CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5

[SolarWind]

August 2, 2007

[honte]

Similar to what has recently happened at 680 N. Rush, I noticed last night that the advertisements at 235 W. Van Buren have been removed. These showed the same facade detail render that is shown on the web site. Perhaps they are opting for one that shows the entire building? It seems rather strange, however, for them to disapper with no replacement.

Also, I noted a Robinette (sp?) Demolition banner at the site. I can't remember if that has been there in the past.

[colemonkee]

Kingsbury Plaza really turned out nice.

[spyguy]

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/08/prweb545355.htm

IBT Group Announces Partnership with Blackrock to Build Project in Chicago’s West Loop

August 7, 2007

IBT Group LLC, a real estate and asset management firm and advisory client of BlackRock Inc., one of the world’s largest investment management firms, have announced a partnership that will provide capital for a new mixed-use development in Chicago’s West Loop.

“Our partnership with BlackRock represents a significant step forward in our growth,” said IBT Group President Gary Pachucki, who founded the company in 1999. “It not only secures capital for West Loop Promenade, but also provides access to Wall Street, and the capital that will allow us to pursue larger, more complex transactions.”

“We are pleased to become a capital partner to IBT Group and its West Loop Promenade development, which has already secured a lease with Robert Redford’s Sundance Cinemas,” said Erik Grabowski, BlackRock Vice President. “We view the West Loop as one of the fastest-growing areas of Chicago and are excited about the opportunity to bring a high quality retail/entertainment project to the neighborhood.”

West Loop Promenade is a $240 million retail and residential project being developed by IBT Group on Chicago’s Near West Side. Scheduled for a spring 2009 opening, it will include 285,000 square feet of retail space on three levels, including the eight-screen Sundance Cinemas theaters.

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[forumly_chgoman]

^^^^Horrible, Horrible Schlock......reminds me of golf mill on steroids......this has to be stopped.....I am praying for NIMBY resistance to this one....CRAP< CRAP, CRAP

[forumly_chgoman]

The more I think about this the more it festers in my head. Where exactly is this planned for ....streets??......Also what are the parking arrangements...is thing supposes to be surrounded by a parking lot


Man I hope this one gets quashed....I'd take an empty lot over this at least it has potential

[Pandemonious]

Why are you so opposed to this development? It brings a lot of retail, a descent sized highrise, and I could definitely imagine much worse architecture for a movie theater (something that pretty much requires blank walls). The parking will be in a garage for sure, and the building fronts the street pretty well. Also, I think the facade we are seeing in that render faces the highway, no?

The project may not be an architectural revolution, but to say you would rather have a parking lot there is just ridiculous. The west side needs all the help it can get to increase vibrancy. This will have movie theater, gym, grocery store, retail, and restaurants according to the original plan.

As for the location. It says Jackson and Aberdeen.. it replaces the former Fannie May candy factory. That part of the west loop is especially desolate, even given its proximity to UIC. The sundance theater will definitely be able to gain lots of customers from the university... and as such I think it is a great spot for it.

[Dr. Taco]

^ as a UIC student, I'm gonna have to agree with pandemonious. This rendering is far from awful, and even though I'll have graduated by completion time, if it was here now and it looked like that, you'd better believe it would be destination. As it stands, that west loop area north of 290 is a relatively up-and-coming place, but there isn't really any reason to go there. But something simple like a nicely designed movie theatre would undoubtedly increase the areas "vibrancy". I definitely don't think this would hurt the area, and to say a parking lot is better is to acknowledge that you are a little spoiled I mean, its not like this is lakefront property or anything

[forumly_chgoman]

Originally Posted by Pandemonious

Why are you so opposed to this development? It brings a lot of retail, a descent sized highrise, and I could definitely imagine much worse architecture for a movie theater (something that pretty much requires blank walls). The parking will be in a garage for sure, and the building fronts the street pretty well. Also, I think the facade we are seeing in that render faces the highway, no?

The project may not be an architectural revolution, but to say you would rather have a parking lot there is just ridiculous. The west side needs all the help it can get to increase vibrancy. This will have movie theater, gym, grocery store, retail, and restaurants according to the original plan.

As for the location. It says Jackson and Aberdeen.. it replaces the former Fannie May candy factory. That part of the west loop is especially desolate, even given its proximity to UIC. The sundance theater will definitely be able to gain lots of customers from the university... and as such I think it is a great spot for it.

Thanks....I missed the cross streets.....
...I did not say a parking lot would be better, I said I would prefer an empty lot because at least it has potential. If parking is included internally then this is a marginally passable use. from its look it screams suburban multiplex entertainment center & those usually require oodles of external parking......this was an assumption on my part & may be incorrect.
On the other hand I think this style of development is jsut so balnd that it is jarring.
The west loop has seen its share or marginal proposals...I am not satisifed with another

[wrab]

Good find, spyguy. I'm guessing SCB?

