CHICAGO: boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v4 - Page 43

Tom In Chicago · #**841** Posted **Feb 3, 2007, 8:14 PM**

Where exactly is this building going? I am not familliar with it. . .

aaron38 · #**842** Posted **Feb 3, 2007, 9:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trvlr70

Who owns the parking lots surrounding the Red line stop at Chicago Av.? They seriously need TOD there.

I've wondered that myself. But if you'll notice, Elysian, 50 E. Chestnut, Claire and that CanyonRanch proposal on Rush are all quite close to that station already.
So once those towers are built and sold, the next round will have to push west, and those lots will surely be targets for development.

Chicago Shawn · #**843** Posted **Feb 3, 2007, 9:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trvlr70

Who owns the parking losts surrounding the Red line stop at Chicago Av.? They seriously need TOD there.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, But I do believe Holy Name Cathedral owns that lot.

Pandemonious · #**844** Posted **Feb 3, 2007, 9:56 PM**

^Yeah, the Church owns the lot North of One Superior Place. It is too bad that northeast corner is just that McDonald's...

Nowhereman1280 · #**845** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 1:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pandemonious

^Yeah, the Church owns the lot North of One Superior Place. It is too bad that northeast corner is just that McDonald's...

Yeah that McDonalds, like every other Mcdonalds that has its own building and is in an urban area, is a total waste of space, its almost as bad as a surface lot. Maybe worse since it encourages the use of surface lots...

VivaLFuego · #**846** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 4:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

Yeah that McDonalds, like every other Mcdonalds that has its own building and is in an urban area, is a total waste of space, its almost as bad as a surface lot. Maybe worse since it encourages the use of surface lots...

To their credit, that McDonald's doesn't have any parking, comes up to the curb, and even has a little mini landscaped park. I mean yeah, it's a horrible underutlization for that location, but its not as bad as the huge parking lot across the street that really should be a mega project since it's almost a whole block. I salivate at the possibilities. University classrooms, a dorm, apartments, a hotel, with 1-2 floors of retail, of course with a direct connection to the subway stop.

Norsider · #**847** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 5:30 AM**

Something I've always wondered: building proposals can be rejected at approval hearings for simply being ugly. Tell me why we can't do the same thing with McDonalds?

Unfortunately, McDonalds owns a lot of its urban and suburban land (not sure about this specific site), so no one's exactly forcing them off it.

ardecila · #**848** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 8:03 AM**

McDonald's will beautify their buildings if given enough pressure.

I doubt, though, that any amount of pressure can make them develop a 40-story McDonald's-anchored condo tower.

Dan in Chicago · #**849** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 8:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trvlr70

Who owns the parking losts surrounding the Red line stop at Chicago Av.? They seriously need TOD there.

I would prefer to see that block made into a park or public square. Every city in Latin America has a Plaza de Armas or Zocalo in front of its cathedral... it would be nice for Chicago to have one too. It's a dense neighborhood, and this would provide some needed relief, as well as encouraging development around it.

The Grand Kingsbury has been changed to Kingsbury Plaza. Also, the south tower of Emerald is under construction now (as of late January). 600 N LSD South has been changed to "on hold" on Emporis, and Leland Park has been added as building 292037.

Mr Roboto · #**850** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 11:51 AM**

Chicago is beautiful and this is easily the most well kept, updated, and organized thread on this or SSC forum. (No offense to the other cities' guys) I have no need to search newspapers and other crap to find info or pics. I just come here. Good job to all who contribute, and suckers like me who just put in their two cents now and then.

nergie · #**851** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 2:43 PM**

I wanted to thank everyone on this board who takes time to keep us skyscraper fantics informed of the happenings in my favorite city. I really love Chicago and its skyline.

I have been fortunate to see NYC, Dubai, HK, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and a whole bunch of other skylines in person. While all are impressive, Chicago and NYC are my two favorite because of the history and variety.

My only wish for this boom or any future booms in Chicao is more TOD along the lines of Toronto. I would love to see 20-30 story buildings along the Metra train tracks and the L in the outer areas of Chicago and the close-in suburbs.

GO BEARS !!!! I need something to remedy this cold I have been battling. My college BB team sure did not help last night choking away first place.

Nowhereman1280 · #**852** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 5:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

To their credit, that McDonald's doesn't have any parking, comes up to the curb, and even has a little mini landscaped park. I mean yeah, it's a horrible underutlization for that location, but its not as bad as the huge parking lot across the street that really should be a mega project since it's almost a whole block. I salivate at the possibilities. University classrooms, a dorm, apartments, a hotel, with 1-2 floors of retail, of course with a direct connection to the subway stop.

Yeah you're right about them not having a parking lot, but I still think that it encourages the use parking lots as a brand in general, though I do have to give McDonalds credit because they are, often surprisingly, quite sensative to community concerns about the looks and designs of their resturants. For example, in my home town, Cedarburg, Wisconsin, which is a cute little historic tourist destination for tons of Chicago people, the McDonalds started getting complaints that their older 1980's resturant (you know the standard brown shigled thing with the flatish roof) was dated and somewhat of an eyesore, and BOOM before you knew it the place had lighter shingles and a new paint job with lighter browns. Amazingly just that little bit of work made that old 80's POS look 10 times better.

