but if you do it right it could be a vast continuous space with no east-west streets breaking it up.

[Tom In Chicago]

Anyone know what's going on with this lot along the north side of Polk Street between Jefferson and Des Plaines?

https://pbase.com/temper/image/173704545.jpg

They've been doing utility improvements recently and are installing new light poles, but today they started drilling caissons for something. . . the guys at the office think it's supposed to be a Tesla dealership, but they weren't sure. . .

. . .

[Randomguy34]

1548 W. Ardmore received permits for a 4 story, 18 unit building

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f40281defa102704c846d6b/b093e6de-d20d-4f62-b892-428dc5b5c08e/2114_1548+W+Ardmore_V2_01.jpg?format=750w
https://www.spacearchplan.com/on-the-boards

[ardecila]

Anyone know what's going on with this lot along the north side of Polk Street between Jefferson and Des Plaines?

They've been doing utility improvements recently and are installing new light poles, but today they started drilling caissons for something. . . the guys at the office think it's supposed to be a Tesla dealership, but they weren't sure. . .

. . .

717 S Desplaines: SITE UPGRADES TO EXISTING 1-STORY BUILDING FOR A NEW AT GRADE ACCESSORY SURFACE PARKING LOT WITH 180 STANDARD PARKING STALLS AND 6 ACCESSIBLE PARKING STALLS FOR A TOTAL OF 186 AS PER PLANS.

No idea why they are drilling caissons for a parking lot.

[emailspyro@gmail.com]

Vienna Beef returning to Elston clusterf***
Not bad news but the place will more or less stay as a giant strip mall
With too much parking. A Binnys is going in too
What I don’t get is the lack of vision. The back side of the building fronts the river.
They are planning a hot dog restaurant out are placing the patio to face the parking lot.
Why wouldn’t they just colab with Binnys and do a giant patio on river for food and drinks ?!
No vision these strip mall developers. Zero. Also, the city should force them to add the river path as that was envisioned as part of the Golf Range that got canceled.

[twister244]

Vienna Beef returning to Elston clusterf***
Not bad news but the place will more or less stay as a giant strip mall
With too much parking. A Binnys is going in too
What I don’t get is the lack of vision. The back side of the building fronts the river.
They are planning a hot dog restaurant out are placing the patio to face the parking lot.
Why wouldn’t they just colab with Binnys and do a giant patio on river for food and drinks ?!
No vision these strip mall developers. Zero. Also, the city should force them to add the river path as that was envisioned as part of the Golf Range that got canceled.

I mean - I'm happy to see a Chicago food staple investing into their roots here:

https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/06/06/vienna-beef-reopening-restaurant-corporate-headquarters-at-former-bucktown-factory/

[Randomguy34]

This is the kind of mixed-use development we need on the site

https://www.heinens.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Vienna-Beef-Poster-Chicagos-Hot-Dog_780x450.jpg

[Jibba]

this is the kind of mixed-use development we need on the site

https://www.heinens.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/vienna-beef-poster-chicagos-hot-dog_780x450.jpg

i c o n i c

[emailspyro@gmail.com]

Haha Randomguy that is too funny but yes we can only wish

[glowrock]

Vienna Beef returning to Elston clusterf***
Not bad news but the place will more or less stay as a giant strip mall
With too much parking. A Binnys is going in too
What I don’t get is the lack of vision. The back side of the building fronts the river.
They are planning a hot dog restaurant out are placing the patio to face the parking lot.
Why wouldn’t they just colab with Binnys and do a giant patio on river for food and drinks ?!
No vision these strip mall developers. Zero. Also, the city should force them to add the river path as that was envisioned as part of the Golf Range that got canceled.

Where did you get this information on a Binny's going in there? With the Marcy St flagship store so close by I see no reason for a Binny's to go here.

