CHICAGO | Metropolis Pointe | 50 FLOORS

chris08876 · #1 Posted **Jan 10, 2025, 2:33 AM**

50-story development planned at 2545 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr
The 370-unit project is dubbed Metropolis Pointe

Quote:

Plans have been revealed for a mixed-use residential development at 2545 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr in Bronzeville. Planned by JC Griffin of Griffin Venture Group, the project would occupy a 6.6 acre site at the northeast corner of the intersection of E. 26th St and S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Designed by Wight & Company and Studio Barnes, renderings show a glassy 50-story tower on the northern side of the site broken down into three vertical sections with rounded corners and an observation deck at the top. A shorter midrise with a complimentary design stands at the southeast corner of the site with a podium stretching across the site.

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https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/50-story-development-planned-2545-s-martin-luther-king-jr-dr

Steely Dan · #2 Posted **Jan 10, 2025, 2:37 AM**

More excitingly, New Buffalo and St. Joe's are apparently getting some mega-talls, according to that rendering!!

Didn't see that coming.

-Nick- · #3 Posted **Jan 10, 2025, 3:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

More excitingly, New Buffalo and St. Joe's are apparently getting some mega-talls, according to that rendering!!

Didn't see that coming.

LMAO! I just caught that in the rendering. Exciting times

ardecila · #4 Posted **Jan 10, 2025, 3:57 PM**

Lots of things working against this project:
-developer is a greenhorn / very young
-South Side location is remote, not ideal to get top rents
-the size of the project makes it even more difficult to finance

But, y'know, sometimes people get lucky on very big bets! Gotta have people who think big.

And while I'm steelmanning this guy, he's probably desperately hoping that the Bears select the Michael Reese site for a new stadium. That would add a lot of buzz to this area and help make investors feel more comfortable. Hell, those investors might include the McCaskeys themselves, they've made it clear they need a lot of surrounding development as a pay-for on the stadium. It would also probably come with a new Metra station, maybe a busway, etc.

SamInTheLoop · #5 Posted **Jan 12, 2025, 5:36 AM**

LOL did we really create a thread for this

SamInTheLoop · #6 Posted **Jan 12, 2025, 5:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

More excitingly, New Buffalo and St. Joe's are apparently getting some mega-talls, according to that rendering!!

Didn't see that coming.

Hey....they're approximately as likely!

SamInTheLoop · #7 Posted **Jan 12, 2025, 5:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

Lots of things working against this project:
-developer is a greenhorn / very young
-South Side location is remote, not ideal to get top rents
-the size of the project makes it even more difficult to finance

But, y'know, sometimes people get lucky on very big bets! Gotta have people who think big.

And while I'm steelmanning this guy, he's probably desperately hoping that the Bears select the Michael Reese site for a new stadium. That would add a lot of buzz to this area and help make investors feel more comfortable. Hell, those investors might include the McCaskeys themselves, they've made it clear they need a lot of surrounding development as a pay-for on the stadium. It would also probably come with a new Metra station, maybe a busway, etc.

This (proposal) is just silliness.

Having stated that, I completely agree with what you say re needing people that think big and sometimes people do get lucky with big bets.

Still, this won't happen. Obviously.

Busy Bee · #8 Posted **Jan 12, 2025, 3:36 PM**

Wasn't "Metropolis" something or other the name of that ambitious Bronzeville proposal way back when?

BuildThemTaller · #9 Posted **Jan 12, 2025, 8:08 PM**

Certainly puts the bronze into Bronzeville.

If this things gets financed, it might be VE'ed into something classy. I kind of dig it as is due to the massing, location, and how it meets the street.

BrickellBased · #10 Posted **Jan 15, 2025, 5:37 AM**

In terms of being built, is there such thing as a negative probability?

SteelMonkey · #11 Posted **Jan 15, 2025, 6:10 AM**

Holy shit thats horrible. Glass silos with copper gutters on top.

oakesd88 · #12 Posted **Jan 15, 2025, 12:47 PM**

Does it ruin it for anybody if I call this a Mini Ren Center gone bronze?

left of center · #13 Posted **Jan 15, 2025, 3:56 PM**

This is incredibly ugly. Hopefully it is heavily redesigned as it goes through the approval process, assuming this is even a real proposal to begin with.

Busy Bee · #14 Posted **Jan 15, 2025, 5:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Wasn't "Metropolis" something or other the name of that ambitious Bronzeville proposal way back when?

Does anyone remember this? I think it was 35th and King maybe. This was like 15+ years ago probably...

Randomguy34 · #15 Posted **Jan 15, 2025, 7:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Does anyone remember this? I think it was 35th and King maybe. This was like 15+ years ago probably...

Found the Tribune article from 1999: https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/05/21/city-lays-groundwork-to-buy-bronzeville-landmark/

Quote:

Originally Posted by oakesd88

Does it ruin it for anybody if I call this a Mini Ren Center gone bronze?

Lol if we do, does that curse the smaller tower for demolition in 50 years?

Busy Bee · #16 Posted **Jan 15, 2025, 7:31 PM**

That might be it... Jeez though I didn't think it was that long ago...

I doubt there's any images still online... All I remember is it kinda looked Vegas-y with a circular crescent shape at the bottom I think. I could swear it was called Metropolis or Metropolis something.

Zerton · #17 Posted **Jan 15, 2025, 8:22 PM**

That roof is a lot of money to spend on a material that you'll never see 90% of.

BanBrokenChatBots · #18 Posted **Jan 16, 2025, 5:53 PM**

Looks lika a tesla coil..

The Pimp · #19 Posted **Jan 16, 2025, 10:24 PM**

This is nothing more than a pipe dream. I sincerely hope this is real.

BnaBreaker · #20 Posted **Jan 16, 2025, 10:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

More excitingly, New Buffalo and St. Joe's are apparently getting some mega-talls, according to that rendering!!

Didn't see that coming.

You didn't hear about the 150 story addition to Four Winds Casino???