CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5

[SolarWind]

Originally Posted by Dan in Chicago

Can anyone check the status of 215 West Washington today (Monday)? I'd like to know whether it starts in March or April.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

03/28/08

This was pretty so...

The reflections on 1401 South State (far right) are gorgeous. It looks like a rendering.

[Dan in Chicago]

^^ Thank you, Solar! Looks like a March start after all.

Victor, that picture looks great. As one of you pointed out, you can see the crane for 300 N LaSalle sticking out over the LaSalle Natl Bank roof.

[aaron38]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

....my main gripe with Catalyst is that it's continuing the trend of that part of West Loop (east of the expressway being underbuilt. That area is the logical place to extend the ultra-dense downtown core, but with all these squat 20-story condo buildings it will be NIMBY central.

Oh I don't know. If the West Loop gets plateau'd, then really nobody has any real views to speak of, and that sets the stage for taller infil that will have guaranteed views over the roof of the 20 story neighbors. And then the higher density will be justified, and the developer will have amunition against the NIMBYs.

I know we all want to go straight from parkinglots to 80 story buildings, but that's not the way cities grow.

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by aaron38

Oh I don't know. If the West Loop gets plateau'd, then really nobody has any real views to speak of, and that sets the stage for taller infil that will have guaranteed views over the roof of the 20 story neighbors. And then the higher density will be justified, and the developer will have amunition against the NIMBYs.

I know we all want to go straight from parkinglots to 80 story buildings, but that's not the way cities grow.

I would agree, except in the old days architects/developers would design their residential highrises with the assumption they would have similarly scaled neighbors (e.g. either blank walls or setbacks on the sides or rear, as appropriate for the site). Now, the opposite is true, with developers building units that will obviously be cast into darkness if their neighboring parking lot is ever developed: see what happened to poor whats-his-face, Peter Ziv (?) who lived in Folio Square Lofts overlooking the Burnham Pointe site (which luckily got approved before Fioretti embarked on his Reign of Terror). The assumption now is that hack/alderwhores like Reilly and Fioretti will cave to the NIMBYs all-trumping 'right' to their view (well, all-trumping, aside perhaps from their constitutional right to painlessly park their car(s)). So I really do fear that once a few of these 20-story condo buildings go up in this area, well, that's about it, it's done for, forget true downtown core-style wall-to-wall density, ever.

[aaron38]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

Now, the opposite is true, with developers building units that will obviously be cast into darkness if their neighboring parking lot is ever developed:

Yeah, you've got a point there. If Chicago ever updates the zoning codes, they need to address that, like New York has done.

[honte]

^ Marquee didn't ... and we all know how well we like the outcome of that one.

(Unless I've pushed it from memory in self-defense and don't remember correctly.)

[Rusty Staub]

For some reason I am fascinated by the silver building with the protruding balconies in this pic. Does anyone know the name of this building?

[10023]

^ Contemporaine, Ralph Johnson I think. Great building. I like the fact that he left the concrete bare. And one of the few buildings with trees on the roof in the rendering that actually has trees on the roof.

[Tom Servo]

Originally Posted by Rusty Staub

For some reason I am fascinated by the silver building with the protruding balconies in this pic. Does anyone know the name of this building?

one of the greatest buildings in chicago

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

I would agree, except in the old days architects/developers would design their residential highrises with the assumption they would have similarly scaled neighbors (e.g. either blank walls or setbacks on the sides or rear, as appropriate for the site). Now, the opposite is true, with developers building units that will obviously be cast into darkness if their neighboring parking lot is ever developed: see what happened to poor whats-his-face, Peter Ziv (?) who lived in Folio Square Lofts overlooking the Burnham Pointe site (which luckily got approved before Fioretti embarked on his Reign of Terror). The assumption now is that hack/alderwhores like Reilly and Fioretti will cave to the NIMBYs all-trumping 'right' to their view (well, all-trumping, aside perhaps from their constitutional right to painlessly park their car(s)). So I really do fear that once a few of these 20-story condo buildings go up in this area, well, that's about it, it's done for, forget true downtown core-style wall-to-wall density, ever.

