CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5

[VivaLFuego]

There's a soil testing rig in the surface parking lot of the Jewel at Clark/Division. Any ideas? Anyone heard any rumors?

I would love for this site to be developed into something flush with the lot lines with, though I fear it's just for something involving copious amounts of parking (next to a subway station). It's part of a Planned Development - for one of those crappy insular townhomes east of Clark, not Sandburg Village - but I believe the underlying zoning is B3-5, which would allow for something quite substantial (FAR 5.0 on a very huge site) as-of-right.

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

^^^ Not true about 600 N, the interiors there do not look sloppy at all. I have seen the insides of that building and the concrete finish is on par with the finishes on Marina City when it comes to smooth and relatively seamless...

600 N Fairbanks does have more than its share of sloppy concrete work in the units, the hallways and elevator lobbies, and in the entrance lobby. I think the entrance lobby sloppiness can be seen from the sidewalk as well.

[denizen467]

http://www.globest.com/news/1236_1236/chicago/173510-1.html

Scion Group is looking to possibly acquire 203 N. Wabash Ave. to be developed into student housing. The 24-story office building offers around 140,000 sf. An investment group reportedly puts the office building, about 60% occupied, as worth about $19 million.

...

Kimpton Hotels and Resorts had reportedly considered the building for a 220-room hotel. Scion has previously developed the Automatic Lofts, a 142-unit West Loop building, for University of Illinois at Chicago. They are also responsible for University Center of Chicago, a $150 million, 725,000-sf South Loop development for DePaul University, Roosevelt University and Columbia College.

[Mr Downtown]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

There's a soil testing rig in the surface parking lot of the Jewel at Clark/Division. Any ideas?

Could it be for something as small as adding an elevator when the subway station is rebuilt?

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

Could it be for something as small as adding an elevator when the subway station is rebuilt?

Could be - though the rig was in the northern part of the lot. I'm not aware that the D/E contract for Clark/Division was ever bid out or awarded, but it's a possibility.

[BVictor1]

http://www.clubrunner.ca/CPrg/Home/speak...th=7&year=2008&rtp=/CPrg/Home/events.asp

Sep 17 2008
Forrest Bailey
"Redevelopment of Lake Meadows"
12PM
3201 S. State Street
McCormick Tribune Campus Center at IIT

Forrest Bailey, with Draper and Kramer, will inform us about the ongoing redevelopment of Lake Meadows and our other neighbors on the constantly revitalized Near South Side.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Interesting, do you think they will be releasing any further renderings or timelines at that Meeting?

[ardecila]

Looming over Van Buren


Interesting corner


Congress Blvd. side

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

^^^ Interesting, do you think they will be releasing any further renderings or timelines at that Meeting?

I don't know. but it is a great time for us to put in our 2cents if anyone from here can attend. I have to work, but i think Chicago Shawn will be going.

If anyone else can attend, that would be great.

[ardecila]

theWit


10 East Delaware

Cast-in-place brick seams (at least it's not precast!)


Walton On The Park



Streeter Place


Burnham Pointe (from the west)

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Cast-in-place brick seams (at least it's not precast!)

ColoPrecaster might want a few words with you out in the hall...

I actually feel that carving grooves into poured concrete is more dishonest than using precast faux brick. Not by a lot, but definitely somewhat.

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Looming over Van Buren

The only more insensitive way to add to the streetscape would be with a solid blank concrete wall. This is not very far from that.

I hope there's very bright and lively retail on the first floor because otherwise, together with the self-park across the street, this will become one dead, dank, crime-inviting (given the frontier character of the southwest corner of the loop) stretch of street.

[Tom Servo]

Originally Posted by denizen467

The only more insensitive way to add to the streetscape would be with a solid blank concrete wall. This is not very far from that.

I hope there's very bright and lively retail on the first floor because otherwise, together with the self-park across the street, this will become one dead, dank, crime-inviting (given the frontier character of the southwest corner of the loop) stretch of street.

yeah, i like to judge things in their nascent state too...

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by AdrianXSands

yeah, i like to judge things in their nascent state too...

We know. You do it all the time.

Please use your imagination and explain how they can be expected to improve that. (White paint, maybe blue glass -- oooooh, brilliant.)

