CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5

[lalucedm]

Originally Posted by hoju

I hope that we see the demise of that BP gas station at Wabash/Roosevelt someday soon. With all the density that roosevelt/michigan will be seeing in the next few years(columbian, museum parks, two more rumored 80 story buildings on the southeast corner) and 3 or 4 grocery stores coming up in the area, that BP will soon be one of the most underutilized parcels in the city.

We've talked about this before... but that seems pretty unlikely because that station is almost brand new. There aren't a lot of gas stations near downtown, so with all the yuppies and their cars in those gleaming new towers, that BP is probably making a killing. It's also one of many services that people expect easy access to in a neighborhood where they live. Since people don't tend to build gas stations into the base of skyscrapers (though that would be cool and...er...slightly dangerous), we have to have one on it own underutilized lot somewhere, so it might as well be there. I don't like it either, but at least it's a fairly decent looking gas station. If only it was one of those cool solar-powered gas stations BP is doing elsewhere.

The Columbian could have been a lot worse. I kinda think that brick exterior makes it a nice change from all the precast and all-glass towers we're seeing. Though there are more unique materials they could use. Certainly better than Vision on State a block away *puke*

I figured that little one-story building on the corner of Roosevelt/Wabash next to the Columbian was a goner for sure. Apparently it's being renovated, which is to see. While I like skyscrapers and density, and this is a corner that could accomodate quite a bit of it, that is a classy little building that deserves better than a bulldozing.

[TransitEngr]

Originally Posted by lalucedm

We've talked about this before... but that seems pretty unlikely because that station is almost brand new. There aren't a lot of gas stations near downtown, so with all the yuppies and their cars in those gleaming new towers, that BP is probably making a killing. It's also one of many services that people expect easy access to in a neighborhood where they live. Since people don't tend to build gas stations into the base of skyscrapers (though that would be cool and...er...slightly dangerous), we have to have one on it own underutilized lot somewhere, so it might as well be there. I don't like it either, but at least it's a fairly decent looking gas station. If only it was one of those cool solar-powered gas stations BP is doing elsewhere.

The Columbian could have been a lot worse. I kinda think that brick exterior makes it a nice change from all the precast and all-glass towers we're seeing. Though there are more unique materials they could use. Certainly better than Vision on State a block away *puke*

I figured that little one-story building on the corner of Roosevelt/Wabash next to the Columbian was a goner for sure. Apparently it's being renovated, which is to see. While I like skyscrapers and density, and this is a corner that could accomodate quite a bit of it, that is a classy little building that deserves better than a bulldozing.

It is solar powered.... I'm not sure to what extent... especially with all of these new towers blocking its direct sunlight... but if you stand on the Roosevelt platform and look at the roof you'll see solar cells galore.

Although I'd prefer to see something else.... I agree that we will probably see this here for a LONG time.

EDIT: I guess it's barely "on topic" since we're talking about building a skyscraper here... but I'd personally recommend that this "gas station" stuff be taken someplace else.

[Chicago Shawn]

Originally Posted by TransitEngr

It is solar powered.... I'm not sure to what extent... especially with all of these new towers blocking its direct sunlight... but if you stand on the Roosevelt platform and look at the roof you'll see solar cells galore.

Although I'd prefer to see something else.... I agree that we will probably see this here for a LONG time.

EDIT: I guess it's barely "on topic" since we're talking about building a skyscraper here... but I'd personally recommend that this "gas station" stuff be taken someplace else.

Move it 6 blocks west to the suburbanized row of crap over at Roosevelt and Canal. This would be a great redevelopment site because of the required excavation of the underground storage tank and contaminated soil will provide an incentive for building below-grade parking and thus elimination of a parking podium for the future high-rise.

[budman]

Originally Posted by headcase

She is definitely one of them. Did you read this thread before or after my post in the Spire thread?

Steely I agree completely Darwin rocks!

SSDD

^I read this thread before I read the Spire thread!

[honte]

Originally Posted by lalucedm

I figured that little one-story building on the corner of Roosevelt/Wabash next to the Columbian was a goner for sure. Apparently it's being renovated, which is to see. While I like skyscrapers and density, and this is a corner that could accomodate quite a bit of it, that is a classy little building that deserves better than a bulldozing.

Yeah, that building was part of the deal the city made with the developer of the Columbian. Apparently, Daley for some reason has a fondness for it, so it was saved.

[Mr Downtown]

Originally Posted by Chicago Shawn

the required excavation of the underground storage tank and contaminated soil will provide an incentive for building below-grade parking and thus elimination of a parking podium for the future high-rise.

Huh? Are you thinking that someone building a 35-story highrise would ordinarily have trouble excavating a 20-foot-deep basement? To eliminate a parking podium, they'd have to go seven or eight levels deep, which presents a serious dewatering problem, what with that pesky lake having originally been only 400 feet away.

Besides, that gas station is new enough that double-hull tanks were required, to prevent any soil contamination.

