CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5

[jc5680]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

01/12/08

That shot of OMP is great. It is a bit weird to take it out of the visual context of the rest of the city. It is like it could be Indianapolis or some other small metropolitan area.

//I don't know what Indianapolis' skyline looks like, just thought it looks like it could be a centerpiece to a number of other city skylines.

[honte]

Originally Posted by denizen467

Rather ironic you extol this example; aren't you some of the same folks who usually rail against facadectomies?

Huh? Well, I didn't know I was plural. Maybe all of my schizophrenic personalities have finally come to stand on their own.

Anyway, no I am not extolling anything. I think the Platt Luggage facade episode was an unbearable mess - possibly one of the most visible examples of McPier's excess and miserable planning process. And I can't stand where they put it, covering up a decent piece of modern architecture, and slapped on there like a mask at a masquerade party.

But, I do think this is part of the city's motivation to protect the American Book building. They clearly were convinced to place the Shaw facade next to his other work, which is landmarked, in order to create a kind of historic "district" at this intersection.

Consider the scenario: Waste boat-loads of money moving a facade, which had already had a lot of money poured into it when it was facadectomized in situ. Then, endorse the demolition of 1/3 of the "district," losing a real building, and one whose architectural merit is probably even finer? I can see the scandalous Sun-Times article now...

Originally Posted by denizen467

I agree they are far from ideal, but I think they are a reasonable last resort. For example, I derive plenty of pleasure walking along the SW corner of Madison & LaSalle -- and the fact that it's now a modern skyscraper brings high quality uses and vitality to that lovely facade.

For the record, I am a facadectomy "moderate." I don't necessarily like them, but I know they are a part of reality and sometimes the facade is where most of the architectural merit is. I was in favor of Legacy project, for instance.

However, I do detest passionately the building you mention, the old Otis Elevator building. If you want to discuss further, let's do so over in the State of Chicago Architecture thread.

[APPRAISER]

Does anyone have a picture of the new building being built at K station?

[Dan in Chicago]

The Columbian is listed as completed now on Emporis, so Chicago has its 90th completed 500-foot building. It is also the second-tallest brick building in the city, behind 1000 Lake Shore Plaza (which has brick infill broken up by a concrete frame).

I would like to find out which of the two K Station apartment towers is under construction, or is it both? 541 West Cornelia was also changed to never built.

Originally Posted by Sir Isaac Newton

I think we had a record number of construction starts in 2007? (does anyone know the exact number?) While I would imagine that there will still be a solid number of construction starts in 2008, it won't be anywhere close to what it was in 2007.

There were 31 construction starts of high-rise buildings in Chicago last year. It probably is a record, but there might have been a better year in the mid-1920s or the 1960s. Here's a full listing:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=3246771&postcount=5039

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by honte

Huh? Well, I didn't know I was plural. Maybe all of my schizophrenic personalities have finally come to stand on their own.

I was referring to both you and the person you were quoting (though actually I can't recall how against facadectomies he is); you can see I made a (less than successful) attempt at a nested quote.

Originally Posted by honte

For the record, I am a facadectomy "moderate." I don't necessarily like them, but I know they are a part of reality and sometimes the facade is where most of the architectural merit is. I was in favor of Legacy project, for instance.

Glad to hear this.

Originally Posted by honte

However, I do detest passionately the building you mention, the old Otis Elevator building. If you want to discuss further, let's do so over in the State of Chicago Architecture thread.

I'm not necessarily a huge fan of this one in particular; I just held it out as an example of a less-than-good facadectomy that nevertheless contributes to the streetscape, at least, I believe, to the average person.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by Dan in Chicago

The Columbian is listed as completed now on Emporis, so Chicago has its 90th completed 500-foot building. It is also the second-tallest brick building in the city, behind 1000 Lake Shore Plaza (which has brick infill broken up by a concrete frame).

I would like to find out which of the two K Station apartment towers is under construction, or is it both? 541 West Cornelia was also changed to never built.



There were 31 construction starts of high-rise buildings in Chicago last year. It probably is a record, but there might have been a better year in the mid-1920s or the 1960s. Here's a full listing:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=3246771&postcount=5039

^ Thanks, Dan. But you've gotta wonder if 2007 is a record year for construction starts in sheer height of what's being built, compared to any other year in Chicago history.

Along with smaller towers, 2007 kicked off a handful of 600+ footers, 2 800+ footers, and a 2000 footer!

[aaron38]

Originally Posted by APPRAISER

Does anyone have a picture of the new building being built at K station?

Originally Posted by SolarWind

Clinton-Kinzie

It's this one, correct? Look to be about 400'

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Is the drooling emoticon being repurposed to represent barfing?

I gotta agree. Sure, OMP is nice. But that picture just goes to show how we are being nickle and dimed to death.

There is way more chaff than wheat coming out of this boom, unfortunately. And its to our detriment.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

I gotta agree. Sure, OMP is nice. But that picture just goes to show how we are being nickle and dimed to death.

There is way more chaff than wheat coming out of this boom, unfortunately. And its to our detriment.

^ Busy Bee wasn't even remotely talking about OMP. He was commenting on an earlier post where one expressed his opinion about the food at LaStrada

[Jaroslaw]

Roeder writes today that the Ritz Carlton partners are claiming that they now have a loan (from Helaba Bank, Germany) and that construction will start in a few weeks. And that still at 40% but "foot traffic steady" at the sales center. Cribchatter says that Henig's Footwear now has signs saying they're moving over to the Hancock.

[aaron38]

Originally Posted by Jaroslaw

Roeder writes today that the Ritz Carlton partners are claiming that they now have a loan (from Helaba Bank, Germany) and that construction will start in a few weeks. And that still at 40% but "foot traffic steady" at the sales center. Cribchatter says that Henig's Footwear now has signs saying they're moving over to the Hancock.

