CHICAGO: boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v4

[SolarWind]

January 26, 2007

The Grand Kingsbury

[DANTHEDISCOMAN]

In regards to Allure at K Station: I think the smell of chocolate every day when you step out on your balcony (as much of a dream to some) may becoming sickening after awhile

In regards to Grand Kingsbury: wasn't expecting much from the Grand Kingsbury but is really shaping up nice, I think this will be one of those under the radar devolopments (like the Streeter) that really turns out nice in the end, or at least better than most expected. I think they only have 3 more floors before TO.

[Jaroslaw]

It's always a great sunny day in your photos! Easy to forget that Chicago ever gets cloudy. Oh, and the south loop is also very great for walking, isn't it, especially in the 1700 block of S. Mich...

[SolarWind]

January 26, 2007

MoMo


The Fairbanks at Cityfront Plaza

[SolarWind]

January 26, 2007

The Tides

[the urban politician]

^ Your pictures are worth a thousand posts

[Busy Bee]

^I've always wondered, with a project as large and expensive as LSE, who approved those craptastic street lights. It's as if no one even considered that being more particular about street fixtures was warranted in such a high profile project. Who knows, maybe they're just temporary until build out. Or maybe Low-end-berg likes the CDOT impound lot look.

[denizen467]

^ The blank wall on the west face of the Tides goes up much further than it did in the renderings. Hopefully the adjoining townhouses will just be that much bigger (a 7-story townhouse seems kinda unlikely, though).

[Chicago Shawn]

Originally Posted by DANTHEDISCOMAN

In regards to Allure at K Station: I think the smell of chocolate every day when you step out on your balcony (as much of a dream to some) may becoming sickening after awhile

Depends on how much you like chocolate. When I lived at Presidential Towers, I found the smell intoxicatingly delicious. There are two smells from that plant, one smells like sweet cooking chocolate, the other smells like a burning cocoa-coffee mix, which is not quite as pleasent.

[Dan in Chicago]

Originally Posted by Chicago Shawn

What was torn down for that lot? The existing loft building now home to The Chicago School of physc. is not part of the apartment tower plan, which will only go as far south as Carroll Avenue.

I think honte must have been referring to the lot where Lexington Park is going. It's out of sequence, but it makes sense. Which was the official landmark, the Indiana Lofts or the Lexington Hotel?

[museumparktom]

Originally Posted by Dan in Chicago

I think honte must have been referring to the lot where Lexington Park is going. It's out of sequence, but it makes sense. Which was the official landmark, the Indiana Lofts or the Lexington Hotel?

The Lexington Hotel recieved Landmark Status in 1985 and was demolished in 1995.

On the Lofts: I remember some news about the developer being stoped from taking down the copper cornice of the Indiana Lofts. The preservationist got a restraining order. but ultimatly they were lost also.

[Chi_Coruscant]

Great work, Solar Wind! I appreciate your hard work in taking pictures of some of so-called "forgotten" towers u/c.

[a chicago bearcat]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

^I've always wondered, with a project as large and expensive as LSE, who approved those craptastic street lights. It's as if no one even considered that being more particular about street fixtures was warranted in such a high profile project. Who knows, maybe they're just temporary until build out. Or maybe Low-end-berg likes the CDOT impound lot look.

I believe because the street is the city's property the streetlights are just standard issue

I despise low-end-berg just as much, and love the nickname
but I don't think he is the culprit here

[Monkey36]

A couple of pics from a morning walk today. I also have a couple of pics of Cityfront, but as Solarwind said, I figure I'll post them since I took 'em.

Anyway:

Public park just south of AMA building where there was discussion of a possible hotel going



600 N. Fairbanks looking east (worst pic of the morning)


Avenue East from the NE

From NE again


Cityfront from SE

Closeup of glass


Parkview West tower (at the bottom left of the tower you can see 600 LSD south crane and a couple of floors; just right of mid tower you can see Parkview East tower crane)


Front crane is Parkview East tower crane, back is 600 LSD south crane and 600 LSD north tower


Future sight of Michigan/Randolf tower (now a restaurant)


Library Tower


(also pics for trump and OMP)

[BorisMolotov]

What hotel is going just south of the AMA Building?
I guess i must have missed this one...

[Monkey36]

Originally Posted by BorisMolotov

What hotel is going just south of the AMA Building?
I guess i must have missed this one...

Here is the discussion that went on about it (sorry, left out the authors names, hope that doesn't offend anyone):

Does anybody know anything about a proposed hotel at 505 N. State?

Is that the parking lot on the NW corner of Illinois and State? I think that's the only lot available around there as the opposite corner is the AMA. I walk by there all the time (granted it's on my way to work at night) but I haven't seen any cars there in a while. It'd be nice to see that flat surface go. If it is indeed what I'm thinking of.

^No, it is the little park/plaza next to the AMA building (address of AMA building is 515 N. State) at the north east corner of Illinois and State, and the hotel was supposed to be 22 stories. Havent heard anything in 6 months or so.

where are you getting the 22 story figure from? both page 1 and emporis have the aloft hotel/condo proposal for that site pegged at 34 floors. has the project gone through a downsizing?

^Sorry, that 22 floor number was a misprint What I know is this - I work in the AMA building on the top (28th) floor, and one of my co-workers, who is in charge of our lease, told me that Buck's people told him that the hotel that is being built on the adjoining property will not affect our view. If this information is correct (and I had this conversation about 6 - 9 months ago), then that 34 floor number would be wrong. I will try and get more details.

not neccessarily. you're on the 28th floor of an OFFICE building, which almost always have much higher floor-to-floor heights than residential/hotel buildings (though the gap has been closing a bit in the ultra-luxury market), so it's entirely conceiveable that a 34 floor hotel/residential building next door will not block the view from floor 28 of the AMA bulding.

[DANTHEDISCOMAN]

^^Since this was brought up again I will bring my question up again from a month or so ago, I noticed soil testing rigs on the State and Illinois North west surface lot about a month ago that currently is home to the ATT fleet of vehicles. It seems something is immenent but just below our radar?

[Tom In Chicago]

The only thing I can find redeeming about this building (Allure at K Station) is its height and location. . .

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by Tom In Chicago

The only thing I can find redeeming about this building (Allure at K Station) is its height and location. . .

What is it about this 'contemporary deco' style that P/H finds so "alluring"? This building, the River Place buildings, Vision on State, the Michigan Ave. Tower buildings...enough already!! I'm still waiting to see the design of the next Fifield building at K Station (31 stories, I think rental)...I'm not sure if P/H is designing it but frankly I hope not......I want to see much more forward-thinking innovation in this wide open area - it has a lot of potential for some showpiece designs - think Erie on the Park...

[Steely Dan]

here's a better image of the 16 story 22nd/york road development (aka the clearwater) in oak brook that spyguy posted over on SSC.



highrises fronted by strip malls........... gotta love suburbia.