CHICAGO | General Developments

[killaviews]

New looks:

Who knew?
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Gucci took a chunk out of the second floor of 900 N. Michigan. Same along the northside wall, too.
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[msu2001la]

Originally Posted by PerryPendleton

Was over at Lincoln/Wellington/Southport for the Octoberfest and was thinking.... man, this intersection could be epic, and obviously they were trying something with the polka dots, but.... They need to do some serious development here and probably just south at Diversey and Southport where the gas station and Tuffys is.

There are some incredible homes being built in this area and this little stretch could use some attention.

I'm surprised that the restaurant/retail development on Southport hasn't spread south of Wellington. The area around the Southport brown line has so much going on, but you get down to Southport and Diversey and it's just depressing. That intersection seems like it would be busy enough to support better retail than a gas station, muffler shop and currency exchange.

There's also been an empty lot/hole at Southport and Wrightwood for months now after they demolished the building on the corner. Anyone know what is happening there? I'm hoping it has first floor retail, but would not be surprised if it's just another massive house. I see the two bars up the street at Wrightwood and Wayne (across from Rose Angelis) have closed, so maybe this area isn't doing as well as I think it is.

[Tom In Chicago]

Originally Posted by Ogdenman36

Hello all, this is only my 2nd post so feel free to move it if in wrong section. I was on this board(well not this board, but the original) a long time ago. Like in the year 2000. I used to live in edgewater, I know I have met Steely, at least I think, again a long time ago.

My name is Tony, had a friend named Arvid who was from Poland and big into skyscrapers as well.

Anyways, now live in burbs, have wife and kids, getting more caught up on projects.

I have always wondered, why has there always been empty land around Harrison and Wells, as well as south of Roosevelt/Clark area. I am sure there is a reason, just don't know.

Also fyi, I married into a great family right up our alley. My father in law is now retired, but was a project manager at Park Tower and 340 Randolph. Got to go up both while under construction at the time, really amazing!

Hi Tony. . . welcome back. . . I remember meeting you with Arvid (Norway) back in the day. . . in fact he asks about you every time he comes over. . . he's going to be here from Oct. 4 through the 11th. . . PM me if you're interested in getting together for a visit. . .

. . .

[MultiModal]

So the company I work for is undertaking a project similar to "The National" which is the photo Killaviews just posted (http://thenationalchicago.com/). Basically we are gutting and renovating an old historic office building in the loop that was built in the 1920's. Right now we are looking into what we can and cannot do in terms of renovations because it is a historic building. If any of you have any experience with or knowledge of the subject matter please DM me. Thanks

[george]

9/28

Brighter without the years of built up pollution/coal soot.

[wierdaaron]

That building is being rehabbed by Blue Star (the proto-Sterling-Bay).

http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2015/...-former-cps-building-as-the-national.php

Looks like a candidate for http://Reddit.com/r/powerwashingporn

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

Worth mentioning that the Richard Driehaus auto collection (Chicago Vintage Motor Carriage), currently at 700 S. Desplaines, will be renovating and moving to the Marmon and Hudson buildings at 2222 S. Michigan, on Motor Row. Ald. Dowell says she's working to convince them to have public displays during the annual McCormick Place Auto Show.

Gotta wonder what kind of multimillionaire Driehaus is, that he's actually spending his own money to indulge his hobby, when clearly the mayor would have signed over a chunk of lakefront parkland to him.

Despite the auto-related history of these buildings, isn't it a huge issue that they will essentially be used to house a private auto collection with no public access? Is that really what we need to establish a vibrant cityscape on Motor Row?

Admittedly, I haven't heard the whole story, maybe he plans to lease out the ground floor for retail or something with the collection on upper floors.

[wierdaaron]

Yeah I had that thought as well. If they're trying to establish an entertainment district, a private garage with no public benefit kinda seems like a disappointment. Restoring the building is good though.

[Mr Downtown]

I think the displays will be on the ground floor (the old auto showrooms) with storage and restoration services on the upper floors and the Wabash side. At the very least it will be cool stuff to walk past, and probably he'll lease the space for private events a few times each year. Or perhaps he plans to open up an actual museum operation at some point.

