CHICAGO | General Developments

[Randomguy34]

Chicago's first new courtyard in probably decades is about to start construction! Imagine if we kept building them post-WWII :slob:

https://chicago.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/2018_article_image_1140x538/public/background/2024-01/LEAD%20IMG%204907%20N.%20Paulina%20-%205%20-%20Foster%20Dale%20Architects.jpg?itok=n4sQS2Wf
https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/demo-permit-issued-make-way-development-4907-n-paulina

[pip]

^ I'm impressed!

[twister244]

Wrong thread - Delete

[Jstange059]

Just had a really interested lecture from an architect in Chicago, who focuses on projects that engage the community. The lecture was focused on the chicago boombox popup shops, and the new Boys and Girls club in West Humboldt Park/Austin. A lot of good insights about how buildings can serve their communities

You can listen to the lecture here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17Y1qd03U0Nlm5eU9QMJ9IX9DP2RDO-8d/view?usp=sharing

https://i.ibb.co/WKjc6rH/image00001.jpg (https://ibb.co/WKjc6rH) https://i.ibb.co/7CRKJ3x/image00002.jpg (https://ibb.co/7CRKJ3x) https://i.ibb.co/W31zfqm/image00003.jpg (https://ibb.co/W31zfqm) https://i.ibb.co/sjHYCh8/image00004.jpg (https://ibb.co/sjHYCh8) https://i.ibb.co/HYNVM7P/image00005.jpg (https://ibb.co/HYNVM7P) https://i.ibb.co/W5D69KY/image00006.jpg (https://ibb.co/W5D69KY) https://i.ibb.co/Yy81XQw/image00007.jpg (https://ibb.co/Yy81XQw) https://i.ibb.co/YZ289F0/image00008.jpg (https://ibb.co/YZ289F0) https://i.ibb.co/h9Y5MBJ/image00009.jpg (https://ibb.co/h9Y5MBJ) https://i.ibb.co/mXbZ38Z/image00010.jpg (https://ibb.co/mXbZ38Z) https://i.ibb.co/dg7spCH/image00011.jpg (https://ibb.co/dg7spCH) https://i.ibb.co/GRWjX6d/image00012.jpg (https://ibb.co/GRWjX6d) https://i.ibb.co/b29S9yn/image00013.jpg (https://ibb.co/b29S9yn) https://i.ibb.co/SsXW7py/image00014.jpg (https://ibb.co/SsXW7py) https://i.ibb.co/7rYr2SM/image00015.jpg (https://ibb.co/7rYr2SM) https://i.ibb.co/6Dj76dW/image00016.jpg (https://ibb.co/6Dj76dW) https://i.ibb.co/nDMj9wC/image00017.jpg (https://ibb.co/nDMj9wC) https://i.ibb.co/Ky9yn0S/image00018.jpg (https://ibb.co/Ky9yn0S)

[mh777]

I see a demo permit was applied for/issued for 1520 N Wells yesterday... I'd assume this parcel is included in the 1528 N Wells Development (https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/work-imminent-hotel-project-1528-n-wells). Or at least I hope it is. Really don't have any idea on why this project has taken so long to break ground..

https://chicago.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/2018_article_gallery_image_2000w/public/2022-10/1528%20N.%20Wells%20-%203%20-%20Pappageorge%20Haymes%20Partners.jpg?itok=ouh09n0L

https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/work-imminent-hotel-project-1528-n-wells

[Randomguy34]

4225-29 W. Madison St is on this month's ZBA agenda. 8 units plus a dog day care, nice that we're seeing more mixed-use on the West Side lately

https://i0.wp.com/www.austinweeklynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/WGP-Doggie-Daycare-Rendering.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1
https://www.austinweeklynews.com/2022/07/08/doggie-day-care-proposed-for-west-garfield-park/

[SolarWind]

January 30, 2024

https://imgur.com/wuqruWy.jpg

https://imgur.com/h9T4LyS.jpg

[dewbs]

https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/historic-structures-are-set-be-demolished-wellssuperior

https://chicago.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/2018_article_image_1140x538/public/background/2024-02/Site%20of%20720%20N.%20Wells%20and%20207%20W.%20Superior%20-%20Google%20Maps.jpg

This is getting knocked down for "a five-story new development". But, "The three-story brick and wood framed structure at 720 N. Wells was built in 1867, before the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, but is green rated on the Chicago Historic Resources Survey with no protections from demolition."

[Randomguy34]

This city is a joke when it comes to preservation

[sentinel]

https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/historic-structures-are-set-be-demolished-wellssuperior

https://chicago.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/2018_article_image_1140x538/public/background/2024-02/Site%20of%20720%20N.%20Wells%20and%20207%20W.%20Superior%20-%20Google%20Maps.jpg

This is getting knocked down for "a five-story new development". But, "The three-story brick and wood framed structure at 720 N. Wells was built in 1867, before the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, but is green rated on the Chicago Historic Resources Survey with no protections from demolition."

Absolutely fucking awful. I really hope a massive fight is put up by preservationists. Reilly is an absolute garbage person.

[Steely Dan]

Shameful.

And sadly not surprising.

