CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

^Looks pretty good to me. It'll never happen though, His Royal Slickness Fioretti would never allow such density in such a good location. 80 stories? The horror! Don't you know it will overwhelm the sewer system and 2nd ward residents' constitutional right to easy parking?

I agree - that looked like a pretty solid concept. In addition to these irrational opposition forces, don't forget about the likes of Mr. Downtown and any others who have demonstrated a seemingly almost congenital inability to understand the notion of a 'guideline' in relation to the out-of-date South Loop Plan as it relates to building heights....

[Sir Isaac Newton]

I apologize if this post is lacking substance as it has no pictures or new information....but I was all over the place in Chicago, over the past few days, and it was really awesome to see how a lot of the bigger construction projects are making great progress. Trump Tower is beyond it's last setback and becoming higher and more dominant in the skyline each and every day. OMP is more of less topped out, but is looking to be a complete success! 300 North Lasalle is already becoming a big presence on the river, and will continue to become a bigger presence, and it's curtain wall is looking great. Aqua, which a few people had doubts about how good it would look like in real life, is looking extremely cool, and is starting to get up their a little bit, in height - probably close to 200 feet-ish. Waterview, Legacy, and Elysian, which seemed to take a long time to get out of the ground, are also close to 200 feet-ish. Blue Cross and Blue Shield is about to increase in height, as well. 353 North Clark, 155 North Wacker, and 235 West Van Buren, are also pretty tall projects whose cores are finally starting to rise above street level.

I can't wait for this spring/summer, when the weather will be nice, and all these great highrise projects in Chicago, many of which are just starting to assert a presence in our skyline, will become even greater and greater presences. Trump will rise to stratospheric heights, 300 North Lasalle will become a huge presence on the river, and Waterview, Aqua, Legacy, and Elysian will become more and more of a presence, each successive week. Not to mention, the Spire will start going vertical at some point this summer, as well!

We are living in good times....

[Chi649]

^^ I share your excitement Sir Isaac Newton. I hope you guys don't mind this large image, but it is a nice overview of the current construction landscape.

[Dan in Chicago]

^^ S.I.N. - Yes, this weekend I noticed that the Legacy is already 3 or 4 floors over the old storefronts. Another big change in the next few weeks will be the topping out of The Clare, which is just under 600' but the shape of its top should make the skyline more interesting. OMPW should be going vertical very soon too.

A few pages ago people were wondering about the decking over the railroad tracks just north of Trio, for the Jewel parking lot. It's already happened. I was surprised how fast it was.

[the urban politician]

^ It's really too bad about that Jewel store. It seems like common sense that surface parking for grocery stores be highly discouraged downtown--why doesn't the city stick to its guns on this one? Downtown is booming, the city isn't desperate for retailers here. I just hope that this Jewel at least has a sidewalk/pedestrian entrance..

[dagobert]

Does anyone know what is going on with a site at the corner of Clark and Harrison, right across the street from the Dwight Building in the South Loop. The entire parcel is fenced off and has been for at least a couple of months now. It used to be a parking lot. There is some junk in form of rebar, pipes, and a mound of sand or gravel. Is this some kind of a dead project or a staging/storing site for the Dwight Building or Burnham Pointe construction.
Here are some pictures.

Looking north on Clark toward Harrison.



Looking east



And a peek inside

[Eventually...Chicago]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ It's really too bad about that Jewel store. It seems like common sense that surface parking for grocery stores be highly discouraged downtown--why doesn't the city stick to its guns on this one? Downtown is booming, the city isn't desperate for retailers here. I just hope that this Jewel at least has a sidewalk/pedestrian entrance..

do you have a current rendering of this one?

When my wife and i were looking for a condo we briefly looked at trio. When they showed us the jewel it looked like it was parking decks below desplaines and a park at street level. i actually remember thinking that it was a pretty good plan

of course i could be dreaming...

[Mr Downtown]

SEC Clark/Harrison is a Fifth Third bank with drivethru. Every neighborhood is being called on to help address the city's desperate shortage of branch banks.

[i_am_hydrogen]

Taken 2/23:

[ardecila]

St. Clair canyon, baby!

[i_am_hydrogen]

Originally Posted by ardecila

St. Clair canyon, baby!

Yep. Although I'm a bummed to see the beautiful Inn of Chicago building get blocked, I have to admit 550 St. Clair extends the canyon nicely. The glass is turning out well, but the base is obviously terrible.

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

SEC Clark/Harrison is a Fifth Third bank with drivethru. Every neighborhood is being called on to help address the city's desperate shortage of branch banks.

Great, and not a moment too soon. Apparently the crappy former Burger King/Taco Fresco on the SW corner of North/LaSalle is getting the same improved treatment. Phew!

[Dan in Chicago]

^ I think it was a joke. Obviously people living at Clark & Harrison would be stranded if they didn't have their own neighborhood bank.

BTW, trick question: What's the 11th tallest building in Chicago? Clue: it's not 3 First National Plaza.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Trump Tower...

[Dan in Chicago]

Yes! Another four floors, and the title will pass to Park Tower.

[BVictor1]

http://www.suntimes.com/business/roeder/814373,CST-FIN-roeder27.article

Terrapin's troubles
REAL ESTATE | Foreclosure suit threatens condo developer with possible dissolution

February 27, 2008

DAVID ROEDER [email protected]

While numerous suburban home builders are struggling, Chicago-based Terrapin Properties LLC is emerging as the first major condo developer here to see operations spin out of control in the current housing slowdown. A foreclosure suit filed against Terrapin over a project in Kenosha, Wis., indicates the company could be dissolved.

[aaron38]

^^^ Whoa. Is Burnham Point topped out yet? Hopefully they hold it together long enough to get that finished off.

[Mr Downtown]

^Topped out for several months. The crane (mostly) came down last weekend.

[Eventually...Chicago]

^^^^I can't believe the principals of terrapin personally guarenteed the loan. Seems awfully amateurish or ballsy, one of the two or both.

I think we are seeing some of the smaller, less professional players get thinned out. Most of the pro-outfits seems to be proceeding forward normally. I think people realize that unlike the dot-com bust where people had assets that were litterally worthless (stock to defunct companies), the real estate slump is not as bad. Even if people go bankrupt and get forclosed, there are still real assets there to liquidate. Even crappy land is still worth something.

[dagobert]

Originally Posted by aaron38

^^^ Whoa. Is Burnham Point topped out yet? Hopefully they hold it together long enough to get that finished off.

Here is how Burnham Pointe looked like this weekend.
Looks like they still have quite a bit of work left.

Looking south on Clark St. Dwight Building in foreground on the right. AMLI 900behind Burnhma Pointe.