CHICAGO | General Developments

[ardecila]

McCaffery doesn't "get" modern architecture. He understands the value of good architecture in attracting a certain class of wealthy, educated buyer.

Likewise, Antunovich's architecture has value in its ability to encourage people to buy stuff from major national chains. McCaffery really is attempting to build a suburban lifestyle center lock, stock, and barrel.

The black community has an image of success that is highly suburban-oriented. Why do you think so many of them, once they make a little bit of money, flee to the suburbs? South Shore is one of the few urban pockets of middle-class African-Americans. It makes good business sense, at least to me, to try and get their retail dollars by giving them a shopping center that is exactly what wealthy suburbanites get.

[Busy Bee]

[Antunovich's] architecture has value in its ability to encourage people to buy stuff from major national chains.

You don't seriously believe that do you? Are you saying that faux ye olde themed lifestyle centre's net higher sales over a modern environment because the shopper/consumer is just digging the architecture so much they want to spend more money at that chain store? I'm sorry, that's complete horseshit. I guess all those sleek modern shopping centers oversees just aren't producing for the chain retailers

[a chicago bearcat]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

You don't seriously believe that do you? Are you saying that faux ye olde themed lifestyle centre's net higher sales over a modern environment because the shopper/consumer is just digging the architecture so much they want to spend more money at that chain store? I'm sorry, that's complete horseshit. I guess all those sleek modern shopping centers oversees just aren't producing for the chain retailers

it isn't because consumers "dig it", it's because consumers in the united states have been known to associate modern with more expensive, & traditional with non threatening, safe, affordable. If they weren't so reliant on their cars, American consumers might even prefer shopping in actual small towns over fake small towns surrounded by parking.

also is there an emoticon for take a chill pill?

[Busy Bee]

I'll admit I'm a bit high strung today/

But don't you sometimes just get tired of crap?

[lawfin]

^^^Yeah the weather has been eating at me too

[lawfin]

Originally Posted by a chicago bearcat

it isn't because consumers "dig it", it's because consumers in the united states have been known to associate modern with more expensive, & traditional with non threatening, safe, affordable. If they weren't so reliant on their cars, American consumers might even prefer shopping in actual small towns over fake small towns surrounded by parking.

also is there an emoticon for take a chill pill?

So true....and without fail....many many Americans bemoan the loss of "small-town america" and want to go back to "small- town america"...

.....brain-dead......cue zombie moan from Shaun of the Dead

...Romero was dead on

[BVictor1]

FYI:

The proposal for the redevelopment of the Lincoln Park Hospital came before the plan commission today and I'm pleased to say that even though the alderman opposed the project as she's a NIMBY hack; it passed the commission unanimously. It was quite the meeting and I was actually surprised to see the number of people who were actually in favor of the project attend.

The usual arguments were used, traffic, density, not fitting into the neighborhood, poor little children possible being run over by delivery trucks, blah; blah,blah... Honestly, none of the arguments were really viable. And they kept referring to the hospital as being within a historic district, which it isn't, it abuts.

The main reason for the opposition was the retail component and of course not one single person who opposed the project on the grounds of the retail component, offered a viable solution.

I'll admit that i got a little heated when members of the audience started to yell at me a little... Had to turn on a bit of the black in me as I wasn't having that...

The commissioners were all quite respectful in their approach to the alderman, who again was against the proposal, but in the end, they voted for the project.

Next up the zoning committee, then the full city council vote.

[Rizzo]

Well it's good to hear it's making progress. I think this neighborhood really needs it. Despite people's reluctance to change, in the long run this project will be highly beneficial.