As random said, this town completely fucking sucks at preservation.

[ajradfotwo]

I'm all for development and I'm even supportive of redeveloping very old buildings if they're falling apart or unremarkable. This building on the corner is in good shape and is one of the most attractive in all of river north. I can't believe they're going to tear it down for what I'm sure will be some cheap POS. Anyone willing to knock these buildings down won't have anything on their mind other than building as cheaply as possible.

[left of center]

There are cities that would absolutely *kill* to have the kind of historic urban fabric that we seemingly demolish without a second thought. Very sad indeed. I sincerely hope preservationists raise hell to stop this. Especially in River North, which has lost so much of its historic brick building stock to shitty beige concrete crap.

[Coastal Elitist]

It's a beautiful building, but, if it's worth keeping around, someone should give the developer an offer to buy the property instead of weaponizing the government against the development. In my opinion, using historic preservation as a means to stop development makes us no better than the NIMBYs.

[nomarandlee]

Gross. I am not great at this type of thing. Whose office/name would be worth contacting to appeal this demolition?

[OrdoSeclorum]

It's a beautiful building, but, if it's worth keeping around, someone should give the developer an offer to buy the property instead of weaponizing the government against the development. In my opinion, using historic preservation as a means to stop development makes us no better than the NIMBYs.

Your framing here is creating a straw man. It's not "weaponizing" anything. And the point isn't to "stop development". It's to prevent the destruction of economic value. The value buildings like this bring is shared among all Chicagoans but that's hard to price. There are extremely clear and well-understood economic principles around difficult to price externalities which require sensible regulations.

I understand a light hand when it comes to this stuff. But ideological maximalists are never happy with "some regulations are good and some are bad." It always ends up going to "We should be able to buy child porn and heroin at Walgreens."

[Coastal Elitist]

Your framing here is creating a straw man. It's not "weaponizing" anything. And the point isn't to "stop development". It's to prevent the destruction of economic value. The value buildings like this bring is shared among all Chicagoans but that's hard to price. There are extremely clear and well-understood economic principles around difficult to price externalities which require sensible regulations.

I understand a light hand when it comes to this stuff. But ideological maximalists are never happy with "some regulations are good and some are bad." It always ends up going to "We should be able to buy child porn and heroin at Walgreens."

You bring up a great point! It may very well be the case that that building provides a positive externality. With that in mind, the economically efficient action to take would be to tax the demolition of the building such that the developer bears the full costs of the action they're taking. It wouldn't be to make the demolition illegal altogether.

[pullmanman]

You bring up a great point! It may very well be the case that that building provides a positive externality. With that in mind, the economically efficient action to take would be to tax the demolition of the building such that the developer bears the full costs of the action they're taking. It wouldn't be to make the demolition illegal altogether.

I do actually think you make a good point.

I and many others on this forum believe that our current piecemeal rezoning process for developments should be replaced by widespread upzoning similar to the TOD ordinance. Along the same lines, I don't think fighting each individual demolition is really a winning strategy, compared to proactively pursuing some sort of landmarking, fines or incentives to promote historic preservation.

However, it's still a shame we're losing some very nice historic buildings to a barely larger replacement. I think many people would feel different if it was 10+ stories.

[dewbs]

I do actually think you make a good point.

I and many others on this forum believe that our current piecemeal rezoning process for developments should be replaced by widespread upzoning similar to the TOD ordinance. Along the same lines, I don't think fighting each individual demolition is really a winning strategy, compared to proactively pursuing some sort of landmarking, fines or incentives to promote historic preservation.

However, it's still a shame we're losing some very nice historic buildings to a barely larger replacement. I think many people would feel different if it was 10+ stories.

Exactly. If the new thing was in some respect better I'd be all on board. But 5 stories just seems totally wasteful. At least it's not coming down for a parking lot, I guess.

[Ned.B]

Looking at 720 Wells, I see what appears to be a fiberglass cornice and windows and other features (like the first floor arches) that might post-date the 1990s historic survey. It likely got a green rating because it's condition and amount of historic material didn't warrant a yellow or orange rating at that time. This is a definite issue with not updating the survey since then: first that many buildings have had restorative work that might garner a higher rating since the survey, and second since the survey was done before the Demolition Delay ordinance was attached to it, and some buildings might have been considered differently if the difference between a yellow and orange rating was known to be the difference between having some demolition protections, and having none.

Really the only path available to this building now would be to try to get a Wells Street district on Chicago Landmark's calendar, as this building on it's own might not have the significance or the integrity to be an individual landmark.

[BrickellBased]

Generally disgusted by this. I didn't think the preservation in the city was so lacking that pre-fire buildings could so be easily torn down.

Also 720 Wells exterior is in such great shape and the large windows on the second floor are beautiful. A Wells street historic district seems in order given how much development the area has seen lately but is probably too late for this.

I'm surprised I didn't hear about this when they said it was put on 90 day hold in mid 2023 for demolition then. That obviously would have been the best time to act if there was anything that could be done.