[LouisVanDerWright]

He plans to use it as an event space, I know that for sure.

Of course the difference between this and Lucas is that this is a personal hobby while Lucas is offering to build a public museum worth hundreds of millions of dollars, donate hundreds of millions of dollars of art and historically significant sets and effects equipment, and also endow the museum with hundreds of millions more. Theres just a tinsy winsy difference between the two...

[marothisu]

Okay - This 36 unit development from Harvest Homes in EGP just got all its building permits yesterday. This is completely on vacant land within Fifth City (someone wants to tell me what exactly that is? I see a video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ9fFR9QK0E but it seems like something not so good happened in the area between then and now) . I think it will mainly be affordable housing so it's good to see, and it's also good to see more vacant land in the city bite the dust. Made possible with a little TIF money.


http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2015/...-housing-units-to-be-preserved-built.php
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/...ousing-tax-credit-program-300115310.html

[Ned.B]

^^^There's a little bit of misinformation about Richard Driehaus. He only owns and is renovating the Marmon Building at 2230 S Michigan. 2222 S Michigan, the Hudson building, though potentially under bankruptcy and/or foreclosure is still owned separately.

[PKDickman]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Okay - This 36 unit development from Harvest Homes in EGP just got all its building permits yesterday. This is completely on vacant land within Fifth City (someone wants to tell me what exactly that is?

East Garfield around Fifth ave.
Madison to Congress, Kedzie to Central Pk.

The name comes from a community group and redevelopment corp founded by the Ecumenical Institute (later the Institute of Cultural Affairs) to manage the urban renewal development planned for that area in the 60s.

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

Worth mentioning that the Richard Driehaus auto collection (Chicago Vintage Motor Carriage), currently at 700 S. Desplaines, will be renovating and moving to the Marmon and Hudson buildings at 2222 2230 S. Michigan, on Motor Row. Ald. Dowell says she's working to convince them to have public displays during the annual McCormick Place Auto Show.

Gotta wonder what kind of multimillionaire Driehaus is, that he's actually spending his own money to indulge his hobby, when clearly the mayor would have signed over a chunk of lakefront parkland to him.

Personally I am so in favor of Driehaus voraciously indulging any and all of his hobbies that are not architecture. I'm for him funding them, I'm for public funding of them, I'm for charitable donations, I'm for corporate sponsorships, I'm for crowdfunding, and any other means I haven't here mentioned. Keeping his focus away from architecture and design helps keep moving this cities architecture and design scene forward.


General PSA: If you haven't yet, leaf through your October issue of Architectural Record today (or pick it up). Chicago past, present, and future feature.....

[i_am_hydrogen]

From SOAR's newsletter:

Lindsay Light: SOAR has been notified of an application for demolition of the building at 161 East Grand Avenue. Also known as the "Lindsay Light" building. With this building being 'Orange' rated by the City (a preservation designation) there is a 90-day waiting period prior to issuance of the demolition permit. This gives an opportunity for the community to discuss the preservation and landmarking of the structure. SOAR is meeting with Preservation Chicago and Landmarks Illinois to discuss the historical significance of the building.

Google streetview:

[munchymunch]

Great news.

[wierdaaron]

Lindsay Light is why any building project in streeterville has to include a budget for radioactive material testing.

[i_am_hydrogen]

Originally Posted by wierdaaron

Lindsay Light is why any building project in streeterville has to include a budget for radioactive material testing.

There are multiple Superfund sites in Streeterville.

http://www2.epa.gov/lindsay-light

[wierdaaron]

I mean the company, not the building. They sold their used thorium-laced dirt to be used as ground infill all over the east side because a crazy man ran his boat ashore and referred to his boat's wreckage as land and the real estate industry will take anything it can get.

[aaron38]

I was in Lincoln Park yesterday and walked past Webster Square, at Webster and Lincoln. It's being billed as new construction condos, but is obviously a rehab of an existing structure. What was that building before?
The old facade is gone, they've got it stripped down to bare floor plates.
www.webstersquare.com