CHICAGO | General Developments

[marothisu]

Here's my renovations map so far from June 10, 2017 to yesterday (April 2, 2018). Again, this is mostly dealing with more major renovations whether it's a single family home renovation/rehab or an office remodel downtown. I have tried to not include things that were more minor renovations (i.e. a small bathroom or powder room renovation or just a normal kitchen renovation). I also did not include many, many, many renovation permits that aren't anywhere close to a renovation/rehab/remodel of anything (i.e. putting some wiring in a wall for a few new power outlets).

The legend is on the map itself. Since the language in the permits is not at all standardized, it takes a bit of time to do this. Hoping to have back to January 1, 2017 finished in the near future.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=13a5CVtVSvw8i9CusG3UEpTWCMdLvwX5D&usp=sharing

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

Just noticed fresh boreholes at the mega mall site. Also was just reported today that it will now house a small format Target. Sounds like that project may finally happen after all.

From the Tribune, and what looks like an explanation for the delays on this project. They appear to have lost one of their earlier anchors:

Target will anchor ground-floor retail space in a 220-unit residential building being developed by Fifield Cos. and Terraco Real Estate. XSport Fitness was expected to be a tenant but dropped out, and there is still retail space to fill. Construction is slated to begin this summer, and residential units are expected to be complete in November 2019, according to the developer.

[KWillChicago]

I heard the same this mornimg on nbc news. Opening early 2020.^

[ardecila]

Interesting that they brought Fifield in. I thought Terraco was going it alone initially - they should be applauded for not pitching their usual suburban strip mall crap for an important site along Milwaukee, but clearly a massive mixed-use complex was not something they knew how to execute.

[Skyguy_7]

The "No. 3 Lakefront Bike Path" over the Chicago River is finally out to bid. Most likely a late summer project. Total cost is being estimated at $40 million! F'n broke ass Illinois...

[Via Chicago]

that project has gotta be the most maddening one to watch unfold (or not unfold) in some time

oh, and have we mentioned that all that new blacktop they laid down just north of navy pier last year is (once again) completely ripped to shreds from the winter. how many years in a row are they just going to keep doing the same ineffective thing?

[Skyguy_7]

^ And that would be the definition of insanity. Our local govt is insane.

[XIII]

Originally Posted by Skyguy_7

The "No. 3 Lakefront Bike Path" over the Chicago River is finally out to bid. Most likely a late summer project. Total cost is being estimated at $40 million! F'n broke ass Illinois...

Do you mean the flyover? That's a mostly federally funded project (which is also why it has taken so long)
http://www.navypierflyover.com/faq/

Broke ass Illinois needs more of that delicious federal pork!! Don't let those dixie states suck up all the funding!

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by Skyguy_7

Total cost is being estimated at $40 million! F'n broke ass Illinois...

Does that seem high or low? I have no idea what that should cost...

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by XIII

Do you mean the flyover? That's a mostly federally funded project (which is also why it has taken so long)
http://www.navypierflyover.com/faq/

Broke ass Illinois needs more of that delicious federal pork!! Don't let those dixie states suck up all the funding!

Yep, Illinois is one of the worst in terms of getting federal funds back from the federal government. We pay way more than we receive.

[mark0]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Yep, Illinois is one of the worst in terms of getting federal funds back from the federal government. We pay way more than we receive.

That's because the people we elect are too busy pandering to identity politics instead bringing home the bacon. Give me a good old honest thief any day, at least they got things done.

[sukwoo]

Originally Posted by mark0

That's because the people we elect are too busy pandering to identity politics instead bringing home the bacon. Give me a good old honest thief any day, at least they got things done.

Mostly its because we are a wealthy state (lots of people paying high marginal rates and fewer low-income residents getting welfare) in the north (fewer retirees drawing social security), without many military bases.

[left of center]

^ Unfortunately for us, being smack in the middle of the country means we aren't located near a strategic frontier to necessitate the need for a large amount of military bases, lol.

