CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5

[SolarWind]

September 11, 2007

[honte]

Originally Posted by Chicago Shawn

Say what? This 1500+ room hotel is in addition to the Hyatt expansion. HELL YEAH! This should really liven up the formely desolete island that surrounded McCormick Place. The best part is that PDNA will now have a huge hotel tower rammed right up thier ass by an authority which they have few NIMBY powers to control.

I wouldn't get your hopes up too high... this is a quote from the recent Crain's article on the subject:

"Authority Chairman Ted Tetzlaff has said one possible use for the land is construction of a large hotel, but insiders say the agency also seeks to acquire the land before land values in the South Loop soar out of reach.

Another concern is the preservation of the skyline view from the windows of the new McCormick West convention hall on Cermak Road."

I would suspect that the above is closer to the present mentality.

I am really questioning the use of eminent domain on this one. The process was certainly not intended to be used in anything but critical conditions, and especially not when the owners of the property desired have indicated they would like to negotiate a sale.

As for the bit about skyline views, I sincerely hope that didn't figure into the decision. Talk about the ultimate NIMBY. It would constitute an abhorrent misuse of power IMO.

[wholehog]

Originally Posted by harryc

I guess foundations don't have to be squared off. ( Sept 10 )

I was observing 353 N. Clark yesterday and it appears they are removing large portions of the newly poured caissons with wrecking ball & jackhammers. You can see them piled up on the left hand of the site on Harryc's photo. Is this a major goof? It looks like the caissons were poured to the wrong elevation.

[hi123]

Should 155 north wacker be listec as u/c now?

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by honte

I wouldn't get your hopes up too high... this is a quote from the recent Crain's article on the subject:

"Authority Chairman Ted Tetzlaff has said one possible use for the land is construction of a large hotel, but insiders say the agency also seeks to acquire the land before land values in the South Loop soar out of reach.

Another concern is the preservation of the skyline view from the windows of the new McCormick West convention hall on Cermak Road."

I would suspect that the above is closer to the present mentality.

I am really questioning the use of eminent domain on this one. The process was certainly not intended to be used in anything but critical conditions, and especially not when the owners of the property desired have indicated they would like to negotiate a sale.

As for the bit about skyline views, I sincerely hope that didn't figure into the decision. Talk about the ultimate NIMBY. It would constitute an abhorrent misuse of power IMO.

What do you mean about eminent domain? They didn't say they are using eminent domain. They said, if a deal can't be reached, they might have to use it, which would be pretty legitimate. I would consider this a critical development, I mean this could mean the difference between Chicago keeping its dominance of the convention industry or losing it all together.

Besides, wanting to preserve the skyline view could work in our favor on this one. I mean which would block the view more? A block long 15 story hotel, or a 1/4 block long, 60+story hotel with open space/park around it? Not to mention Daley will certainly have something to say about this and will probably push for more height as usual...

[the urban politician]

^ Agreed. Reading the recent press, it has become abundantly clear that the MP&EA is interested in expanding its hotel options near the convention center. I don't see them buying a bunch of land just to keep it vacant.

I would interprete their actions as this:

They have good views of the skyline now. Instead of having a developer come and build whatever they want on the site, thus harming the views, they want to control the site themselves. In this way, they can build the kind of tower that best suits their needs while preserving views, and whatever views get blocked are made up for by the fact that the conventioneers staying in the hotel will enjoy the view from their hotel room instead of from the convention center.

[Alliance]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

What do you mean about eminent domain? They didn't say they are using eminent domain. They said, if a deal can't be reached, they might have to use it, which would be pretty legitimate. I would consider this a critical development, I mean this could mean the difference between Chicago keeping its dominance of the convention industry or losing it all together.

Besides, wanting to preserve the skyline view could work in our favor on this one. I mean which would block the view more? A block long 15 story hotel, or a 1/4 block long, 60+story hotel with open space/park around it? Not to mention Daley will certainly have something to say about this and will probably push for more height as usual...

Well he better. If he pulls that Trump-spire nonsense again though he shouldn't. This is a great opportunity to promote larger buildings in the South. This thing could be quite tall and might be a good opportunity for the South Loops first....well, we'll see.

