CHICAGO | General Developments - Page 1137

marothisu · #**22721** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 3:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

Looks like this has broken ground at Chicago/Larrabee. I love the idea of putting new retail podiums on these towers-in-a-park, even if this particular "park" is beautiful and well-manicured. Let's hope this starts a trend.

Interesting, but cool. Which company is behind this?

Vlajos · #**22722** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 4:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by marothisu

More Bronzeville news. If you recall before, there were about 3 new buildings receiving building permits around the 43rd St Green Line stop for Legends south. Well, this time it's way more and right around the 47th St Green Line stop for Legends South.

* 4716 S Calumet - 3 stories, 6 units. Vacant lot.
* 4724 S Calumet - 3 stories, 3 units. Vacant lot.
* 4728 S Calumet - 3 stories, 3 units. Vacant lot.
* 4736 S Calumet - 3 stories, 6 units. Vacant lot.
* 4742 S Calumet - 3 stories, 5 units. Vacant lot.
* 4744 S Calumet - 3 stories, 3 units. Vacant lot.
* 4826 S Calumet - 3 stories, 6 units. Vacant lot.
* 4830 S Calumet - 3 stories, 3 units. Vacant lot.

Total: 8 new buildings, 35 new units. Then I believe another 10 or so units up around the 43rd St stop. So far...

This is likely replacement housing for the former Robert Taylor. Probably a mix of market rate, affordable and public housing.

marothisu · #**22723** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 4:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlajos

This is likely replacement housing for the former Robert Taylor. Probably a mix of market rate, affordable and public housing.

I think the RTH were a little west of that actually..I think they only went as east as State, so these would be just outside of it I believe.

the urban politician · #**22724** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 6:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

Looks like this has broken ground at Chicago/Larrabee. I love the idea of putting new retail podiums on these towers-in-a-park, even if this particular "park" is beautiful and well-manicured. Let's hope this starts a trend.

^ I'm definitely a fan of this concept.

Actually, I'd like to see things like this built along the parking lots of some of the more suburban shopping centers that have been built in the city. I'm thinking of Roosevelt/Canal and the North/Clybourn districts

wierdaaron · #**22725** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 7:04 PM**

Definitely could have used all this new retail around when I worked at 600 W Chicago. Other than Snarf's and Motel Bar in the building, options were pretty slim -- which helped turn the building into one of the biggest food truck hubs.

With groupon on shaky footing I'm not sure if any more development will be needed, but I've always thought that the building's parking garage across Larabee could have had a few retail spots slapped on without much trouble. Still, it's interesting to see growth radiate out from the building. Also, infill is nice. I agree that this building's park was pretty well-maintained, but it always made the corner feel strange -- trapped between two worlds.

paytonc · #**22726** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 7:28 PM**

FWIW, Rahm is in DC this week on relatively short notice. I suspect there's fundraising involved.

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Looks like flatiron buildings are in vogue again. A good thing, as I've always been a big fan of them

Parking requirements made them nearly impossible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

my dreams of having Whole Foods land there may just be squashed (unless they have a smaller dense urban format, of which I'm not aware)

I highly doubt there'll ever be a WFM inside the Loop, especially now that they've scooped up all of those Dominick's locations.

emathias · #**22727** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 7:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

Looks like this has broken ground at Chicago/Larrabee. I love the idea of putting new retail podiums on these towers-in-a-park, even if this particular "park" is beautiful and well-manicured. Let's hope this starts a trend.

Awesome, I have been wanting a coffee shop with a clear view of the crack deals that go down on Chicago Ave from the rowhouse residents delivering to residents outside the police circle around them.

SamInTheLoop · #**22728** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 8:21 PM**

^ I think this little retail building is great, although for slightly different reasons than you...

SamInTheLoop · #**22729** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 8:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by paytonc

I highly doubt there'll ever be a WFM inside the Loop, especially now that they've scooped up all of those Dominick's locations.

Quite possibly will end up the case, althouth it would be an oversight/missed opportunity for them

SamInTheLoop · #**22730** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 8:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

You know as well as I that the economics are totally different. Privately-owned buildings need to generate revenue to cover their construction costs, so the construction budget is relative to the earning power of the site and its entitlements. On civic buildings, the budget is whatever you can wring out of the taxpayers. Maybe you look at other similar projects to get a ballpark figure... and cost overruns are far more common.