[honte]

^ Adrian, I am a huge fan of Ralph's, and I love how bold that tower is. However, I too have some concerns about how this street is going to feel when all is said and done. I wish they had picked a material with more expression for that element, or had done this on a different site. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. At least it's a powerful statement - very few of those being made here these days.

And you know, if lovers of raw concrete like us can have some concerns, the average Joe is going to freak. That's the problem: When big, bold statements get made that unfortunately disturb most of Joes, well, not too many more of these statements will be forthcoming.

Originally Posted by denizen467

ColoPrecaster might want a few words with you out in the hall...

I actually feel that carving grooves into poured concrete is more dishonest than using precast faux brick. Not by a lot, but definitely somewhat.

Agreed. I prefer precast over this. There's always another, lower level of hell, it seems.

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

Originally Posted by denizen467

The only more insensitive way to add to the streetscape would be with a solid blank concrete wall. This is not very far from that.

I hope there's very bright and lively retail on the first floor because otherwise, together with the self-park across the street, this will become one dead, dank, crime-inviting (given the frontier character of the southwest corner of the loop) stretch of street.

I vehemently disagree. The photos-- thanks ardecila!-- are pretty stunning: The structure looks more like a modern sculpture than the parking component of a residential tower.

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

Originally Posted by honte

And you know, if lovers of raw concrete like us can have some concerns, the average Joe is going to freak. That's the problem: When big, bold statements get made that unfortunately disturb most of Joes, well, not too many more of these statements will be forthcoming.

Come on, honte: If the dozens of Loop and River North parking garages and clumsy, detached podiums register nary a thought (let alone a complaint) from the average joe, then this very fine design (that easily bests its competition, no matter what small uncertainties you have with it) surely won't be a problem.

Also, I'm not sure I like where you're going with that line of thought. Average joes also tend to-- and I don't think this is too harsh an assessment-- despise the works of Paul Rudolph and your hero Walter Netsch. Would the future of raw concrete have been better off without those big, bold statements?

[honte]

Originally Posted by Ch.G, Ch.G

Come on, honte: If the dozens of Loop and River North parking garages and clumsy, detached podiums register nary a thought (let alone a complaint) from the average joe, then this very fine design (that easily bests its competition, no matter what small uncertainties you have with it) surely won't be a problem.

Also, I'm not sure I like where you're going with that line of thought. Average joes also tend to-- and I don't think this is too harsh an assessment-- despise the works of Paul Rudolph and your hero Walter Netsch. Would the future of raw concrete have been better off without those big, bold statements?

Netsch and Rudolph are both heroes of mine....

My comments here are mostly having to do with the context. This is already a dark, rather drab street due to the elevated and numerous garages, blank walls, the nearly dead back of the CME, etc. That's why I am concerned.

I agree with you that it has a sculptural presence and that it's far better than typical parking garages. But I maintain that the average Joe will dislike it - because it's more in-your-face than the typical garage, and it's even more unconventional. Bad combo for people with "average" taste and values.

Should we cave to their criticism? Certainly not. But architects trying to push the envelope need to consider how and when to do that - to ignore the risks is irresponsible. There is always the very real problem of backlash. Such as, Chicago missed 15 years of Helmut Jahn works due to some poor gambles on his part and a lot of unfair criticism. That cost Helmut and Chicago dearly.

In this location, I think there probably would have been other, equally bold solutions that might have better served the street and the "cause." Just my two cents. Hopefully it will have nice landscaping, good lighting, and some generous detailing at street level that will negate what I have said.

[Chicagoguy]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

There's a soil testing rig in the surface parking lot of the Jewel at Clark/Division. Any ideas? Anyone heard any rumors?

I would love for this site to be developed into something flush with the lot lines with, though I fear it's just for something involving copious amounts of parking (next to a subway station). It's part of a Planned Development - for one of those crappy insular townhomes east of Clark, not Sandburg Village - but I believe the underlying zoning is B3-5, which would allow for something quite substantial (FAR 5.0 on a very huge site) as-of-right.

I just pasted this parking lot last night and I think this would be a great place for some nice condos with underground parking for the jewel and residences, as well as great retail and some nice restaurants. Old Town is such a great neighborhood and we just need to start getting rid of all surface parking lots in the city one by one.

[harryc]

Sept 2
The back of the much malinged parking garage. Oddly ornate for a side that faces an alley. This will be razed.





The corner building - from the back - this will stay