CHICAGO: boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v4

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by Chicago Shawn

Yes it was. Lucien LaGrange's Uptown project (with the trapazoid windows) was also approved today.

Thanks Shawn - I forgot about the Uptown high-rise....

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

I saw an Ad on a bus today for Park Monroe, what is the deal with that, are they still planning on massacring that building with a half-redo?

Unfortunately, yes. I really fear the actual result - much like the renderings - will be absolutely cringe-inducing...

[museumparktom]

This new marketing may be tied to Park Monroe releasing lower floors. I went last Summer and looked at the models. They were selling the top 8 floors at that time, with plans to sell another 8 - 10 floors in 2007. I don't recall the floor numbers that were part of the condo conversion.

[spyguy]

http://www.dailyherald.com/search/searchstory.asp?id=291010

Towering Naperville plan revealed

Developer wants to build 188-foot tall hotel, condo towers along city’s northern edge

By Jill Jedlowski
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2007

Naperville’s tallest buildings could rise up along the city’s northern edge if a proposal for a full-service hotel and two condominium towers moves ahead.

At least a handful of residents, however, aren’t keen on their suburb getting some metropolitan flair.

Developers pitched the Tree House at the Ravines, slated for Warrenville and Barkei roads, at the city’s plan commission meeting Wednesday. Plans call for a 188-foot tall hotel with 205 guest rooms, condo towers of comparable height with a combined 286 units, and 14 townhouses.

The condos would be a creative solution to a housing void that would appeal to both young professionals and empty nesters, said James Letchinger, president of JDL Development, which has partnered with Oakbrook Terrace-based Harp Group on the project.

The four-star hotel was billed as the first of its kind in the area, according to Peter Dumon, president of Harp Group. He made a case for the buildings’ height, saying it’s necessary for two reasons: to minimize the horizontal size and to make the hotel eye-catching to motorists.

“We think this is a responsible way to develop it with the least amount of impact,” Dumon said.

Developers vowed to incorporate most of the site’s many mature trees and ravines into the design.

“We want this to be a timeless place and a lasting legacy,” Dumon said.

Roughly 20 residents spoke out on the issue, with half emphatically backing the proposal as an opportunity to add housing variety and a new, sizeable tax source.

Resident Jerry Schlegel said the project was an ambitious amenity planned for an ideal spot — on the town’s border rather than in the center.

An equal number of people, though, worried the legacy left behind won’t be one of pride for the city.

“It’s a shock to see this,” said Pat Miller, president of the neighboring Indian Hill Woods homeowners group. “It truly looks more like Michigan Avenue than Naperville.”

Concerns included neighborhood safety, late-night overflow from the bar and banquet facility, storm water management and local school crowding.

In order to proceed with plans, developers must get the city’s permission to rezone the 13-acre parcel.

Plan commissioner Bill Jepson called the density “totally out of line” and the height “extremely excessive” compared to city code.

Fellow commissioner Mike Brown said that despite concerns about the height, he’s excited about the possibilities.

An attorney for the development defended the proposal, saying that because it’s a planned-unit development, some creative and innovative liberties are not only allowed, but also encouraged, according to the city’s guidelines.

The matter was continued to the April 11 plan commission meeting.

[DePaul Bunyan]

Originally Posted by spyguy

Roughly 20 residents spoke out on the issue, with half emphatically backing the proposal as an opportunity to add housing variety and a new, sizeable tax source.

That's actually surprising, half of the residents who showed up support the project. And why is it bad if it looks like Michigan Avenue?

[i_am_hydrogen]

50 E Chestnut and the Clare

[Chitown]

^Hehe, cool. It's neat to see those two go up so close together.

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by spyguy

http://www.dailyherald.com/search/searchstory.asp?id=291010

Towering Naperville plan revealed

Developer wants to build 188-foot tall hotel, condo towers along city’s northern edge

By Jill Jedlowski
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2007

Naperville’s tallest buildings could rise up along the city’s northern edge if a proposal for a full-service hotel and two condominium towers moves ahead.

At least a handful of residents, however, aren’t keen on their suburb getting some metropolitan flair.

Developers pitched the Tree House at the Ravines, slated for Warrenville and Barkei roads, at the city’s plan commission meeting Wednesday. Plans call for a 188-foot tall hotel with 205 guest rooms, condo towers of comparable height with a combined 286 units, and 14 townhouses.

The condos would be a creative solution to a housing void that would appeal to both young professionals and empty nesters, said James Letchinger, president of JDL Development, which has partnered with Oakbrook Terrace-based Harp Group on the project.

The four-star hotel was billed as the first of its kind in the area, according to Peter Dumon, president of Harp Group. He made a case for the buildings’ height, saying it’s necessary for two reasons: to minimize the horizontal size and to make the hotel eye-catching to motorists.

“We think this is a responsible way to develop it with the least amount of impact,” Dumon said.

