CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5 - Page 279

pip · #**5561** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 5:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

^ does the fact that the article mentions it's an apartment tower as opposed to a condo tower mean that this one is gonna be rental?

if so, that's probably the way to go right now.

Yeah and not just that but a healthy mix of apartments is nice so not to have just high end condos in downtown.

BVictor1 · #**5562** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 1:21 PM**

Seeing as this parcel of land has been mentioned on the forum quite a bit lately...

http://www.suntimes.com/business/roeder/754077,CST-FIN-roeder23.article

David Roeder

POST IT NOTE: The U.S. Postal Service has hired Staubach Co. to explore the development potential for its full-block property at 540 N. Dearborn. Part of the Staubach team on the account is Senior Vice President Hugh Murphy, former top aide to Mayor Daley.

jcchii · #**5563** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 3:35 PM**

the way people drive around here, let's keep the cars on the ground for now

chicubs111 · #**5564** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 3:37 PM**

Looks like the franklin point project has collapsed...here is the link from crains...very dissapointing..this is the first major project that has officially been canceled...http://chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=27861

10023 · #**5565** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 3:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BVictor1

Seeing as this parcel of land has been mentioned on the forum quite a bit lately...

http://www.suntimes.com/business/roeder/754077,CST-FIN-roeder23.article

David Roeder

POST IT NOTE: The U.S. Postal Service has hired Staubach Co. to explore the development potential for its full-block property at 540 N. Dearborn. Part of the Staubach team on the account is Senior Vice President Hugh Murphy, former top aide to Mayor Daley.

Really important that this does become a park, not another River North concrete shitpile.

Could have seen the collapse of the Rokas development coming a mile away. Hopefully it stay empty for several years until another top notch proposal comes around. Something very tall with an office component would be ideal there to finish balancing out the Sears Tower.

the urban politician · #**5566** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 3:46 PM**

Jan. 23, 2008
By Alby Gallun
Pittsfield Building to house college students
(Crain’s) — College students soon will be taking up residence in the Pittsfield Building, the 38-story landmark on Jewelers Row.

Skokie-based developer Alter Group has acquired floors 13 through 21 in the vintage office building at 55 E. Washington St. and plans to convert them into a 450-bed dormitory for downtown college students, confirms Alter Group Executive Vice-president Richard Gatto.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=27862

the urban politician · #**5567** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 3:49 PM**

^ I love student housing. Lots of density, few cars, and no future NIMBY's. More, please.

On another note, in that article above they talk about Roosevelt University planning to construct another large dorm on Wabash and Van Buren

trvlr70 · #**5568** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 4:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicubs111

Looks like the franklin point project has collapsed...here is the link from crains...very dissapointing..this is the first major project that has officially been canceled...http://chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=27861

Is this parcel big enough for an Olympic stadium?

Sir Isaac Newton · #**5569** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 4:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ I love student housing. Lots of density, few cars, and no future NIMBY's. More, please.

On another note, in that article above they talk about Roosevelt University planning to construct another large dorm on Wabash and Van Buren

I'll second that. Not to mention, students tend to be out and about more often than professionals - so they create a more vibrant street-life, and they usually attract a lot of cool retail too. 450 new college students living in the heart of the Loop is another solid step in the right directiong that should help create a more 24/7 atmosphere in the Loop.

Also, good news about about Roosevelt University planning on building a large dorm on Wabash and Van Buren...there are so many parking lots on Wabash from about Jackson down to Roosevelt....hopefully over the next few years or so, we will see the number of parking lots on Wabash begin to dwindle...

VivaLFuego · #**5570** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 4:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10023

Could have seen the collapse of the Rokas development coming a mile away. Hopefully it stay empty for several years until another top notch proposal comes around. Something very tall with an office component would be ideal there to finish balancing out the Sears Tower.

Not only that, but there are an ever-decreasing number of developable sites for major new office space that wouldn't involve the demolition of existing (and often historic) building stock, so such sites like this shouldn't be 'wasted' by not including the potential for commercial uses.

Sir Isaac Newton · #**5571** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 4:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trvlr70

Is this parcel big enough for an Olympic stadium?

Probably not. I just went on Mapquest and outlined the area of this parcel between Harrison, Polk, Wells, and the River....it is almost exactly as long as Soldier Field, but a little bit skinnier than Soldier Field.

I've always thought that the plot of land between Roosevelt, 16th, Clark, and the river (is it called Riverside Park?) would be a perfect place for an Olympic stadium, though! It is more than big enough for a stadium, is very close to the Roosevelt el stop, fairly close to the Lasalle St. Metra Station, and close to numerous highways. I also don't think that the parcel is well-suited for residential development(s), and probably isn't good for retail either - Roosevelt already has more Big Box retail than I would like!

VivaLFuego · #**5572** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 4:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10023

Really important that this does become a park, not another River North concrete shitpile.

I'm beginning to have mixed feelings about a park in this location; your previous suggestion of the River North site just south of the old Post Office would have been a much better location aesthetically.

