CHICAGOLAND | Urban Development in the Burbs

[Segun]

There's not much in the way of a "Less than 5 dollar option" now, with the exception of a slice of Gigios Pizza.

[gebs]

Do we think etta is going to be open until 4 am to serve nugs to frat boys coming home from the Keg? Or Nevins? Or Prairie Moon? Or 1800 club?

(this comment makes no sense in 2023. does gen z even drink?)

[aaron38]

Durty Nellie’s Seeks Redevelopment of its Property at 180-190 N. Smith Street, Palatine
https://durtynellies.com/updates/

I didn’t notice this when it was posted in April. Looks like this is moving forward. I’m sad that we’re losing a great music place, but I see their point that they’re having trouble booking the space. And this is TOD, literally across the street from the Metra station.

Hasn’t been anything new built in Palatine since 2006.

[aaron38]

What the heck is happening in Mundelein? Just happened to drive through, and there are three large projects near the Metra station. Construction in every direction.

To the north, just south of 176, straddling the tracks is a townhouse / rowhouse development. Morris Station.
https://www.morrisstation.com/

To the east, on Hawley next to the post office is a 4 story building. Across the street is a retail/office complex that looks like the paint is still drying.

South of village hall is Station 250, a large apartment complex along the tracks, right at the station.
https://station250.com/

[aaron38]

‘Catalyst’ to redevelopment: Apartments, retail coming to Arlington Heights south gateway

an eight-story, 301-unit apartment building with streetside retail at the south gateway of the village.

The mixed-use project, which received zoning approvals this week, would be built on 3.7 acres at the southeast corner of Arlington Heights and Algonquin roads, where a shuttered five-story office building and three single-story commercial buildings will meet the wrecking ball soon.

https://www.dailyherald.com/20231220...south-gateway/

See the article for renderings and more details. This isn't TOD, unless you count I-90. Metra is a few miles north. But this is a big change for the area.

[ardecila]

Yep. Also the old Daily Herald building is being renovated. It's a neat piece of 80s California-style office architecture dropped into Illinois, and a landmark off the tollway...

[Tom In Chicago]

This suburban high-rise in Oak Brook is still plodding along in earnest as it appears some revetment has been put in place along with an upgraded culvert for drainage into the nearby Salt Creek, but no clear sign of construction other than that, and the pushing dirt around the site. . .

. . .

[brian_b]

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

Ground broken on massive mixed-use development in Michigan City



https://www.southbendtribune.com/sto...y/70863305007/

Interesting. That's directly across the street from the Helmut Jahn-designed public library. Too bad they don't still have the original reading chairs - I loved them as a kid.

[r18tdi]

That Library is such a gem.

[BVictor1]

Ryan Field/Dyche Stadium Demolition

03.15.24

[Briguy]

should the new Ryan field have its own page?

[Steely Dan]

Oh man, a sight for sore eyes. I grew up just north of dyche stadium in the 100 block of 5th Street in Wilmette.

My favorite dyche stadium memory: I was about 10 years old and me and some other friends were riding our bikes in the parking lot of the stadium when one of my friends noticed that a gate across one of the stadium entrances was left unlocked. We totally busted in and had way too much fun riding our bikes up and down the stadium ramps.

We frequently went back hoping to find another unlocked gate, but it was only a one time event.

[nomarandlee]

Agreed Steely. I have fond memories of going as a wee lad to a mostly empty Dyche stadium in the mid-80s, watching Northwestern getting crushed by the likes of Ohio State or Iowa or pretty much anyone they played.

Even back then, though, I always admired the sweep of the stadium seating, open end zone, and arch supports on the outside of the stadium. I always thought it was one of the more underrated stadiums in college football, though maybe it's just my nostalgic biases.

