CHICAGO | General Developments

[Rizzo]

Those are the days I ride divvys instead of my own bike. I feel like I’m driving a tank. Weather and broken pavement and the deepest potholes can’t stop a divvy

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by Hayward

Those are the days I ride divvys instead of my own bike. I feel like I’m driving a tank. Weather and broken pavement and the deepest potholes can’t stop a divvy

its fun when the wind is on your tail. the ride home however...

[JK47]

Originally Posted by Skyguy_7

To put it into perspective, about 8 years ago you could build an entire fire station for $3-5 million. It's about $10 million now. A bike path connection shouldn't cost $40 million no matter how it's designed.

It's about 35,200 square feet of bridge. Even at $5 Million to $10 Million you're talking about a fairly straightforward concrete span for a roadway (say 40 to 60 feet long) with no major site constraints or complexity. Flyovers, especially over active roadways, are expensive and slow to complete. All the more so when space is so limited and the structure has to be fitted and built on site (e.g. they can't just drop girders direct from the foundry into place).

Just for comparison the FIU Pedestrian Bridge (which collapsed) was $9 Million for a total of 10,240 square feet of bridge. Which by the way cut costs by prefabricating the largest span which was swung into place by a transporter (versus constructing it on site). Which would equate to roughly $31 million if constructed to the same size as this bike path. However, it is faster and easier to build a straight & wide bridge in wide open space than a narrow bridge that has to wend itself over several roadways, hug a bridge, pass between that bridge & a residential building, then pass over a couple of waterways.

[LouisVanDerWright]

Yeah for as pricey as that is, we are taking about threading a bridge over two active waterways next to a double decker freeway bridge that's 100 years old at the Nexus of one of the largest cities on the continent so perhaps we can cut the just a tiny bit of slack...

[Kenmore]

Originally Posted by JK47

It's about 35,200 square feet of bridge. Even at $5 Million to $10 Million you're talking about a fairly straightforward concrete span for a roadway (say 40 to 60 feet long) with no major site constraints or complexity. Flyovers, especially over active roadways, are expensive and slow to complete. All the more so when space is so limited and the structure has to be fitted and built on site (e.g. they can't just drop girders direct from the foundry into place).

Just for comparison the FIU Pedestrian Bridge (which collapsed) was $9 Million for a total of 10,240 square feet of bridge. Which by the way cut costs by prefabricating the largest span which was swung into place by a transporter (versus constructing it on site). Which would equate to roughly $31 million if constructed to the same size as this bike path. However, it is faster and easier to build a straight & wide bridge in wide open space than a narrow bridge that has to wend itself over several roadways, hug a bridge, pass between that bridge & a residential building, then pass over a couple of waterways.

good post

[Mr Downtown]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

we are taking about threading a bridge over two active waterways

Um, only one waterway (Ogden Slip).

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

Um, only one waterway (Ogden Slip).

Phase 3 of the Flyover project always included some modifications to the Outer Drive Bridge... the east sidewalk will be widened for a separate bike and pedestrian path, and the bike path will be punched through the two eastern limestone bridge towers.

As of last fall, also, the Flyover project now includes a pretty extensive rehab of the other parts of the Outer Drive bridge as well. New deck grating for the vehicular lanes on both levels and repairs to the west sidewalk will now be included.

So we're not just getting a new bike flyover, we're making sure that our landmark Art Deco highway bridge will be around another 80 years as well.

[harryc]

April 1

[Bonsai Tree]

I'm really liking some of the smaller projects going up outside of the city center these days. They really relate well to their neighborhood surroundings and have some really cool architecture. Each of the buildings below seem to fit with the other buildings like they were meant to be there the entire time. The building at Sheridan and Broadway (looks like something from the Bauhaus), and Lincoln Common look great too.

[marothisu]

All 3 of those Logan Square developments are huge improvements over what was there before. The area right around the Western stop definitely got a bit less weird with just those 2 buildings alone.

[west-town-brad]

Originally Posted by marothisu

All 3 of those Logan Square developments are huge improvements over what was there before. The area right around the Western stop definitely got a bit less weird with just those 2 buildings alone.

I've very excited about the future of the Western/Armitage/Milwaukee intersection. I hope it looks like the developments at Ashland/Division/Milwaukee in a few years.

I'm hoping we start to get buildings taller than the current plateau of 6-8 stories tall. A modern 12-15 story TOD would be great in my mind

[LouisVanDerWright]

I just want them to raze the McDonalds even if it's only replaced by a 3-4 floor building. Now THAT would really complete that area.

[west-town-brad]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

I just want them to raze the McDonalds even if it's only replaced by a 3-4 floor building. Now THAT would really complete that area.

For sure... and:

1. MB Bank Parking lot with only drive though ATMs
2. Lazo's Tacos and surrounding parking lots
3. Walgreens + Large Parking Lot
4. Margie's Candies Property (stuck in a multi year stalled rehab)
5. Congress Pizza (may or may not get the planned 8 story CHA project)
6. Ginormous Parking lot and Vacant CVS
7. Redhot Ranch + Parking Lot for good measure

Those are all within the TOD range, and are vacant or car-centric uses now

Build baby, Build!

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by west-town-brad

4. Margie's Candies Property

nooooo

Originally Posted by west-town-brad

7. Redhot Ranch

nooooo

[Jibba]

Quick shot of Elevate (on Lincoln just N of Fullerton) from the train:




Demo already underway for condo building on Wilton (Brown Line flyover):

[west-town-brad]

I'm just saying Margie's Building is stuck in a never ending rehab - I don't think it's going anywhere. No would I want it to.

Redhot Ranch however... never liked the fries...

[i_am_hydrogen]

Nice, Jibba. I walked by Elevate last weekend and was very impressed with how it turned out.

[Rizzo]

Originally Posted by west-town-brad

I'm just saying Margie's Building is stuck in a never ending rehab - I don't think it's going anywhere. No would I want it to.

Redhot Ranch however... never liked the fries...

As long as it’s being maintained, it shouldn’t be a bother to anyone. It meets all points of a good urban building. There’s so many other opportunities nearby.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by west-town-brad

For sure... and:

1. MB Bank Parking lot with only drive though ATMs
2. Lazo's Tacos and surrounding parking lots
3. Walgreens + Large Parking Lot
4. Margie's Candies Property (stuck in a multi year stalled rehab)
5. Congress Pizza (may or may not get the planned 8 story CHA project)
6. Ginormous Parking lot and Vacant CVS
7. Redhot Ranch + Parking Lot for good measure

Those are all within the TOD range, and are vacant or car-centric uses now

Build baby, Build!

Developing those will be an act of evil gentrification. I object to the evilness of it all

[tjp]

Originally Posted by west-town-brad

For sure... and:


7. Redhot Ranch + Parking Lot for good measure

How dare you.