CHICAGO | General Developments

[sukwoo]

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

And in related news...



This is going to look atrocious...

And I still cant place where this will be. Is that the former site of the old Pancake House?

Here's more detail from the local paper.

http://wjinc.com/main.asp?SectionID=...rticleID=14939

[ChicagoChicago]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

Here's more detail from the local paper.

http://wjinc.com/main.asp?SectionID=...rticleID=14939

What does the hotel market look like in Oak Park? At first thought, I'm struggling to see how this thing will be financially viable.

[sukwoo]

Originally Posted by ChicagoChicago

What does the hotel market look like in Oak Park? At first thought, I'm struggling to see how this thing will be financially viable.

Supposedly, market research commissioned by the village suggests that demand exists (otherwise the village presumably wouldn't be subsidizing this proposal.) Oak Park only has two hotels (plus a few B&Bs). Outside the village, the nearest hotels are 6+ miles away near O'hare/Franklin Park. The proprietor of the Carleton Hotel (in Oak Park) isn't happy about having a new (subsidized) competitor for obvious reasons.

Personally, I'm happy to see that block get a big density boost. I know lot of the old-timers around here don't like the idea, but I think most of that is NIMBYism.

[J_M_Tungsten]

Old Colony Building looking good.



235 W. Van Buren





155 N. Wacker

[Tom Servo]

Originally Posted by J_M_Tungsten

Old Colony Building looking good.

unbelievable

[BVictor1]

http://www.suntimes.com/business/164...070109.article

Developer Thomas Roszak, companies file for Chapter 7

July 1, 2009

BY DAVID ROEDER droeder@suntimes.com

Not even a highly publicized auction of condominiums could save the business of architect and developer Thomas Roszak. Roszak and companies he controls filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. The filing indicates he will liquidate rather than reorganize operations.

He has been a busy developer from Evanston to the South Loop, drawing acclaim for his designs and lawsuits over his business practices. Roszak has been sued by investors who accused him of mishandling money from their partnerships, and he settled at least one case.

Roszak designed a 31-story tower at 601 S. Wells called Vetro. In March, he staged an auction that led to the sale of 45 units in a slow market. But his court filing listed such creditors as Bank of America, a lender at Vetro, and debts associated with an Evanston condo project called Sienna.

In an e-mail, Roszak attributed his plight to “an unprecedented decline in housing values.” His filing claimed less than $10 million in assets vs. at least $50 million in liabilities.

[BorisMolotov]

Regarding the Old Colony Building, are there any other old buildings in desperate need of cleaining? I always see one in the northern part of the loop with like almost yellow and dirty black bricks, is that intentional or is that on purpose?

[wrab]

Notice in window is for development of 470' building at 421-25 & 430-38 S Michigan - this would be the Roosevelt U dorm tower.





It's a strange little building - cast iron/terra-cotta mix on the face? - but I'm kinda fond of it and will be sorry if it goes.

[J_M_Tungsten]

Originally Posted by J_M_Tungsten

Old Colony Building looking good.

I never even noticed the fire escape stairs until they started cleaning this thing. They blended in so well with the rest of the building. I wish they would get rid of them, quite an eyesore for such a nice building (now).

[Busy Bee]

You could really get into a real debate on an architecture forum like this when one starts to talk about pro and anti fire escapes. It's really 50/50 for me. The shielded turds that were on the Palmer House, yeah those were terrible and I'm glad they're gone. But others on old apartment houses in NY or like these on the Old Colony I don't mind—they seem to add texture, dimension and interest.

[J_M_Tungsten]

I agree that some buildings look good with fire escaped, especially darker brick buildings, but just try to image the Old Colony building with out the stairs, it would look amazing, just like it did when it was built, but yes some buildings do look like they were meant to have them.

[BWChicago]

This photo also shows the repainting going on at Harold Washington Library - which makes no sense to me, I thought the color was supposed to be like patina-ed copper. The dark green just looks like... dark green.

[Mr Downtown]

Originally Posted by BorisMolotov

are there any other old buildings in desperate need of cleaning?

The Edison (now Board of Education) Building at Clark/Adams. I think there's resistance to doing anything that might be thought of as a "waste" of money needed for education, though a few years ago there was a rumor that TIF money had been allocated for the project.

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by J_M_Tungsten

You were on the Skydeck?!?? How was The Ledge?
More pressingly, how long are the lines??

[J_M_Tungsten]

It was pretty sweet actually, I highly recommend it! I thought it would have been more "thrilling" honestly though. I got there right at 10 so the lines weren't so bad, but when we we're leaving around 1130 the line was out the door and went down Jackson! Im going to post more pics from inside later on other threads so keep an eye out!

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by BWChicago

This photo also shows the repainting going on at Harold Washington Library - which makes no sense to me, I thought the color was supposed to be like patina-ed copper. The dark green just looks like... dark green.

Yea, you're right. My only thought is that it might be an overcompensation for fading, so that once the paint fades, it will be the appropriate shade?

Fading certainly hasn't been kind to the Thompson Center - I can see why CPL would want to avoid that problem.

[wrab]

Originally Posted by ardecila

.....Fading certainly hasn't been kind to the Thompson Center - I can see why CPL would want to avoid that problem.

Yeah - the TC is looking rat-eared.





Or is that supposed to be the Korean Peninsula in the top panel?

[the urban politician]

Surprised this was never posted.

Now if Chicago can just keep up this growth for a decade, it will gain 200,000 residents:

Chicago population rises for 2nd year in a row
Recession forces many residents to stay put

Tribune staff report
July 1, 2009
For the second year in a row, Chicago's overall population increased, challenging the trend of declining population as the economy causes many urban residents to put off moves to suburbia.

From July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008, Chicago grew by 20,606 people, according to population estimates released Wednesday by the Census Bureau. That's more than three times the previous year's reported increase of 6,400 people, which reversed five consecutive years of population declines.

Part of the explanation for Chicago's population increase are changes in domestic migration patterns. The number of residents leaving Cook County slowed by nearly 11 percent from 2006 to 2007, while those entering the county fell by only 0.4 percent, according to demographer Kenneth Johnson, a professor of the University of New Hampshire who previously taught at Loyola University Chicago.

Large cities across the country continue to lose people who leave for other communities in the United States, but the rate of loss has diminished in the last year as more people remain in place.

Chicago is still the third largest U.S. city, with 2.85 million people.

[wrab]

^ I'm somewhat suspicious of these interim census reports, as they have been inaccurate in the past. The full 10-year census coming up should be a better indicator. Last time round, the interim reports were showing population losses whereas in fact the full census showed a population gain for the period.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by AdrianXSands

unbelievable

Adrian I was thinking the same exact thing!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Talk about a transformation!!! It looks like a brand new building. In fact I think this revelation deserves a