EV motors typically have a few moving parts. Internal combustion engines have HUNDREDS.

https://www.nrdc.org/experts/madhur-...c-vehicles-101

Trust me, the auto supplier network is poised for a lot of pain.

Anyhow, we can discuss this elsewhere if necessary

Not nearly as many parts, and the supply chain for EVs includes a lot more electronics and less metal castings/forgings. Those are made by different companies altogether, and they are not concentrated in Chicago. Electrification will absolutely require a careful pivot by Chicago firms to avoid becoming obsolete.

This is actually part of the environmental benefit of EVs. Fewer moving parts mean less wear/tear, less dust and chemicals ending up on the roads, etc. If they can just work on the tires and brakes they will eliminate pretty much all pollution from the vehicles themselves.

^ Please visit the Chicago Economy thread for another response to the topic of EVs and the regional economy

The Fulton Lab Building is decking what looks to be the 14th or so floor. I may not know what I am looking at, but it looks like framing for the curtainwall is starting to go up now too. I wouldn't imagine they would be glazing this in the field - but I don't know what all these large posts are for. On the north side of the building, I think I spotted the first panel getting installed in front of them. Does anyone know the system they are using? High performing for Lab type building, no?

^ The renderings certainly make it look like a stick-built system, it looks pretty flat/basic and there are slab edge covers so it's probably not curtain wall.

https://rejournals.com/wp-content/up...s-3-scaled.jpg

Of course these mullions are too thin to be believable, so maybe the rendering is not the best way to judge...

The residential community near UIC bounded by Ashland, Roosevelt, Taylor, and Loomis has received 14 permits in the last month to rehab what looks like all the buildings. Total combined cost is nearly $17.8M according to the permits. I believe this is called Circle Park Apartments - across from Addams/Medill Park and also the Medical District.

New construction building permit was finally issued for the parcel on Clark St just south of Fullerton that's sat vacant for the last few years. It used to be a Walgreens but was torn down.

Plans are for a 5 story, 35 unit building with ground floor retail which was approved by the commission in 2018:

Latest rendering I can find:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbKYUuAX...pg&name=medium

Walgreen's seems to be retreating from their urban-format stores, in Lakeview at least. The Clark/Broadway & Belmont/Sheffield locations have both closed in the last year. Perhaps their market share has been taken from the small-format Targets that have been opening in the area (and from Amazon).

A few items on the ZBA agenda for February:

1) New 6 story, 13 unit + ground floor commercial in place of the "Phil's Tavern" at Carpenter & Madison:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/6+...7!4d-87.653425

2) New 6 story, 50 unit building + 13 parking spaces at Lawrence & Central Park (3559 W Lawrence). Currently a vacant lot

https://www.google.com/maps/place/35...!4d-87.7180773

3) New 5 story, 7 unit building with 13 parking spaces on vacant lot at 3015 N Southport just north of Lincoln & Wellington:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/30...67!4d-87.66335

I wonder if it's a broader format shift or what. I will say however that just a cursory glance of Walgreens' performance seems to indicate it's a real mess. Real nice work, Stefano Pessina. So who knows?

Optima Lakeview

Hard to perceive in these photos, but this thing feels massive here. Definitely glad the height was chopped (though, the previous design would have had a bit more relief from the street).

https://i.imgur.com/kPsGwQJl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/J2IFQxNl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/SXuA7gTl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vsXXSYIl.jpg

Nah, the height wouldn't have been oppressive. There's 50 story skyscrapers two blocks away for Satan's sake!

It’s a bit frustrating they couldn’t have set it back like, 2 feet though for a wider sidewalk. Might just feel that way with the scaffolding, but it feels very close to the street, and the sidewalk is too narrow for a restaurant seating area here as is.

Still it’s 50000000000000x better than the treasure island! Here’s hoping the hotel next door gets going quickly, what a change for that little stretch!

Except that tower is along Inner LSD, and it doesn't directly abut small-scale buildings. I tend to agree that the approved development massing and height is actually better than the original proposal. I definitely agree that the Broadway/Addison area is getting much, MUCH better with this development!

Aaron (Glowrock)

I work very closely with WBA / Wag in my job; i've asked them about this and was told the stores aren't profitable.

does anyone know what the deal actually is with the land situation at 32nd/kedzie. this is the site that almost a decade ago st anthony eyed for their new hospital. this article seems to have a decent recap from last summer. this seems to imply both cinespace and st anthony have been battling for the land, and ultimately neither of them were awarded the sale by the city
https://southsideweekly.com/final-pi...thonys-puzzle/

right now, there are squatters in the final building waiting to be demolished trying to turn this into a housing debate. that aside, this seems to imply st anthony owns the lot. is this a different parcel altogether, or did the sale actually go through?

https://southsideweekly.com/final-pi...thonys-puzzle/

maybe im just missing something in this timeline.

further, i know st anthonys finances are strapped last i read. how does that impact the overall plan here, or is that just one of many unknowns at this stage?

My render studio completed what will be the first of many animations, showing off the portfolio of Adjustable Concrete Construction. This first animation focuses on their new office work in the west loop. Thought Id share this with you all.


• Video Link

Yeah the squatters are in Azteca Mall (3200 S Kedzie) which was purchased privately by St Anthonys. The Washburne site (3100 S Kedzie) is still owned by CPS.

so was the 3200 lot ever part of their original vision? do they still need 3100 in order to move forward, or is this just landbanking on the off chance they can get the city to change their minds and combine these together?

im a bit lost what the city intends for this lot if theyve rebuffed both cinespace and st anthonys

Focal Point was supposed to include everything from 31st down to the RR tracks. St Anthony's bought maybe 60% of what they need from private sellers but the city has been holding up the sale of the Washburne parcel.

I dunno why you think the city has an alternate plan for the site. Since when has the city ever been proactive about planning? To me it seems like a typical case of Chicago politics and backroom dealing, coupled with a greenhorn alderman who doesn't want to anger the two big organizations vying for the land (or three if you count the Mi Villita people).

Focal Point always seemed like a nice idea to me, but it doesn't seem like it could be remotely profitable. I think part of the city's (or the alderman's) reluctance to sell to them is the fear that St Anthony's is just pretending they can pull it off, then they will come back with their hand out again for TIF money, tax breaks, etc when the obviously money-losing project doesn't pencil out.