CHICAGO | General Developments

[Kngkyle]

Originally Posted by moorhosj

Can the city eminent domain this property and turn it into a park (after remediation)? It seems like those organizations who love lakeside parks would be interested. South Works (440 acres) is about the same size as Jackson Park (500 acres).

I don't think that would be a wise use of limited park district resources. There already is a number of parks in the immediate vicinity including one just to the north on the Lakefront. Whatever development that eventually comes here (probably not for at least another 10-20 years) will certainly include a large amount of parkland anyway.

Also why would they need to use eminent domain? I'd imagine US Steel would sell the property to the city in a heartbeat. It's not like they are land banking this... they are trying to sell it but no competent developer wants to touch it.

[JK47]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Not sure, but where does the money for the remediation come from? Is US Steel on the hook for that?

US Steel contends that site remediation, which was supervised by the EPA, has already been completed and the land is ready to redevelop (they've even received NFR notices indicating the agency considered remediation to be complete). Neither of the counter parties that pulled out in the last month have disclosed what the mystery contaminant is that's causing them to withdraw from the plan.

[moorhosj]

Originally Posted by JK47

US Steel contends that site remediation, which was supervised by the EPA, has already been completed and the land is ready to redevelop (they've even received NFR notices indicating the agency considered remediation to be complete). Neither of the counter parties that pulled out in the last month have disclosed what the mystery contaminant is that's causing them to withdraw from the plan.

There are already two parks on this land, Park No. 566 and Steelworker's Park.

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Massive plan to turn South Works into a neighborhood dies

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/reale...ment-plan-dies

Huge surprise, right?

Didn't we already have this conversation?

[mark0]

I read somewhere that there were 1,000 FT tall sand dunes along the south rim of the lake where the mills are today. The Indiana dunes is just a portion of what was once there. Considering our extreme flatness and lack of interesting natural feature except for the lake, it should be returned to natural dune lands. It would make the southside far more interesting. If you look at 21 century trends in movement patterns, people are increasingly moving to places where there are natural features like CO, CA, AZ, the Pac NW. I think a restored Great Lakes for recreation and natural getaway opportunities could be help slow the exedous of people from the region. We need to face it, the midwest weather sucks and the scenery is just as bad save for the lakes so we need to do everything we can to preserve and restore them. we have the urban part already now we need to focus on the natural part.

[moorhosj]

Originally Posted by mark0

I read somewhere that there were 1,000 FT tall sand dunes along the south rim of the lake where the mills are today. The Indiana dunes is just a portion of what was once there. Considering our extreme flatness and lack of interesting natural feature except for the lake, it should be returned to natural dune lands. It would make the southside far more interesting. If you look at 21 century trends in movement patterns, people are increasingly moving to places where there are natural features like CO, CA, AZ, the Pac NW. I think a restored Great Lakes for recreation and natural getaway opportunities could be help slow the exedous of people from the region. We need to face it, the midwest weather sucks and the scenery is just as bad save for the lakes so we need to do everything we can to preserve and restore them. we have the urban part already now we need to focus on the natural part.

I couldn't agree with this more. The Big Marsh project and something like this could bring outdoor access much closer to home (some combination of hiking trails and camping sites would be welcomed). Basically, what Northerly Island was intended as, but 5x bigger.

[Busy Bee]

Start with keeping those goddamn carp out of the lake. If they get past the lock barrier coming up from the Illinois River, they will wreak effing havoc. It's all over after that.

[LaSalle.St.Station]

In the spirit of Burnham any large lakefront parcel that becomes available should be public and kept free and clear. Like millennium park it can be a donor driven effort. I'd like to see a new chicago botanic garden from South works down the calumet river to lake calumet. US steel can get the ball rolling and donate the land to the park district.

[Mr Downtown]

About 300 feet next to the water has already been deeded to the Park District. Problem is that it's all landfill on slag, so planting any trees will be difficult. Since the ground surface is 15-20 feet above the water, you can't have beaches or get sand dunes in any natural way. And it drops off into water 40 feet deep, so any bathing beaches would require a false bottom.

[mark0]

Theoretically could the slag and fill be pulled inland to the west creating a base for a natural dune to form? Slope it down to the lake bed and remove all the revetments and shoring and bring in sand to cover it so dune grasses can take root? This could be a killer example of restoration of nature in an urban setting and become a real attraction for the far south side neighborhoods. Our metro area needs a reason to spread south, it used to be heavy industry but thats just working anymore.

[Randomguy34]

Permits were issued near the IMD for two 1 story retail buildings at 709 & 719 S Seeley Ave. Here's hoping that they're not auto oriented

[harryc]

May 18

[jpIllInoIs]

^ Thanks Harryc,
Morrie Mages sports has never looked better! I love the factory window panes.. Hopefully this becomes another anchor for Chicago tech expansion.

[harryc]

May 7



May 10

[bnk]

Renders of the remodel oh the Hudson car building on motor row.