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Are you saying that faux ye olde themed lifestyle centre's net higher sales over a modern environment because the shopper/consumer is just digging the architecture so much they want to spend more money at that chain store? I'm sorry, that's complete horseshit. I guess all those sleek modern shopping centers oversees just aren't producing for the chain retailers

Well it's not about consciously "digging the architecture"; it's all about certain visual styles subconsciously making the (average suburban joe & jane) consumer feel more at-ease -- as though the mall is normal town-square type of environment where one would spend many hours without lingering qualms about over-indulging, as opposed to something edgy and adventurous, which is where the "gee I gotta stop and just go home", "holy crap I'm just a rat in a cash register labyrinth!" instinct would kick in. Same as eliminating windows & clocks from casinos, or using various scents in stores and hotels, or overly loud music in restaurants (shown to make people drink and eat more). That's all he was saying. As for shopping centers "oversees", it's just too apples and oranges to compare with other countries. (And whether Antunovich is good for all this, I'm not sure; I have blissfully forgotten which existing projects are his.)

[denizen467]

BVic, thanks for the great update on the LP Hospital project.

Originally Posted by BVictor1

I'll admit that i got a little heated when members of the audience started to yell at me a little... Had to turn on a bit of the black in me as I wasn't having that...

youtube link?

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by denizen467

Well it's not about consciously "digging the architecture"; it's all about certain visual styles subconsciously making the (average suburban joe & jane) consumer feel more at-ease -- as though the mall is normal town-square type of environment where one would spend many hours without lingering qualms about over-indulging, as opposed to something edgy and adventurous, which is where the "gee I gotta stop and just go home", "holy crap I'm just a rat in a cash register labyrinth!" instinct would kick in. Same as eliminating windows & clocks from casinos, or using various scents in stores and hotels, or overly loud music in restaurants (shown to make people drink and eat more). That's all he was saying. As for shopping centers "oversees", it's just too apples and oranges to compare with other countries. (And whether Antunovich is good for all this, I'm not sure; I have blissfully forgotten which existing projects are his.)

Bingo. It has nothing to do with "good vs. bad" or "modern vs. traditional". The buildings look unquestionably suburban.

That's the point, and it's intended to encourage suburban patterns of purchasing among a population that probably purchases things in a vastly different way, since many of them (even if they have money) probably tend to be fairly thrifty.

As I said earlier, it also goes a long way towards reassuring retailers about opening locations in an underserved, marginal area. It probably also helps keep construction costs down, since malls like this are going up across the country.

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by denizen467

BVic, thanks for the great update on the LP Hospital project.



youtube link?

No, but if there were one, you'd be proud.

I actually had like 10 people come up to me afterward and said it was awesome. I didn't realize the zone I was in until those moments.


http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.co...#axzz18NZcpuZe

Panel approves plan for Lincoln Park Hospital site

By: Andrew Schroeder December 16, 2010

(Crain’s) — The Chicago Plan Commission approved a controversial proposal Thursday to redevelop the shuttered Lincoln Park Hospital, despite objections from the local alderman.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

I'll admit that i got a little heated when members of the audience started to yell at me a little... Had to turn on a bit of the black in me as I wasn't having that...

Awesome. Too bad I missed that

[OhioGuy]

Good for you, BVictor!

[wrab]

Replacement span for Halsted Street/Chicago River:


Link


Link

[Nowhereman1280]

Oooo I like that it includes a bike underpass. The trail from Skokie should continue all the way downtown and offer a grade separated "west side bike freeway" like LSD path acts as on the East side.

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

Awesome, BVic. A big thanks for representing.

Also, pretty impressed by the bridge! Thanks, wrabbit.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

Oooo I like that it includes a bike underpass. The trail from Skokie should continue all the way downtown and offer a grade separated "west side bike freeway" like LSD path acts as on the East side.

That's the eventual plan, although there's a LONG way to go to get there. The "bicycling" layer on Google Maps shows most of the system, but it doesn't show the pedestrian promenade through the Ward's complex, since it's not really set up as a bike path.

It's good to know that the bike underpass is a go. CDOT's announcement didn't mention the bike underpasses. Maybe they don't plan to open the underpasses for awhile, until they can build the approaches through surrounding properties?

[the urban politician]

The SW corner of Ashland and Addison used to be a gas station, now looks like a PNC bank is under construction.

It holds the corner well. In the big scheme of things, it's at least visually better for that corner than a gas station.

[ardecila]

Excellent... for every gas station that gets redeveloped, an angel earns his wings.