CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by spyguy

May Plan Commission

Washington Street[/B]. The applicant proposes to amend the development to increase the
dwelling unit count from 190 to 215. The approved project includes a 250-foot mixed-use
building to contain approximately 14,000 square feet of ground floor retail, dwelling units
and 255 parking spaces. (42nd Ward)

Know what I just realized? These are the same developers of 600 N. Fairbanks.

Isn't this Washington Street project the shitty precast concrete clad building with the piss-yellow and sky blue tones?

If so, this is a total polar opposite of their current project and I'd be so disappointed.

[museumparktom]

Originally Posted by Sir Isaac Newton

I wish your guess was right....but someone mentioned on SSC that they had heard that they are putting a drive-through bank there, with a few parking spots as well.

I have heard that 5/3 Bank is putting a full service bank/drive through and parking. It's a pretty big lot. I can't imagine that this is the best use for it.

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by Sir Isaac Newton

I wish your guess was right....but someone mentioned on SSC that they had heard that they are putting a drive-through bank there, with a few parking spots as well.

That's criminal.

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

That's criminal.

No its not... Not every lot has to be a highrise right away. At least we know it is in the control of a bank (who will readily sell the property for the right price and deal) and will not longer be an empty lot. Its not like they are tearing down a historic building to build a crappy bank, they are turning a lot that is completely useless in its current state into a bank.

Besides, gotta leave some room to build more buildings in the future!

[budman]

It looks like the building at the NE corner of State and Elm is being torn down, does anyone know anything about this project?

Also, does anyone know what is being done to the Cass Hotel at Wabash and Erie? I saw a helicopter this weekend hoisting some materials from the ground to the top of the building and saw construction permits posted at street level.

[woodrow]

Cass Hotel is being turned into a boutique hotel by the Gettys Group, a hotel interior design and marketing/positioning firm. If memory serves, it is going to be their hotel, which is a departure for them. They have done many interior spaces, and much hotel planning, but always as a service provider. They are working with Lucien LaGrange on the Blackstone.

press release -

http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2007_1st/Jan07_GettysMomentum.html

[DANTHEDISCOMAN]

Originally Posted by budman

It looks like the building at the NE corner of State and Elm is being torn down, does anyone know anything about this project?

Also, does anyone know what is being done to the Cass Hotel at Wabash and Erie? I saw a helicopter this weekend hoisting some materials from the ground to the top of the building and saw construction permits posted at street level.

They just added some support beams at the top presumably for future HVAC. Its just being converted into a Holiday Inn Express.

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

No its not... Not every lot has to be a highrise right away. At least we know it is in the control of a bank (who will readily sell the property for the right price and deal) and will not longer be an empty lot. Its not like they are tearing down a historic building to build a crappy bank, they are turning a lot that is completely useless in its current state into a bank.

Besides, gotta leave some room to build more buildings in the future!

A drive-through bank with surface parking in the Central Area? Please. Yeah, gotta leave room to build more buildings, but now that its developed there are further acquisition, demolition, and remediation costs of developing anything there in the future.

I'd be ok (not just ok, but probably even a bit happy) if this were developed as a 1-story building hugging the property line with several (i.e. more than 1)street retail spots, but not a drive-through bank. Banks are murder for pedestrian activity, and putting the drive-through and parking just seals the deal.

If this were out in the neighborhoods, I'd agree with you, but not downtown.

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by budman

It looks like the building at the NE corner of State and Elm is being torn down, does anyone know anything about this project?

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp...dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=11385423&encType=1

You mean the brown building? I have no clue; but how could a demolition so prominent have slipped past everyone?

[museumparktom]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

A drive-through bank with surface parking in the Central Area? Please. Yeah, gotta leave room to build more buildings, but now that its developed there are further acquisition, demolition, and remediation costs of developing anything there in the future.

I'd be ok (not just ok, but probably even a bit happy) if this were developed as a 1-story building hugging the property line with several (i.e. more than 1)street retail spots, but not a drive-through bank. Banks are murder for pedestrian activity, and putting the drive-through and parking just seals the deal.