[Randomguy34]

Article about Michigan City's growth and new renderings of a planned highrise. I did some searching and apparently they implemented a form-based zoning overlay around the core of the city, with height minimums and no maximums in certain areas (here and here). With travel times to Millennium Station dropping to an hour, and even less once MED is upgraded to 90 MPH, I can see why the area is now a lot more attractive to developers. If Goodman is serious about replicating the growth of Fulton Market, it's possible Michigan City could become our version of Jersey City


Why the man who helped remake Fulton Market is betting big on Michigan City

There’s a lot going on in Michigan City’s favor right now. Besides the double-track train project, which is wrapping up sooner than expected in mid-May, Nipsco plans to retire its generating station between 2026 and 2028. The utility’s cooling tower, a blight on the landscape that’s sometimes mistaken for a nuclear facility, will come down and free up a mile of lakefront space. The facility sits on 123 acres.

The Indiana Department of Correction has announced it will close the state prison in Michigan City within three to four years, freeing up land 2 miles off the lake. And the Marquette bike trail, which will connect Chicago to New Buffalo, Mich., and run through Michigan City, is expected to be complete by 2027. The Illinois portion is finished, the Indiana leg is under construction and the Michigan section broke ground April 3.
....
“We like to be on the path of renovation but where the bones already exist,” he said. He points to two Farpoint projects as examples: Fulton Market, as well as the Bronzeville lakefront (the former Michael Reese Hospital site), next to McCormick Place. “They have all the infrastructure already,” he says. “It doesn’t take a lot of imagination” to see what could happen there.

Michigan City is similar, he says. “It’s a proven community that sprawls during summer months, but I see it as much more year-round in terms of activity.”

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/comm...-fulton-market

[BVictor1]

04.25.24

[BVictor1]

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/comm...box=1720556110

Developer exploring remake of Evanston plaza that could include 25-story tower

By Rachel Herzog

A Chicago firm is exploring a redevelopment of a retail plaza in downtown Evanston that could include a 25-story residential building.

GW Properties has asked the suburb to determine if demolishing the north end of Church Street Plaza to construct a tower with 333 dwelling units would be an acceptable use of the property, according to city documents that reference a zoning analysis application submitted July 3.

[Steely Dan]

Those aren't left over fireworks you're hearing.

That's just the sound that the heads of Evanston NIMBYs make when they explode.

"25 stories!?!?!?!?!?!? What do these developers think this is? MANHATTAN????????"

[Jstange059]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/comm...box=1720556110

Developer exploring remake of Evanston plaza that could include 25-story tower

By Rachel Herzog

Did the article get taken down? It's leading to a page not found for me

[sentinel]

There used to be a 'Cultural' something something thread, but I think it was archived or accidentally deleted a while ago, so putting this here.

This looks incredible - I know from someone who works there that the Zoo recently received a $40 million anonymous gift that will surely be very transformational.

The Zoo holds a special place in my heart, I still remember going there as a kid very vividly, and I hope to take my daughter there regularly, when she is old enough:

Booth Hansen, Jones & Jones, and others unveil a plan for the future of Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo
By Kristine Klein • July 16, 2024 • Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Midwest, News

https://www.archpaper.com/2024/07/bo...rookfield-zoo/

"Those who grew up playing Zoo Tycoon know running a zoo requires, first and foremost, tending to the animals while simultaneously keeping the spirit of zoo patrons high. A new master plan by Booth Hansen, a Chicago office, puts this ethos into practice at Brookfield Zoo, a historic locale about 10 miles west of the Loop.

Since 1934, Brookfield Zoo in Chicago has been a leader in animal conservation efforts. Now, as it nears its next 100 years, zoo officials unveiled its Next Century Plan, a comprehensive vision that seeks to improve animal habitats while simultaneously offering guests an “immersive” and “rich” visit...

...Realizing the Next Century Plan is a costly endeavor, especially given the plan projects 30 plus years into the future. Brookfield Zoo has already secured half of its $400 million capital goal, raised from private and public sources. An additional $100 million endowment from the zoo can also keep operations afloat, zoo animals healthy, and visitors engaged for another 100 years."













https://www.brookfieldzoo.org/Brookf...t-Century-Plan

https://www.brookfieldzoo.org/custom...738a8ad9a2.pdf

[aaron38]

Honestly I didn't know that Winfield existed, but it is a stop on the UP-W line, west of Wheaton.
There's a plan for a new apartment building near the Metra stop. 4 stories, 147 units.

Winfield considering second major apartment development in downtown
https://www.dailyherald.com/20240805...t-in-downtown/