CHICAGO | General Developments

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by HomrQT

Fast Track looks a little messy but it's cool. I wish they could transplant it as is somewhere it would fit better, like on the corner of lower density neighborhood block.

Decent street food too. It was an obscure little slice of the Chicago. Glad too see the site going to a higher use, but the replacement building is pretty bland and could be in any city.

[BVictor1]

10.30.22

[marothisu]

Parcel of land at the SW corner of Grand & Wood, which has been a small industrial surface lot for at least 15 years, just got permitted for a new 5 story 17 unit building with ground floor retail. Across from the semi new Publican Quality Bread. The zoning change passed nearly 3 years ago. Back then the plans were for 4 floors and 20 units. So a few less units, but 1 more floor (which hopefully means taller in reality).

https://www.google.com/maps/place/1803+W...2dee2cb56!8m2!3d41.8906776!4d-87.6722653

2019 story:
https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/11/18/...cross-from-breakfast-house-in-west-town/

2020 Yimby story with drawings. These look more up to date.
https://chicagoyimby.com/2020/09/renderi...at-1801-w-grand-avenue-in-west-town.html

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by mh777

Really Little Women

[streetline]

Originally Posted by mh777

Good news on 629 W Lake. That Fast Track restaurant is such an eye sore.




https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/zba-approves-variances-629-w-lake

I'm not complaining about this at all. 8 stories (if you include the penthouse) with active uses on all floors is great, even if the renderings look uninspiring.

I do kind of wish it wasn't an inefficient single-loaded corridor, but it's probably just too narrow to do much else (at least without complicating the deal by building over a bit of the garage next door, which would be my dream solution).

I wanted to link to this old 18 story alternative plan for the lot though, to reminisce about a more ambitious might have been: https://www.wightco.com/work/629-w-lake-street/

[thegoatman]

https://chicagoyimby.com/2022/11/warehou...ves-tower-crane-permit-in-west-town.html

Is Chicago real estate so undervalued that we're still putting 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 warehouses and distribution centers on prime riverfront property?

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by thegoatman

https://chicagoyimby.com/2022/11/warehou...ves-tower-crane-permit-in-west-town.html

Is Chicago real estate so undervalued that we're still putting 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 warehouses and distribution centers on prime riverfront property?

This distribution centers need to go somewhere, dude. Not all of them are best along highway corridors, especially over that are intended to be for city resident delivery/consumption. I agree it's not a perfect use of the land, but it's still pretty damned dense for what it is plus it will provide a good amount of tax revenue. I call that a win.

As far as your question, yes, I think Chicago real estate is still undervalued, especially along the North Branch. But that's changing quickly, of course.

And just to make myself very clear, I still think you get your rocks off talking trash about Chicago at every possible moment. It's pretty damned pathetic, quite honestly.

Aaron (Glowrock)

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by thegoatman

https://chicagoyimby.com/2022/11/warehou...ves-tower-crane-permit-in-west-town.html

Is Chicago real estate so undervalued that we're still putting 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 warehouses and distribution centers on prime riverfront property?

Way to ignore literally EVERYTHING else that is being built in a half-mile radius around it *slow clap*

[Klippenstein]

Originally Posted by glowrock

This distribution centers need to go somewhere, dude. Not all of them are best along highway corridors, especially over that are intended to be for city resident delivery/consumption. I agree it's not a perfect use of the land, but it's still pretty damned dense for what it is plus it will provide a good amount of tax revenue. I call that a win.

Is this not along a highway? They aren’t changing the zoning for this development. It’s not like it’s my favorite type of development, but it’s exactly what this industrial district is for. Just look at Goose Island. The city did a North Branch study and decided it was necessary to maintain this exclusive land use here in order to serve the surrounding area. It’s undervalued compared to if it allowed residential, but that’s the point.

Don’t worry about thegoatman, he’s a broken record most of the time. He’s already complained about this and all this was already discussed at least a little.

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by Klippenstein

Is this not along a highway? They aren’t changing the zoning for this development. It’s not like it’s my favorite type of development, but it’s exactly what this industrial district is for. Just look at Goose Island. The city did a North Branch study and decided it was necessary to maintain this exclusive land use here in order to serve the surrounding area. It’s undervalued compared to if it allowed residential, but that’s the point.

Don’t worry about thegoatman, he’s a broken record most of the time. He’s already complained about this and all this was already discussed at least a little.

Indeed it is right next to the highway which makes it definitely appropriate to be placed there.

I admit that I shared some of Goatmans annoynace initially as I orginally thought that this was "river fronting" property until it was pointed out to me that in fact this across the street from riverfront parcels that will allow for residential or office (unlikely) development. I am completely on board with not continuing on with 20th century block warhouses or box retail lining up along the river, this isn't that because it's not ON the river.

