CHICAGO | General Developments

[Rizzo]

Originally Posted by wierdaaron

At least precast is easy to peel off once tastes (hopefully) change.

It's certainly been done, though mostly buildings from the 70's and 80's and swapped out for new metal and glass facades.

[LouisVanDerWright]

Another interesting move I didn't notice yesterday is that Marianos took the semi-ballsy move of taking on the Little Village Dominicks site. That area is really going to pop given the brewery and film studios to the north and the new hospital campus, new park, new microbrewery, and now a Marianos on South Side of the neighborhood.

Speaking of the South Shore location, I was looking at that yesterday and was kinda surprised Marianos didn't jump on that one too. South Shore is middle class enough to support it and they'd probably get spillover from Hyde Park.

[J_M_Tungsten]

Adams and Aberdeen

[Steely Dan]

i saw what looked to be a caisson rig on the site of that 9 story affordable housing project at lake street & the kennedy.

now that it appears to be officially U/C, does anyone have the details on it? i recall it having a pretty funky and questionable design.

[Mr Downtown]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

Marianos took the semi-ballsy move of taking on the Little Village Dominicks

Little Village location? You mean Ashland & Archer? There are lots of names you could apply to that area, but Little Village definitely isn't one of them.

[LouisVanDerWright]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

Little Village location? You mean Ashland & Archer? There are lots of names you could apply to that area, but Little Village definitely isn't one of them.

Ah, thought the map said it was 31st and Kedzie, I guess I am thinking of the hospital planned for down there. That's pretty squarely in Bridgeport on the edge of McKinnley Park.

[harryc]

Originally Posted by J_M_Tungsten

Adams and Aberdeen

Is that this site ? (old Eye Ear Infirmary) [ Oct '08]

[Mr Downtown]

Another Dominick's that I'm curious about is the one at Skybridge. Not sure who could use that kind of oddly configured space, though it might work out if split (for example) between a Trader Joe's and a PetSmart, or an Office Depot.

It's odd that Walmart hasn't picked up any of these locations for Neighborhood Markets, though the footprint of most may be too big and Walmart may also prefer them to be dark for six months so they aren't seen as union busters.

Story today about a city task force to market the unclaimed store sites.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

Another Dominick's that I'm curious about is the one at Skybridge.

isn't the skybridge dominick's one of the locations that whole foods is allegedly interested in? however, i would be more excited about a trader joe's moving into that space (whole paycheck is above my pay grade).

[jbrady3324]

Noah Properties Construction (foundation work) has started at 1400 w Chicago ave. Permits say 1st floor offices and 2 residential units. My guess is 1 flat and 1 duplex up.

http://noahpropertieschicago.com/Fut..._-chicago.html

[k1052]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

isn't the skybridge dominick's one of the locations that whole foods is allegedly interested in? however, i would be more excited about a trader joe's moving into that space (whole paycheck is above my pay grade).

Yes. I imagine most if not all the Dominicks stores are far too large for TJs to be interested in taking over the space. The west loop needs a TJ but it will have to end up elsewhere. On the plus side a WF will add further fuel to the residential development fire in the west loop. The developers we talk to still get all starry eyed whenever they talk about WF as a neighborhood amenity.

[SamInTheLoop]

[QUOTE=Mr Downtown;6364176]Another Dominick's that I'm curious about is the one at Skybridge. Not sure who could use that kind of oddly configured space, though it might work out if split (for example) between a Trader Joe's and a PetSmart, or an Office Depot.

It's odd that Walmart hasn't picked up any of these locations for Neighborhood Markets, though the footprint of most may be too big and Walmart may also prefer them to be dark for six months so they aren't seen as union busters.

Story today about a city task force to market the unclaimed store sites.[/QUOTE


My guess is that this city task force will have little work to do. Apart from the locations that Jewel has already purchased, Mariano's, as officially announced, is in the process of purchasing, and Whole Foods, as not quite officially announced yet, is in the process of purchasing, Jewel is likely to pick up some others, and any of the more marginal locations that are still left over are in my view likely to be picked up by Supervalue (Save A Lot) and/or Kroger (Food 4 Less).

What I'm interested in knowing, on the supermarket front, is if Meijer still has designs on expanding into the city? Haven't heard much - even rumor - on that front in quite some time....

[Mr Downtown]

My mistake; sorry to spur unnecessary speculation. I guess Whole Foods has already claimed the one at Skybridge, as well as the one behind Tribune Tower.

I don't think Meijer ever does anything under 80,000 sf, and they prefer 100,000. That repurposed Kmart on Dempster is the smallest one I've ever encountered.

At the other end of the scale, I wish we had a central city Aldi somewhere. This time of year it's like a German specialty food store.

[Chicago Shawn]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

My mistake; sorry to spur unnecessary speculation. I guess Whole Foods has already claimed the one at Skybridge, as well as the one behind Tribune Tower.

I don't think Meijer ever does anything under 80,000 sf, and they prefer 100,000. That repurposed Kmart on Dempster is the smallest one I've ever encountered.

^Meijer opened a "neighborhood market" in Berwyn's Cermak Plaza this year; so they too are experimenting with urban stores on a smaller footprint.


------

The Jewel at Roosevelt and Wabash has had "Grand Clearance" banners up for the past week. Is it confirmed that this store is closing? I know there were rumors a while back the property was going to be sold while Jewel moves to Roosevelt/Canal.

[wierdaaron]

I wonder if the grocery stores could be packaged as like an entrepreneur starter kit. Like, if you've ever thought about running a grocery store, boy have we got a deal for you! Building? Done. Layout? Done. Staff? Already hired. Just sign here and find your own suppliers.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

...
At the other end of the scale, I wish we had a central city Aldi somewhere. This time of year it's like a German specialty food store.

I second this - I really wish there was an Aldi downtown. I would shop there.

[Chicago Shawn]

I went sleuthing through some permit data with some spare time time today.

New construction permits issued this week-
720 W Aldine, New 8 flat replacing what looks to be 2 flat and SFH
1627 N Wood, New SFH replacing 2 flat and coach house
1839 W Byron, New SFH replacing SFH (wood frame w/ asphalt shingle facade)
2415 W Dakin, New SFH replacing SFH (mid-centrury brick ranch)

Hoyne/Irving park. something real interesting happening here, it looks like a long single story commercial building will be partly demolished, replaced with a 6 flat and the remaining building will have a second floor addition with a residential unit over existing commercial space.

Net gain of 10 dwelling units for this week.

[J_M_Tungsten]

Originally Posted by harryc

Is that this site ? (old Eye Ear Infirmary)

Hmm not sure harry. I wasn't really familiar with this area back then. I only remember this site as this 1 story warehouse with another building through it!

[J_M_Tungsten]

Franklin and Chestnut
Today





Source: http://m.chicago.curbed.com/archives...-look-like.php

[Mr Downtown]

Originally Posted by Chicago Shawn

Is it confirmed that [Roosevelt & Wabash Jewel] is closing?

I certainly hope not! They're in the final stages of a big remodeling.