[pullmanman]

Nadig Newspapers (https://nadignewspapers.com/30th-ward-migrant-shelter-at-st-barts-in-portage-park-moving-forward-24-rentals-planned-for-former-st-wenceslaus-school-new-eatery-targeted-for-golden-nugget/)

Alderwoman Ruth Cruz also gave the following update on an another former school site in the ward:

“I am proud and excited to share that after a long process of thoughtful consideration, community organizing and collaborative engagement, we have reached an agreement with the developer and attorney to zone the former Saint Wenceslaus School located at 3425 N Lawndale as an RT3.5 with 24 units, 24 parking spaces with no curbcuts and no balconies – plus increased green space. It will also fulfill the 20 percent Affordable Requirement Ordinance (ARO).

“In 2022, a proposal was introduced to bring 36 units. However, it failed to materialize due to community concerns expressed through an impressive organizing effort by the neighbors and community. Then in 2023, a revised proposal was presented to the community, which now included 28 units, including four duplex units; with 18 parking spaces, curbcuts and still no green space.

“When I took office in May 2023, I immediately held many meetings with the community and the developer, and we have finally come to an agreement that is satisfactory to all parties, including the community. This is a huge victory for our ward, showing we do welcome new development, while ensuring community voices are centered in all conversations.

“While I understand this decision took time and was not always easy for the developers either – | want to also thank the developers for their open, transparent communication with my office and their adapting of plans based on community concerns.”

Saint Wenceslaus School closed in the 1990s...

Doing my occasional search of the neighborhood newspapers and saw this.

Looks like the third proposal for turning the long abandoned school into housing stuck. Interesting to see the combined demands for "more green space" and "more parking", but at least it should finally be happening

[aaron38]

And the point isn't to "stop development". It's to prevent the destruction of economic value. The value buildings like this bring is shared among all Chicagoans but that's hard to price. There are extremely clear and well-understood economic principles around difficult to price externalities which require sensible regulations.

I'll give you a regulation. Freeze property taxes at the point of sale. You can talk all you want about "shared among all", but the shared masses don't pay the property taxes. The owner of the building pays the property taxes. And when Cook County says pay up, the owner either pays or sells.

So my question is, where are the buyers? For this economic value?

[pip]

https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/historic-structures-are-set-be-demolished-wellssuperior

https://chicago.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/2018_article_image_1140x538/public/background/2024-02/Site%20of%20720%20N.%20Wells%20and%20207%20W.%20Superior%20-%20Google%20Maps.jpg

This is getting knocked down for "a five-story new development". But, "The three-story brick and wood framed structure at 720 N. Wells was built in 1867, before the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, but is green rated on the Chicago Historic Resources Survey with no protections from demolition."

come on Chicago, don't do this.

[Mr Downtown]

Guys, as I've told you over and over again, a city has to decide in advance which buildings must be preserved at the owner's cost. That's the point of doing a comprehensive survey—though it could be brought forward to recognize mid-century buildings worth preserving.

From a legal standpoint, inquiring about what will replace a building set for demolition is the worst sort of situational ethics. The judgment must be made on the existing building's merits, and must be made in advance.

[Rizzo]

^ Agree that the survey should dictate

But the city lacks available staff and probably political will to care more for preservation.

Perhaps we don’t need a whole bunch of people and expensive resources to prepare a new survey. The city has access to good informational and photographic data and could instead use AI to generate the survey. Narrow down the set to start at anything older than 1900 and then use machine learning to study via streetview and tax images of the buildings features and conditions (ornate brick work, cornices, decorative lintels etc). The information can then be automatically compiled into an organized report for qualified historic preservations to review.

Btw. I said pre 1900 because it’s easy and objective. How many 1900’s buildings remain in this city and what percentage were lost since the 90’s survey went into effect?

[aaron38]

a city has to decide in advance which buildings must be preserved at the owner's cost.

I fundamentally disagree. The city must decide which buildings to preserve at society's cost. If the owner can't afford the maintenance and property taxes, he will let the building rot. As he should. If the people of the city have decided that certain buildings must be preserved, then they can either cut the property taxes or take over the maintenance costs of said structures. This is eminent domain 101.

This fallacy has to end where the people decide that they get to both keep historic buildings and extract liquid cash from them every year to fund the pet project de jour.

[aaron38]

But the city lacks available staff and probably political will to care more for preservation.

Perhaps we don’t need a whole bunch of people and expensive resources to prepare a new survey.

The fewer staff and surveys and "resources", the lower the property taxes and the higher the preservation. Has anyone considered that?

[moorhosj1]

The fewer staff and surveys and "resources", the lower the property taxes and the higher the preservation. Has anyone considered that?

Has anyone proven that lower "resources" for preservation magically leads to lower property taxes, which then somehow leads to MORE preservation?

Are there cities with no formal preservation activities that nonetheless see lots of preservation?

[VivaLFuego]

I fundamentally disagree. The city must decide which buildings to preserve at society's cost. If the owner can't afford the maintenance and property taxes, he will let the building rot. As he should. If the people of the city have decided that certain buildings must be preserved, then they can either cut the property taxes or take over the maintenance costs of said structures. This is eminent domain 101.

This fallacy has to end where the people decide that they get to both keep historic buildings and extract liquid cash from them every year to fund the pet project de jour.