I can't remeber the name of the red building with the curved roof, but the render looks like the Ritz will be right up against it. Is there space between those towers?

[BVictor1]

^Omni Hotel.

There's maybe 20' between them.

[Sir Isaac Newton]

I was trying to make an educated guess as to how many construction starts we'll have in 2008. I called a bunch of sales offices too, to see when they expected groundbreaking on their towers (although I guess you do have to take what dates they give with a grain of salt). I am guessing that there will be 18 construction starts in 2008....here is my list of buildings I think will break ground this year....I'm sure that at least a couple of them will not break ground, but there will probably be at least a couple of highrises not on my list that will get things together really quickly and break ground in 2008 (ala 900 South Clark). Also, if I am missing anything or if anyone else has any other buildings to add to the list, feel free to do so! Here is my list so far:

- 555 West Kinzie (one of the K-Station towers that already broke ground about a week ago)
- 365 North Jefferson (the other K-Station tower that broke ground about a week ago. Also, both of these towers aren't on Page 1 yet)
- Walton on the Park, south tower (supposedly is breaking ground today, according to the Yo)
- Mandarin Oriental (sales agent said that they are breaking ground in the next 60 days...but at the same time, given this proposal's history, MO is definitely not a sure bet)
- 565 Quincy (the sales agent has said that they have been working on the lofts for awhile and that the vertical expansion is probably going to begin soon).
- The St. Clair at Cityfront Plaza (the sales agent said they would break ground at the end of this month)
- Ritz-Carlton residences (someone just posted on here that they heard they secured their construction loan, and on their website, they say that construction will begin in February)
- Lincoln Park 2520 (the sales agent said they will break ground in April. Also, I am counting this as 1 building, but should it count as 1 or 3?)
- 1349 South Wabash (the sales agent said they will break ground in February)
- Imperial Plaza Hotel (the sales agent said they will break ground this summer)
- Eco18 (the sales agent said they are hoping to break ground in March. Also, this building is 12 stories tall but is not listed on Page 1 yet)
- Peshtigo (the sales agent said that they will break ground this summer)
- Park 1000 (the sales agent said that they will break ground in a few months and that deliveries will begin in the winter of 2010, but she didn't sound overly convincing)
- 200 North Riverside Plaza (articles I have seen have said that they plan to break ground this fall)
- 215 West Washington (haven't heard anything specific, but this seems like a viable project that also doesn't need any presales to start construction, given that it will be a rental tower)
- 200 West Lake (same as 215 West Washington)
- 824 South Clark, tower 1 (read an article saying that Avalon Bay will break ground on the first of two 42-story towers, this late fall. It will be on the same site that Lennar planned to build 3 condo towers. Also, these 2 towers aren't on page 1 yet)
- X/O, north tower (the sales agent sounded confident that they would begin construction in the middle of this year)

[trvlr70]

I appreciate all your effort.

[Nowhereman1280]

I think you are forgetting Admiral on the Lake, which has demolition completed and is on the verge of starting cassions... That one looks like a sure go,

[Sir Isaac Newton]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

I think you are forgetting Admiral on the Lake, which has demolition completed and is on the verge of starting cassions... That one looks like a sure go,

I guess my number is 19, now

In regards to Walton on the Park, the Yo is now reporting that groundbreaking occurred on the south tower at 11 AM today...

[aaron38]

Park 1000? They've been saying that's a few months away since 2003. (Go look at v1 of the boom thread). If it happens great, but I wouldn't bet on it.

You should add 319 E. Illinois however, the rental tower N of W=A. They're already doing soil testing.

Oh, and Lincoln Park 2520 is one building structurally.

[Sir Isaac Newton]

Originally Posted by aaron38

Park 1000? They've been saying that's a few months away since 2003. (Go look at v1 of the boom thread). If it happens great, but I wouldn't bet on it.

You should add 319 E. Illinois however, the rental tower N of W=A. They're already doing soil testing.

Oh, and Lincoln Park 2520 is one building structurally.

Park 1000 was probably the tower that I am least confident will get built in 2008 (if at all), of the ones on my list. Like I mentioned, I'm sure at least a couple of the buildings on my list will not start construction in 2008 and a couple buildings not on my list will come out of nowhere to start construction in 2008.

I actually remembered an article from a couple weeks ago that Fifield is planning on breaking ground on 601 West Monroe this summer (even though they haven't signed any tenants yet), which would add another one to the list, in addition to 319 East Illinois and Admiral on the Lake.

Does anyone know more info about these buildings that at least have a possibility of breaking ground in 2008? 161 West Kinzie, the Huron Club (I couldn't get a hold of their sales agent), the Rush Hospital expansion, 150 East Ontario, the Union Station vertical expansion, the 3 hotels on 501 North Clark that Albert Friedman is planning on building, and the New City highrise by North & Clybourn? Also, I think there are a few other office buildings in the loop (eg - Wacker Plaza) and a few hotels in River North (eg - Hyatt) that mentioned in articles that developers are planning - does anyone have any insight as to if any of these might start construction in the next year?

[2PRUROCKS!]

Mr. Newton, I would add Millennium Park Plaza and possiblely 680 N. Rush to your list as well. MPP will almost certainly happen this year and if 680 is going to make it, it would most likely start this year. They need to close on the land or let it go so the church can go through with whatever renovation/redevelopment plans they have.

[BVictor1]

There's a meeting at the Chicago Architectural Foundation tomorrow, but I couldn't find out what it was on there website. Someone posted it on this thread about 1-2 weeks ago, but I didn't want to go through 20 pages of posts to find it.

Can the person who posted it original re-post it?