CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5

[spyguy]

Originally Posted by HowardL

Developer seeking investors for Michigan Ave. project

Ugh. We can't even hire a real architect for a Michigan Avenue project any more?

[Busy Bee]

^First impression—ehhh.

Not bad. Not good. Hope this one evolves for the better.

[Busy Bee]

I was trying to stay somewhat positive, but after seeing spyguy's sentiment I agree, this sucks balls. LAME!!! How about a Jean Nouvel or Christian de Portzamparc instead? All agreed say IIIIIIIIII!!!!

[dagobert]

Originally Posted by HowardL

Developer seeking investors for Michigan Ave. project
By: Eddie Baeb March 17, 2008

(Crain’s) — Condominium developer William Warman is looking for investors to buy part or all of the 52-story mixed-use tower Mr. Warman hopes to build at 300 N. Michigan Ave.

The article includes a rendering.

Well I guess they picked a hell of a day to announce this in the press (I don't refer to the credit crunch situation), must be hoping for some Irish luck. A more appropriate time would have probably been April 1st. With a near seizure in commercial lending markets right now I don't see this one happening anytime soon, which based on the rendering is a good thing.

[Tom Servo]

hey! that's my bike on the fence!
thanks mr. wind!

[Tom Servo]

what a pile of shit!

let's hope this fails!!!

[Tom Servo]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

How about a Jean Nouvel or Christian de Portzamparc instead?

that would NEVER happen in this city. we'd be lucky to get foster to do something in this town...

[honte]

^ All you have to do is hire him. He'd be glad to do it. You should direct your anger at trying to get developers to hire good architects rather than just foisting it all on Chicago as a place.

Originally Posted by spyguy

Ugh. We can't even hire a real architect for a Michigan Avenue project any more?

No joke; I wish it were. Warman needs to take a lesson from Loewenberg and just focus on development. Looks like the only thing he could cook up is a bastardized Carbide and Carbon. Hideous. At least it will harmonize with that POS going up on Ontario.

I am curious why Daley got on Trump about design, but doesn't seem to care about anyone else's projects. This site is almost as prominent. He might argue that it was about height (eg Trump is bigger and therefore more of a landmark), but really I guess it was just an ego trip - you know, beat up the billionaire. Shame.

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

Originally Posted by AdrianXSands

that would NEVER happen in this city. we'd be lucky to get foster to do something in this town...

Your analysis is so flawed it's almost not even worth pointing out anymore.

[VivaLFuego]

^ hey, at least it's got a decently favorable parking ratio (that is, if Alderman Hack approved it as-is and didn't demand double the parking spaces).

[Beck4ABigChicago]

This is totally random and ambiguous, but I school down at 565 W. Adams and there is a building directly behind ours (to the South thru the alley) Front maybe on Jackson or Des Plaines. It appears to have been gutted and they are building up on top of the already existing structure ala BCBS. Anyone give me any info (its converting to condos)?

[ardecila]

^^ Yep - it's called 565 Quincy. Condo conversion with additional floors.

Hmm.. Warman's design is pretty bad, I'll admit. The podium is terribly proportioned with its exposed grid, and the two sheer "stripes" up the front of the building look awful.

[Norsider]

Go density!

[Mr Downtown]

Questions about Warman's talent as an architect were answered with the design for Astoria Tower:

[the urban politician]

^ Can you clarify whether you're trying to defend him or criticise him with that point?

[i_am_hydrogen]

Originally Posted by AdrianXSands

let's hope this fails!!!

Why?? Because the architecture doesn't meet your quixotic expectations? It's fairly evident that the boom is slowing down considerably. We ought to be snapping up as many remaining projects as possible. Granted, the architecture may not be iconic, but a hotel at that location will help to enliven this stretch of Michigan Avenue.

[tptraub]

I noticed the other day an at least 10 story addition to the Northwestern Medical School building on Chicago Avenue. The work is in progress and still going up. I've searched various threads and haven't found any information about it. Does anyone have any information about it?

[brian_b]

Originally Posted by honte

^ All you have to do is hire him. He'd be glad to do it. You should direct your anger at trying to get developers to hire good architects rather than just foisting it all on Chicago as a place.



No joke; I wish it were. Warman needs to take a lesson from Loewenberg and just focus on development. Looks like the only thing he could cook up is a bastardized Carbide and Carbon. Hideous. At least it will harmonize with that POS going up on Ontario.

Originally Posted by The Article

Mr. Warman signed a contract last summer to pay about $30 million for the site, currently home to a low-rise building that includes a Walgreen’s store, Radio Shack and Subway restaurant. The Chicago developer has extended the closing several times, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The pre-sale presumably is being offered to make it easier for Mr. Warman to land financing to build the project. Having an investor lined up through a pre-sale could make the deal look less risky to a prospective lender. Mr. Warman didn’t return calls seeking comment.

The dude can't even scrape together enough money to buy the property. How do you expect him to hire a big-name architect?

[Tom In Chicago]

. . . what would be the point of hiring a big name architect for a site that's burried in the Michigan Avenue gauntlet???


. . .

[Alliance]

Originally Posted by AdrianXSands

that would NEVER happen in this city. we'd be lucky to get foster to do something in this town...

Perhaps we should not be OBSESSED about starchitects and more obsessed about good architecture? Alot of starchitect stuff can be sh*t.