CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5 - Page 322

trvlr70 · #**6421** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 1:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BVictor1

[B] He supplied me with his business card, so all in all, It was a good day

You're quite smooth there.

Taft · #**6422** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 1:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BVictor1

^Ugly 🞵🞵🞵🞵...

Uninspired? Boring? Played-out parking podium? Maybe.

Ugly 🞵🞵🞵🞵? I think that's a bit strong. It's more of a "meh" for me.

Taft

Alliance · #**6423** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 2:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BVictor1

-I went to Crain'c Chicago Business Real Estate Forum yesterday and learned a few things: Don't count 680 N. Rush out of the game yet. A source tells me that a portion of the company either has been or will be sold to overseas investors similar to what Buck did with his company. This could be oil money, which there is a lot of. The project is still being marketed on the DL (down-low).

The keynote speaker at this forum was Christopher Kennedy, President of Merchandise Mart Properties. Of course the question of Wolf Point came up, but he was pretty tight lipped. I as you know couldn't help but put in my 2 cents' and said I hope that the architecture will be inspiring and not another Pelli rip off (not exactly in those words but close). This drew laughs from the croud and complements thereafter. I went up to Mr. Kennedy to say that it was a pleasure to meet him and that 89-stories was too short and to increase the height. He supplied me with his business card, so all in all, It was a good day

Great news on 680. I think that is one that really needs to go up. Also good news on WP I guess. I'm surprized they're pushing forward with it, considering the market and the fact that they already own the site. But hey, obviously I'm all for it. And good job on the architecture and height

And as far as the new buck building...it is boring...but aren't we already buildign that a few blocks away?

emathias · #**6424** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 3:08 PM**

Are there active proposals for either of the two lots on the east side of the block between Wacker, Franklin, Washington and Randolph? I don't see any listed, but maybe someone knows something that didn't make it to the list?

It just seems odd that the SE corner of the block wouldn't even be a parking lot if there was no active plan for it.

LA21st · #**6425** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 4:44 PM**

Does anyone know about the block at Dearborn and Huron, NE corner? It is fenced off as of this morning.

honte · #**6426** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 4:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by emathias

Are there active proposals for either of the two lots on the east side of the block between Wacker, Franklin, Washington and Randolph? I don't see any listed, but maybe someone knows something that didn't make it to the list?

It just seems odd that the SE corner of the block wouldn't even be a parking lot if there was no active plan for it.

No, there are not. The Crown family made a bad decision to tear down the Mercantile Exchange, and then when confronted by preservationists, they tore the fully-leased building down anyway (perhaps to prove a point).

The city responded not that they would protect the building, but that they would "demand" the finest architecture. We'll see. I think Pelli's firm was hired for a spell, but those plans never went anywhere. This appears to be stuck in a long-term holding pattern until the next boom, I'd guess. Since the owners are so rich, they don't seem to be in any hurry to improve the lot, if even with just surface parking.

Taft · #**6427** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 5:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by honte

No, there are not. The Crown family made a bad decision to tear down the Mercantile Exchange, and then when confronted by preservationists, they tore the fully-leased building down anyway (perhaps to prove a point).

The city responded not that they would protect the building, but that they would "demand" the finest architecture. We'll see. I think Pelli's firm was hired for a spell, but those plans never went anywhere. This appears to be stuck in a long-term holding pattern until the next boom, I'd guess. Since the owners are so rich, they don't seem to be in any hurry to improve the lot, if even with just surface parking.

Rich? Well they are only the 144th wealthiest families in the world.

http://www.forbes.com/static/bill2005/state_Illinois.html

With 3.8 billion in assets, they must be having a hard time scraping together the cash to develop this eyesore. Those poor, poor Crowns. How dare we think of things like civic pride and economic development when their livelihoods are on the line.

[/sarcasm]

Taft

Chicago3rd · #**6428** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 7:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by emathias

Are there active proposals for either of the two lots on the east side of the block between Wacker, Franklin, Washington and Randolph? I don't see any listed, but maybe someone knows something that didn't make it to the list?

It just seems odd that the SE corner of the block wouldn't even be a parking lot if there was no active plan for it.

I believe the city said no parking lot allowed when it granted the permit to destroy the treasure that was there. Crown....sure is a jerk......look at all the office buildings going up....since that desert was created.