Philosophically, economically, and morally you have a strong point, but legal precedent based on current laws better supports what Mr. Downtown is saying.

One galaxy-brain approach to systematically reduce demolition and increase preservation in our neighborhoods with high land values would be to revise zoning and PDs there to cap floor-area and height density at current or "one-increment-higher" levels, thereby spreading investment across a broader geographic area as it chases greater returns and, downstream, giving more marginal and edge-zone neighborhoods to the south and west a fighting chance at non-subsidized development in a region with essentially no population growth and minimal aggregate real economic growth.

[Busy Bee]

^ Back from exile?

[sentinel]

Full building permit has been issued for the 5-story NWM outpatient care center in Bronzeville, per Urbanize.

[SamInTheLoop]

^ Speaking of Urbanize and the South Side, I'm not sure how I missed this one before (I'm sure it's been posted about here):


https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/city-council-approves-land-sale-grove


Good stuff.

[Tombstoner]

^ Speaking of Urbanize and the South Side, I'm not sure how I missed this one before (I'm sure it's been posted about here):


https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/city-council-approves-land-sale-grove


Good stuff.

it's an attractive building, but it's hard to imagine it in Chicago. Kinda Scandi-Mediterranean.

[SolarWind]

February 6, 2024

https://imgur.com/ygvinZt.jpg

[SolarWind]

February 8, 2024

https://imgur.com/TrcZajl.jpg

https://imgur.com/vxJINFC.jpg

https://imgur.com/H5TAucC.jpg

[SolarWind]

February 8, 2024

https://imgur.com/1cAo1Qm.jpg

https://imgur.com/vzizz8n.jpg

Preliminary landmark approved for the John B. Murphy Memorial (https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/preliminary-landmark-approved-john-b-murphy-memorial)

[mh777]

[QUOTE=SolarWind;10140349]February 8, 2024

https://imgur.com/TrcZajl.jpg

Very excited to see what goes here... So much potential. Prime location for another hi rise apartment building.

[left of center]

^ I'm thrilled those highway billboards will finally be biting the dust!

[mh777]

I'd assume those would stay up until the next development breaks ground... Free money at this point for the owner.

[galleyfox]

Well, the F1 rumors are starting to contain more concrete details.

Racing around Soldier Field seems more realistic for F1 than using the Grant Park streets.

Organisers of the planned Chicago Grand Prix want to prioritise racing over “show”

Sources reveal that the planned Chicago Grand Prix will be “European-esque” and it will combine elements of loved European tracks into the planned Street Track.

The track will go around Soldier Field stadium and consist of a general mix of low, medium and high speed corners, even though the organizers aim to prioritize the medium speed ones to optimise overtaking opportunities.

The organisers are said to want to prioritise racing and speed before show, to balance out how races like Vegas and Miami are flashy https://x.com/fastestpitstop/status/1756378280700076358?s=46&t=mhjAlFPXo_k_Q-bPyHHu9Q

[nomarandlee]

Well, the F1 rumors are starting to contain more concrete details.

Racing around Soldier Field seems more realistic for F1 than using the Grant Park streets.

https://x.com/fastestpitstop/status/1756378280700076358?s=46&t=mhjAlFPXo_k_Q-bPyHHu9Q

I don't know much about F1 racing or logistics, but it would seem that the streets around Soldier Field and the Museum Campus would be ideal for hosting such a race. It's much more ideal than the Grant Park setup they had last year.

[Chi-Sky21]

I still say they gotta bring em out onto LSD and then over to lower wacker then either have them double back on upper wacker or vice versa. THAT would be epic and really show off the city. Of course that cuts off most of the loop to the outside world for awhile so will never happen.

[galleyfox]

I still say they gotta bring em out onto LSD and then over to lower wacker then either have them double back on upper wacker or vice versa. THAT would be epic and really show off the city. Of course that cuts off most of the loop to the outside world for awhile so will never happen.

It would be very cool, but very deadly for real life drivers so Lower Wacker will remain a dream among Hollywood and video gamers.

[galleyfox]

I don't know much about F1 racing or logistics, but it would seem that the streets around Soldier Field and the Museum Campus would be ideal for hosting such a race. It's much more ideal than the Grant Park setup they had last year.

Neither location is ideal for racing, but NASCAR and F1 have completely different styles so they require different streets.

Soldier Field streets are too narrow for NASCAR double files and passing.

The Grant Park streets have no safe runoffs and are too rectangular for F1 passing.

We’ll have to see since there’s no public proposal released at this point.

[r18tdi]

Neither location is ideal for racing, but NASCAR and F1 have completely different styles so they require different streets.

Soldier Field streets are too narrow for NASCAR double files and passing.

The Grant Park streets have no safe runoffs and are too rectangular for F1 passing.

We’ll have to see since there’s no public proposal released at this point.

I'd love to see the Chicago Grand Prix go with a Baku-style circuit with long straights, utilizing DLSD and Columbus. Those roads are definitely wide enough.

Speculative, but something like this:

https://i.redd.it/05n91xkgsfj51.png
Source: Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/RaceTrackDesigns/comments/ihamvu/chicago_gp_street_circuit/)

[galleyfox]

I'd love to see the Chicago Grand Prix go with a Baku-style circuit with long straights, utilizing DLSD and Columbus. Those roads are definitely wide enough.