That said I don't think Goatman is trying to run down on the city or "trolling". I think he merely has some misplaced enthusiasm and expectations about the realities of the local real-estate market conditions.

[west-town-brad]

Originally Posted by thegoatman

https://chicagoyimby.com/2022/11/warehou...ves-tower-crane-permit-in-west-town.html

Is Chicago real estate so undervalued that we're still putting 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 warehouses and distribution centers on prime riverfront property?

again, it's not riverfront property.

its near to the river, but not riverfront. there are other buildings and parcels the are along the river.

[urbanpln]

Originally Posted by glowrock

And just to make myself very clear, I still think you get your rocks off talking trash about Chicago at every possible moment. It's pretty damned pathetic, quite honestly.

Aaron (Glowrock)

I'm beginning to feel that way too. Let him talk.

[thegoatman]

Originally Posted by nomarandlee

That said I don't think Goatman is trying to run down on the city or "trolling". I think he merely has some misplaced enthusiasm and expectations about the realuties of the local real market conditions.

Literally this. If i'm not enthusiastic about every single thing the DPD pumps out apparently i'm a troll lol. Chicago is the architectural capital of America, my fault for having standards. Lots of things changing around this whole corridor, just disappointing to still see massive warehouses take up valuable space. I do see it's not RIGHT on the river so I guess it's not terrible.

[Suburban Shadow]

I am the exact opposite. Build it all!!!!

At some point the density and lack of property makes the high density better looking high rises happen. There is so much empty land around the Chicago core that everything approved should be built.

[[email protected]]

I am with the goatman on this. This is horrible for the city and the area. Total lack of vision. Density? Of trucks lol? Density is about more people living in an area and walking around, shopping locally etc Do you realize that all that industrial and shipping traffic that will be housed here will not only ruin any hope of this area becoming attractive for residential, it will actually set it back.
You speculate that residential will be built by the river across from it… would you move into a condo with 24 hour freight / cargo activity across the street ?

There are other lots like this further up Elston near the chick fil and Elston former cluster f. Where is the city to upzone those river lots for mixed use? One of the newspaper sites is now up for sale and it’s right by the river. Action is needed to have the city come up with a serious plan for the river but it won’t happen if we sit by applauding more warehouses and strip malls.

[Klippenstein]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

I am with the goatman on this. This is horrible for the city and the area. Total lack of vision. Density? Of trucks lol? Density is about more people living in an area and walking around, shopping locally etc Do you realize that all that industrial and shipping traffic that will be housed here will not only ruin any hope of this area becoming attractive for residential, it will actually set it back.
You speculate that residential will be built by the river across from it… would you move into a condo with 24 hour freight / cargo activity across the street ?

There are other lots like this further up Elston near the chick fil and Elston former cluster f. Where is the city to upzone those river lots for mixed use? One of the newspaper sites is now up for sale and it’s right by the river. Action is needed to have the city come up with a serious plan for the river but it won’t happen if we sit by applauding more warehouses and strip malls.

Look. This is a Planned Manufacturing District. It has been studied and planned to hell and back. The city has decided many times over that it is important to have a diverse economy that includes manufacturing and industrial uses. Just like alleys, these create corridors that while they may not look pretty serve a vital function for the city. Many of these industrial uses might need access to the river to function.

If you want to read more about the cities most recent vision for this district, it's here. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dcd/supp_info/north-branch-industrial-corridor.html

[Tom In Chicago]

Originally Posted by thegoatman

Chicago is the architectural capital of America

I'm not so sure this is true. . . with a few exceptions, Chicago hasn't built anything architecturally significant* here since the late 1980s. . .

I think what you're looking at is a legacy of Chicago architecture that existed in the 1900s but has long since been watered down and value engineered to oblivion. . .

I can't think of any project or firm that has really done exciting work here recently. . . Gang, Jahn, BKL, Hovey notwithstanding. . .

I'm surely not the last word on this subject, and would like to be proven wrong, but don't think I'll be convinced. . .

*By architecturally significant I'm referring to something that transcends "Chicago" architecture to become a driving force in other parts of the country/world. . .

. . .

[Tom In Chicago]

Originally Posted by Klippenstein

Look. This is a Planned Manufacturing District. It has been studied and planned to hell and back.

^What he said!

. . .

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by Tom In Chicago

I can't think of any project or firm that has really done exciting work here recently. . . Gang, Jahn, BKL, Hovey notwithstanding. . .

If we ignore all the innovative firms, there are no innovative firms!

[Tom In Chicago]

Originally Posted by moorhosj1

If we ignore all the innovative firms, there are no innovative firms!

I literally called them out. . . but most of what they've done here locally has been VE'd away from their originally intended design. . . what am I missing here???

. . .