CHICAGO | General Developments - Page 374

wrab · #**7461** Posted **Jun 18, 2009, 10:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taft

But is it well defined where the lake bed begins? That seems to be the prickly issue here...

Right - just so we're clear that the lake bed isn't what is at issue here.

cbotnyse · #**7462** Posted **Jun 19, 2009, 2:14 PM**

can someone help me out?! I'm looking for the render of Caltrava's bridge over LSD.

thanks!

Loopy · #**7463** Posted **Jun 19, 2009, 3:05 PM**

.

cbotnyse · #**7464** Posted **Jun 19, 2009, 4:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loopy

^ Posted by Wrabbit 12-23-2008

thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sentinel

^^?

yeah what?

denizen467 · #**7465** Posted **Jun 19, 2009, 10:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loopy

^ Posted by Wrabbit 12-23-2008

Was that part of the LSD bridges competition that involved 31st, 35th, North Ave, etc. as well? Was his River bridge proposal part of that competition or did he come up with that after Kelleher acquired the Spire project?

His infrastructure designs are wonderful, but I think this is inappropriate for Queen's Landing. I think a tall structure like this detracts from Buckingham Fountain, which should remain the king (queen?) of that section of Grant Park. This also mars the openness of marina promenade.

wrab · #**7466** Posted **Jun 19, 2009, 10:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by denizen467

Was that part of the LSD bridges competition that involved 31st, 35th, North Ave, etc. as well? Was his River bridge proposal part of that competition or did he come up with that after Kelleher acquired the Spire project?

His infrastructure designs are wonderful, but I think this is inappropriate for Queen's Landing. I think a tall structure like this detracts from Buckingham Fountain, which should remain the king (queen?) of that section of Grant Park. This also mars the openness of marina promenade.

I could be wrong on this, so someone please correct me if I am, but the Queen's Landing project predates both the LSD competitions and the Spire project. This was a separate design process, tied into the restoration of Congress in the late '90s. Bad blood between Calatrava & the city on this one.

denizen467 · #**7467** Posted **Jun 19, 2009, 11:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrabbit

I could be wrong on this, so someone please correct me if I am, but the Queen's Landing project predates both the LSD competitions and the Spire project. This was a separate design process, tied into the restoration of Congress in the late '90s. Bad blood between Calatrava & the city on this one.

Ouch about the bad blood!

I think the idea of building a grade-separated crossing at Queen's Landing does go back a very long way, but on the other hand, isn't Calatrava's presence in the Midwest more recent than the '90s? I have no idea; maybe he has been submitting proposals for much longer than that.

Also, IIRC, this year is something like the 50th anniversary of the Queen's visit ... let's giddyup with this project already! Especially since the fountain has just been re-done.

wrab · #**7468** Posted **Jun 20, 2009, 12:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by denizen467

Ouch about the bad blood!

I think the idea of building a grade-separated crossing at Queen's Landing does go back a very long way, but on the other hand, isn't Calatrava's presence in the Midwest more recent than the '90s? I have no idea; maybe he has been submitting proposals for much longer than that.

Also, IIRC, this year is something like the 50th anniversary of the Queen's visit ... let's giddyup with this project already! Especially since the fountain has just been re-done.

Yeah - from what I can dig up, the proposals were submitted sometime around 1999. Epstein was involved in the engineering. Additional renders from their website at:

http://www.epstein-isi.com/portfolio...ortation_2.htm

I agree that the current pedestrian barriers are just plain wrong and that the city needs to address this.

spyguy · #**7469** Posted **Jun 20, 2009, 3:46 PM**

sentinel · #**7470** Posted **Jun 20, 2009, 5:13 PM**

UN Studios Burnham Pavilion

oops, Zaha Hadid's isn't finished yet

the urban politician · #**7471** Posted **Jun 20, 2009, 6:18 PM**

^ Wow, I'm looking forward to seeing these in person. Any idea where those will go once they complete their time at MP? I hope the city doesn't lose them...

ardecila · #**7472** Posted **Jun 21, 2009, 2:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyguy

I'm much less upset about this now that I know that two of the older buildings are staying along Franklin.

I thought the plaza would go all the way up to Couch Place (the alley) but it seems that this plaza will be a lot smaller than I was imagining. At that size, it could actually be quite pleasant. I hope they don't plaster-coat the newly exposed party wall on the north side - it would look great with the Chicago common brick, if it is tuckpointed nicely. There will also be a fire escape facing the plaza, which should add an element of cool old-Chicago-ness.

It also has bike storage!

wrab · #**7473** Posted **Jun 21, 2009, 3:47 AM**

Thanks sentinel for the pics. Did you have a chance to climb around on it?

Ch.G, Ch.G · #**7474** Posted **Jun 21, 2009, 4:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

I'm much less upset about this now that I know that two of the older buildings are staying along Franklin.

Which buildings are sticking around? The two just south of the parking garage?

ardecila · #**7475** Posted **Jun 21, 2009, 6:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ch.G, Ch.G

Which buildings are sticking around? The two just south of the parking garage?

Yes. They are represented by the empty white box in the illustration posted above.

denizen467 · #**7476** Posted **Jun 21, 2009, 6:32 PM**

^ That stairway at the SE corner of the buildings being preserved - is that the old fire escape mentioned above?

Ch.G, Ch.G · #**7477** Posted **Jun 21, 2009, 6:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

Yes. They are represented by the empty white box in the illustration posted above.

Got it. At least there's some cause for optimism then.

sentinel · #**7478** Posted **Jun 21, 2009, 7:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrabbit

Thanks sentinel for the pics. Did you have a chance to climb around on it?

Unfortunately I didn't - it was still wet from the rain and just by the nature of the pavilion, it looked too slippery to risk breaking my hip to go onto it

the urban politician · #**7479** Posted **Jun 21, 2009, 8:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

Yes. They are represented by the empty white box in the illustration posted above.

^ The other good news is that the "empty white box" doesn't seem to have nearly a large enough floorplate to make room for another large office tower, and since this part of town is almost exclusively office-oriented, I don't presume anybody will be tearing them down for residential or hotel uses either.

ardecila · #**7480** Posted **Jun 21, 2009, 8:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by denizen467

^ That stairway at the SE corner of the buildings being preserved - is that the old fire escape mentioned above?

I can't say for certain, but it certainly looks that way. John Buck doesn't own those two buildings, so presumably they have no say over the fire escapes.

The southernmost one of the two buildings has had a rather ugly modern facade replacement. Oh well, can't win 'em all.