Anyhow I agree with what was said about that area needing a nice little park. There really are no parks at all in that area except for Water Tower Square and the parks on the lake. I would like to see a nice quarter block little park somewhere over there, but not right on the Chicago stop, those sites are too valuable.

One other thing, I think that Loyola University may actually own some of the land in that area, though I am not sure. Rumor has it that they own at least one other lot in near, but not exactly adjacent to, the Water Tower Campus, that is earmarked for future dorms or classrooms or both. I wouldn't be suprised if we saw LUC putting up another major skyscraper in the area again in the next few years, they are really working on beefing up the down town campus. Perhaps once the Claire is complete?

brian_b · #**853** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 6:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

Yeah you're right about them not having a parking lot, but I still think that it encourages the use parking lots as a brand in general, though I do have to give McDonalds credit because they are, often surprisingly, quite sensative to community concerns about the looks and designs of their resturants.

I thought that most McDonald's restaurants were franchised and thus the ownership of a particular restaurant is with the franchisee and not the corporation. Regardless, I think they must have some sort of policy to be friendly to the concerns of the local residents.

The McDonald's in question, in my mind, is a pretty good urban design for a stand-alone restaurant. Not only that, but they devoted about half the lot for a landscaped public park, which was certainly not required of them.

Mr Downtown · #**854** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 7:42 PM**

There's some kind of a story connected with that McDonald's and the outdoor plaza, and unfortunately I don't know it. When the Burger King on that corner burned a few years ago, the city announced plans to create a park there--their answer at the time for every unsavory land use from Lincoln Avenue motels to Pacific Garden Mission. In fact, I thought the city actually condemned the old BK site and wanted to do the same to the McDonald's.

I'm not sure what happened, but after a couple years of inactivity, a rebuilt McDonald's opened with a plaza on the corner. Cook County Assessor shows the two corner parcels as "exempt," so I'm guessing the city owns them and leases them to McDonald's.

honte · #**855** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 7:51 PM**

^ Yeah, I was trying to discuss this very issue over in the General Developments thread (and move the discussion away from the Boom Rundown). My recollection of the story is in that thread... curious what everyone remembers, because it still seems really fishy to me.

X-fib · #**856** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 7:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

For example, in my home town, Cedarburg, Wisconsin, which is a cute little historic tourist destination for tons of Chicago people, the McDonalds started getting complaints that their older 1980's resturant (you know the standard brown shigled thing with the flatish roof) was dated and somewhat of an eyesore, and BOOM before you knew it the place had lighter shingles and a new paint job with lighter browns. Amazingly just that little bit of work made that old 80's POS look 10 times better.

Cedarburg is a prime example of historic preservation at work for the clear betterment of the community. And yes McDonald's is sensitive to how their outlets are perceived.

It never ceases to amaze me how many Wisconsin people have ties to Chicago and vise virsa for a multiude of reasons. Especially noticeable when Chicago sports teams do well and their closet allegances surface! Sorry, I can't quite bring myself to say "Go Bears" but a polite good luck anyway.

BVictor1 · #**857** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 7:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

There's some kind of a story connected with that McDonald's and the outdoor plaza, and unfortunately I don't know it. When the Burger King on that corner burned a few years ago, the city announced plans to create a park there--their answer at the time for every unsavory land use from Lincoln Avenue motels to Pacific Garden Mission. In fact, I thought the city actually condemned the old BK site and wanted to do the same to the McDonald's.

I'm not sure what happened, but after a couple years of inactivity, a rebuilt McDonald's opened with a plaza on the corner. Cook County Assessor shows the same ownership as the McDonald's (but still shows the old building).

We are talking about the McDonalds on the northeast corner of State and Chicago correct? I don't remember there being a Burger King there. I remember there was another McDonalds there and it had 2 drive thru's. I believe that the money for the park on that corner was donated by the Franciscian Sister or something, the people building the Clare.

Nowhereman1280 · #**858** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 9:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-fib

Cedarburg is a prime example of historic preservation at work for the clear betterment of the community. And yes McDonald's is sensitive to how their outlets are perceived.

It never ceases to amaze me how many Wisconsin people have ties to Chicago and vise virsa for a multiude of reasons. Especially noticeable when Chicago sports teams do well and their closet allegances surface! Sorry, I can't quite bring myself to say "Go Bears" but a polite good luck anyway.

I think that I will make photo compilation of every building that has been preserved in Cedarburg next time I am home and start a thread about well preserved small towns/small buildings.

Well Milwaukee and Chicago are probably the most connected big cities that don't actually melt right into each other, so its not all that surprising.

Though I will still root for the Bears today (I want them to win so I can see Chicago go buckwild) I am primarily a Packers fan. I love both my homes!

Bucky · #**859** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 9:42 PM**

If I remember correctly, the park at State & Chicago was prt of an arrangement with a developer to donate the land for use as a park in return for a higher density project nearby. Unfortunately, I don't remember which project.

Pandemonious · #**860** Posted **Feb 4, 2007, 9:51 PM**

The lot north of One Superior Place ideally has enough space to build a large tower, and a public plaza. I agree that that area is really lacking open space. I like the comparison made above to the plazas in Latin America, fronting old churches/historic buildings. It would be nice to have more spaces like those here.

That Leland Park building posted above is total crapitecture.