Speculative, but something like this:


I have trouble imagining that large sections of LSD will be shut down for weeks/months of F1 repaving.

The Soldier Field side streets can be closed for lengthy times without much impact, but F1 requires a lot more road work than NASCAR.

Maybe a lane or two of LSD could be closed for a short section, but the side streets are the only ones that seem reasonable for a full F1 course.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GGJ3-6KX0AAPTbr.jpg

[sammyg]

They can't run race cars next to the Shedd - the noise and the vibrations are harmful to many of the animals. They had issues with NASCAR, and that was further away.

[BVictor1]

The alderman has agreed to a project of 4-stories that will have 15-units, 3 of them affordable. The original proposal had 18-units.

And the design has changed for the better.

Old Design
https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/11/Screen-Shot-2023-11-20-at-2.10.21-PM.png?resize=1024%2C525&ssl=1

I don't think this has been posted here.
Ald. Vasquez is responding to randos on reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/18wwujt/plan_to_turn_andersonville_home_on_ashland_into/), and it's fairly entertaining.

New Design
https://lede-admin.chi.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/51/2024/02/image.png?w=2048

https://chi.streetsblog.org/2024/02/05/two-cheers-for-ald-vasquez-andersonville-gets-a-little-more-affordable

https://twitter.com/streetsblogchi/status/1754619326240268430

[BVictor1]

02.13.24
https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-RXenJfzaBMqnIvhUYKY5Dky7QdnjyvmJHTIv4pJZssnXyo8XFH82QYgZq-gxkWrWqCe7ffHDJpwno-pEcjtJnw?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1707859865

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-RXenJfzaBMqnIvhUYKY5Dky7QdnjyvmJHTIv4pJZssnPqeAhHiHn6ZYVzv8T71zGUnDnu4gHHWpfyYq5WwzmNg?cn=THISLIFE&res=medium&ts=1707871446

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-RXenJfzaBMqnIvhUYKY5Dky7QdnjyvmJHTIv4pJZsskO160KRewMBmva3srCKLVv5cYdfB3jRoL_VZILaXEufg?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1707859865

[SolarWind]

February 1, 2024

https://imgur.com/CmF8ewC.jpg

February 15, 2024

https://imgur.com/8WZIp78.jpg

https://imgur.com/3v4oMtT.jpg

https://imgur.com/DD2ca7P.jpg

[SolarWind]

February 5, 2024

https://imgur.com/n133AQ1.jpg

[SolarWind]

February 12, 2024

https://imgur.com/b0mBbS8.jpg

https://imgur.com/raAs7it.jpg

https://imgur.com/i6o1M1a.jpg

https://imgur.com/1mncP0Z.jpg

February 16, 2024

https://imgur.com/O7g3lDx.jpg

https://imgur.com/oFEl9TY.jpg

https://imgur.com/epFAJED.jpg

https://imgur.com/zdO4J94.jpg

[BrickellBased]

Wow this is a pleasant surprise!!

Renderings of the interior look very cool.

https://chicagoyimby.com/2023/11/two-story-restaurant-renovation-progresses-at-431-n-dearborn-street-in-river-north.html

February 1, 2024

https://imgur.com/CmF8ewC.jpg

February 15, 2024

https://imgur.com/8WZIp78.jpg

https://imgur.com/3v4oMtT.jpg

https://imgur.com/DD2ca7P.jpg

[sentinel]

Wow this is a pleasant surprise!!

Renderings of the interior look very cool.

https://chicagoyimby.com/2023/11/two-story-restaurant-renovation-progresses-at-431-n-dearborn-street-in-river-north.html

Looks like it's already open:

https://www.timeout.com/chicago/news/an-elegant-french-brasserie-opens-in-river-north-021624

Amazing

[mh777]

Demo permits issued for 850 W Washington, which is currently a car wash/parking garage. Prime time location but with Mavrek being the developer, I'd guess we're looking at a mid-rise here.

[r18tdi]

Demo permits issued for 850 W Washington, which is currently a car wash/parking garage. Prime time location but with Mavrek being the developer, I'd guess we're looking at a mid-rise here.
Last summer, YIMBY came across some renderings of a Citizen M hotel at this location. Not sure if it's a serious proposal or conceptual:

https://chicagoyimby.com/2023/07/53727.html

[Ned.B]

02.13.24
https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-RXenJfzaBMqnIvhUYKY5Dky7QdnjyvmJHTIv4pJZssnXyo8XFH82QYgZq-gxkWrWqCe7ffHDJpwno-pEcjtJnw?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1707859865


Now that we are seeing the reality of this building, especially viewed from the south, there had to be a better way to treat the parking than to have it take up half of the building street presence and also being as tall as a 6 story building while containing only 4 floors?

I'm assuming being tied to various medical floors drove the height of the parking? Do they need van access to every floor? Would a 2 floor full parking podium have actually been better for the neighborhood in this case?

[sentinel]

Now that we are seeing the reality of this building, especially viewed from the south, there had to be a better way to treat the parking than to have it take up half of the building street presence and also being as tall as a 6 story building while containing only 4 floors?

