Quote:
Originally Posted by honte
Gosh, call me a fool, but it sounds like a 60-story building would really break up the existing building heights nicely. 
In any case, thanks for chiming in with the neighborhood side of the story. I was not aware of the restrictions on the site. |
Quote:
Originally Posted by VivaLFuego
Chicago Avenue is moribund from Dearborn to Wells; no retail livelihood. What retail spots are present, such as in the gorgeous old college building at Clark/Chicago, are vacant. There is inadequate residential density to support the type of vibrancy that this location, just blocks from transit, employment centers, and tourist destinations, deserves. This site was prime for development because it did not mean the redevelopment of a historic building resource (it did, if you count the old Deco Post Office turned crime-ridden crummy theatre whose days were irrevocably numbered anyway). Such sites should be built to maximum reasonable density, as soon there will be no developable sites that won't cost the neighborhood more of its historic building stock or character.
This site should have been a 30 story tower, with ~250-300 units, sited on the southeast corner of the lot, so as not to crowd the Chestnut Tower and 100 W. Chestnut rental towers nearby. FAR would be approximately 10-12. The parking podium could be only a couple stories tall, given that retail spots aren't needed right here (as opposed to along Chicago, which needs all the help it can get).
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Honte I couldn't agree more with you personally. I would actually love to see the beautiful yet neglected Bush Temple of Music building, Chicago @ Clark streets, along with the surface parking lot due north of it and the now vacant lot at Clark and Chestnut to be restored and redeveloped as one parcel. There could be a couple of high-rise rental/condo towers that would include a good mix of retail and office space in the Bush building and along Clark street that would all be interconnected... Not counting on that ever happening but who knows?
Viva I hear ya! And it's just not Chicago Ave that's suffering here- Clark St from Division all the way south to Huron is pretty lame in my view. There is no real pedestrian street life or excitement here on Clark. I don't get it- there are plenty of people who live around here and that should have changed the vibrancy of the street years ago but most around here seem more then willing to head a couple blocks east to State and beyond for shopping, entertainment, dinning and other services.
I know it's a bit off topic but what kills the street life and development larger buildings around these parts is the fact that both Clark and Dearborn are One way streets. The city should make these both 2way north of Chicago Ave... It's next to impossible to get where you want to go without having to drive several blocks out of your way. Enough said.
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