[Norsider]

Originally Posted by honte

I am not "anti-developer." I am anti-stupidity and anti-greed. Some developers are "with it" and make their cash while improving the city, while others are simply shrewd businessmen out to make the greatest buck in the quickest amount of time. Of course, most of the cases fall somewhere in between. This is where the discussion and debate begin, and I can't see any harm in it.



If this were universally true, how can you explain the first and second Chicago School? These are classic examples of great, innovative, artistic buildings that met economic needs.

Your points are well taken, Honte. It's unfortunate that some developers don't seem to realize that there is real economic benefit in creating goodwill with the surrounding area. Still, there are some real turds in this city and it seems all they have to do is stick around long enough and they attract a band of supporters. A developer tears down something historical but obsolete and builds a real turkey - 45 years later, it's a family favorite. 55 E Monroe for example (wretch!).

Regarding the Chicago School, I believe the proliferation of windows and light sources was a market advantage that was developed after the advent of the steel frame. Office dwellers wanted more light, and the steel frame gave developers the ability to give it to them. As for the deco on the outside of the building, that's all marketing too. Wouldn't you rather go to work in a beautiful building? The problem nowdays is this: Say you have $1000 to build a new office tower. A good chunk of that is going to HVAC, electric, life safety systems, etc. that simply didn't exist at the start of the century. The developers back then had the same $1000 to play with, but without all the building systems eating up the cash, they were able to spend it on the exterior in order to increase their market advantage.

I don't have any data, but I wouldn't be surprised if this were true: As building systems became more and more prevalent, office construction slowed as fewer developers could afford the expensive building systems AND the expensive exterior. The pace of construction only recovered when modern curtain wall technology emerged made the exterior relatively cheap in relation to the increasingly demanded building systems.

[Marcu]

Originally Posted by lalucedm

There aren't a lot of gas stations near downtown, so with all the yuppies and their cars in those gleaming new towers, that BP is probably making a killing.

I think the station caters mostly to cabbies. The yuppies that live in the area fill up in the burbs when visiting the folks. There aren't many stations near by and the cabbies serving downtown shouldn't have to drive out to river north to fill up. It's not the best use of land, but hey it's Roosevelt Road. What else did you expect?

[ardecila]

I expect gas stations over in the Roosevelt/Canal strip. That area sucks anyway. Let's not have a gas station so close to the park.

[honte]

^ Sure, I wouldn't mind seeing it disappear. Once the land value gets high enough, it might happen.

I never would have thought that so many of the stations in River North would close and be redeveloped. Remember when the Amocos on Dearborn and LaSalle both closed within a few weeks of each other (maybe something to do with BP takeover)?

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by honte

^ Sure, I wouldn't mind seeing it disappear. Once the land value gets high enough, it might happen.

I never would have thought that so many of the stations in River North would close and be redeveloped. Remember when the Amocos on Dearborn and LaSalle both closed within a few weeks of each other (maybe something to do with BP takeover)?

There's still that gas station at the Clark/LaSalle/Eugenie intersection, as well as a block south at LaSalle/North.....so I fear that one on Roosevelt will be there for a while too.

[hoju]

A friend from NY once said that they do build gas stations underneath high-rises. He made it seem like you had to drive into a basement level to fill up in these stations. Is anyone aware of this in NY, and if so, what about the danger of the gas tank to the structure? Can this be dealt with in some safe manner?

[Marcu]

Originally Posted by hoju

A friend from NY once said that they do build gas stations underneath high-rises. He made it seem like you had to drive into a basement level to fill up in these stations. Is anyone aware of this in NY, and if so, what about the danger of the gas tank to the structure? Can this be dealt with in some safe manner?

It's possible but I would imagine very expensive. Expensive to a point where only the land values of Manhattan would warrant putting pumping stations indoors.

[BayRidgeFever]

I've never seen that in NY...I did see it driving through downtown Rosslyn, VA. It was beneath a church.

[spyguy]

I can only think of a few "urban" filling stations

Here's one in HK


And another one at the base of a Tel Aviv highrise for an oil company

[ardecila]

Well, one of the Park East proposals up in Milw integrated a sizable gas station into a tower complex.

[Busy Bee]

^Slick.

[Latoso]

I think the South Loop could get by without the BP on Roosevelt & Wabash, after all, there are a couple of gas stations less than a mile away just west of the river. There is a huge Marathon north of Manny's on Jefferson & DeKoven right next to the Fire Academy and the cabbie garage. There's also another station on Taylor and Des Plaines I believe.

[ardecila]

Well, as the South Loop densifies, the taxi companies and other space-wasting industrial uses will need to move elsewhere. The industrial district between Canal and the Dan Ryan is large enough to accomodate all the services that make the downtown tick, if the businesses there would suck it up and build 2 or 3 story buildings.

[Marcu]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Well, as the South Loop densifies, the taxi companies and other space-wasting industrial uses will need to move elsewhere. The industrial district between Canal and the Dan Ryan is large enough to accomodate all the services that make the downtown tick, if the businesses there would suck it up and build 2 or 3 story buildings.

That and the entire Fulton district. But then again Chicago's been having a warehouse shortage for quite some time.