If this were out in the neighborhoods, I'd agree with you, but not downtown.

Here is an opportunity to solve some of the parking issues in Printers Row and the Upper South Loop. If you look at the site you could easily go up 5 stories with out blocking any views form the building on Federal. Make it attractive and contextual for Printers Row. I'm not sure that retail makes since but there has to be something in addition to the bank. I just think that it's a shame to waist the air rights.

[budman]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp...dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=11385423&encType=1

You mean the brown building? I have no clue; but how could a demolition so prominent have slipped past everyone?

^Yes, I am referring to the brown building. There used to be a flower shop there - Chicago Blooms - and like any good boyfriend, I headed there at the very last minute on the morning of mothers day to get some flowers for my girlfriend (who is a mom). When I got there, there was a sign in the window indicating they had moved to Wells street, and the guy at the Wells street location said that the building on State and Elm was going to be demolished soon. I asked him what was going up there and he didnt know.

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

A drive-through bank with surface parking in the Central Area? Please. Yeah, gotta leave room to build more buildings, but now that its developed there are further acquisition, demolition, and remediation costs of developing anything there in the future.

I'd be ok (not just ok, but probably even a bit happy) if this were developed as a 1-story building hugging the property line with several (i.e. more than 1)street retail spots, but not a drive-through bank. Banks are murder for pedestrian activity, and putting the drive-through and parking just seals the deal.

If this were out in the neighborhoods, I'd agree with you, but not downtown.

How do you know what it is going to look like, my guess is that it is not going to be a huge parking lot with a tiny building in the middle. They could easily incorporate a drive through into a building on the edge of the property line. Besides what kills foot traffic more, and empty lot or a bank? Clearly the empty lot...

[Sir Isaac Newton]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

How do you know what it is going to look like, my guess is that it is not going to be a huge parking lot with a tiny building in the middle. They could easily incorporate a drive through into a building on the edge of the property line. Besides what kills foot traffic more, and empty lot or a bank? Clearly the empty lot...

I don't think that he's saying that the bank is even worse than the parking lot that is currently there. I think he is saying that the bank isn't that much of an improvement over the lot, and that there were much better uses of that space than a bank (mid-rise condos/apartments, a few shops and/or restaurants, etc.)

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

Know what I just realized? These are the same developers of 600 N. Fairbanks.

Isn't this Washington Street project the shitty precast concrete clad building with the piss-yellow and sky blue tones?

If so, this is a total polar opposite of their current project and I'd be so disappointed.

The previous Lucien LaGrange design for this site was sooo much better....

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by trvlr70

Excellent. This one has been in site prep for so long that I wanted to downgrade it back to just "approved proposal". I hope the design has seen a redesign.

The made some slight changes. Overall I like it and think it will bring some more design diversity to State St... you can see the design at www.ecdco.com

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by budman

^Yes, I am referring to the brown building. There used to be a flower shop there - Chicago Blooms - and like any good boyfriend, I headed there at the very last minute on the morning of mothers day to get some flowers for my girlfriend (who is a mom). When I got there, there was a sign in the window indicating they had moved to Wells street, and the guy at the Wells street location said that the building on State and Elm was going to be demolished soon. I asked him what was going up there and he didnt know.

Scary...you mean it is currently under demolition, or that signs point to an imminent demolition? Can anyone shed light on what's planned here?

[SamInTheLoop]

Did anyone attend the meeting last week held by South Loop Nimbys...ahh I mean Neighbors? They at first had built it up to be solely about Park Michigan but then sort of advertised it to be more broadly about future South Loop high-rise development. I'd be very curious to know how it went....hopefully the city is attending these alarmist nimby-fests to educate the masses on smart planning and design...

Please check out the following link - the group is also soliciting feedback on the Park Michigan proposal:

http://66.146.208.98/SouthLoopNeighbors/Development.asp

[honte]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

Scary...you mean it is currently under demolition, or that signs point to an imminent demolition? Can anyone shed light on what's planned here?