[honte]

This is really interesting. If they go through with the eminent domain action, I really have to wonder if they are abusing their power... Many interesting twists to the story.

_____________________

Aug. 07, 2007

McPier defers plan to condemn South Loop block By Gregory Meyer

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=25946&seenIt=1

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority’s board on Tuesday deferred a plan to condemn a South Loop block for further expansion of the McCormick Place convention center.

The issue will likely land on next month’s meeting agenda...

[honte]

Aug. 07, 2007

Soar seeks delay in plans for new Children’s Memorial By Lorene Yue

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=25948

Crain’s) — A neighborhood organization has asked Alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd) to slow plans to build a new Children’s Memorial Hospital in the Streeterville neighborhood.

...

[a chicago bearcat]

Originally Posted by honte

Aug. 07, 2007

Soar seeks delay in plans for new Children’s Memorial By Lorene Yue

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=25948

Crain’s) — A neighborhood organization has asked Alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd) to slow plans to build a new Children’s Memorial Hospital in the Streeterville neighborhood.

...

This would be an example of unwavering NIMBYism
opposing a CHILDREN's HOSPITAL
because of noise and traffic concerns in a neighborhood
full of hospitals
this just shows how few families live in the area

[honte]

^ Well, I think if the hospital hasn't even had the decency to show them the proposal, they have a legitimate reason to ask for a delay in approval, don't you? I would at least want to have a decent discussion about the whole story, not just a few bits of information here and there.

[sentinel]

^^ I do find that strange, that there have not been any renderings released, either on the actual site or on the website - I agree with you honte that just something as simple as an image would help allay any fears that SOAR might have.

[bnk]

Originally Posted by sentinel

^^ I do find that strange, that there have not been any renderings released, either on the actual site or on the website - I agree with you honte that just something as simple as an image would help allay any fears that SOAR might have.

No I disagree, nothing will allay their fears of the flying Helicopter. All they really care about is the Helipad and the loud helicopter that will bring in the weak, burned, and dieing children.

[forumly_chgoman]

Originally Posted by honte

This is really interesting. If they go through with the eminent domain action, I really have to wonder if they are abusing their power... Many interesting twists to the story.

_____________________

Aug. 07, 2007

McPier defers plan to condemn South Loop block By Gregory Meyer

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=25946&seenIt=1

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority’s board on Tuesday deferred a plan to condemn a South Loop block for further expansion of the McCormick Place convention center.

The issue will likely land on next month’s meeting agenda...

Yeah this is an interesting development....I am not that familiar w/ mcpier...other than the name....are they a governemetal organization??? / quasi-governmental, or private?

It kind of reminds me of that case I think it was in Ohio...where a private developer was allowed to use eminent domain to essentially bulldize a neighborhood

[a chicago bearcat]

Originally Posted by honte

^ Well, I think if the hospital hasn't even had the decency to show them the proposal, they have a legitimate reason to ask for a delay in approval, don't you? I would at least want to have a decent discussion about the whole story, not just a few bits of information here and there.

I didn't realize they just showed them the ground floorplan

which is odd, because a building form usually comes before a ground floorplan, or at least at the same time.

shady, but still, it's a freakin children's hospital, the architecture on this one will be more skin than anything, and that can be changed after they start excavating the site. a building like this will be much more about the set up of the hospital, and a facade could be easily changed as an approval process during the construction of the essential layout of the building

holding up hospital construction is always bad news
it's not really that it's anti development
it's that it's anti infrastructure
and in this country medical facilities are essential infrastructure

[wrab]

Originally Posted by forumly_chgoman

.....It kind of reminds me of that case I think it was in Ohio...where a private developer was allowed to use eminent domain to essentially bulldize a neighborhood

This was a residential neighborhood in Lakewood, OH, but there was a big stink - I don't believe the project went through in the end? The city was using some insanely broad definition of "blight" - some balderwash about minimum number of permissible car ports for single-family homes or something

Edit: Actually, now that I think about it, there have been other instances in Ohio as well Canton, maybe?...perhaps a few others...

[firstcranialnerve]

Originally Posted by bnk

No I disagree, nothing will allay their fears of the flying Helicopter. All they really care about is the Helipad and the loud helicopter that will bring in the weak, burned, and dieing children.

Well, being a streeterville resident, I'm in favor of the hospital coming here, but I would like the opportunity to see plans/ whats going on with the chopper. This should be expected, and therefore if there is any delay, it is the fault of the developer for not releasing this most basic information. Not to mention the hospital is still operational in Lincoln Park to my knowledge.

They should have expected this. People in streeterville are generally pretty level headed about these things. That's what i've found. I love seeing the new development and wish for more to come. To my knowledge, we've been pretty good about highrises and traffic concerns, eg the spire meetings were very good for all, residents and outside interests alike.