CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5 - Page 158

VivaLFuego · #**3141** Posted **Sep 13, 2007, 4:00 AM**

Sort of related to 12+ stories....the demolition taking place for 2520 Lakeview has revealed a pretty great looking chapel with stained glass windows and a copper roof that I never knew existed. Didn't have my camera, but if anyone's interested you should make it over soon because it'll be rubble shortly.

Sir Isaac Newton · #**3142** Posted **Sep 13, 2007, 4:00 AM**

I was on South Wabash today between 13th and 14th streets, and they have started demolishing a 3-4 story building and there was some equipment on the empty, adjacent lot. I believe that this is the site of 1349 South Wabash (although I guess there is the possibility that this could be for Glashaus instead).

Mr Downtown · #**3143** Posted **Sep 13, 2007, 4:27 AM**

^Demo is for Glashaus.

Neuman · #**3144** Posted **Sep 13, 2007, 10:07 AM**

Found this blurb about these projects a few page back in the Near West Gazette article. Still doesn't say if the project is still 12 stories or not..

"Also at the Aug. 22 meeting, Joel Pickus of Pickus Companies updated the audience on the former Fed Ex building and its neighboring development at 1260 to 1300 W. Adams St. In multiple buildings, Pickus is developing more than 74,000 square feet of ground-level retail and 443 residential units on a 660-foot stretch of Madison Street, including 92 residential units and 8,000 square feet of retail in the MOD condominium project alone, which sits directly east.

According to Pickus, this project will place high-quality retail in the heart of the West Loop, where demand is great. The developments will conform to the City Planning Department’s blueprint to create a retail corridor along Madison Street.

"This is something the West Loop does not have and is part of the reason why large retailers have not moved into the area,” Pickus said.

The retail space will provide dedicated indoor parking, lessening street congestion and allowing a more pedestrian friendly retail environment to evolve."

Also, was the delay at MOMO a complete replacing of the glass? Or was their some other reason it has been sitting idle until recently?

honte · #**3145** Posted **Sep 13, 2007, 12:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

Sort of related to 12+ stories....the demolition taking place for 2520 Lakeview has revealed a pretty great looking chapel with stained glass windows and a copper roof that I never knew existed. Didn't have my camera, but if anyone's interested you should make it over soon because it'll be rubble shortly.

Hi Viva,

Keen eye on spotting the little hidden shrine. But I have good news for you - the negotiations with the "evil NIMBY" neighbors resulted in the retention of the building being as a part of this project. So, unless something has drastically changed (which I haven't heard), the building will still be there once the high-rise is complete.

I do not recall what the plan is for its future use, but somewhere in my mind I recall that it is supposed to be open to the public.

2PRUROCKS! · #**3146** Posted **Sep 13, 2007, 2:03 PM**

That is great news! I saw that chapel too...what a hidden gem and was hoping it would be saved.

Steely Dan · #**3147** Posted **Sep 13, 2007, 3:38 PM**

in evanston news:

the 15 story Winthrop Club condo building on the southwest edge of downtown evanston is now officially under construction. Revcon was out there this morning and the caisson rig was spinning away.

brian_b · #**3148** Posted **Sep 13, 2007, 3:57 PM**

Someone with more construction knowledge than me might want to head over to the 155 N Wacker site. I was in a hurry when I walked by this morning, but some sort of drilling machine was in use. They have the construction fence up and, like I said, I was in a hurry so I didn't try to see what they were drilling.

It was big enough to be a caisson drill but (I only saw the top of it) it didn't look anything like the caisson drills I've seen at other sites.

brian_b · #**3149** Posted **Sep 13, 2007, 3:58 PM**

Someone with more construction knowledge than me might want to head over to the 155 N Wacker site. I was in a hurry when I walked by this morning, but some sort of drilling machine was in use. They have the construction fence up and, like I said, I was in a hurry so I didn't try to see what they were drilling.

It was big enough to be a caisson drill but (I only saw the top of it) it didn't look anything like the caisson drills I've seen at other sites.

Mr Roboto · #**3150** Posted **Sep 13, 2007, 7:10 PM**

I know this isnt that big of a deal, but I was looking on the Michigan Ave Tower II site, and the rendering they have shows the building to have 28 stories or so. So does the elevation rendering on emporis. Also, they have floor plans for 26 & 27. So its possible that it could be the same height as the first one and not the 25 stories thats listed on page 1 and emporis.

Wild Onion Mike · #**3151** Posted **Sep 14, 2007, 6:00 AM**

I do not recall seeing this posted earlier, but the crane tower has been erected for Lexington Place at State and Cermak.

Dan in Chicago · #**3152** Posted **Sep 14, 2007, 7:18 AM**

dp

Dan in Chicago · #**3153** Posted **Sep 14, 2007, 7:19 AM**

^ Thanks... yeah, I'll check it out soon. No one's seen the blueprints yet so all the information we have is tentative. I should have some time soon to make the rounds of the Near South construction sites. But I'll go ahead and change the floor count on Emporis now.