I'm assuming being tied to various medical floors drove the height of the parking? Do they need van access to every floor? Would a 2 floor full parking podium have actually been better for the neighborhood in this case?

https://chicago.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/2018_article_gallery_image_2000w/public/2022-10/Bronzeville%20Advanced%20Outpatient%20Care%20Center%20-%206%20-%20Lamar%20Johnson%20Collaborative_Brook%20Architecture.jpg?itok=RhKViNZ7

https://chicago.urbanize.city/sites/default/files/styles/2018_article_gallery_image_2000w/public/2022-10/Bronzeville%20Advanced%20Outpatient%20Care%20Center%20-%202%20-%20Lamar%20Johnson%20Collaborative_Brook%20Architecture.jpg?itok=l8euMHgY

[sentinel]

Progress of Encuetro Square on the West Side, posted by the GC, Leopardo, on their Linkedin page:

https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/D4D10AQGrbP_38uw_LQ/image-shrink_1280/0/1708545606545?e=1709233200&v=beta&t=SXKvXXhwNn-0NkVGmaKsWVWZ3pXoTZSkwBTgxNgCsmI

https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/encuentro-square-celebrates-groundbreaking

[ithakas]

Great article on Reinsdorf snapping up United Center-adjacent lots:
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2024/02/22/jerry-reinsdorf-united-center-parking-lots-purchasing-white-sox-south-loop-ballpark

[BorisMolotov]

^ What I'd bet they'd really like is the Henry Horner Homes. I think the obvious plan here is a stadium renovation/potentially new stadium with a large entertainment district. Remember the principal people here are Michael Reinsdorf and Danny Wirtz; decidedly not their fathers, although Jerry is the one putting up the cash on that end. Hopefully they are seeing the potential for what could be a vast neighborhood connecting improvement.

[Kngkyle]

Great article on Reinsdorf snapping up United Center-adjacent lots:
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2024/02/22/jerry-reinsdorf-united-center-parking-lots-purchasing-white-sox-south-loop-ballpark

It's kind of insane that every single major league sports team in Chicago sans the Cubs is currently exploring stadium redevelopment plans. Bears, Fire, Sox, and apparently Bulls and Blackhawks per this article.

If this all actually happens over the next decade then maybe it'd actually be financially viable to host the Olympics here unlike in 2016. Not that it'd happen so close to LA28.

[Steely Dan]

^ maybe the Cubs should rekindle their Schaumburg plans just for the hell of it! :haha:

One of my uncles actually had one of those "NO Schaumburg Cubs" T-shirts back in the '80s. It'd probably be a pretty cool collector's item now if he still had it.

[nomarandlee]

It's kind of insane that every single major league sports team in Chicago sans the Cubs is currently exploring stadium redevelopment plans. Bears, Fire, Sox, and apparently Bulls and Blackhawks per this article.

If this all actually happens over the next decade then maybe it'd actually be financially viable to host the Olympics here unlike in 2016. Not that it'd happen so close to LA28.

I'd be very surprised if the Bulls think about a new stadium, especially one within current blocks of the current UC? What advantage would come from it? From all appearances, the UC has held up reasonably well. The Hawks/Bulls have built a quasi-campus there over the last 15 years.

Maybe, BIG maybe, the idea is hopefully that the time is finally right to catch some of the West Loop's fire and build some of their own residential and retail by the UC. If I were Wirtz or JR I would think I was losing out on easy revenue from the 100s of people (maybe more?) who eat out in the West Loop and Little Italy before games. Why not go in with restauranteur partnerships and get a cut from that revenue? If they had some decent restaurants near the stadium, I have no doubt they would get packed, at least on game day.

....I say all that while thinking it would be sweet if the Bulls or Hawks decided to build a new arena somewhere closer to downtown in the next decade.

[Kngkyle]

I'd be very surprised if the Bulls think about a new stadium, especially one within current blocks of the current UC? What advantage would come from it? From all appearances, the UC has held up reasonably well. The Hawks/Bulls have built a quasi-campus there over the last 15 years.

Maybe, BIG maybe, the idea is hopefully that the time is finally right to catch some of the West Loop's fire and build some of their own residential and retail by the UC. If I were Wirtz or JR I would think I was losing out on easy revenue from the 100s of people (maybe more?) who eat out in the West Loop and Little Italy before games. Why not go in with restauranteur partnerships and get a cut from that revenue? If they had some decent restaurants near the stadium, I have no doubt they would get packed, at least on game day.

....I say all that while thinking it would be sweet if the Bulls or Hawks decided to build a new arena somewhere closer to downtown in the next decade.

I didn't mean they were looking for a new stadium, just upgrades to the United Center and the area surrounding, which is what the Sun Times article is confirming.

[Toasty Joe]

....I say all that while thinking it would be sweet if the Bulls or Hawks decided to build a new arena somewhere closer to downtown in the next decade.

cap the Kennedy and put a new arena there :tup:

[BruceP]

cap the Kennedy and put a new arena there :tup:

And what are you going to do with all the entrance and exit ramps piercing through the building, if you're proposing a Loop site? Either way, the Kennedy alone isn't wide enough requiring teardowns on one side or the other or both.

