CHICAGO | Highrise Projects & Construction, v7

[KWillChicago]

Whats up fellas, I've been away for awile but I'm back. Formally KWILLSKYLINE but my old email got all jacked up. Good to know I can get back in the discussions.

[IrishIllini]

Originally Posted by west-town-brad

is retail at the base of every building really a good idea in the age of amazon?

Don't need retail at the ground level of every building, but some sort of commercial or office space would definitely keep things from feeling desolate. Mixed use development is what makes cities so great IMO. Some of the side streets in the West Loop and River North are glorified alleys at this point.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by marothisu

360 W Erie St (Erie & Sedgwick) issued new construction building permits yesterday - 11 stories, 38 units and both below grade and at grade (?) parking. Currently mostly parking lot except the small building that used to have Citizen Bar. Good riddance.

Yawn. This area is an auto-oriented, vertical suburb, and this development does nothing to change the status quo.

Brendan Reilly annoyingly continues to block grocery stores west of Orleans (first in The Hudson, then in Onni's proposal for the Clark/Barlow site). It's unlikely that we'll see one in the Cabrini-Green redevelopment (apart from Target, 1/2 mile north) or in O'Donnell's redevelopment on the Tribune site.

[k1052]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Yawn. This area is an auto-oriented, vertical suburb, and this development does nothing to change the status quo.

Brendan Reilly annoyingly continues to block grocery stores west of Orleans (first in The Hudson, then in Onni's proposal for the Clark/Barlow site). It's unlikely that we'll see one in the Cabrini-Green redevelopment (apart from Target, 1/2 mile north) or in O'Donnell's redevelopment on the Tribune site.

I would do unspeakable things to get a small format Target or grocery inside this wedge of RN. Hell give me a big Walgreens even.

[Stunnies23]

Originally Posted by k1052

I would do unspeakable things to get a small format Target or grocery inside this wedge of RN. Hell give me a big Walgreens even.

The Jewel at Des Plaines and Kinzie is swamped with shoppers nearly everytime I go there. There is definitely demand for a small grocer in western River North. I’d take an Aldi if he won’t approved a full size grocery store.

[k1052]

Originally Posted by Stunnies23

The Jewel at Des Plaines and Kinzie is swamped with shoppers nearly everytime I go there. There is definitely demand for a small grocer in western River North. I’d take an Aldi if he won’t approved a full size grocery store.

Or a Trader Joe's. Something.

[IrishIllini]

Why is O'Reilly blocking grocers west of Orleans? Traffic? Orleans is already a clusterf***. A grocery store probably won't make it much worse than it already is. Perhaps campaign contributions from grocers to the east?!?

There aren't many sizable parcels left in this part of River North. Chicago Ave. could definitely handle increased traffic from another grocery store, but the area is starting to get a bit saturated. They're all a bit of a hike from here, but the Whole Foods, Jewel, and Target are within walking distance of the western half of RN.

[Stunnies23]

Originally Posted by IrishIllini

What's the logic behind O'Reilly blocking grocers west of Orleans? Traffic? Orleans is already a clusterf***. Perhaps campaign contributions from grocers to the east?!?

I used to live in the same building with a lawyer who represented the developer / landowner that wanted to build the grocery store / apartment tower on Orleans and Grand. I asked her if they had made a donation to Reily’s Campaign fund yet. She stated that they had not. He gave it a hard denial after the first public meeting.
“And there’s your sign”!
Reily is nothing more than a puppet straight from Madigan’s office. I would love to see him get an opponent next February.

[the urban politician]

Why not at least a small bodega?

I'm willing to wager that something of that sort will open up in that new tower on Chicago Ave. still a lot of available retail there.

[Jibba]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Yawn. This area is an auto-oriented, vertical suburb, and this development does nothing to change the status quo.

I'd like to see small markets be a viable form of business in Chicago. The only one that comes to mind is Olivia's in Bucktown (if only because I lived down the block). San Francisco is a prime example of a thriving community of the type, and we certainly reach their density levels in plenty of neighborhoods (this section of River North in particular likely exceeds many SF hoods). They have higher median incomes, of course, but not effectively higher earning given the cost of living. They may perhaps have initial and sustaining causes for having them that Chicago simply doesn't--e.g., they have a slightly stronger foodie culture in that regard, probably as a product of their direct access to a bountiful regional agriculture industry that produces close to year-round. I could say that contemporary developer practices favor retail spaces pre-programmed for the highest rent-yielding tenants, but SF's indie markets aren't limited to heritage/lower-tier building stock (Mission Bay has a couple in what is essentially a from-the-ground neighborhood).

Originally Posted by west-town-brad

is retail at the base of every building really a good idea in the age of amazon?

