CHICAGO | Highrise Projects & Construction

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

Anyhow, I actually do, by in large, agree with you about the pandermanic system and pandermanic perogative. I think we could even retain much of the current zoning system and see a great improvement if we just halved or 2/5th'd the number of alderbeasties. Having significantly larger wards would heavily dilute the influence of major NIMBY groups within any particular alderman's ward causing him to give less of a — what they think.

No doubt. 50 wards/50 aldermen has also been a particular pet peeve of mine. It's an obscenity. It's only function actually is politics (as opposed to government and policy/policy-making, and of course - corruption!

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestat...k-lands-law-firm-for-proposed-loop-tower

"A third new office tower could soon rise in downtown Chicago, with law firm Freeborn & Peters agreeing to move into a 36-story project developer John Buck plans in the Loop."

It's about time. Some times I think maybe migh expectations are a little too high sometimes.

At any rate, it's possible they may sign up an additional tenant or two by groundbreaking this summer, but it's not necessary. The debt markets will certainly support this tower moving ahead with just F&P on-board. Actually, Buck could have gone 100% spec if they wanted to. Everything would have supported it - the timing of the cycle from an economic/leasing and capital markets perspective, the sponsor profile and track-record and equity commitment, the debt markets in general (those standards, they're a'loosening), the financial track record of new office towers in aggregate in downtown Chicago over the last 15 or so years (it's been on the whole actually quite stellar, even without some sort of 'cyclical adjustment'), and on and on.....
......actually, come to think of it, maybe Tishman is the first one to go 100% spec this cycle (this year, with 130 N Franklin)...?? We shall see......anyway, good times for the next few years at minimum.......

[Justin_Chicago]

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Others have already pointed out, but as I've tried to get through previously (and by all appearances unsuccessfully), I'll give this stuff another go:

1) Why would anybody assume that both future WP towers will have office space I just can't understand......

Because people have been reporting office space at both towers for a while?

West tower – Phase I – 493 feet tall – Residential, parking
South tower – Phase II – 950 feet tall – Office, retail, hotel, parking
East tower – Phase III – 750 feet tall – Office, retail, hotel, residential, parking

http://www.chicagoarchitecture.org/2013/...lights-wolf-point-developer-ready-to-go/

Clearly you are more knowledgeable than me and I hope you are 100% correct about more office towers in the near term.

For someone who takes a Red line train or express bus to work, I prefer to see more activity in the Central or East Loop. The remaining two towers are still close enough to the Metra and a short walk from the Red/Brown line.

Also, my office is 1,000+ feet above ground and it would be nice to look at other towers outside my window without tilting my head down. The South Tower approaches that realm.

Thank you for displaying confidence about 130 N Franklin.

[Skyguy_7]

Originally Posted by Justin_Chicago

Also, my office is 1,000+ feet above ground and it would be nice to look at other towers outside my window without tilting my head down. The South Tower approaches that realm.

First world strugglezzz

The best part about 130 N Franklin is that it eats up TWO surface lots. They can't break ground soon enough.
2/5

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by Justin_Chicago

Because people have been reporting office space at both towers for a while?

West tower – Phase I – 493 feet tall – Residential, parking
South tower – Phase II – 950 feet tall – Office, retail, hotel, parking
East tower – Phase III – 750 feet tall – Office, retail, hotel, residential, parking

http://www.chicagoarchitecture.org/2013/...lights-wolf-point-developer-ready-to-go/

Clearly you are more knowledgeable than me and I hope you are 100% correct about more office towers in the near term.

For someone who takes a Red line train or express bus to work, I prefer to see more activity in the Central or East Loop. The remaining two towers are still close enough to the Metra and a short walk from the Red/Brown line.

Also, my office is 1,000+ feet above ground and it would be nice to look at other towers outside my window without tilting my head down. The South Tower approaches that realm.

Thank you for displaying confidence about 130 N Franklin.

So, just to relate back to something I mentioned in a recent post: The Chicago Architecture Blog is where a lot of real information, insightful analysis, quality characterization and important context goes to die. (they do sometimes have some good render/model reveals, construction updates, etc thought, but my main point stands)

[Justin_Chicago]

Originally Posted by Skyguy_7

First world strugglezzz

The best part about 130 N Franklin is that it eats up TWO surface lots. They can't break ground soon enough.
2/5

I am ready to take photos of Wanda and Optima 2.

[BVictor1]

http://www.chicagoarchitecture.org/2015/02/06/walling-off-west-town/

[r18tdi]

^ This will destroy the very fabric of the neighborhood. Please consider the children!

[SamInTheLoop]

^ Yeah, those will kill off a good dozen or two. Tragic, senseless deaths. Innocent adolescent homo sapiens sapiens - the most precious thing in this whole incomprehensively massive universe (following the homo sapiens sapiens in the gestational state, of course). We must stop sacrificing them for the grotesque self-indulgences of urban development, technological and civilizational progress.