I think it should be like the Galleria in San Francisco.

http://www.shopatgalleria.com/

Taft · #**6429** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 7:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicago3rd

I think it should be like the Galleria in San Francisco.

http://www.shopatgalleria.com/

That would be sweet. I would take *anything* at this point though. I mean, with block 37, at least they used it for art shows, ice skating, etc. It was empty, but used.

The most I've seen going on in this lot is parking for trailers during movie filming. It is truly a blight...and right smack in the middle of loop.

Taft

Tom Servo · #**6430** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 8:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Here's a link to a third design for Buck's proposed 222 W. Randolph office tower, on the developer's website:

http://www.tjbc.com/DEVELOPMENT/OfficeProjects/222WestRandolphStreet/tabid/182/Default.aspx

what happened to this design? i like this.

emathias · #**6431** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 8:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA21st

Does anyone know about the block at Dearborn and Huron, NE corner? It is fenced off as of this morning.

That's been fenced off for at least four years. At first (as of about 4 years ago) there was a sign promising the imminent arrival of a Chinese restaurant, but lately nothing.

Chicago3rd · #**6432** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 10:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan in Chicago

Alta at K Station
41 floors
555 West Kinzie Street
417'-1.5" (architectural)
412'-1" (roof)

Cirrus at K Station
37 floors
365 North Jefferson Street
378'-3.5" (architectural)
373'-7.5" (roof)

Looking NW from 400 W Randolph
RiverBend on the Right to the other tower (sorry all too blah to remember the names)

sentinel · #**6433** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 10:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianXSands

what happened to this design? i like this.

JBC did not like the proposal (one of two originally submitted for a competition for this site).

Tom Servo · #**6434** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 10:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sentinel

JBC did not like the proposal (one of two originally submitted for a competition for this site).

lame, that design was bomb...

honte · #**6435** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 11:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sentinel

JBC did not like the proposal (one of two originally submitted for a competition for this site).

Maybe they liked the big yellow box better?

______

YoChicago has some new photos of SoNo posted on their site. I have a good feeling this one is going to be a winner! Check it out if you have time.

APPRAISER · #**6436** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 12:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BVictor1

A few things...

-The tower crane for Museum Park Place II (A.K.A the return of tic-tac-toe) is being installed

-There have been some type of issues with the tower crane for 1600 Museum Park because the boom and cab have been removed.

-I went to Crain'c Chicago Business Real Estate Forum yesterday and learned a few things: Don't count 680 N. Rush out of the game yet. A source tells me that a portion of the company either has been or will be sold to overseas investors similar to what Buck did with his company. This could be oil money, which there is a lot of. The project is still being marketed on the DL (down-low).

The keynote speaker at this forum was Christopher Kennedy, President of Merchandise Mart Properties. Of course the question of Wolf Point came up, but he was pretty tight lipped. I as you know couldn't help but put in my 2 cents' and said I hope that the architecture will be inspiring and not another Pelli rip off (not exactly in those words but close). This drew laughs from the croud and complements thereafter. I went up to Mr. Kennedy to say that it was a pleasure to meet him and that 89-stories was too short and to increase the height. He supplied me with his business card, so all in all, It was a good day

Nice Bvictor1!!, Its really nice to hear that several educated people, on this forum, attend these meetings and voice an opinion!

Quick question, the current 89 story proposal for this site...........is it a super tall??

Thanks!

BVictor1 · #**6437** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 1:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by APPRAISER

Nice Bvictor1!!, Its really nice to hear that several educated people, on this forum, attend these meetings and voice an opinion!

Quick question, the current 89 story proposal for this site...........is it a super tall??

Thanks!

In the articles released last yeat by Crain's and the Chicago Sun Times, it was said that the towers height would be compariable to Trump Tower. So I believe that it's safe to say yes.

ardecila · #**6438** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 2:29 AM**

I'm worried about the design for the Redford cinemas building - the back of the thing looks like it might just be an open-air parking garage, like the 🞵🞵🞵🞵 they build in Rosemont...

The facade isn't too bad, though.

SolarWind · #**6439** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 2:47 AM**

March 20, 2008

Nowhereman1280 · #**6440** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 3:10 AM**

^^^ What is that site again? The three hotel thing?