^ In all fairness, the only renderings of Catalyst that I've seen are its street frontage, unless I'm making a mistake. The side that faces the alley/neighboring building hasn't so far been depicted.

[harryc]

Originally Posted by Rusty Staub

For some reason I am fascinated by the silver building with the protruding balconies in this pic. Does anyone know the name of this building?
...snip...

Totally agree, from above it is a noticeable spot of green in the gray/beige jungle.

[Chicago Shawn]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

I would agree, except in the old days architects/developers would design their residential highrises with the assumption they would have similarly scaled neighbors (e.g. either blank walls or setbacks on the sides or rear, as appropriate for the site). Now, the opposite is true, with developers building units that will obviously be cast into darkness if their neighboring parking lot is ever developed: see what happened to poor whats-his-face, Peter Ziv (?) who lived in Folio Square Lofts overlooking the Burnham Pointe site (which luckily got approved before Fioretti embarked on his Reign of Terror). The assumption now is that hack/alderwhores like Reilly and Fioretti will cave to the NIMBYs all-trumping 'right' to their view (well, all-trumping, aside perhaps from their constitutional right to painlessly park their car(s)). So I really do fear that once a few of these 20-story condo buildings go up in this area, well, that's about it, it's done for, forget true downtown core-style wall-to-wall density, ever.

BINGO! This is my fear as well. 10 years ago, who would have thought the West Loop Gate area would be totally off limits to high-rises? People snap up the cheaper pig units with views over parking lots without even researching or considering that the parking will go away soon and block out the view and light. Instead of putting up the extra money for a better unit with guaranteed views over the park, the lake, or out to the street, they buy the cheaper units and then corrupt the political process for their own personal gains. Rationality does not even matter any more; I have been to so many community meetings and have heard so many complaints, some of which is the stupidest and most outrageous shit you could imagine. Pissed off residents who don't understand city living will resort to anything to protect their short-sighted interest.

This is why I am supportive of the office tower on the Medici site (Which is very TALL btw). We need to have more mixed and non-residential uses spread throughout the central area to dilute to concentration of complainers with voter registration cards. Additionally, we need to legislate design characteristics that will create instant complaints such as placing windows on mid-block lot lines or carving into party walls for recessed balconies.

[Vinu007]

I cant even imagine how the City will looks like after they constructed all these buildings.. Great pictures. thanks a lot

[spyguy]

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/page.pl?id=2166

Chicago: Children's Memorial Hospital, 200 E. Chicago Ave., 275-bed hospital, May 2008, $800 million.

Chicago: 330 N. Wabash Hotel Conversion, 330 N. Wabash Ave., 275-unit hotel conversion, April 2009, $20 million.

Chicago: Iliad Hotel, 333 S. Halsted St., 33-story hotel, April 2009, $100 million.

[spyguy]

A proposed Residential-Business Planned Development submitted by GH 630, L.L.C., for the property generally located at 335-363 East Erie Street, 628-648 North McClurg Court, and 334-362 East Ontario Street. The applicant proposes to construct a mixed-use development with 757 residential units in two residential towers of 51 and 54 stories connected to a 10-level podium structure containing approximately 210,000 square feet of commercial office space, ground-floor retail space and approximately 718 off-street parking spaces. (42 Ward)

[spyguy]

http://www.friendsofdowntown.org/index.html

Thursday, April 3rd at 12.15 pm
Chicago Cultural Center
Millennium Room, 5th floor east

Preserving the Landmarks of LaSalle Street

The Prime Group is currently in the process of renovating 11 South LaSalle and 208 South LaSalle, and Lucien LaGrange Architects are the architects behind the renovation of 208 South LaSalle. These experts in transforming Chicago’s historic buildings will discuss everything involved in the rejuvenation process, from key renovation details to how to attract new tenants.

[i_am_hydrogen]

Taken today:

[i_am_hydrogen]

600 North Fairbanks:




Parkview West (and 600 N LSD):

[the urban politician]

^ Hell yeah! Great updates. I love that last ground level shot of Parkview West