[Tom In Chicago]

717 S Desplaines: SITE UPGRADES TO EXISTING 1-STORY BUILDING FOR A NEW AT GRADE ACCESSORY SURFACE PARKING LOT WITH 180 STANDARD PARKING STALLS AND 6 ACCESSIBLE PARKING STALLS FOR A TOTAL OF 186 AS PER PLANS.

No idea why they are drilling caissons for a parking lot.

Yeah. . . I'll ask around this week if the opportunity presents itself while I'm down here. . .

. . .

[emailspyro@gmail.com]

Where did you get this information on a Binny's going in there? With the Marcy St flagship store so close by I see no reason for a Binny's to go here.

Noticed it in the lease marketing materials. See here : https://www.showcase.com/2501-n-damen-ave-chicago-il-60647/27771361/

I like that iconic Vienna Beef is returning but disappointing that another opportunity for the river is lost for many years to come

[Randomguy34]

1323 S Ashland received construction permits for a 6 story office building

https://4sbay.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1319-South-Ashland-Rendering.jpg
https://4sbay.com/projects/the-ashland-project/
Article: https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/02/25/after-leveling-century-old-near-west-side-church-billionaire-couples-firm-aims-to-build-office-building-for-nonprofits/

[r18tdi]

Funky, I kinda like it. Shame that historic church had to bite the dust...

[lakeshoredrive]

1323 S Ashland received construction permits for a 6 story office building

https://4sbay.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1319-South-Ashland-Rendering.jpg
https://4sbay.com/projects/the-ashland-project/
Article: https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/02/25/after-leveling-century-old-near-west-side-church-billionaire-couples-firm-aims-to-build-office-building-for-nonprofits/

Nice, right by the new Chicago Fire fields. Hoping this stretch of Ashland as well as the corner of Roosevelt will get much needed curb appeal and beautification.

[moorhosj1]

Found an interesting nugget in a Sun-Times article (https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-sky-and-wnba/2023/6/6/23751469/new-investor-group-signals-skys-commitment-to-becoming-an-upper-echelon-wnba-franchise?utm_source=pocket_saves) about the Chicago Sky getting new investors and looking into a training facility near Wintrust Arena.

On Tuesday, the news that Sky ownership had sold a 10% share of the team for $8.5 million to a group of new investors — all women, including Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts — signaled that’s changing.

For the Sky, that means immersion in the community. They plan to take a step further in those efforts with their “tentpole initiative,” the development of their own practice facility. To that end, they’ve been scouting locations in Chicago, with a priority to build or rent a space near Wintrust Arena. The goal is for the space is to be more than a facility that strictly serves the Sky.

[mh777]

More subsidized housing (https://www.chicagobusiness.com/commercial-real-estate/parkside-old-town-housing-project-subsidy-approved) in Near North. Will be nice to get another empty lot (https://www.google.com/maps/place/1125+N+Cambridge+Ave+Parking/@41.9019,-87.6421544,3a,60y,80.77h,79.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1DWh4hVx37zAbEKdVx6yng!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m16!1m8!3m7!1s0x880fd33693ca1265:0x1072d07c40c85866!2s500+W+Hobbie+St,+Chicago,+IL+60610!3b1!8m2!3d41.9014854!4d-87.6411417!10e5!3m6!1s0x880fd336ee9c7e45:0x2330105aa4a665c5!8m2!3d41.9020433!4d-87.6416664!10e5!16s%2Fg%2F11gffb63th?entry=ttu) filled in that area.

https://s3-rd-prod.chicagobusiness.com/styles/1024x512/s3/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-13%20at%205.11.30%20PM.png

[r18tdi]

^Sure looks a Landon Bone Baker design.