Former Bears players plan coworking space, private club in historic Motor Row building



Israel Idonije and Julius Peppers and leading a move to transform Chicago’s 1920s-era Hudson Motor Building

By Jay Koziarz May 25, 2018, 11:09am CDT



...

A pair of ex-Chicago Bears are teaming up to convert an old Motor Row auto showroom into a 115,000-square-foot complex featuring new coworking space, restaurants, a private club, and a rooftop pool.

Retired defensive ends Israel Idonije and Julius Peppers are leading a venture to renovate the Hudson Motor Building, located at 2222 S. Michigan Avenue. The former Bears announced their plan to acquire the 92-year-old property in August and completed the $10 million deal early this year.

The current plan for the five-story building calls for private offices, conference rooms, a technology incubator, gym, barbershop, and four residential units. The project, which is known as FBRK (pronounced “fabric”), will offer a membership component similar to WeWork and Fulton Market’s Soho House, reported Crain’s.

Idonije and Peppers are betting heavily on the nearby McCormick Square entertainment district and its Wintrust Arena and new hotels to be a sustained catalyst for future growth. Designed by Ware Malcomb, the proposed South Loop development will also include restaurants that will be open to the public, said Eater Chicago.

...

[harryc]

Originally Posted by bnk

Renders of the remodel oh the Hudson car building on motor row.

Former Bears players plan coworking space, private club in historic Motor Row building

Israel Idonije and Julius Peppers and leading a move to transform Chicago’s 1920s-era Hudson Motor Building

By Jay Koziarz May 25, 2018, 11:09am CDT



...

A pair of ex-Chicago Bears are teaming up to convert an old Motor Row auto showroom into a 115,000-square-foot complex featuring new coworking space, restaurants, a private club, and a rooftop pool.

Retired defensive ends Israel Idonije and Julius Peppers are leading a venture to renovate the Hudson Motor Building, located at 2222 S. Michigan Avenue. The former Bears announced their plan to acquire the 92-year-old property in August and completed the $10 million deal early this year.

The current plan for the five-story building calls for private offices, conference rooms, a technology incubator, gym, barbershop, and four residential units. The project, which is known as FBRK (pronounced “fabric”), will offer a membership component similar to WeWork and Fulton Market’s Soho House, reported Crain’s.

Idonije and Peppers are betting heavily on the nearby McCormick Square entertainment district and its Wintrust Arena and new hotels to be a sustained catalyst for future growth. Designed by Ware Malcomb, the proposed South Loop development will also include restaurants that will be open to the public, said Eater Chicago.

...

[Kumdogmillionaire]

Well that is just really cool news. Mr. Peppers can be forgiven for joining the dark side if he helps pull this off

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by left of center

I can forgive the city a bit with regards to Dearborn Park, since that was built during a time when the city wasn't doing all that well, and any development was better than zero development.

The city really dropped the ball with the Roosevelt Collection, however. It was built during a huge real estate boom cycle in the city, and I'm sure it would have been very easy for the planning department to demand that Delano Ct be a through street that connected to the grid (routing north to Financial Pl, and connecting to Wells at 9th St), instead of a dead end that is only accessible by the traffic clusterf*ck that is Roosevelt Rd. They also should have forced them to do something better with the Wells St facade, instead of building a quarter mile blank wall with only a garage entrance to break up the monotony.

That said, the errors with Roosevelt Collection still pale in comparison to Dearborn Park. The sooner that is dealt with the better.

Remember that Roosevelt Collection isn't done. So much about that lower level is still in flux. Right now, it's the end of the earth. But soon, Wells will be connected and turn into a major through-route to Chinatown and the Dan Ryan instead of a dead-end. Riverline will eventually get built out with several midrises and townhouses across the street. Not to mention, there's still a tower that's yet to be built ON the Roosevelt Collection site itself, which will presumably have a ground-level entrance on Wells.

Centrum did in fact plan for retail spaces along Wells when they built the building. Not continuous retail, but there is one retail space next to the tower site and several further south next to the parking entrance. Why do you think they put up all those cheesy color marketing boards? They are in lieu of a (future) glass storefront for a retail tenant. The blank wall you're lamenting is a consequence of the fact that retail leasing is hard, and it's near impossible on a street with no pass-through traffic... but that will all change in the coming years.

I believe the developers made the decision to build out those Wells St retail spaces as white box when the tower was built, or at some unspecified future date, maybe after the new road opens. From what I remember in the parking garage, those areas do not contain parking spaces and the lower level is never used to capacity anyway. They do not show these spaces on their leasing brochures currently, probably because it hurts their stats to carry all that vacant un-leasable space.

[left of center]

You're right, its not yet done. They still need to commence fullscale demolition of the movie theater lobby so that Delano Ct could be extended to Financial & 9th St. Until that happens, Roosevelt Collection will indeed be 'incomplete'.

[nomarandlee]

Good news. Finally.


Tribune Reporting.....

Cook County Hospital redevelopment nears starting line, with $135 million in financing
Work to convert the long-vacant Cook County Hospital building into two Hyatt hotels, medical offices and retail space is expected to start soon, after the project secured about $135 million in financing.