Actually, the owners of that building have been trying to tear it down for years now. There was talk of a high-rise back in 2003 there, if not earlier.

I thought this problem was behind us, but I guess not. It's not the greatest building in the area, but that doesn't mean much due to the high quality on virtually every block. I am very sad to see it go.

Now that Natarus is gone, it is time to revisit a Gold Coast landmark district. The downzoning was an obvious "easy out" for Natarus, but a quick drive up Dearborn or State will verify to anyone that this area is still being torn apart.

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by spyguy

May Plan Commission

A proposed Residential Business Planned Development submitted by Banner, LLC, for
the property located at 1431 South Blue Island Avenue. The Application allows for the
construction of a twelve (12) story building with 130 dwelling units and 8,562 square feet
of ground floor retail. The Applicant also proposes to construct a 4,000 square foot TCF
Bank branch with nineteen (19) parking spaces. (25th Ward)

A proposed Residential Business Central Area Parking Planned Development submitted by
210-218 W Lake LLC, for the property located at 200-18 West Lake Street. The Applicant
proposes to develop a 43-story mixed-use building containing 335 rental dwelling units, 152
of which will be efficiency units. The project includes 549 parking spaces consisting of 184
accessory parking spaces and 365 non-accessory parking spaces. The project will also
include approximately 10,000 square feet of ground floor retail. (42nd Ward)

A proposed Amendment to Residential Business Planned Development No. 1005 submitted
by Urban R2 Development Company for the property generally located at 618-30 West
Washington Street. The applicant proposes to amend the development to increase the
dwelling unit count from 190 to 215. The approved project includes a 250-foot mixed-use
building to contain approximately 14,000 square feet of ground floor retail, dwelling units
and 255 parking spaces. (42nd Ward)

I'm very glad to see the proposed Lake and Wells rental tower is moving nicely through the city planning process. I'm looking forward to seeing the first renderings of this one - hopefully a little different in some way from standard SCB rental design (not that they're bad). I'm really excited about this project - I'm excited anytime a new residential tower is proposed for the heart of the Loop....now if we could just get a residential proposal for the NE corner of Franklin and Randolph (instead of another Buck office tower)...things for a total character transformation of this part of the Loop will REALLY be set into motion...


Also, I think the junky 22-story West Loop Lagrange design is deferred until the June meeting...

[honte]

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Someone had mentioned possible implications of the 200 N. Riverside proposal for Wolf Point. I think the much more immediate concern is what happens with the proposal for Reschke's Medici Towers site (as I think Wolf Point is likely to be several years off). The strong (imo) modern design of 200 Riverside will hopefully trigger a rethinking of the design for Medici. I really hope if he does not sell the site or alter the design sufficiently, the city should really guide Reschke to do something much more forward-looking here. I realize there was an almost comical design floating around for Medici, but there was also a more realistic one that was still pomo and very undeserving of a site like Randolph and the River. It needs something more than a Bofill or Lagrange retro love-fest. This age will come to be known as the River development boom, and it's not a time for backward-looking architecture, which is apparently the only kind that Reschke knows how to, or has any interest in doing. The daley administration and dpd need to show some leadership on this issue....Personally I think 200 N Riverside is awesome and meets the challenge...the city deserves no less from the Medici site...

Yes.

Reschke has a nasty habit of holding on to properties while he gets tied up in other ventures. I suppose this is good for him, since the 300 LaSalle sale helped him considerably during the PGRT negotiations, but it's annoying to see these "Prime" sites sit there for so long. Given the track record and the new partnership with Carley, I don't expect to see anything happen with Medici Towers in the near future. (Just for saying this, there probably will be an announcement tomorrow.)

It will be interesting to see what comes of the Carley / Reschke partnership. Carley has had (at least, so he claims) better performance from great architecture than the PoMo junk he built in River North. Reschke, on the other hand, has had more successful projects lately than Carley, so he may have the upper hand if there is a disagreement on the design.

Given that they both have a proven lack of design taste (Fordham Spire being the obvious exception), I am not holding my breath for either of these developments to be great from the design perspective.