[marothisu]

Here's some preliminary numbers I have by community area of construction from Jan 1, 2012 til June 13, 2023 for number of units permitted new construction in multi and mixed use buildings. It counts senior housing and townhomes but not dorms or homeless/transitional shelters

Near North Side: 15,670 units
Near West Side: 12,478
The Loop: 9128
West Town: 5573
Lake View: 3240
Near South Side: 3140
Logan Square: 3085
Lincoln Park: 2480
Uptown: 2430
Lincoln Square: 1376
Hyde Park: 1001
Lower West Side: 920
Grand Boulevard: 917
North Center: 781
Woodlawn: 755
Irving Park: 729
Edgewater: 543
Douglas: 466
Avondale: 456
Rogers Park: 313
Bridgeport: 306
Albany Park: 248
Washington Park: 200
Oakland: 180
McKinley Park: 176
Kenwood: 120



And here's some numbers for SFH new construction permitted:

North Center: 541 SFH
Logan Square: 492
West Town: 470
Lake View: 340
Bridgeport: 332
Irving Park: 317
Lincoln Park: 315
Grand Boulevard: 217
Lincoln Square: 169
Avondale: 149
McKinley Park: 115
Near West Side: 98
Woodlawn: 57
Lower West Side: 49
Albany Park: 48
Edgewater: 47
Uptown: 33
Douglas: 28
Near North Side: 19
Kenwood: 7
Rogers Park: 4
Hyde Park: 3
Oakland: 3
Washington Park: 1

These numbers aren't complete but they are just to give you an idea.

[kolchak]

NASCAR structures today -
https://i.postimg.cc/VvbL6g9C/20230615-142627.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/mkqj3LFn/20230615-142521-2.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/NMjkW96V/20230615-142620-2.jpg

[Steely Dan]

* Off topic posts deleted *

Please keep city vs. city nonsense out of good threads like this one.

[ardecila]

^Sure looks a Landon Bone Baker design.

I don't blame them for developing a house style. A lot of the aesthetic comes from the precast concrete panel system they're using.

I really hope that system catches on with market-rate developers, it has amazing potential for expressive facades. But I can't figure out if LBB is specifying it on projects because it's cost-effective, or because all the big panel lifts keep the crane operators union happy.

[SamInTheLoop]

Very interesting, and looks like this could be promising. I would assume that this is either a build-to-suit project or they have a tenant signed on for most of the space??

[ardecila]

Very interesting, and looks like this could be promising. I would assume that this is either a build-to-suit project or they have a tenant signed on for most of the space??

It is build-to-suit for the offices of a nonprofit foundation.

[west-town-brad]

interesting article in the WSJ regarding zoning and it's various impacts, this link should allow unlocked access: wsj link (https://www.wsj.com/articles/only-zoning-reform-can-solve-americas-housing-crisis-b5869860?st=v7ldwu8sq9lcuxl&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink) and a little blurb below

Only Zoning Reform Can Solve America’s Housing Crisis
By making it impossible to build enough homes in places where people want to live, local governments hurt the economy and democracy.

During the worst days of Covid, when supply chains broke down for automobile production, the cost of used cars skyrocketed in response to the limited supply. Over time, car manufacturing began to rebound, and prices moderated.

But when it comes to housing, there is a perpetual supply malfunction that inflates costs: local government zoning policies that expressly forbid developers from building homes where people want them. Ordinances routinely ban the construction of multifamily housing and require homes to be built on very large lots, artificially boosting the price of shelter—the single biggest expense for most Americans. These policies serve the narrow interests of wealthier incumbent homeowners, and they make life more difficult for young middle-class families starting out and low-income families who must make choices between paying rent and buying food or medicine.

[Jibba]

interesting article in the WSJ regarding zoning and it's various impacts, this link should allow unlocked access: wsj link (https://www.wsj.com/articles/only-zoning-reform-can-solve-americas-housing-crisis-b5869860?st=v7ldwu8sq9lcuxl&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink) and a little blurb below

Only Zoning Reform Can Solve America’s Housing Crisis
By making it impossible to build enough homes in places where people want to live, local governments hurt the economy and democracy.

During the worst days of Covid, when supply chains broke down for automobile production, the cost of used cars skyrocketed in response to the limited supply. Over time, car manufacturing began to rebound, and prices moderated.