Kudos to the Chicago region however for maintaining the *ONLY* US Navy boot camp in the US. Not too shabby considering our lack of salt water coastline, lol.

[VKChaz]

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

....
oh, and have we mentioned that all that new blacktop they laid down just north of navy pier last year is (once again) completely ripped to shreds from the winter. how many years in a row are they just going to keep doing the same ineffective thing?

Like around the S-curve? The goal is to eventually replace that entire stretch. Meanwhile, this occasional black top replacement probably isn't very expensive for the Park District. Don't know if there is a better alternative though.

[LouisVanDerWright]

Originally Posted by left of center

^ Unfortunately for us, being smack in the middle of the country means we aren't located near a strategic frontier to necessitate the need for a large amount of military bases, lol.

Kudos to the Chicago region however for maintaining the *ONLY* US Navy boot camp in the US. Not too shabby considering our lack of salt water coastline, lol.

There aren't a lot of places in the world where you can build a Naval base for training your recruits that's 1000+ miles from the ocean in all directions. It's a pretty ideal place for it, just like the Air Force Academy and NORAD in Colorado Springs. Put the core defense infrastructure as far from the front line as physically possible.

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by VKChaz

Like around the S-curve? The goal is to eventually replace that entire stretch. Meanwhile, this occasional black top replacement probably isn't very expensive for the Park District. Don't know if there is a better alternative though.

That jog south of the curve, but yes.

The issue is they don't even start repairing it until June, and then it takes them two months to do it, and of course that coincides with peak useage which makes matters even worse. And then it's made even worse by the never ending flyover constuction. It's comical at this point. The blacktop completely separates every single year. Right now the stuff they laid down last year (which was "rah rah rahed" as part of the Griffin donation) is completely missing in giant sections, and two entire sublayers are exposed (down to what I think is actually the original brick pavers)

This also is to say nothing of the fact that big waves still completely wash out portions of the path at the curve on days with high wind, and often people aren't aware of just how dangerous it is to try and make it around the bend on days like that. It's a horrible design and it's embarrassing it represents probably the most heavily trafficked segment of the entire city bike system. The trail itself should not itself be serving as the defacto break wall/buffer.

[Skyguy_7]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Does that seem high or low? I have no idea what that should cost...

To put it into perspective, about 8 years ago you could build an entire fire station for $3-5 million. It's about $10 million now. A bike path connection shouldn't cost $40 million no matter how it's designed.

[harryc]

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

That jog south of the curve, but yes.

...snip...

This also is to say nothing of the fact that big waves still completely wash out portions of the path at the curve on days with high wind, and often people aren't aware of just how dangerous it is to try and make it around the bend on days like that. It's a horrible design and it's embarrassing it represents probably the most heavily trafficked segment of the entire city bike system. The trail itself should not itself be serving as the defacto break wall/buffer.

This is how we separate out the weak and unwise - I was quite surprised when only a few inches of water knocked me off my bike and almost dragged me back in - a commute to remember.

[Near North Resident]

Originally Posted by Skyguy_7

The "No. 3 Lakefront Bike Path" over the Chicago River is finally out to bid. Most likely a late summer project. Total cost is being estimated at $40 million! F'n broke ass Illinois...

40 freakin million dollars to build a bike bridge?

ok

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by harryc

This is how we separate out the weak and unwise - I was quite surprised when only a few inches of water knocked me off my bike and almost dragged me back in - a commute to remember.

ive had a couple close calls myself and now know better (at best, youre going to be spending the rest of your ride in freezing wet clothes). the issue though is the tourists on DIVVYs and casual riders have no way of knowing that for all intents and purposes, the trail should be considered closed on days like that, and that you need to take one of the prior underpasses to the other side of the drive, then cross back over when youre further north/south. the city needs to be more proactive with signage/warnings as long as this design is in place.

also, as long as we're on the topic of bike trails, it would be really nice if we started deploying repair stations along the path. lots of other cities provide these, i cant imagine the cost would be that much.