Developers vowed to incorporate most of the site’s many mature trees and ravines into the design.

“We want this to be a timeless place and a lasting legacy,” Dumon said.

Roughly 20 residents spoke out on the issue, with half emphatically backing the proposal as an opportunity to add housing variety and a new, sizeable tax source.

Resident Jerry Schlegel said the project was an ambitious amenity planned for an ideal spot — on the town’s border rather than in the center.

An equal number of people, though, worried the legacy left behind won’t be one of pride for the city.

“It’s a shock to see this,” said Pat Miller, president of the neighboring Indian Hill Woods homeowners group. “It truly looks more like Michigan Avenue than Naperville.”

Concerns included neighborhood safety, late-night overflow from the bar and banquet facility, storm water management and local school crowding.

In order to proceed with plans, developers must get the city’s permission to rezone the 13-acre parcel.

Plan commissioner Bill Jepson called the density “totally out of line” and the height “extremely excessive” compared to city code.

Fellow commissioner Mike Brown said that despite concerns about the height, he’s excited about the possibilities.

An attorney for the development defended the proposal, saying that because it’s a planned-unit development, some creative and innovative liberties are not only allowed, but also encouraged, according to the city’s guidelines.

The matter was continued to the April 11 plan commission meeting.

These fools could learn a thing or 2 about Michigan Avenue. I mean seriously!!!

[VivaLFuego]

If anyone's interested I found this photo of the construction site of The Granville on flickr (taken by the user 'abmarfia'):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/abmarfia/423825385/

not sure how to link directly to another user's photos.

[TransitEngr]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Sorta like this? It was published in a issue of Crain's about 3 years ago.

I don't think this will be bad at all if the city takes steps to make the intersection at Canal and Van Buren much more pedestrian friendly. With residents in the post office, they pretty much have to. The strip parking lot on the west side of the post office can be easily converted into a pedestrian promenade, with an underpass or overpass to cross 290.

You know ardecila... I have to be honest, I can't really make out your posting of that rendering to terribly well. The proposed development seems to have a lower center/core than what I'm seeing here above, with multiple small mid-rises facing out onto that one common raised podium with a garden rooftop on that podium...again, similar to The Metropolis in Midtown Atlanta.... but more gothic, grey, bulky, gritty and powerful.

I do agree with you 100%, it could end up being decent, particularly if adjustments are made to lighting, bike paths, benches, planters, streetscaping, etc around there to make it have a SLIGHTLY better pedestrian feeling.

[Nowhereman1280]

Hey, I think I just found a rendering of the Post Office Redevelopment on accident...



^^^That looks like they are doing some major demolition to rennovate it...

[i_am_hydrogen]

Taken today:

[i_am_hydrogen]

PC


MM

[i_am_hydrogen]

[spyguy]

^Thanks for all the photos. Vetro looks like it will come out pretty nice. But Printers Corner and Marquee? Plain disgusting.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by TransitEngr

You know ardecila... I have to be honest, I can't really make out your posting of that rendering to terribly well. The proposed development seems to have a lower center/core than what I'm seeing here above, with multiple small mid-rises facing out onto that one common raised podium with a garden rooftop on that podium...again, similar to The Metropolis in Midtown Atlanta.... but more gothic, grey, bulky, gritty and powerful.

I do agree with you 100%, it could end up being decent, particularly if adjustments are made to lighting, bike paths, benches, planters, streetscaping, etc around there to make it have a SLIGHTLY better pedestrian feeling.

This is basically how Crain's described the rendering in the original article:

The blue masses on the roof actually extend down to ground level or a few floors above it. I believe they are light court atriums with elevator banks. This rendering shows a project by McClier Architects where the North tower becomes office, the South becomes apartments, and the center section is partitioned into 3 or 4 seperate sections with seperate elevator banks, etc. These sections could be used for office, retail, or apartments depending on the choice of the developer.

The atriums I described, and their elevator banks, would extend one story up to the roof, where there would be a large park.

[honte]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

Hey, I think I just found a rendering of the Post Office Redevelopment on accident...



^^^That looks like they are doing some major demolition to rennovate it...

Yes, I believe the most current plan regrettably does call for a substantial demolition of the interior section.

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by honte

Yes, I believe the most current plan regrettably does call for a substantial demolition of the interior section.

Ugg, that ruins the monolithic badassery of the design though!

Couldn't they just use all of the space in the middle and make more money instead of wasting money destroying perfectly good space?

[Alliance]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

Ugg, that ruins the monolithic badassery of the design though!

Couldn't they just use all of the space in the middle and make more money instead of wasting money destroying perfectly good space?

I don't think it ruins it. The buildings not THAT big. I'd kind of liek to see something ala heasrt tower in the middle. Something real modern.

[i_am_hydrogen]

Originally Posted by spyguy

But Printers Corner and Marquee? Plain disgusting.

I know. I felt bad reminding people that these buildings even exist.