[honte]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

What do you mean about eminent domain? They didn't say they are using eminent domain. They said, if a deal can't be reached, they might have to use it, which would be pretty legitimate. I would consider this a critical development, I mean this could mean the difference between Chicago keeping its dominance of the convention industry or losing it all together.

Besides, wanting to preserve the skyline view could work in our favor on this one. I mean which would block the view more? A block long 15 story hotel, or a 1/4 block long, 60+story hotel with open space/park around it? Not to mention Daley will certainly have something to say about this and will probably push for more height as usual...

As Alliance said, we will see how it turns out. Obviously, if they pass this, the owner of the property will be very limited in his "negotiations" to sell. That's my point. When you have that threat looming above you, you either go out shooting or you go out with your hands up, but the end result is about the same: It's all over.

Clearly, I would like to see a 60+ story building there with tons of hotel rooms. (But I doubt that's what we're going to get, given the costs.) I just don't care for the process.

The hotel segment of the built market is exploding here. There are a great many sites more suitable, and many developers more nimble than McPier. I don't think the demand will be there by the time they have acquired this parcel, waited for whatever legislation they need, and then get ready to build.

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by hi123

Should 155 north wacker be listec as u/c now?

I appears that they are driving sheeting along the southern flanks of the site.

Dan?

[Steely Dan]

^ will this be a rare instance where they excavate the site first before drilling caissons? if so, it makes determining construction start a bit more foggy.

[Tom In Chicago]

If you're going with the teutonic Emporis definition, I'd just wait until caissons are being planted. . . otherwise as far as I'm concerned they've started construction already. . .

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by honte

As Alliance said, we will see how it turns out. Obviously, if they pass this, the owner of the property will be very limited in his "negotiations" to sell. That's my point. When you have that threat looming above you, you either go out shooting or you go out with your hands up, but the end result is about the same: It's all over.

Ahh, that makes sense. I thought you were under the impression that they were just going to eminent domain it right off the bat.

The hotel segment of the built market is exploding here. There are a great many sites more suitable, and many developers more nimble than McPier. I don't think the demand will be there by the time they have acquired this parcel, waited for whatever legislation they need, and then get ready to build.

That's certainly a concern, but I think the market for hotels might keep growing as fast as they can supply it, especially if we end up with the Olympics. Also, if the city keeps adding attractions like Millennium park, I wouldn't be surprised to see constant growth in this sector for years to come!

[BVictor1]

2007-9-8

[Steely Dan]

a couple of construction pics from last weekend.




rivernorth marriott:






353 north clark:






momo:







bonus shot of our city's most wonderful asset:

[Neuman]

Not sure if anything has been posted about this project recently or even if this project is even over 10 stories any more, but 1260 West Madison has seen some activity the last two weeks. Not sure if I would classify it as site prep, but its close. Their are portions of the parking lot that have been torn up, along with a construction dumpster onsite that is being filled with debris. Their has been a bobcat skid loader and an excavator on site for the last two weeks.

Neuman

[VA_Gentleman]

Great pictures Dan. The glass on MoMo is dead sexy.

[Dan in Chicago]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

I appears that they are driving sheeting along the southern flanks of the site.

Dan?

We should wait. The sheet piles are more of a site boundary feature than a building part.

My guess is that caissons will start very soon. They're probably shoring up the south side to allow an even soil surface for drilling.

[harryc]

Looks like the steel is almost done.
[ full set - zoomable http://picasaweb.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/111WIllinoisFromABA ]





The finished project is supposed to have a green roof and "screens" something like this. ( what are these called ? )

[SkokieSwift]

Love the Shure building. I think it's technically in Niles. About a mile from my parents' home in Morton Grove. I always pass it going to/from O'Hare.

[bnk]

A Shure Cool Company.

http://www.ksarch.com/progress_shure.html

I checked out the website and some photos of the Niles headquarters
building.








Anyway

= This new Chicago building should be great...some real modern sick shit if it plays close to what Shure has done.

See below. One11 W. Illinois St.

http://www.altergroup.com/pg.117.138.860_650.aspx?listItemID=12504&listLabel=

The Alter Group looks like it has it together. Worth a look into their other projects.