[Randomguy34]

Another midrise in Bronzeville has pending permits. A 48 unit, 8 parking spot building is planned for 545 E Oakwood Blvd. This is where the old Holy Angels School used to be

[SolarWind]

Demo permits issued for 850 W Washington, which is currently a car wash/parking garage. Prime time location but with Mavrek being the developer, I'd guess we're looking at a mid-rise here.

February 20, 2024

https://imgur.com/TQfVEuR.jpg

https://imgur.com/ijHqlZz.jpg

[SolarWind]

February 20, 2024

https://imgur.com/Bx27aLo.jpg

https://imgur.com/0Dz7eTz.jpg

https://imgur.com/TOnoDFV.jpg

[SolarWind]

February 22, 2024

https://imgur.com/AjhpKad.jpg

https://imgur.com/Ftzt5Xx.jpg

[SolarWind]

February 22, 2024

https://imgur.com/DX4XUlF.jpg

https://imgur.com/nFkS1Wh.jpg

[SolarWind]

February 22, 2024

https://imgur.com/IV39DGK.jpg

https://imgur.com/vl6oPi7.jpg

https://imgur.com/AzTnHQ0.jpg

June 10, 2008

https://imgur.com/NpXC0kk.jpg

July 23, 2019

https://imgur.com/EwOtMg3.jpg

[BrickellBased]

Thanks Solar - I was wondering what happened to the fountain shooting over the river but never looked into it.

February 22, 2024


https://imgur.com/AzTnHQ0.jpg

[marothisu]

According to my data, there's over new 2500 units pending new construction permits in over 115 new buildings, submitted since July 2023. Actually more like 3000 because that 40 story Southbank building pending a permit probably will have 400+ new units.

There's also almost 85 new SFH pending permits plus new retail, office, hotel, etc buildings.

[mh777]

According to my data, there's over new 2500 units pending new construction permits in over 115 new buildings, submitted since July 2023. Actually more like 3000 because that 40 story Southbank building pending a permit probably will have 400+ new units.

There's also almost 85 new SFH pending permits plus new retail, office, hotel, etc buildings.

Do you have a list of addresses?

[marothisu]

Do you have a list of addresses?

I have a map. I have to clean some up that are pending zoning change but haven't been submitted yet. My total doesn't come from this map but a separate spreadsheet (those zoning ones that aren't pending yet aren't included in that):

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1orqKQ3QivcA7sPdMzrs6HlXQAHldIP4&ll=41.83679829743563%2C-87.68862544999999&z=10

I'm also making one for renovation permits with up and down conversions that are pending approval of the permit.

[jboy560]

How does this compare to previous time periods? Is that less/more than typical? Just want to be able to put that number in context.

[marothisu]

How does this compare to previous time periods? Is that less/more than typical? Just want to be able to put that number in context.

Not sure - just figured out how to get the most up to date pending permits and then mine the rest. I don't think they keep permits in this db that were pending for more than a few years.

There's currently 21 projects of 30-125 units pending permits right now that I can find. A few more that are 300+ - most are 30 units and under though. There's also some projects that are looking to add some pretty big unit counts in existing buildings. For example +68 units at 730 S Clark St in Printer's Row and converting the old school at 1417 N Talman St in East Humboldt Park/West Town to 102 new units.

I'm still mining that one, but so far the net increase of renovation permits looking to add or remove units city-wide is +342 units. I'm sure this will grow as I mine more as the trend seems to be more of adding units than subtracting.

[mh777]

Looks like JPMorgan Chase will not be anchoring that 725 W Randolph development...

JPMorgan commits to Loop with Chase Tower renovation (https://www.chicagobusiness.com/commercial-real-estate/jpmorgan-chase-renovate-loop-tower)

“We take great pride in how we support Chicago, particularly the business district,” said Tony Maggiore, managing director and Midwest and Canada segment head for middle-market banking and specialized industries at JPMorgan. “We take that very seriously, our role in preserving the Loop and restoring some of the activity that occurred years ago.”

Chase Tower’s proximity to train and bus lines was critical in the decision, as around 7,200 employees commute to the building

The renovation, the first in more than 20 years for the 55-year-old building, will refurbish the the outside plaza, update the lobby, mezzanine and food hall, and build a fitness center in addition to improving workspaces throughout the building.

It also will include a new conference and client center at the top of the 60-story tower, known for its unique inward-sweeping curve, and renovate the elevator system.

[marothisu]

Maybe one of the articles will pick up on the big headcount expansion over the last few years in Chicago that a lot of media hasn't picked up on.

[Chi-Sky21]

Good to hear it. Love that building.

[twister244]

I view this more of an acknowledgement (despite what Jamie Dimon says publicly) that throwing a bunch of money towards a shiny new office building just doesn't pencil out...... Because for many people, remote work is here to stay.

If Chase were expanding at a rate that was large enough to justify a new building, even with people only coming in partially at best, then maybe something smaller might emerge.

However, given they already have a massive building in the loop in a good location, I get it.

Sucks for us hoping for a shiny new tower, but that's the new reality we live in......

