CHICAGO | General Developments

[Ryanrule]

Originally Posted by untitledreality

I have no problem with townhouses, rowhouses, or single family homes being anywhere in the city. Put them on any 25'x120', street fronting, individual parcel of land you want.

Unfortunately when it comes to many townhouse developments in this city, they do not follow this pattern. Instead they create a fortress block that closes itself off from the city, is typically pedestrian hostile, are governed by associations which prevent customization, and ultimately block any future piecemeal redevelopment... which, you know, is what cities are all about.

yeah i say ban townhomes from the south look until the shit at plymouth court is demolished and the streets restored.

[jpIllInoIs]

Originally Posted by Jim in Chicago

I guess dogs are welcome anywhere except the bushes, since that stuff ISN'T GRASS. Plastic, all plastic, all fake. Yet another reason to yearn for your own yard.

Welcome to Wayward Pines

[Rizzo]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

The Rooftop @ Roosevelt Collection code of conduct:

No Being Human

They're pretty much identical to park district rules from what I can tell

[Ned.B]

Originally Posted by Hayward

They're pretty much identical to park district rules from what I can tell

Not quite. All of the following would be allowed in a Chicago park that are not allowed on this rooftop:

- smoking
- skateboards, roller blades, bicycles, running, unreasonable noise
- loitering or congregating
- shirts and shoes worn at all times

Maybe the biggest concern is the no loitering or groups over 4 policy. Isn't loitering one of the basic purposes of parks?

[wierdaaron]

Closing at 9pm means I don't even know if I'd be allowed to walk through it to use the stairs to get home after seeing a movie in the evening. The rules seem anticipatory of there being a huge problem that hasn't yet been demonstrated to exist, and they're treating it like a private amenity of the shopping center rather than a neighborhood park, which is my understanding of what the requirement for the land's usage was.

It's a quaint little outdoor area, and I'm glad construction is over and RC can be accessed from the north again finally, but it seems like the neighborhood got shafted. And now McCaffery is out of the whole thing so there's nobody to answer for it.

[Ned.B]

^Oh right that was the other thing I was going to mention. 9am to 9pm hours? So people can't even go up there in the morning before work...or during the first 1-2 hours that school is in session immediately below? Chicago park district hours are 6am to 11pm.

[SamInTheLoop]

^ et al. Yes, this thing is nothing like a Chicago public park. Nothing.

Brought to you by the ever-slippery duo of Dan McCaffery and Danny Solis..........

[tjp]

I walked by Block 37 yesterday and could see through the windows that the Richard Sandoval food court still has a ways to go..When is that supposed to open? Also, any word on the movie theater? The last story I saw on that was from 2014.

[SamInTheLoop]

^ Not really any new news in a while. I did notice a lot of materials in the movie theater space that were recently moved there, but not sure if it's for the theater or just staging for tower construction?

As far as I know, ~28,000 sq ft Latinicity still on track for opening this fall, and ~44,000 sq ft 11-screen AMC Cinema Suites still on track for opening Spring '16.........

Further, I recently noted that it seems they may be once again marketing the other 4th floor space, so perhaps the Dave and Buster's deal fell through? (no problem if that's the case, as I felt that was just a tad on the too-lowbrow side for Block 37......Also, the largest 3rd floor space - lining State Street except for the existing L+G Salon, is in lease......I think this is planned to be a bowling/entertainment/lounge/dining concept.....

[tjp]

^ Interesting - thanks. I'll have to walk up to the 4th floor sometime and see what's going on. It would seem they're cutting it close for a Spring 2016 theater finish.

[SamInTheLoop]

Our long national nightmare has ended. Crain's just reporting that PREI has closed on their acquisition of the apartments and retail at Roosevelt Collection, in addition to the adjacent high rise parcel zoned for 43 stories and 400 units......

[wierdaaron]

He's gone but his stink will remain.

[Busy Bee]

And like cat wee on a hardwood floor, the damage has been done.

[stevevance]

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

Man, over 150 units in one small block plus all the other proposals near the California 'L' stop (Logan Square twin towers, Magellan 120 unit development, Mega Mall redevelopment, Congress Theater) is got to make the station's ridership increase dramatically. Plus, they all help contribute into the transit TIF fund surrounding the stations

The transit station TIF funds aren't available yet, and it wouldn't apply to the California station. Neither the Illinois House or the Senate have voted on it (track the bill). After the governor would sign the bill, the Chicago City Council would have to create complementary legislation.

The backstory, via Streetsblog, is that the City Council could create a TIF district around train stations or future train stations of the Forest Park Blue Line, 130th Red Line Extension, Belmont to Howard Red Line stations, and Union Station.

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

And like cat wee on a hardwood floor, the damage has been done.

True.......which gets me thinking......I think that's what I'll be calling McCaffery for a little while: McCatPiss. Fitting....

[wierdaaron]

Maybe South Loop Neighbors will pursue legal remedies against the new owners in order to open the park up to the community like it was supposed to be, but I don't know if anyone's feeling that motivated to fight it and the alderman is already on board with it.

I try to hedge my frustration in optimism that the area will soon be completely transformed from how it looked 5 years ago.

[Mr Downtown]

There's nothing they can ask to have enforced. The amended PD merely provides:

The open space must be clearly lit and not restrict public access from the hours between 9am to 9pm. Signage, as approved by the Department of Housing and Economic Development, shall be placed at all open space entries indicating the park is open to residents of the Planned Development and the general public, free of charge.

[george]

7/28

Bike fly-over at Grand & LSD

[wierdaaron]

Ah. I mean I guess you could raise a stink about having signage at the ground level indicating there's a park up this mountain of stairs, but that's pretty meh.

[ardecila]

I love that flyover design. Reminds me of a roller coaster, extremely sleek and dynamic.

I'm very glad they didn't go with a much heavier and clunkier design using I-beams...