CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5 - Page 315

the urban politician · #**6281** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 2:11 AM**

Taylor-Ashland redevelopment may not happen

A proposal to build a highrise condominium on the northeast corner of Taylor Street and Ashland Avenue has hit a snag that might be permanent.

“We could not get an agreement with anybody, so we have had to move on,” said Ted Mazola, president of New West Realty, which sought to build the project. “Right now, we are out of contact and are not doing anything with it.” New West had been working to obtain community support for its plans via meetings.

The sagging real estate market also discouraged the company from pursuing the project, he said, and “I really have no clue” whether it will be revived in the future, Mazola said.

New West’s plan specified an approximately 16 floor building with 185 condominiums and a two-story building containing offices and shops that would blend with existing structures along Taylor.

A two-story parking garage used by residents of the Campus Green apartment complex currently occupies the site.

-- Susan S. Stevens
http://www.nearwestgazette.com/Archive/2008/0308/UD0308.htm

Alliance · #**6282** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 2:24 AM**

I'm all for non-boxes, but they should not be justified as "this is not a box." Boxes provide a lot of density and provide good streetwalls. Lets not bash boxes too much, especially when the alternatives are contrived "non-boxes."

I think honte pinned the facade down as something that should be explored, but lets treat it seriously and do a form with more purpose and direction.

Nowhereman1280 · #**6283** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 4:08 AM**

^^^ "Its not a box" is not how I'm justifying it though. I really honestly like the stubby feel it gives off and think the shape of the roof matches the odd lines on the facade.

SamInTheLoop · #**6284** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 4:48 AM**

Avalon Bay is on the agenda for this month's Plan Commission meeting for their two-tower apartment development on S. Clark...

Chicago Shawn · #**6285** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 5:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Taylor-Ashland redevelopment may not happen

A proposal to build a highrise condominium on the northeast corner of Taylor Street and Ashland Avenue has hit a snag that might be permanent.

“We could not get an agreement with anybody, so we have had to move on,” said Ted Mazola, president of New West Realty, which sought to build the project. “Right now, we are out of contact and are not doing anything with it.” New West had been working to obtain community support for its plans via meetings.

The sagging real estate market also discouraged the company from pursuing the project, he said, and “I really have no clue” whether it will be revived in the future, Mazola said.

New West’s plan specified an approximately 16 floor building with 185 condominiums and a two-story building containing offices and shops that would blend with existing structures along Taylor.

A two-story parking garage used by residents of the Campus Green apartment complex currently occupies the site.

-- Susan S. Stevens
http://www.nearwestgazette.com/Archive/2008/0308/UD0308.htm

I figured this one was a no-go from the start. Its a shame too. This would have been a 100% improvement over the crap 1 story parking structure that exists on that corner now and provides a unglamorous bookend to what is otherwise a pleasant pedestrian street along Taylor.

In other news, the Walton on the Park South Tower should begin any day now. Anyone in the area should check on it come the start of the work week.

Chicago Shawn · #**6286** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 5:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Avalon Bay is on the agenda for this month's Plan Commission meeting for their two-tower apartment development on S. Clark...

The Journal mentioned Avalon Bay was up for a community meeting, so I would wager this will be differed.

VivaLFuego · #**6287** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 5:56 AM**

^ Is that the Centro 18 plan from that website listed under "Pilsen Residential"? Is anything gonna happen with that, or is it dead? Last time I was by there the site was desolate.

Chicago Shawn · #**6288** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 6:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

^ Is that the Centro 18 plan from that website listed under "Pilsen Residential"? Is anything gonna happen with that, or is it dead? Last time I was by there the site was desolate.

Yes, that is Centro 18. Nothing is happening at the site, but the sign advertising the project still stands. My guess is its dead, or slowly dieing.

vxt22 · #**6289** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 11:16 AM**

I hate to be a naysayer, but I went to that GREC site, and I've got to say, none of their Chicago projects caught my eye. In fact, their lofts near Pilsen, and the other lofts they've 'added' to... those look absolutely abysmal.
Their larger projects here look pretty bad too. I think it's the zoning code's fault.
Anyway, so I'm hoping this recession will weed out many of the 'untouchable' projects, and let Staybridge, Solstice, etc. through. Fortunately, office projects like 300 N. seem to be quite strong.

