CHICAGO | General Developments

[SamInTheLoop]

^ I have to say I'm really looking forward to the new NE corner of Grant Park. I think it's a great plan, and long overdue for this quite section of the park. While not opposed to passive, pastoral public spaces in the city, I do like the move toward more activation for this particular space....

[the urban politician]

^ What I like about it is the fact that it brings a less formal design than Daley Bicentennial was. I have generally agreed with the Olmstead-esque philosophy about parks: meandering pathways, intimate spaces, playful design, etc. The strict formality of Daley Bi as well as all of those tennis courts just never made it very appealing for me.

The only time strict formality works in a park is if you really have some stellar attractions. Millennium Park works for this reason. The fountain, the skating rink and restaurant, the bean, the theaters and pavilion, etc make this a geniuine meeting place for the city and thus I think the formality is appropriate.

The same goes for Buckingham fountain. Unfortunately, all of the streets running through Grant Park greatly damage the experience one has walking towards it.

[george]

10-5

Wrigley Building courtyard rehab

[ardecila]

I believe they have started removing trees and relocating wildlife, yes.

I wish they had built that LSD overpass from earlier versions of the plan. Van Valkenburgh did a separate project creating precast overpass components from hy-par geometry... super cool, it would be dope on the lakefront.

[untitledreality]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Unfortunately, all of the streets running through Grant Park greatly damage the experience one has walking towards it.

And to be honest, how many of those streets are necessary?

Have Eastbound traffic on Congress diverted South on Columbus, then East to LSD on Balbo (make Balbo one way, remove section between Michigan and Columbus) While Westbound Traffic would travel West on Jackson, South on Columbus then West on Congress (make Jackson one way, remove section between Michigan and Columbus)

You could then remove Columbus South of Balbo opening up the entire South end of the park, put Columbus from Monroe to Balbo on a road diet making the crossing less intimidating (now thats its only one way capacity wouldnt be reduced) and finally remove Monroe East of Columbus allowing Maggie Daley Park to spill into the Petrillo Bandshell space.

Maybe Im crazy, but for how many times I have walked through and driven through the park it makes sense to me.

[george]

10-5

Burberry

[Rizzo]

Originally Posted by george

10-5

Burberry

Only one minor complaint.....On the front facade where the pattern wraps in toward the window...there's kind of this funky transition right at the corner. Had each been slid toward the edge only slightly the problem wouldn't exist. Just me fretting over a minor detail. Overall it looks great so far.

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by ardecila

hy-par geometry... super cool, it would be dope on the lakefront.

It sounds super cool, but what is it? More cool than an Iowa grocery store I assume?

------------

A major business on Motor Row has just failed (maybe they will reopen somewhere else but I have found no evidence of it, and by some accounts they were not long for this world) - Joyce Ford at 24th and Michigan. They occupied two half-blocks, but are now boarded up. I know Cheap Trick and a few other projects have been announced for Motor Row; I'm not sure whether one of them is slated for this spot, but it's a bit of a shame that a motor-related business has gone.

[george]

10-5

Jones College Prep

[george]

The Second Coming of Niketown




Starbucks

[george]

Originally Posted by Hayward

Only one minor complaint.....On the front facade where the pattern wraps in toward the window...there's kind of this funky transition right at the corner. Had each been slid toward the edge only slightly the problem wouldn't exist. Just me fretting over a minor detail. Overall it looks great so far.

I know what you mean...

BTW, this illuminated facade is going to be high maintenance.

[J_M_Tungsten]

Originally Posted by george

Man, that building the left is looking in pretty bad shape now. That is the building with the live blues in it, correct?

[george]

Yes, Jilly's & The Backroom ^ has the Jazz, Blues & R&B.


Hillshire Brands HQ.

[spyguy]

^Really good updates (across many threads). Thanks, george.

63 apartments + retail
Fifield/ Pappageorge Haymes

[J_M_Tungsten]

Originally Posted by spyguy

^Really good updates (across many threads). Thanks, george

Seconded! Hillshire brands HQ is looking great!

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by spyguy

^Really good updates (across many threads). Thanks, george.

63 apartments + retail
Fifield/ Pappageorge Haymes

HELLS YEAH!

This lot is down the street from one of my buildings, and I have long been keen on what is planned there. A development like this is perfect, and will improve property values. I hope to see it move forward. Spyguy, are you able to provide more details, or larger renderings?

[george]

Originally Posted by spyguy

^Really good updates (across many threads). Thanks, george.

63 apartments + retail
Fifield/ Pappageorge Haymes

Thanks, Spyguy.


Re: 1822-50 W. Chicago Ave.

A developer will unveil plans Monday for 63 apartments above first-floor shops at 1822-50 W. Chicago Ave.

Representatives of 1850 FCR LLC, a group led by Fifield Realty Corp., will make a presentation to the East Village Association board at 6:30 p.m. in Leona's Restaurant, 1936 W. Augusta Blvd.

Drawings submitted by PapageorgeHaymes Partners last month indicated 70 units on three floors, above 14,000 square feet of retail space. The developer now projects 9 studio, 33 1-bedroom and 21 2-bedroom apartments. The masonry structure is ornamented with metal canopies and glass-enclosed balconies.

Apartments average 794 square feet, a density that would require the 12 original lots to be rezoned to B3-3. The upzoning from B3-2 also would allow construction higher than 50 feet. Drawings show a 54-foot roofline, compared with neighbors Pentecostal Redeeming Church at 35 feet and Tecalitlan Restaurant at 34 feet.

Parking would be accessed from the alley behind Commercial Park at 1845 N. Rice St., with a loading dock and 16 retail spaces west of 71 spaces for renters — 27 at ground level and 44 on a mezzanine deck.

The two vacant parcels are the onetime site of AAA Distributing Co. The automobile warehouse was razed last year after a project was shelved to renovate the existing complex as the Chicago Bowl concert hall and restaurant.


http://news.eastvillagechicago.org/2...go-avenue.html

[ChiPhi]

Originally Posted by george

Hillshire Brands HQ.

The curbed glass is nice (even if the steel mullions are a bit disappointing). Overall, still really excited to see a company find use for a serviceable building and lengthen its life.

[F1 Tommy]

More work on the park near the Riverside Park area south of downtown:

[ardecila]

This is one of the four boathouses announced by Emanuel last year. IIRC it is a design-build project with IIT students in charge.

Ping Tom Park Boathouse

source

Bridgeport Boathouse (28th/Eleanor)


Clark Park Boathouse


There's a fourth one in River Park, but I can't find images. The Bridgeport and Clark designs are very similar, so I wouldn't be surprised if River Park is in the same series.