CHICAGO | General Developments - Page 1848

cmmcnam2 · #**36941** Posted **May 1, 2017, 2:42 PM**

^^^ They still have the Walgreens branding on it, but Walgreens opened a new store across the street.

TimeAgain · #**36942** Posted **May 1, 2017, 3:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ithakas

Not sure if we've seen these updated renderings from 620 W. Diversey yet (the older low-rise Walgreens at Broadway/Diversey), but interestingly, they were updated on Tunney's website on March 13, 2017. Maybe it's close to moving?

http://www.44thward.org/site/files/1...2016-02-18.pdf

I can't seem to find this on the website. Any other info on this?

ithakas · #**36943** Posted **May 1, 2017, 3:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimeAgain

I can't seem to find this on the website. Any other info on this?

This is it – from the Major Development Projects on the left sidebar:

http://www.44thward.org/lincoln-park-plaza/

TimeAgain · #**36944** Posted **May 1, 2017, 3:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ithakas

This is it – from the Major Development Projects on the left sidebar:

http://www.44thward.org/lincoln-park-plaza/

Thanks!

Mr Downtown · #**36945** Posted **May 1, 2017, 7:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

Melbourne . . . alleys . . . got pressed into service as retail streets.

That was primarily because of Melbourne's oversized blocks—much too large for 19th century building and density patterns. So, just as in Washington, Philadelphia, and Salt Lake City, new lanes were cut through and lesser businesses had entrances from them. (I'm pretty sure that's also how Chicago got its named alleys: Couch Place, Marble Court, Arcade Place, etc.)

Bars and restaurants that prosper as part of a pedestrian nightlife district can succeed in such locations, but they're reliant on trendiness and come and go quickly (Underground Atlanta, Dallas West End or Deep Ellum, Dupont Circle gay bars). Any other kind of retail in the US needs street exposure and a reasonable loading/operational situation. Let's fill up some of the empty streetside storefronts we have—maybe even get to the point where we've priced out the mortgage companies and dentists—before trying to make retail work in alleys.

harryc · #**36946** Posted **May 1, 2017, 7:55 PM**

Apr 11

Apr 17

Apr 21

aaron38 · #**36947** Posted **May 2, 2017, 6:10 PM**

What the hell is this??

Hairston Flexes Muscles On 71st Street: No New Businesses Without Approval
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/2017...inesses-zoning

Quote:

SOUTH SHORE — Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th) is planning to rezone 71st Street from Stony Island Avenue to Yates Boulevard to single-family residential from commercial.

“They don’t want to see another wig shop because those types of businesses attract loitering and other things that go along with that”

WTF!

the urban politician · #**36948** Posted **May 2, 2017, 6:35 PM**

Yes, South Shore is choking on all that business investment, better take steps to slow things down.

Next time south side groups whine about all that investment on the north side, remind them of ridiculous moves like this.

emathias · #**36949** Posted **May 2, 2017, 6:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaron38

What the hell is this??

Hairston Flexes Muscles On 71st Street: No New Businesses Without Approval
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/2017...inesses-zoning

WTF!

Wig Shops: A Genesis of Crime or The Genesis of Crime?

sentinel · #**36950** Posted **May 2, 2017, 7:14 PM**

This move is beyond idiotic. Seriously, wtf???

Steely Dan · #**36951** Posted **May 2, 2017, 7:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sentinel

This move is beyond idiotic. Seriously, wtf???

no one has ever accused chicago's alder-cretins of being intelligent.

rlw777 · #**36952** Posted **May 2, 2017, 8:21 PM**

Columbia College Student Center 8th and Wabash
by Gensler

Quote:

Columbia College Chicago is building a student center, the first in the school's nearly 130-year history.

The Downtown school for the arts shared renderings of the new student center coming to 8th Street and Wabash Avenue in advance of a groundbreaking in October. The center is slated to open by late 2018.

Columbia College is getting a huge new student center - DNAinfo

sentinel · #**36953** Posted **May 2, 2017, 8:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlw777

Columbia College Student Center 8th and Wabash
by Gensler

Columbia College is getting a huge new student center - DNAinfo

Photos from the article/link:

I think it looks great

the urban politician · #**36954** Posted **May 2, 2017, 9:07 PM**

Where is everybody going to park?

ithakas · #**36955** Posted **May 2, 2017, 9:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Where is everybody going to park?

Lol – I assume you're joking, but there's three parking garages on that block of Wabash (one west side, two east side).

It's a nice design, but a couple thoughts come to mind:

1. Why develop a new building when Columbia has such financial woes?
2. It'd be nice if the Wabash side had some retail frontage, but I doubt it will. I've realized this stretch of Wabash has the potential to become the South Loop's most important retail stretch. Dearborn terminates too quickly at Dearborn Station, State is killed by the blank walls of Dearborn Park, and Michigan faces Grant Park.

Wabash from Congress to Roosevelt could become the primary commercial corridor of the South Loop. As the vacant lots are developed, I could even see it getting luxury retail eventually – the area has the tourist foot traffic coming south down Michigan from Millennium Park/AIC to the Museum Campus. It also has a decent number of loft-style buildings with nice ground-floor spaces, not being put to good use.

It'd be nice if Columbia consolidated some of its student lounge space here and rented out more of the ground floor spaces for retail – not sure why they'd need a full-floor student lounge on the first floor of every building they own. But the South Loop still struggles to get any retail at all, so maybe it's too early for something like that.

10023 · #**36956** Posted **May 2, 2017, 10:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Where is everybody going to park?

Seriously? It's in the South Loop and they're students.

the urban politician · #**36957** Posted **May 2, 2017, 10:42 PM**

^ What do you Brits know about us God fearin' Americans anyhow?

ardecila · #**36958** Posted **May 3, 2017, 1:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ithakas

Why develop a new building when Columbia has such financial woes?

I imagine they're trying to grow their way out. Probably they think the student center will help them increase enrollment.

I don't understand the details of Columbia's situation, but I attended a fairly elite private university in recent years and Columbia's tuition still floored me. I have to imagine part of the problem is that students are finding better value elsewhere.

LouisVanDerWright · #**36959** Posted **May 3, 2017, 2:02 AM**

The Millennial college boom is starting to fade as that generation works it's way out of the education system. Now the men are going to be separated from the boys when it comes to who actually adds value to students lives. I have a feeling that demand for arts degrees is going to be dropping.

ithakas · #**36960** Posted **May 3, 2017, 2:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

The Millennial college boom is starting to fade as that generation works it's way out of the education system. Now the men are going to be separated from the boys when it comes to who actually adds value to students lives. I have a feeling that demand for arts degrees is going to be dropping.

I think demand's been dropping since the onset of the Great Recession. Not just for arts degrees at Columbia, but for any expensive, private higher education institution without a high level of prestige.