CHICAGO | Highrise Projects & Construction, v7

[Handro]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

The Loop still had restaurants, nightclubs, movie theaters, bookstores, groceries, a Catholic church—even hardware stores and hobby shops.

With all the new residential and hotel units being delivered to the loop maybe we'll get back some of that diversity of businesses in the years ahead. Michigan from Randolph to Wacker has already changed pretty drastically in the past 5 years alone.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

Outer Drive East had its own shuttle bus and its own commissary. Taxis weren't so expensive. The Loop still had restaurants, nightclubs, movie theaters, bookstores, groceries, a Catholic church—even hardware stores and hobby shops.

Originally Posted by Handro

With all the new residential and hotel units being delivered to the loop maybe we'll get back some of that diversity of businesses in the years ahead. Michigan from Randolph to Wacker has already changed pretty drastically in the past 5 years alone.

The Loop still has a Catholic church. And it also has grocery stores, bookstores, restaurants, movie theatres, grocery stores. I don't know about hardware stores or hobby shops, but there is a hardware store 1/2 mile north of LSE, in Streeterville, and Target fills many of those needs, too. There just aren't many hobby shops left anywhere, though.

[Mr Downtown]

What we actually get with all these new highrises: Gym, dry cleaners, gym, failing salon-spa, gym, gym, branch bank, yoga studio, cleaners, gym, sports bar, gym, fancy coffee, gym.

You want actual food or merchandise of some sort? Uber to Roosevelt & Canal or North & Halsted.

[harryc]

June 23

[Cheap_Shot]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

What we actually get with all these new highrises: Gym, dry cleaners, gym, failing salon-spa, gym, gym, branch bank, yoga studio, cleaners, gym, sports bar, gym, fancy coffee, gym.

You want actual food or merchandise of some sort? Uber to Roosevelt & Canal or North & Halsted.

I have to push back as I live downtown, just over the river in west loop. While I agree there are numerous gyms and other business you mentioned above, "all these new highrises" also brought full multiple full scale Jewels (west loop, river north, etc), multiple Marianos (including one in LSE), a 2 story Target on State, multiple movie theaters (one 3 blocks north of LSE), pressure for improved parks and open spaces (Maggie Daley), and if you mosey up to Michigan Ave./Watertower, more clothing stores than you could EVER need across the budget spectrum, and plenty of merchandise stores like Best Buy, Room and Board, Bed Bath & Beyond, etc.

You get my point ... I rarely ever NEED to leave downtown to buy anything (especially with Amazon) and am fully aware and appreciate that the more of these high rises that get built, the more amenities and stores will come in. So while you can be a little sarcastic with your statement, I wanted to defend downtown a little as it really is amazing with everything that is here, especially when compared to most other city cores. (Disclaimer: I am from and grew up in the middle of nowhere so I'm biased)

[the urban politician]

Technology and tastes have changed as well.

For example, hobby stores and especially bookstores aren't nearly as abundant as they used to be pretty much anywhere you go

[Jim in Chicago]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

Outer Drive East had its own shuttle bus and its own commissary. Taxis weren't so expensive. The Loop still had restaurants, nightclubs, movie theaters, bookstores, groceries, a Catholic church—even hardware stores and hobby shops.

I spent a fair amount of time there before LSD was rerouted and it was essentially the only building. There was indeed (and I think still is) a shuttle bus that went down Randolph and into the Loop, but it really wasn't a bad walk. The original part of Prudential was already there. There was parking available, and a nice restaurant on the roof - someone will remember the name. You really didn't feel isolated.

[maru2501]

now there's a nutella store

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

...
You want actual food or merchandise of some sort? Uber to Roosevelt & Canal or North & Halsted.

There are a TON of grocery stores throughout the Central Area if you're in LSE (or anywhere else downtown):

Mariano's in LSE. Bockwinckle's in LSE. Target at Illinois/McClurg. Whole Foods at Columbus/Illinois. Bockwinckle's at Ohio/Fairbanks. Treasure Island at Huron/McClurg. Target at Madison/State. North Loop Market in Marina City. Jewel at State/Grand. Eataly at Wabash/Ohio. Trader Joe's at Rush/Ontario. Whole Foods at Huron/Dearborn. Potash Bros at State/Chestnut. Treasure Island at Clark/Elm. Plum at Scott/Wells. Jewel at Division/Clybourn. Target at Division/Larrabbee. Jewel and Trader Joe's at Roosevelt/Wabash. Target at Roosevelt/Clark. Treasure Island at Clark/Burton. Whole Foods at Canal/Roosevelt. Jewel at Canal/14th. Treasure Island at Wells/Eugenie. Jewel at Desplaines/Kinzie. Whole Foods at Halsted/Madison. Mariano's at Halsted/Monroe. Target at Jackson/Aberdeen.