By that i mean, this will be a very displeasing park unless it is packed full of trees as a little urban escape (which would be cool, but I would expect it would take the form of "big field with a fountain in the middle"). To the north are the Rainforest Cafe (which is unspeakably.....awful...as a park backdrop) and a "River North concrete shitpile". To the east....a "River North concrete shitpile". To the west? A few great old Italianate buildings....but also the parking lot for the Best Western (shitpile). Kitty-corner to the northwest is the Rock 'n Roll McDonalds (see "Rainforest Cafe", above). The south has some potential, with a cool old loft building and a surface lot that will eventually be developed into a hotel. But anyway you slice it, it wil be a pretty uninspiring park.....but I guess you take what you can.

Perhaps a decent "compromise" could be a new tower on half the site, with the other half as public plaza/parkspace (a la the old gathering space outside AMA that is now becoming the Palomar Hotel)?

VivaLFuego · #**5573** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 4:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trvlr70

Is this parcel big enough for an Olympic stadium?

Damn straight it is (barely, and requiring some interesting architecture), but who's gonna pay for the land, which apparently has 2 separate owners? That could get pretty nasty politically, in terms of purchase-price, wrangling with a railroad owner, etc. Here's hoping the Olympic team is at least considering it...

Dr. Taco · #**5574** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 4:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Isaac Newton

Probably not. I just went on Mapquest and outlined the area of this parcel between Harrison, Polk, Wells, and the River....it is almost exactly as long as Soldier Field, but a little bit skinnier than Soldier Field.

I've always thought that the plot of land between Roosevelt, 16th, Clark, and the river (is it called Riverside Park?) would be a perfect place for an Olympic stadium, though! It is more than big enough for a stadium, is very close to the Roosevelt el stop, fairly close to the Lasalle St. Metra Station, and close to numerous highways. I also don't think that the parcel is well-suited for residential development(s), and probably isn't good for retail either - Roosevelt already has more Big Box retail than I would like!

I'm sure they've thought about that plot, but I'm also sure the city is trying to spread prosperity south, since the northside and downtown have had their share of good times already. personally, I'd rather have it at the south-of-roosevelt location as well

10023 · #**5575** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 5:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

I'm beginning to have mixed feelings about a park in this location; your previous suggestion of the River North site just south of the old Post Office would have been a much better location aesthetically.

...

Perhaps a decent "compromise" could be a new tower on half the site, with the other half as public plaza/parkspace (a la the old gathering space outside AMA that is now becoming the Palomar Hotel)?

I agree the other location would have been better, but unfortunately that ship has sailed with the construction of the Marriott. It would have been a nice location for a park with a sharp looking new office tower on one side, and some nice Italianate buildings and other historical stock on the other sides.

I don't like half block parks. It's too small to really provide open space for more than a lunch spot for office workers, and doesn't give provide the same openness as having streets on all 4 edges.

The other site would have been ideal, but I would rate a full block park with some ugly buildings across the street above a half block park. Remember that the tourist schlock like the Rainforest Cafe won't last forever (it's a completely disposable structure), and I think the block to the south of that Post Office block has future development potential.

It would be really nice to see a space like this in DT Chicago though:

Sir Isaac Newton · #**5576** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 6:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

Damn straight it is (barely, and requiring some interesting architecture), but who's gonna pay for the land, which apparently has 2 separate owners? That could get pretty nasty politically, in terms of purchase-price, wrangling with a railroad owner, etc. Here's hoping the Olympic team is at least considering it...

I highly doubt it is. The plot of land isn't even the size of Soldier Field, which seats 61,500, and I could be wrong but I believe that the Olympic Stadium would need to seat at least 80,000? And that's not even considering the fact that you would need some additional space outside of the stadium to support the 80,000 people streaming in and out, before and after a game. Franklin Point isn't THAT big...not to mention, even if a smaller stadium were built there, it would be a complete logistical nightmare!

Steely Dan · #**5577** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 6:54 PM**

- please take olympic stadium discussion to the chicago 2016 olympic bid thread.

- please take discussion of a new river north park to the general development thread.

this thread is exclusively for discussion of high rise projects in chicagoland, not parks or the olympic bid.

BVictor1 · #**5578** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 7:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicubs111

Looks like the franklin point project has collapsed...here is the link from crains...very dissapointing..this is the first major project that has officially been canceled...http://chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=27861

I don't think that there's really anything to be to disapointed about. This gives us something to look forward to in the future. Maybe Shelbourne Development will buy it

chicubs111 · #**5579** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 8:35 PM**

well there was an 80 story tower involved in this...so i would at least like to see what the project looked liked.

Cbautz · #**5580** Posted **Jan 23, 2008, 9:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BVictor1

Seeing as this parcel of land has been mentioned on the forum quite a bit lately...

http://www.suntimes.com/business/roeder/754077,CST-FIN-roeder23.article

David Roeder

POST IT NOTE: The U.S. Postal Service has hired Staubach Co. to explore the development potential for its full-block property at 540 N. Dearborn. Part of the Staubach team on the account is Senior Vice President Hugh Murphy, former top aide to Mayor Daley.

This is very good news.