Nowhereman1280 · #**6290** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 5:16 PM**

Ok, so I just heard a really interesting rumor.

For those of you familiar with the area around Hancock, you surely know of Archbishop Quigley Prepatory school and how it recently closed. Now I don't know who would have invented a story such as this, but rumor has it that it is going to be redeveloped as apartments.

At this point the building is completely gutted and there are no walls or anything remaining on the inside. There are construction crews on site every day, but I don't know what they are doing.

No, the sweet old gothic building will not be destroyed, but apparantly there are plans for building a new tower in the middle of the Quigley courtyard. I guess the new design is supposed to be modern and have the effect of a Hearst Tower style New-Old combo.

I asked the friend I heard this from to get more info on it if possible, but in the time being have any of you heard anything about this? This could be really sweet or really awful, but I just want to know if it is happening or not.

Mr Downtown · #**6291** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 7:09 PM**

I thought the archdiocese planned to use the building as offices.

cbotnyse · #**6292** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 7:11 PM**

A tower in the middle of the court yard? seems completely impossible.

Nowhereman1280 · #**6293** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 9:23 PM**

I know, that's what I thought to, I thought it was to be archdiocese offices, but then I heard this rumor from people who know nothing about real estate and would have no reason to make it up, that there is this bizarre plan to make it into condos or apartments. So I figured I would ask you guys and see if anyone has heard anything similar.

woodrow · #**6294** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 9:54 PM**

hmmm . . .I don't see how they could build a tower without damaging St. James Chapel. How many thousands (millions?) were just spent restoring the windows of the chapel

Nowhereman1280 · #**6295** Posted **Mar 10, 2008, 10:51 PM**

Yeah, I know, let me just throw the disclaimer out here that this rumor is unsubstantiated by any hard data and just a rumor and I am only throwing it out there to see if anyone heard anything similar.

In either case, Quigley should have become part of Loyola where it would have provided a real campus feel to Loyola's strictly urban downtown campus.

BVictor1 · #**6296** Posted **Mar 11, 2008, 2:31 AM**

Rumor Alert***

I've talked with someone familar with the next phase of Park View, and I was told that the next tower would be about 55 stories. The tower that's currently being worked on is 47 stories, and of course this is much better than the originally proposed 27 stories.

Let's see where this leads...

Alliance · #**6297** Posted **Mar 11, 2008, 2:42 AM**

Wow. Then it would likely be taller than Park View West. (and hopefully a bit more exciting).

Are they still going with condos?

BVictor1 · #**6298** Posted **Mar 11, 2008, 3:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alliance

Wow. Then it would likely be taller than Park View West. (and hopefully a bit more exciting).

Are they still going with condos?

As far as i know.

honte · #**6299** Posted **Mar 11, 2008, 3:52 AM**

^ Hmmm... seems they are readying for the next cycle. Good news, BVictor. I like what I see from Parkview so far.

They must have either 1) very good faith in the area (which is founded) or 2) think they have something Peshtigo does not (better prices perhaps?). Given Peshtigo's sales so far, it wouldn't seem at first glance like the right time to boost your project by 30 stories.

Chicago Shawn · #**6300** Posted **Mar 11, 2008, 6:21 AM**

^Didn't Dan Mclean of MCL plan two 60 story buildings on either side of Peshtigo at one time? I wonder if that plan in PD 368 still stands as up to date zoning, and if so, 55 stories would still fall under as of right. Of course the PD could have been amended with the present park view plan, and thus would require an additional approval by either administrative adjustment or amendment to the PD.

On Quigley, as far as I know, the archdiocese sold the loft building in the 200 block of East Superior to Northwestern University, and is moving all office functions to the seminary which no longer functions as a school. That was the plan. I have not heard anything of the sort yet, but perhaps they are cooking up a plan. The courtyard is pretty sizable, and could easily fit the footprint of large tower. I wondered in there this past summer when the gate was left open and pondered the idea myself. The entire courtyard was used as a surface parking lot.

IF such a plan was in the works, it better be good; and be a modern design with some great intended contrast. No pre-cast attempted Gothic-lite mocking the heavy detail and craftsmanship of a true gem.