CHICAGO | The 78 Site

[Mr Downtown]

Careful with that drooling. No buildings have even been sketched yet. And what economic forces could possibly ever justify a supertall in this location?

[BonoboZill4]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

Careful with that drooling. No buildings have even been sketched yet. And what economic forces could possibly ever justify a supertall in this location?

30 years ago Vista would have been laughed out of the room at LSE, because it too had no economic forces that would encourage someone to sell million dollar condos in that part of town... I'm not gonna argue it's likely, but it's 100% possible by 2045 that we are looking at that sort of situation...

[Suiram]

Originally Posted by BonoboZill4

30 years ago Vista would have been laughed out of the room at LSE, because it too had no economic forces that would encourage someone to sell million dollar condos in that part of town... I'm not gonna argue it's likely, but it's 100% possible by 2045 that we are looking at that sort of situation...

Exactly. Related will work to get a generous allotment of FAR / units into their PD and start building tower by tower over the next decades. Most likely as the buildings get built there will be some leftover and leave them flexibility towards the end to decide what makes sense for their final plots. Keep in mind it will most likely be new people deciding since those in charge today will be dead or at least retired.

Maybe buildings keep getting taller. Maybe DP gets acquired for redevelopment. Nobody knows but I am sure Related is angling to give themselves flexibility

[Mr Downtown]

The PD has already been approved, and building height is capped at 950 ft. But as we saw at Central Station, height limits can easily be waived.

The laws of economics are not so easily waived.

[r18tdi]

Despite City Approval, South Loop’s ‘The 78’ Mega-Project A Work In Progress As Neighbors Sound Off
https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/04...ors-sound-off/

A weak retroactive attempt at a community-driven development process?

[Jim in Chicago]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Despite City Approval, South Loop’s ‘The 78’ Mega-Project A Work In Progress As Neighbors Sound Off
https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/04...ors-sound-off/

A weak retroactive attempt at a community-driven development process?

I have no doubt that there are many issues that should be resolved, but Neighborhood displacement? Um, there is no neighborhood there - the site is walled off and a wasteland. Who's being displaced?

[LouisVanDerWright]

Originally Posted by Jim in Chicago

I have no doubt that there are many issues that should be resolved, but Neighborhood displacement? Um, there is no neighborhood there - the site is walled off and a wasteland. Who's being displaced?

Lol don't dispute the narrative, we gotta push the narrative at all times!

Seriously though, this site is like a Mile from anywhere that isn't already condo towers full of upper middle class white people. These DSA types are getting truly rediculous...

[Randomguy34]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

Lol don't dispute the narrative, we gotta push the narrative at all times!

Seriously though, this site is like a Mile from anywhere that isn't already condo towers full of upper middle class white people. These DSA types are getting truly rediculous...

Chinatown is two blocks away

[BVictor1]

The amendment that would have approved the CTA station for the 78 has been deferred. Being in the 25th Ward and not the 3rd, there's a new alderman.

[the urban politician]

^ You've gotta be kidding me.

None. Of. This. Is. Necessary

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ You've gotta be kidding me.

None. Of. This. Is. Necessary

I’m disappointed that 78 station change was deferred, but hopefully Related knows what it’s doing here and is very confident that the new alderman will come aboard.....frankly if it meant some more affordable housing that would be fine with me. Mainly I want to see the 78 move forward as quickly as possible (which will still take a long time) because it is such a well-planned project, including a very smart use of TIF (in sharp contrast to Lincoln Yards, which is a mess of a plan, and should probably not be moving forward in its current form....that’s the project that should have been deferred at its last hearings)

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

I’m disappointed that 78 station change was deferred, but hopefully Related knows what it’s doing here and is very confident that the new alderman will come aboard.....frankly if it meant some more affordable housing that would be fine with me. Mainly I want to see the 78 move forward as quickly as possible (which will still take a long time) because it is such a well-planned project, including a very smart use of TIF (in sharp contrast to Lincoln Yards, which is a mess of a plan, and should probably not be moving forward in its current form....that’s the project that should have been deferred at its last hearings)

My pet theory is that Ald-elect Sigcho is trying to cut a deal with Related where they purchase the Jesuit site on 18th/Sangamon and use that site to fulfill most or all of their required off-site affordable housing. Related was gonna have to find sites for that anyway within a 2-mile radius. I always assumed Related was gonna try to use the ample land they already control at Roosevelt Square, but due to Chicago's crazy racial boundaries, any housing there would be perceived as African-American housing and wouldn't be desirable to Sigcho's Latino base.

If they reach a deal, Sigcho can tell his constituents in Pilsen that he brought a large-scale 100% affordable housing development to the neighborhood, developed a long-vacant eyesore site, and kept the luxury housing on the other side of the river "where it belongs" lol.

[woodrow]

It is the Illinois Constitution of 1970 that precludes any changes. Even Gov. Quinn's modest pension reform law was struck down in 2015 by the IL Supreme Court. Pension Protection Clause.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by woodrow

It is the Illinois Constitution of 1970 that precludes any changes. Even Gov. Quinn's modest pension reform law was struck down in 2015 by the IL Supreme Court. Pension Protection Clause.

I still don't understand why we don't amend the Constitution to get rid of the Pension Protection Clause. I know it won't eliminate the current fiscal disaster, but why in the world would we ever want this problem to be allowed to happen again. All it will take is some GA and Governor to over promise benefits, and we all know that will happen.

[Mr Downtown]

I recently heard that CTA hadn't actually said they'd accept a curved and inclined platform for the CTA station, so now that the aldermanic election is over we might see an amendment to the TIF on that as well.

[ardecila]

^ What do you mean? An amendment to return the station to the original flat/straight Dearborn Park location (which Dowell flatly rejected) or an amendment to eliminate the station?

[Mr Downtown]

No further knowledge at this point. CTA might very well accept the curved location; it's just that saying back in February that they already had was apparently stretching things a bit. But I wouldn't be shocked to see the platform location shifted back to be, at least partly, east of Clark.

[aaron38]

Wasn’t the main issue just where the station entrance is on the surface?
The platforms itself can be either side.

[Mr Downtown]

The 3rd Ward (Dearborn Park II) residents primarily objected to the closing of Cotton Tail Park for construction of the platforms. They're so near the surface that they'll have to be built cut-and-cover, and Related did themselves no favors by being unwilling to predict how long the park would be closed. Apparently some loud voices just didn't think the park would ever reopen.

Others objected to the entrance location, and the crime they believed that would bring to their doorstep. Looking at the conditions under the Roosevelt L station, you can sort of understand their concerns.

Related says there are various utilities stacked up under Clark that make it impossible for the platforms, or walkways, to cross under it. But of course the subway tube itself crosses under Clark somewhere around -20, and I don't know why side platforms can't go right alongside.

[Jim in Chicago]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

Others objected to the entrance location, and the crime they believed that would bring to their doorstep. Looking at the conditions under the Roosevelt L station, you can sort of understand their concerns.

I fully admit that the Roosevelt L stop is nothing but a hot mess, and I, for one, avoid it if at all possible. It's just bad. And the CTA/city can't even find a way to prevent people from crossing Roosevelt mid block creating a very hazardous situation. That one's easy - build an open fence from corner to corner - solved. It's a major station for many L lines as well as a bus stop. Huge crowds, always filthy, just not pleasant.

But, that proposed station is a very different animal. It should mainly serve DBII, who should be happy to have a station, not angry, and the 78. Those folks will just exit and walk to the development - maybe a few will go to Mariano's first. Different situation entirely.

As to the previous Cotton Tail park - how long was Millennial park closed?