No, but it can be successful if cities are more proactive and hands-on to foster and sustain the growth of viable retail of particular types and per community needs. Well-designed and marketed retail can be the antidote to the malaise induced by too much Internet-enabled consumption optimization and the stress of slogging through the Big Box gauntlets (it becomes, in fact, recreational in its own way). Well-placed small retail shops can be the perfect 'incidental' stop-in for people in their neighborhoods, and also logistically convenient enough, if on enough blocks, that they can be added in to a walk with the dog or to coffee, etc. Once their presence is established and they can become a part of the urban culture, they can be very successful.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by Stunnies23

I used to live in the same building with a lawyer who represented the developer / landowner that wanted to build the grocery store / apartment tower on Orleans and Grand. I asked her if they had made a donation to Reily’s Campaign fund yet. She stated that they had not. He gave it a hard denial after the first public meeting.
“And there’s your sign”!
Reily is nothing more than a puppet straight from Madigan’s office. I would love to see him get an opponent next February.

It's not like there isn't retail in the area, but it's all on or North of Chicago Ave.

This is by design, but lest we forget the Gold Coast really isn't different. Block after block of pure, quiet residential with virtually no retail until you get to Rush St.

This is the Chicago model, I guess.

[aaron38]

11-8-17
Another skyline shot, full daylight. I think this is the best I can do without getting a better lens.

[HomrQT]

Originally Posted by aaron38

11-8-17
Another skyline shot, full daylight. I think this is the best I can do without getting a better lens.

Great shot! I played with the contrast a little so the buildings are a little more visible.

[ChickeNES]

Has anyone heard any news about the Reid-Murdoch tower?

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by ChickeNES

Has anyone heard any news about the Reid-Murdoch tower?

Nothing. I keep waiting for the rug store to close. No dice...

[rivnorth22]

Originally Posted by k1052

I would do unspeakable things to get a small format Target or grocery inside this wedge of RN. Hell give me a big Walgreens even.

Amen. Trader Joes, City Target, honestly anything is better especially with all the new construction.

Does anyone know anything further about Clark/Barlowe site? I know they started clearing out stuff from inside the building already and assume demolition is in the very near future. Only a matter of time until the renderings come to surface.

[Bonsai Tree]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Nothing. I keep waiting for the rug store to close. No dice...

During OHC I visited the architecture firm behind the structure. I noticed a model of it and asked if the project was still ongoing. They told me that the hotel was still in the works, but that it was most likely going to have some serious design changes the next time we see it. They also said it was likely there would be a height chop. Of course, this is coming from an architect, and not someone directly financing the project, so it might not be the most accurate information.

[10023]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

It's not like there isn't retail in the area, but it's all on or North of Chicago Ave.

This is by design, but lest we forget the Gold Coast really isn't different. Block after block of pure, quiet residential with virtually no retail until you get to Rush St.

This is the Chicago model, I guess.

That's the London model as well. Most streets are residential, except for high streets (and sometimes a "village" area within a neighborhood that was, well, a village). It's not a bad thing, really.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

It's not like there isn't retail in the area, but it's all on or North of Chicago Ave.

This is by design, but lest we forget the Gold Coast really isn't different. Block after block of pure, quiet residential with virtually no retail until you get to Rush St.

This is the Chicago model, I guess.

But there's nothing on Chicago west of Orleans except a Starbucks and a Chase Bank. The Chase is elegantly done and complements Yamasaki's Montgomery building, but I would have preferred pretty much any other tenant. There's no convenience retail, no grocery stores, zilch.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by ardecila

But there's nothing on Chicago west of Orleans except a Starbucks and a Chase Bank. The Chase is elegantly done and complements Yamasaki's Montgomery building, but I would have preferred pretty much any other tenant. There's no convenience retail, no grocery stores, zilch.

West of Orleans? That's not totally true about retail - there are a handful of smaller buildings between Orleans and Sedgwick on the south side of the street, pretty much all with ground floor retail/commercial. There is a hair salon, a nail salon, and eyebrow threading salon all there (all separate businesses) and a printing services shop (i don't know if you consider that retail but the space is such). I think a few more spaces are vacant. Across the street from that and next to the self storage place is a building with ground floor space too. Otherwise, yeah the area 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 in that regard. That needs to be done is that entire block on the south side of the street across from the Jesse White Fieldhouse needs to be high rises with numerous retail/commercial spaces and filled up. It might make that area a little better. Then someone needs to buy the self storage building and totally re develop it. There might be some retail spaces in there but the area still 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 majorly.


On a semi related but not totally related note, I think the Bush Temple of Music building (renovation project) may be getting a market on the ground floor retail/commercial space..