[marothisu]

I view this more of an acknowledgement (despite what Jamie Dimon says publicly) that throwing a bunch of money towards a shiny new office building just doesn't pencil out...... Because for many people, remote work is here to stay.

If Chase were expanding at a rate that was large enough to justify a new building, even with people only coming in partially at best, then maybe something smaller might emerge.

However, given they already have a massive building in the loop in a good location, I get it.

Sucks for us hoping for a shiny new tower, but that's the new reality we live in......

JPMC has hired a ton in Chicago the last 3 years. Consider that not every floor in Chase Tower is built out, and the tower already has room for expansion built into it. The company has been struggling with office space issues because of the level of expansion.

This is a major, major renovation for the record.

[Chisouthside]

I got a buddy who works for chase and him and a bunch of people from his general area are working out of the citadel center because of the aforementioned renovations/space issues.

[marothisu]

I got a buddy who works for chase and him and a bunch of people from his general area are working out of the citadel center because of the aforementioned renovations/space issues.

And that building also has space issues LOL

[Chisouthside]

And that building also has space issues LOL

Yeah i asked my buddy about that too after citadel moved their hq to miami and he also feels like citadel hired even more people in chicago after the hq move.

[marothisu]

Yeah i asked my buddy about that too after citadel moved their hq to miami and he also feels like citadel hired even more people in chicago after the hq move.

Yes, I know some people who got hired at Citadel in Chicago AFTER their announcement. I know a guy who moved from NYC to Chicago because he got hired at Citadel. I have an employee whose husband works for Citadel and has for a number of years. We laughed at how badly the media got this wrong thinking they literally moved and shut their office down. They're friends with the CEO of Citadel Securities (Peng Zhao) who has no intention of moving out of Chicago right now too.

[twister244]

JPMC has hired a ton in Chicago the last 3 years. Consider that not every floor in Chase Tower is built out, and the tower already has room for expansion built into it. The company has been struggling with office space issues because of the level of expansion.

This is a major, major renovation for the record.

For sure, and maybe I am wrong, and they are focusing on this first before considering a new tower.

Either way, it's a win for the Loop and downtown in general. This plus Google nearby will work wonders for keeping the loop away from the death spiral we hear about plaguing some areas.....

[Kngkyle]

As nice as it would be to have a fancy new tower somewhere this is probably the better outcome for the city.

[Steely Dan]

This is marvelous news for the central loop!!!

Anyone hear of a dollar value attached to this renovation project?

[marothisu]

For sure, and maybe I am wrong, and they are focusing on this first before considering a new tower.

Either way, it's a win for the Loop and downtown in general. This plus Google nearby will work wonders for keeping the loop away from the death spiral we hear about plaguing some areas.....

Don't forget about Amazon's big expansion that the media doesn't know about yet, which isn't far away from Chase Tower :)


Anyone hear of a dollar value attached to this renovation project?


No but it will take multiple years and it will take nearly 1000 people to do the renovation work. It's a massive project and is surely going to cost tens of millions of dollars, based on what I heard.

[ithakas]

Great to hear – I hope plans for the new Chase Tower plaza consider the Loop's future as a more mixed-use district. I suspect that Monroe will become the most important east-west thoroughfare in the central Loop, connecting the more established mixed-use district east of State to the LaSalle Street corridor. A plaza with more active use could really add to the vitality of the area.

If anyone at or connected with Gensler is reading this, I recommend checking out ChartierDalix's plans for the plaza as part of a re-envisioned, mixed-use Loop.

[Chi-Sky21]

Marothisu you said it has "room for expansion built into it " what did you mean there?

[marothisu]

Marothisu you said it has "room for expansion built into it " what did you mean there?

I have heard there's multiple floors that JPMC controls (they own the building) that are completely unoccupied. Actually there's 6 building permits already for interior demo on floors I've heard are unoccupied today. That's what I mean - 6 floors could easily accommodate over 1000 more people.

People are assuming every floor is occupied or fully occupied and I've heard this is not the case. Multiple floors that have no workers on them right now. The scope of the renovation is basically every floor in the building down to the lower plaza level (below grade).

[ORD2010]

Don't forget about Amazon's big expansion that the media doesn't know about yet, which isn't far away from Chase Tower :)


Uhm, care to elaborate??

[marothisu]

Uhm, care to elaborate??

Amazon hired a bunch of people during the pandemic remotely. Then when Amazon decided to go Hybrid, they told all the Midwest workers not already in Chicago/the area to move to Chicago or find a new job. This is what a friend who's high up there told me last year. They're building out new floors of office in The Loop (or were) IIRC.

[Randomguy34]

925 W Belmont | 11 stories | 210 units | 36 parking

https://www.44thward.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/925-Belmont-1-2048x1153.jpg
https://www.44thward.org/development/major-development-projects/925-w-belmont/

[pip]

^The 925 W Belmont project above.

Wow, Lakeview has changed since I moved there in 2003. From the Punkin' Donuts, all the funky stores, 24 hour restaurants, the 'interesting' bars and such. Not opposed to this development but it does knock down part of what made Lakeview unique and it tells me how much Lakeview has changed and everyone says that as they get older. I get all that :)