But when it comes to housing, there is a perpetual supply malfunction that inflates costs: local government zoning policies that expressly forbid developers from building homes where people want them. Ordinances routinely ban the construction of multifamily housing and require homes to be built on very large lots, artificially boosting the price of shelter—the single biggest expense for most Americans. These policies serve the narrow interests of wealthier incumbent homeowners, and they make life more difficult for young middle-class families starting out and low-income families who must make choices between paying rent and buying food or medicine.

An issue fraught with contradiction: Housing activists want more housing, but then they (Carlos Ramirez-Rosa) don't because they think it causes gentrification and displacement. Wealthy land-owners with capital want to build housing to make money, so long as the housing is not in their backyard.

And savvy of a pro-profiteering publication like WSJ to hide a pro-development stance in the guise of housing equity... lol.

[marothisu]

New construction caisson permits were issued for 1630 S Wabash on a vacant/parking lot in South Loop. There is a proposal for a 9 story 37 unit building at 1700 S Wabash Ave. Either it's the same one or perhaps they're building a couple of those. Regardless, great to see another lot or part of a lot about to bite the dust. The developer is CMK who also has another smaller residential high rise planned nearby (something like 130 units).

[kolchak]

The 60 million dollar build out of NASCAR infrastructure in Grant Park moving along fast -

https://i.postimg.cc/6psZzC5b/20230624-150754.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/bN58kRgW/20230624-143724-2.jpg

[SolarWind]

June 5, 2023

https://imgur.com/y0CxjuK.jpg

[SolarWind]

June 6, 2023

https://imgur.com/061v5fX.jpg

June 22, 2023

https://imgur.com/X2NBtNx.jpg

[SolarWind]

June 8, 2023

https://imgur.com/lTT5o7k.jpg

https://imgur.com/AI2zcG1.jpg

[SolarWind]

June 8, 2023

https://imgur.com/yAjj8j7.jpg

https://imgur.com/qtTH8nZ.jpg

[SolarWind]

June 8, 2023

https://imgur.com/50AEpdg.jpg

https://imgur.com/Oc8ZUY6.jpg

[SolarWind]

June 8, 2023

https://imgur.com/YoXN5fA.jpg

https://imgur.com/nLpII7W.jpg

https://imgur.com/qAT3wVK.jpg

https://imgur.com/Qhyqdns.jpg

https://imgur.com/aHSaJ1z.jpg

June 20, 2023

https://imgur.com/dAEeJ6U.jpg

[SolarWind]

June 22, 2023

https://imgur.com/YdNC1Gj.jpg

https://imgur.com/voPn3fV.jpg

https://imgur.com/Qzi23jn.jpg

[SolarWind]

June 20, 2023

https://imgur.com/8Phc5KC.jpg

https://imgur.com/IfVAQ6k.jpg

https://imgur.com/WltW81Y.jpg

[SnowFire]

Raw drone footage of the park/NASCAR race area.





https://mega.nz/file/tYhinBbJ#-EY7xeztTgdEpluSOpZVCOExaT28vgsVJ4HHFUCL_VE

[SolarWind]

June 26, 2023

https://imgur.com/z1WxoJm.jpg

[SolarWind]

June 27, 2023

https://imgur.com/hedqbqo.jpg

https://imgur.com/gbANaZL.jpg

https://imgur.com/pVp1ULY.jpg

[Via Chicago]

June 8, 2023

https://imgur.com/YoXN5fA.jpg



still cant get over how ugly they made this thing

[twister244]

Meh - I'm still giving the taproom the benefit of the doubt until I see the finished product. But yeah, as of right now, it's ugly. Hopefully the interior makes up for it.

[Toasty Joe]

luckily it's a pretty basic structure that could be replaced by a skyscraper in ~15 years

[Rizzo]

I thought it was really cool when they took down the bricks covered in graffiti and then put them back up all randomized peppered in bright colors. Should’ve left it like that since it tells a story