CHICAGO | River Point | 730 FT | 52 FLOORS - Page 22

photoLith · #**421** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 5:20 AM**

Will the building be built over the tracks?

honte · #**422** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 5:55 AM**

^ Basically, yes, although it is mostly the plaza that will sit above the tracks.

the urban politician · #**423** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 3:21 PM**

On a side note, does it not seem as though a lot of Metra tracks are being covered/exposed during this boom? Seems as if this is diminishing the views of the city from the trains.

150nwacker · #**424** Posted **Mar 18, 2008, 4:48 PM**

There was a rig over by the river, not more than a few feet from that Prairie-style railroad building. It was gone yesterday, Mar. 17.

ardecila · #**425** Posted **Mar 19, 2008, 4:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

On a side note, does it not seem as though a lot of Metra tracks are being covered/exposed during this boom? Seems as if this is diminishing the views of the city from the trains.

Do people stop taking NJTransit or LIRR because they enter Manhattan through tunnels? I seriously don't think anybody rides Metra for views.

Besides, skyline views on Metra aren't that great. The train is usually pointed at or away from downtown, but the only windows look out to the sides. It's like trying to watch the road ahead from the back seat of a bus - doesn't work very well.

Also - 444 West Lake is covering Metra tracks, and a parking deck is being built 2 blocks west at the Jewel. AFAIK, these are the only developments to cover tracks. Nobody's talked seriously about covering up the tracks next to One Museum Park, and development rumors for the parcel just south of 444 West Lake are just that - rumors.

honte · #**426** Posted **Mar 19, 2008, 4:52 AM**

^ Well, Trump and 300 LaSalle vaguely count. But yeah, I agree.

What we have had, however, is a lot of development that completes the urban texture in a similar fashion as air rights. I would say that Hyatt, 1 South Wacker, 111 South Wacker, Waterview, and Lake Shore East are doing similar things to "patch holes" in the fabric.

pip · #**427** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 4:12 PM**

looks like this one is getting built:

Wm. Blair Signs 340,000-SF Lease for Tower

CHICAGO-William Blair & Co., a Chicago investment firm, has signed a lease to be the anchor tenant of a planned 1.1-million-sf office tower at 200 N. Riverside Plaza, called River Point. The tower is being developed by a joint venture between Hines, headquartered in Houston, and Chicago food service entrepreneur Larry Levy. The estimated cost for the project is close to $500 million, says Greg Van Schaack, SVP at Hines regional office here.

http://www.globest.com/news/1119_111.../169266-1.html

aaron38 · #**428** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 4:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pip

Wm. Blair Signs 340,000-SF Lease for Tower
http://www.globest.com/news/1119_111.../169266-1.html

Quote:

The firm will occupy three-and-a-half floors of the low-rise portion of the 52-story building and 10 high-rise floors.

What low-rise portion? Is there office space in the separate hotel building?

STR · #**429** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 5:21 PM**

^Low rise is the area served by the first bank of elevators. Basically, the bottom 1/3 of the building, with mid-rise and high-rise being the middle and top thirds respectively. Each section has a different bank of elevators serving it. So, anyone going from the low-rise to the high-rise section probably has to go to the lobby and transfer to the other bank to get there rather than take one elevator trip.

aaron38 · #**430** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 5:27 PM**

Ah, thanks. And welcome back!

SolarWind · #**431** Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 2:29 AM**

I noticed a surveying crew was on site today taking measurements.

Down_Under_the_El · #**432** Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 4:21 AM**

Hurry up and build it already!!!

Dale · #**433** Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 4:37 AM**

Is 700' still an estimate ?

emathias · #**434** Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 3:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

I had an unpleasant and disturbing surprise when I checked Hines' website for any updates on River Point. See link below, as they have indeed changed information on the project - it's now listed as a 40-story, 900,000 sf tower. Hopefully this is just some kind of silly mistake by someone in Hines' marketing or website groups or something, and not an actual downsizing of the project based on more conservative underwriting, deteriorating economy and leasing outlook, debt market troubles., etc!! Anybody who close to the developer or city, please, please confirm this updated information on the website is in error!!

http://www.hines.com/property/detail.aspx?id=1946

Yet the photo still has 52 stories ....

SamInTheLoop · #**435** Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 1:22 PM**

^ I think my concern has completely evaporated. Hines' website now has a press release posted announcing the signed William Blair lease and quoting the 52-story, 1.1 million sq ft figures. Also, CoStar is showing the high-rise portion that Blair leased are floors 37-46. It makes sense to leave the top several floors available for lease to a smaller-to mid-size law firm, private equity shop, hedge fund or other professional services firm that would consider paying around $60 per sq ft, which would be among the highest office rent downtown...(this model is working very well for Hines at 300 N LaSalle)...

Soaring_Higher · #**436** Posted **Mar 28, 2008, 6:52 PM**

Lookin' pretty good on this one. Can't wait to see cranes when I look toward the west down the river...

chi49 · #**437** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 3:03 AM**

Great, my view east view will be completely shot now as this building goes up. Doesn't anybody on this site have views destroyed by these buildings or does everybody here live in a dump?

murdoc9 · #**438** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 3:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chi49

Great, my view east view will be completely shot now as this building goes up. Doesn't anybody on this site have views destroyed by these buildings or does everybody here live in a dump?

oh come on!

Tom Servo · #**439** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 3:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chi49

Great, my view east view will be completely shot now as this building goes up. Doesn't anybody on this site have views destroyed by these buildings or does everybody here live in a dump?

i live in a dump.

Beck4ABigChicago · #**440** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 3:54 AM**

yea, pretty much a dump, sorry.