[LouisVanDerWright]

I would also be cool with just building walls of skyscrapers all the way around the Nimby haven of the West Loop (TOD over by United Center with a new stop on the pink line please!). That would be a really cool effect in that part of town. Perhaps we could build checkpoints too and cage the NIMBY's all in like the Gaza strip...

[Justin_Chicago]

I wish the lots around United Center would receive a similar development plan as Barclay's Center in Brooklyn. Extend the high rises west to Damen! As a Bulls season ticket holder, I do not understand why people have a problem walking 5-6 blocks from the Ashland Green Line stop. Dress appropriately and you can handle the winter basketball season. Is a pink line stop really necessary? I guess for people with disabilities. I always tell visitors to take the green line when people stop me on the street asking for directions. I once led a group of 7 people from Houston (here to see the Bulls vs Rockets game) and they were amazed by the public transit access to the arena. I also received a few free beers for saving them a cab fare.

[UrbanLibertine]

I used to live right near the Barclay Center and that development did absolutely nothing for that area, in fact, I believe some businesses (across the street) actually closed down because commercial rents spiked. The only store I can think of that opened after the stadium was constructed was a temporary Halloween/Party store. And of course, the Nets merchandise store.

Originally Posted by Justin_Chicago

I wish the lots around United Center would receive a similar development plan as Barclay's Center in Brooklyn. Extend the high rises west to Damen! As a Bulls season ticket holder, I do not understand why people have a problem walking 5-6 blocks from the Ashland Green Line stop. Dress appropriately and you can handle the winter basketball season. Is a pink line stop really necessary? I guess for people with disabilities. I always tell visitors to take the green line when people stop me on the street asking for directions. I once led a group of 7 people from Houston (here to see the Bulls vs Rockets game) and they were amazed by the public transit access to the arena. I also received a few free beers for saving them a cab fare.

[rlw777]

Originally Posted by UrbanLibertine

I used to live right near the Barclay Center and that development did absolutely nothing for that area, in fact, I believe some businesses (across the street) actually closed down because commercial rents spiked. The only store I can think of that opened after the stadium was constructed was a temporary Halloween/Party store. And of course, the Nets merchandise store.

^ I believe Justin is referring to the housing currently U/C around barclays

[Justin_Chicago]

Yes! Barclay's does have the advantage of being situated near a major transportation hub though. I attend a Bulls vs Nets game every year at Barclay's and there is some progression within the vicinity. Maybe not in the immediate area, but I always discover newly opened restaurants within a mile walk. By the way, I highly recommend going to (http://taldebrooklyn.com/) if you are in the area. Former top chef contestant from Chicago and a huge Bulls fan. I always receive significant (20% to 50%) discounts on game days with my Chicago license.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by Justin_Chicago

As a Bulls season ticket holder, I do not understand why people have a problem walking 5-6 blocks from the Ashland Green Line stop. Dress appropriately and you can handle the winter basketball season. Is a pink line stop really necessary?

here's a tip, the blue line Medical Center stop is even closer to the UC.

potential pink line stop @ madison - .20 mile walk to the UC

blue line medical center - .45 mile walk to the UC

green line ashland - .64 mile walk to the UC


is a pink line stop absolutely necessary? no, most reasonably healthy people should be able to walk .45 miles with ease. however, from a psychological angle, getting that distance chopped by more than half with a pink line stop at madison would probably entice A LOT more people to take the train to games. it seems like a no-brainer to me given that millions of people attend events at the UC every year.

[ChiTownWonder]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

http://www.chicagoarchitecture.org/2015/02/06/walling-off-west-town/

yess!!

[joeg1985]

Also a Pink line stop at Madison could really help to anchor that area as a nice midrise district. You can't go wrong adding more connectivity to the area via the L. Something like Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood would fit the area pretty nicely. With mixed incomes levels and affordable housing. I think that would be quite nice.

[Chi-Sky21]

I really think you may not get a huge fight out of the west loop on these 2, the current west loop plan acknowledges growth along the Ike, their cutoff for highrises is Jackson. Also this buts up against the huge Target, a gas station and i believe a storage building, none of which will put up a fight...not to mention it would block out the highway...always a good thing.

[BorisMolotov]

I'm surprised there hasn't been more development aimed at students being directly north of UIC right there. Or is more student housing being directed south and west of UIC? I haven't been to the area in a while and I know that the school is shedding its commuter school persona.

[Chicago Shawn]

I got a height from blueprints for the new Hotel 360 (85 E Wacker) sliver tower.

317'-3" CCD
304'-6" From grade (alley)
282'-3" From Upper Wacker.

This is to the parapet. There is no elevator penthouse; because this is a high-rise without any elevators; everything is consolidated in the existing building.

Also interesting tidbit: originally an 8 elevator building, now will be 7 elevators and only 6 serving guest rooms. The remaining space from the vacated areas of the shafts will be used for new floor area.