Even if Jahn turned out bargain-basement designs, I'm sure his fees are extremely high because his overhead is high... that penthouse in the Jewelers Building doesn't come cheap. That's fine for Chinese and Arabian businessmen on a power trip or German companies with a taste for good architecture but it doesn't jive with Chicago's private sector. Come to think of it, when was the last time any "global" Chicago firm did anything local? Smith/Gill? SOM?

Yes, this is a very 'classic' interpretation of public sector property development. However, my point was that depending on the development model being employed in the private sector (who the developer is, their business model, and capital source(s), exit strategy, etc), the lines may be a little more blurred than you think, that's all....

Vlajos · #**22731** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 8:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by marothisu

I think the RTH were a little west of that actually..I think they only went as east as State, so these would be just outside of it I believe.

Right, but part of the plan was to integrate and "de densify" the units around that area. So I think this is part of that.

Steely Dan · #**22732** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 8:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Quite possibly will end up the case, althouth it would be an oversight/missed opportunity for them

whole foods has done a pretty thorough job encircling the loop with stores - south loop & rivernorth, with west loop and streeterville opening within a year or so.

i think most major grocers are just scared of opening a store without accessory on-site parking (structured or otherwise). their standard business model of people stopping by the store once a week and purchasing $100-$200 of goods all at one time necessitates on-site car storage. i think if these grocers thought smaller they might find that there's a market in the heart of the loop that could sustain a small format store supported by walk-in business, especially if it catered heavily to loop office lunch goers interested in healthier prepared stuff - hot bars/salad bars/sushi counter/etc.

it might work, but inertia keeps the major grocers towards the more fringe areas of downtown (south loop, west loop, rivernorth, streeterville, LSE) because accessory parking is easier (cheaper) to come by in those areas.

LouisVanDerWright · #**22733** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 8:58 PM**

George Lucas Gives $25 Million to U of C for New Film School

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/02/...o-lab-schools/

Any idea who the architect is?

Loopy · #**22734** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 9:19 PM**

The Architect of the proposed Arts Hall is VDTA
http://www.buildordie.com/project/uc...d-renovations/

BVictor1 · #**22735** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 9:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

George Lucas Gives $25 Million to U of C for New Film School

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/02/...o-lab-schools/

Any idea who the architect is?

https://news.uchicago.edu/article/20...rant-arts-hall

marothisu · #**22736** Posted **Feb 25, 2014, 11:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Right, but part of the plan was to integrate and "de densify" the units around that area. So I think this is part of that.

Yeah, don't remember that of course, but de densify seems...backwards here? All these are on vacant lots. Or are you talking about de densifying the already existing units in that area?

SamInTheLoop · #**22737** Posted **Feb 26, 2014, 3:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

i think most major grocers are just scared of opening a store without accessory on-site parking (structured or otherwise). their standard business model of people stopping by the store once a week and purchasing $100-$200 of goods.

But with Whole Foods, that's like, what - 5-10 items, on average?

Hardly need a car for that! In all seriousness, I agree with your assessment - flexibility and quick adoption of lucrative new formats are strengths of precious few retailers. I would also add that neither are understanding (let alone capitalizing on) areas with varied/diverse sources and types of demand - most actually really suck at this, as they strongly prefer trade areas/submarkets/micromarkets that conform to a small number of simple, single-driver 'archetypes'....this is actually just one way in which retailers are typically deleteriously risk-adverse.....

pip · #**22738** Posted **Feb 26, 2014, 4:19 AM**

finally a new construction building I like!

So much better then that new school building in LSE and that building on Milwaukee and Division

Rizzo · #**22739** Posted **Feb 26, 2014, 5:08 AM**

^ Big budgets lead to nice things. That folding glass is pretty bad ass. I haven't quite warmed up yet to the stone portal things but they'll probably end up looking real nice when built. I get that they are a nod to the general shapes and rhythms to neighboring buildings.

marothisu · #**22740** Posted **Feb 26, 2014, 5:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hayward

^ Big budgets lead to nice things. That folding glass is pretty bad ass. I haven't quite warmed up yet to the stone portal things but they'll probably end up looking real nice when built. I get that they are a nod to the general shapes and rhythms to neighboring buildings.

Agreed - it kind of seems weird or out of place to me but hopefully in real life it looks better