Only then do you get to Mariano's at Clybourn/Weed or Whole Foods at Kingsbury/Blackhawk up by North/Halsted, with a Mariano's at Clark/16th being about the same distance. And there are probably close to a dozen other small-time grocers (like Goddess and Grocer) I didn't count because they would have very limited selection or are only available to residents of specific buildings (like the one in the Hancock).

There are also four Ace Hardware stores between Division and Roosevelt, east of Halsted. And a Bed/Bath/Beyond at State/Grand, and furniture places around, too, if you need merchandise.

[Steely Dan]

but now that all of the downtown hobby shops have closed, where is Mr. D supposed to get his knitting supplies?

it's a truly terrible situation.

[Randomguy34]

Daniel Schell retweeted on his Twitter account about information on The Bentham, with some renderings we have seen in the past.

15 floors, 172 ft, and expected 2018 completion.
https://www.adjustableforms.com/project/the-bentham/

[Tom In Chicago]

Originally Posted by Rocket49

Do most people who live in LakeShore East drive? Or take cabs/Uber ?

Especially if you lived in the east part of LSE, it doesn't seem like public transportation is particularly convenient

I live in LSE and used to walk to my office when it was at Aon Center. . . now I drive to my office which is in Oakbrook Terrace. . . when I'm working at our downtown offices in the Loop I take the building shuttle or the CTA 60 bus. . . if I'm going out I'll drive, take taxis or walk. . .

. . . I hate Uber. . . the drivers are always getting lost in my neighborhood and clog up the streets because they don't know where they're going. . .

. . .

[Rocket49]

Originally Posted by Tom In Chicago

. . . I hate Uber. . . the drivers are always getting lost in my neighborhood and clog up the streets because they don't know where they're going. . .

. . .

😂😂😂

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

What we actually get with all these new highrises: Gym, dry cleaners, gym, failing salon-spa, gym, gym, branch bank, yoga studio, cleaners, gym, sports bar, gym, fancy coffee, gym.

You want actual food or merchandise of some sort? Uber to Roosevelt & Canal or North & Halsted.

I agree that sometimes new buildings offer an uninspired range of retail options, but the people moving into these neighborhoods seem to meet all their needs just fine.

Some do drive or Uber to big-box districts on the downtown edge, but for many people it's easy to satisfy daily needs by walking or taking transit. Certainly living downtown offers more choice of retailers within walking distance, in almost every retail category, than any other area of the city.

[BuildThemTaller]

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

Daniel Schell retweeted on his Twitter account about information on The Bentham, with some renderings we have seen in the past.

15 floors, 172 ft, and expected 2018 completion.
https://www.adjustableforms.com/project/the-bentham/

This is going in on the same block as the FLATS River North conversion and the Marlowe along Wells, yes? My goodness, what a complete transformation for this block. Combined, that's more than 300 apartments and a few high end condos with very limited parking. All three of the towers will be under construction at the same time, too. Very cool.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by BuildThemTaller

This is going in on the same block as the FLATS River North conversion and the Marlowe along Wells, yes? My goodness, what a complete transformation for this block. Combined, that's more than 300 apartments and a few high end condos with very limited parking. All three of the towers will be under construction at the same time, too. Very cool.

There's no guarantee Bentham will get built. I don't think they even have financing yet. I mean, I hope it does, but it's still very much just a proposal at this point.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Tom In Chicago

...

. . . I hate Uber. . . the drivers are always getting lost in my neighborhood and clog up the streets because they don't know where they're going. . .

. . .

Talking to a taxi driver the other day, he said there are about 4 times as many Uber/Lyft drivers as taxis in the city at rush hour. I don't doubt that. he also said they're largely responsible for the exceedingly bad traffic in the central area at rush hour over the past few years and, again, it hadn't really occurred to me, but I had *definitely* noticed traffic being much, much worse lately and I think he's correct that Uber/Lyft have a lot of the blame for that.