Steely Dan · #**3154** Posted **Sep 14, 2007, 1:55 PM**

edit

Steely Dan · #**3155** Posted **Sep 14, 2007, 1:57 PM**

edit

Nowhereman1280 · #**3156** Posted **Sep 14, 2007, 2:45 PM**

Quick Blurb about the Loyola University Water Tower Campus that I learned about yesterday.

The plans for the next building at the downtown campus are currently being worked on and there was just a meeting discussing them yesterday. The next building will be between the new Baumhart Residence Hall and State Street and will require the demolition of several buildings, all of which are currently owned by LUC.

The school is currently planning to continue their massive expansion of both campuses and this next building should be pretty huge. Currently the plans say that it will be entirely owned and occupied by Loyola with the exception of retail. The building will feature more residences (possibly some dormitory style for underclassmen as compared to the apartment style in Baumhart), more classroom space (probably a good deal more than is being put in at the Clare right now), some ammenities for the use of all students (a downtown union, lounge, study rooms, gym/exercise room, another dining hall), and street level retail. There will also probably be a parking garage for students and visitors in the base.

Now here comes the part that I'm sure you'll all love, there are several possible plans for this building floating around at the moment, but the best one of them with the most stuff for students and retail, is somewhere in the neighborhood of 55 stories. Again, there are various plans ranging from like 30 or 35 to 55, but one of the more favorable plans is in the 50's. So, since there will be a lot of retail, Classrooms, and other high ceiling area's. This next building will easily break 600', there is even a slim chance that it could end up at 700, depending on what all they put in it.

Loyola will probably start work on this building when the Claire is almost done, so look for more finalized plans in the next 9-18 months. I will be on the Deans Advisory Council which is the student board that advises the Dean of the business school on student reaction and input and I will obviously push for the taller, more street friendly plans, not that I have that much influence or anything, but I will make points that students want a welcoming friendly street interaction and more ammenities.

Also, in other Loyola news, when this building is complete, Loyola plans on tearing out the segment of Pearson between State and Wabash, landscaping it, and making it pedestrian only. I'm not sure of the timeline on this one, but less streets is always a good thing. Now if they would just fix the backside of 25 E Pearson so its not just a blank wall FRONTING CHICAGO AVE...

VivaLFuego · #**3157** Posted **Sep 14, 2007, 2:56 PM**

^Thanks for the update, Nowhere....sounds exciting. DT Chicago is gradually becoming one of the biggest college towns in the country, and it's great that the Uni's are at various nodes (Loyola in Gold Coast, NU Med and UofC Business in Streeterville, Depaul/Roosevelt/Robert Morris/Columbia in South Loop, UIC and Kent West Loop....etc.)

The x-factor will be the new candidate for worst-alderman-in-the-city, Brendan Reilly. He might think 60 stories is too tall, preferring something more along the lines of 4 stories to be in character with the neighborhood and ease parking concerns.

VivaLFuego · #**3158** Posted **Sep 14, 2007, 2:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by honte

Hi Viva,

Keen eye on spotting the little hidden shrine. But I have good news for you - the negotiations with the "evil NIMBY" neighbors resulted in the retention of the building being as a part of this project. So, unless something has drastically changed (which I haven't heard), the building will still be there once the high-rise is complete.

I do not recall what the plan is for its future use, but somewhere in my mind I recall that it is supposed to be open to the public.

Cool. I'm curious to see how it will be integrated with the finished development, and also curious to see the interior. I'm still holding out hope that this entire project might be an actual decent and attractive execution of LaGrange's faux-po-mo-beax-arts style, of course depending on the materials and attention to detail. But the price points would seem to allow for a fairly impressive structure.

honte · #**3159** Posted **Sep 14, 2007, 3:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

Quick Blurb about the Loyola University Water Tower Campus that I learned about yesterday.

The plans for the next building at the downtown campus are currently being worked on and there was just a meeting discussing them yesterday. The next building will be between the new Baumhart Residence Hall and State Street and will require the demolition of several buildings, all of which are currently owned by LUC.

Thanks for the update. This sounds good (aside from closing Pearson - terrible idea), but with one caveat:

There is a very important building next to the new residence hall, which was an artist's studio and stable before being converted by the architect A. James Speyer into his home. Is there any hope that they might work around this building? I was hoping they hadn't acquired that one too. Maybe when you are on the advisory committe, you can put in a good word for it?

Nowhereman1280 · #**3160** Posted **Sep 14, 2007, 3:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by honte

Thanks for the update. This sounds good (aside from closing Pearson - terrible idea), but with one caveat:

There is a very important building next to the new residence hall, which was an artist's studio and stable before being converted by the architect A. James Speyer into his home. Is there any hope that they might work around this building? I was hoping they hadn't acquired that one too. Maybe when you are on the advisory committe, you can put in a good word for it?

Why don't you like the idea of closing the segment of Pearson? No one really uses it anyhow, other than Cab drivers who tear down it recklessly almost hitting students. Most people who use it are students going to class and completely blocking it for about 15 minutes at a time. It dead ends after state as it is.

Do you mean that building literally adjacent to the new residence hall? I think that one might be save actually, I think they are aiming more for the State and Pearson corner, not being directly adjacent to Baumhart. I am fairly certain they own the whole block, but I think I remember something about reusing at least a couple buildings for something...