CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5

[observer]

All I can say is that something very special is underway for Medici site...what I have seen of it looks like it will cost too much money though...I dought they would be able to build the current concept...but even a watered down verision of it could be ok. I don't have any images to post....nor do I feel it appropriate to describe what I've seen...other than tall, modern, and glassy.

[spyguy]

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

now if we could just get a residential proposal for the NE corner of Franklin and Randolph (instead of another Buck office tower)

I actually sort of disagree with this.

I'm all for making a 24/7 downtown, but I think we should be careful with prime spots downtown. While the occasional new residential building won't do much harm, filling up spots where potential office towers could go does not sound like a particularly good idea to me. That's why I tend to prefer projects like Randolph Tower, which also has no included parking.

[HowardL]

Does anyone know anything about James Place? There is a parking lot on the NW corner of Huron and Clark. I was walking by the other day and a couple of discrete banners are hanging from the fences giving the website.

It's Flash and I'm lazy, but it looks to be around 17 storeys and stylistic a cross between Superior at LaSalle and 30 West Erie. It's sure to draw complaints, but it looks to have the potential to be some decent, if forgettable, filler.

[APPRAISER]

Hey guys, wasn't there someone awhile ago say that Chicago is going to have a new supertall purposal soon?

[budman]

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?

^I was told that demolition was imminent, and it is certainly not undergoing demolition currently. I didnt take too long to read the sign as I was in some serious need of flowers.

[Dr. Taco]

Originally Posted by observer

All I can say is that something very special is underway for Medici site...what I have seen of it looks like it will cost too much money though...I dought they would be able to build the current concept...but even a watered down verision of it could be ok. I don't have any images to post....nor do I feel it appropriate to describe what I've seen...other than tall, modern, and glassy.

oh, come now! its always appropriate! unless your job is at risk.... which is probably why it wouldnt be appropriate, now that i think of it...

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by HowardL

Does anyone know anything about James Place? There is a parking lot on the NW corner of Huron and Clark. I was walking by the other day and a couple of discrete banners are hanging from the fences giving the website.

It's Flash and I'm lazy, but it looks to be around 17 storeys and stylistic a cross between Superior at LaSalle and 30 West Erie. It's sure to draw complaints, but it looks to have the potential to be some decent, if forgettable, filler.

I know nothing about it but I managed, with some digging into the HTML, to extract a better rendering. The design isn't too horrid - for traditional, it is rather understated.

[HowardL]

^ Aw, brilliant! That's the ticket.

[honte]

Gosh, it was awfully nice of them to paint the protruding parts of the parking podium white. I really can't see them any longer.

[SamInTheLoop]

^

It could definitely be worse. Howard, your description had me cringing a little, and while certainly no prize-winner, it's not completely as bad as I was expecting (how's that for a glowing endorsement?)

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by observer

All I can say is that something very special is underway for Medici site...what I have seen of it looks like it will cost too much money though...I dought they would be able to build the current concept...but even a watered down verision of it could be ok. I don't have any images to post....nor do I feel it appropriate to describe what I've seen...other than tall, modern, and glassy.

Wow - a cause for optimism?

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by spyguy

I actually sort of disagree with this.

I'm all for making a 24/7 downtown, but I think we should be careful with prime spots downtown. While the occasional new residential building won't do much harm, filling up spots where potential office towers could go does not sound like a particularly good idea to me. That's why I tend to prefer projects like Randolph Tower, which also has no included parking.

Definitely get your point, and I agree it wouldn't be the best idea to really crowd out all the best potential future office sites with residential now. I guess I just feel that Chicago has an abundance of developable sites (and a lot of them are still good ones location-wise for office) that several more could be used now for residential and we still wouldn't be in any real danger of running out for future office...

[trvlr70]

Originally Posted by HowardL

Does anyone know anything about James Place? There is a parking lot on the NW corner of Huron and Clark. I was walking by the other day and a couple of discrete banners are hanging from the fences giving the website.

It's Flash and I'm lazy, but it looks to be around 17 storeys and stylistic a cross between Superior at LaSalle and 30 West Erie. It's sure to draw complaints, but it looks to have the potential to be some decent, if forgettable, filler.

Ew....it IS 30 West Erie's ugly twin with a horrible parking podium as well.

[the urban politician]

What ever happened to that big apartment building boom that was predicted several months ago?

Only a few have been announced and we're still seeing a lot of new condo buildings planned

[Mr Roboto]

^Hmm, youre right, and rents have been increasing city-wide (some areas as high as 10% this year I rememeber reading in sundays tribune), so there is some built up demand. Seems like developers are still trying to ride this condo wave to the death. Once its officially done, maybe then the rentals will start coming up. In the meantime, there have even been cancellations, like the curve.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^
I think that investors may actually be hedging bets that the condo boom is going to continue and get a second wind. Interest rates are still historically extremely low and, if inflation keeps coming in at the level it did this month, are posed to drop again. Also, don't forget about the endless waves of retiring baby boomers that should continue pouring downtown over the next ten or fifteen years...

Frankly I don't think the condo boom in downtown Chicago is really at much of a threat. It may slow a bit, but if interest rates drop even lower again, you can bet they start churning out the buildings again...

I hope they do something special with the medicai site...

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

What ever happened to that big apartment building boom that was predicted several months ago?

Only a few have been announced and we're still seeing a lot of new condo buildings planned

It's still coming, just taking a little bit of time to get started......I think by late summer/early fall there should be a lot in the works...

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by Mr Roboto

^Hmm, youre right, and rents have been increasing city-wide (some areas as high as 10% this year I rememeber reading in sundays tribune), so there is some built up demand. Seems like developers are still trying to ride this condo wave to the death. Once its officially done, maybe then the rentals will start coming up. In the meantime, there have even been cancellations, like the curve.

Is The Curve cancellation confirmed? I had heard that but thought of it as only a rumor at the time....the project is still featured on D2 Realty's website...

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by honte

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.

The buildings got 21 residential units and 5 retail spaces. I wonder what the owner has planned? 4 luxury McTowneHomes? Or maybe the approved 20-story Cedar Hotel project means he's considering something of considerable height/density....I hope the latter, but feat that the former is the plan.

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by HowardL

Does anyone know anything about James Place? There is a parking lot on the NW corner of Huron and Clark. I was walking by the other day and a couple of discrete banners are hanging from the fences giving the website.

It's Flash and I'm lazy, but it looks to be around 17 storeys and stylistic a cross between Superior at LaSalle and 30 West Erie. It's sure to draw complaints, but it looks to have the potential to be some decent, if forgettable, filler.

Yeah it's 30 Erie's bastard brother, but I'll gladly take it over the surface lot that is there now....it's of appropriate bulk and density for that lot in that location.