There must be some way to manage that. I mean, I think the idea that the City will protect medallion owners is past the point of no return, but there's got to be *something* that can be done to tamp down the cause of traffic. It used to take me 10-15 minutes in a cab at rush hour from basically Ogilvie to Lasalle/Chicago, now it takes 20-25 minutes anytime before 6pm most days if I take a cab. It's gotten absurd. I walk, or take a bike at least half of the time, and take the CTA some, too, but I take taxis or Uber/Lyft enough to know that traffic has gotten much worse since Uber/Lyft really caught on. If it wasn't for the fact that CTA buses get really slowed down, too, I guess I wouldn't care that much - if drivers want to sit in traffic, let them, but I feel bad for the bus riders.

[harryc]

June 23

[harryc]

Originally Posted by emathias

Talking to a taxi driver the other day, he said there are about 4 times as many Uber/Lyft drivers as taxis in the city at rush hour. I don't doubt that. he also said they're largely responsible for the exceedingly bad traffic in the central area at rush hour over the past few years and, again, it hadn't really occurred to me, but I had *definitely* noticed traffic being much, much worse lately and I think he's correct that Uber/Lyft have a lot of the blame for that.

There must be some way to manage that. I mean, I think the idea that the City will protect medallion owners is past the point of no return, but there's got to be *something* that can be done to tamp down the cause of traffic. It used to take me 10-15 minutes in a cab at rush hour from basically Ogilvie to Lasalle/Chicago, now it takes 20-25 minutes anytime before 6pm most days if I take a cab. It's gotten absurd. I walk, or take a bike at least half of the time, and take the CTA some, too, but I take taxis or Uber/Lyft enough to know that traffic has gotten much worse since Uber/Lyft really caught on. If it wasn't for the fact that CTA buses get really slowed down, too, I guess I wouldn't care that much - if drivers want to sit in traffic, let them, but I feel bad for the bus riders.

I have no problem at all - DIVVy.

The problem is with people who are doing piece work on public facilities (streets). To be a Taxi/Uber/Pizza driver you must disregard as many laws as you can and push hard for those "pieces". If the laws are enforced to the point where it cost more to break them than not you will find these folk model citizens (for example they never plow over pedestrians). A great example is the bridge work at LaSalle, it is a rare time when I cross Wacker and the traffic on LaSalle is not backed up (often to Hubbard) with somebody who is ignoring the no turn signs and waiting to turn onto Wacker. A camera enforcement system - or even the threat of one - would modify this behavior quickly.

[LouisVanDerWright]

Originally Posted by emathias

Talking to a taxi driver the other day, he said there are about 4 times as many Uber/Lyft drivers as taxis in the city at rush hour. I don't doubt that. he also said they're largely responsible for the exceedingly bad traffic in the central area at rush hour over the past few years and, again, it hadn't really occurred to me, but I had *definitely* noticed traffic being much, much worse lately and I think he's correct that Uber/Lyft have a lot of the blame for that.

There must be some way to manage that. I mean, I think the idea that the City will protect medallion owners is past the point of no return, but there's got to be *something* that can be done to tamp down the cause of traffic. It used to take me 10-15 minutes in a cab at rush hour from basically Ogilvie to Lasalle/Chicago, now it takes 20-25 minutes anytime before 6pm most days if I take a cab. It's gotten absurd. I walk, or take a bike at least half of the time, and take the CTA some, too, but I take taxis or Uber/Lyft enough to know that traffic has gotten much worse since Uber/Lyft really caught on. If it wasn't for the fact that CTA buses get really slowed down, too, I guess I wouldn't care that much - if drivers want to sit in traffic, let them, but I feel bad for the bus riders.

I don't buy for a second that traffic downtown is significantly worse than it has been historically. Sure it's worse than it was in 2010, but I doubt it is worse than 2006. Certain areas are obviously much worse, but that's only because there are actually people there now. Lake and Morgan is probably more congested now than ever before, but that's simply a function of a sudden transition from sleepy light manufacturing district to mixed residential, nightlife, and office district, not "because Uber". Same goes for any general increase in congestion, there have been tens of thousands of housing units added in the last decade and the economy has gone from crash of historic proportions to the longest growth streak since WWII. Ya think there might be a handful more cars downtown than 2008 or 2009?