CHICAGO | General Discussions

[BorisMolotov]

I always thought a cool concept would be to cover all of the tracks except where they go under the Art Institute. That way they would sort of be preserved in the open and reflect the heritage of rail.

[bnk]

Originally Posted by BorisMolotov

I always thought a cool concept would be to cover all of the tracks except where they go under the Art Institute. That way they would sort of be preserved in the open and reflect the heritage of rail.

If I remember correctly that is what the Art Institute intended when they built the eastern wing. I'm sure I could find if I looked. They certainly had enough money to cover them if they wanted to.

[left of center]

Originally Posted by WhatTheHeck5205

Personally I hope they never cover those tracks. Chicago was historically (and still is currently) the largest railroad hub in North America, and one of my favorite things about Chicago is how much of the city’s massive industrial and railroad infrastructure is out on display, either deliberately or by a happy accident. Those tracks have run through Grant Park since there was a Grant Park. Sure you could try to cover them up and make the park look a little bit nicer, but the result just wouldn’t be Chicago.

There is absolutely no danger of Chicago losing or forgetting about its railroad history. Railroad infrastructure literally abounds in this city. There are railyards and viaducts absolutely EVERYWHERE. Covering up the Grant Park tracks would simply tidy up the city's front lawn/central square. If you are in Grant Park and want to see trains, literally one block from the western end of the park there is century old elevated tracks with trains rumbling by every few minutes.

[davytudope]

I always thought that the tracks added to Grant Park.

[10023]

Originally Posted by davytudope

I always thought that the tracks added to Grant Park.

How could that possibly be the case?

Even if you’re talking about aerial photos (which is silly, because 99% of people don’t observe the park via aerial photos), I don’t see how that’s the case.

At ground level, they’ve done their best to make them invisible, so at the very best they are simply wasted space and a blight for pedestrians walking from the Loop (because American cities tend to do a poor job of hiding their infrastructure; in Europe there would be an attractive brick wall).

[davytudope]

Originally Posted by 10023

How could that possibly be the case?

Even if you’re talking about aerial photos (which is silly, because 99% of people don’t observe the park via aerial photos), I don’t see how that’s the case.

At ground level, they’ve done their best to make them invisible, so at the very best they are simply wasted space and a blight for pedestrians walking from the Loop (because American cities tend to do a poor job of hiding their infrastructure; in Europe there would be an attractive brick wall).

I'm probably in the minority, but I think the tracks add to Grant Park the same way that the surrounding architecture does. It adds to the atmosphere. My favorite place to hang out and relax in Grant Park is near the tracks. When I went to school downtown that was my favorite place to study on nice days. I think that it can be narrowed in most places,and maybe covered in some spots, like between Balbo and 11th, but I would hate to see it be completely covered.

[Steely Dan]

the exposed IC trench through GP has never bothered me very much.

i mean, i wouldn't mind if it were decked-over, but it's a low-priority thing in my mind.

i'm FAR more disgusted by the obscene widths of the columbus, monroe, jackson, & balbo auto-sewers.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

i'm FAR more disgusted by the obscene widths of the columbus, monroe, jackson, & balbo auto-sewers.

^ Seconded. Thirded. Fourth'd. Fifth'd. Sixth'd. You get the drift

[left of center]

Grant Park has many gaping scars, both below grade railroad tracks and at grade multi lane roadways. I do not like the tracks, but boy howdy do I despise the roads that cut the park up into a checkerboard of green. Removing the roadways is definitely the bigger priority, but the tracks should eventually be addressed as well, IMHO.

[LouisVanDerWright]

Yeah, the tracks are low priority and it's kinda cool to see the history of those tracks and, in all fairness to the tracks, they were there first.

[Baronvonellis]

The tracks sprawl out more on the south end and take up alot of space that could be parkland. Near the Art Institute they aren't so bad. I'd like to see the roadways eliminated or reduced and lake Shore Drive put in a tunnel, so that you can walk freely to to the lake from Buckingham Fountain. Then have the lakefront as a promenade with more cafes and vendors like they are adding along the river.

[moorhosj]

Cover the Grant Park tracks or cap the Kennedy?

I would cover the tracks, it gives more continuous open space.

[bnk]

Originally Posted by moorhosj

Cover the Grant Park tracks or cap the Kennedy?

I would cover the tracks, it gives more continuous open space.

Lets do both. I do notconsider covering the tracks at Grant Park a low priority issue. Id be ok with section by the Art Institute open for all of the rail historians we have just to appease them. Not sure why the city and the hotels cant come up with a funding plan. Just covering it non Millennium like expensive but simple covering enough.


Look how much more Grant Park there is in this shot if covered. An the ease of access....

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1839/4...aa997236_h.jpg



http://yochicago.com/the-kennedy-cap...ds-cave/28434/

http://i.yochicago.com/images/hpmain...?preset=yosize

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

i'm FAR more disgusted by the obscene widths of the columbus, monroe, jackson, & balbo auto-sewers.

I'm far more disgusted by the existence of Columbus. You can't tell me traffic wouldn't adjust fine if you just closed it and ground it up. Why the hell is there a street like that running though the heart of our front mat park? It needs to be closed, demoed and reopened as a narrower, crushed granite pedestrian strollway like the Champs d' Mars or something.

[SIGSEGV]

Well, the South Lake Shore Drive buses get fucked up whenever Columbus is closed. But if there was fare integration with Metra (and better Metra Electric Service), they'd largely be unnecessary.

Or if there was a fucking bus lane on Michigan.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

I'm far more disgusted by the existence of Columbus. You can't tell me traffic wouldn't adjust fine if you just closed it and ground it up. Why the hell is there a street like that running though the heart of our front mat park? It needs to be closed, demoed and reopened as a narrower, crushed granite pedestrian strollway like the Champs d' Mars or something.

Yep

[maru2501]

I like the tracks, especially around the Art Inst., but I would cover them to the south near the new towers going up, where the curve is. Larger area as well.

And capping at least one key segment of the kennedy would build a better link for walking to west loop

[left of center]

^ Yeah I wouldn't mind keeping the tracks by the Art Institute uncovered (between Monroe and Jackson). Otherwise, cover the rest. Finish the job that Millennium Park started two decades ago

[SolarWind]

August 21, 2018



Crown Fountain branching out beyond faces into displays of cryptic software error messages.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by SolarWind

August 21, 2018



Crown Fountain branching out beyond faces into displays of cryptic software error messages.

I really don't understand why makers of these sorts of displays insist on using Windows. I know it's "easy," but when it fails, it fails in embarrassing ways. It just seems like a relatively simple Linux-based system would be more reliable, not have licensing issues, and could be designed to fail more gracefully.