CHICAGO | The 78 Site

[jpIllInoIs]

Originally Posted by lakeshoredrive

is it possible for a supertall to be built in the 78? it would definitely balance the skyline. i am not sure what the zoning is for this site.

Thats adorable

[k1052]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Not just that, there are significant differences between the two projects that have been discussed in this thread previously.

The 78 was always going to have a big mixed-use development on it, back in the Rezko days, back with Goldberg's master plan for River City in the 1970s, and even in the 1920s when the river was being straightened this site was supposed to be an extension of downtown. The 78 is just the culmination of something decades in the making. Even Dearborn Park residents have always known that something big would eventually go here once the planets aligned.

Also, the 78's site is "out of sight, out of mind" - to Dearborn Parkers, Chinatown residents, and South Loop residents, this site exists on the other side of big infrastructural walls. It's not part of their neighborhoods.

Finally, and this is something that only matters to urban planners and us forumers: The 78 is just a better-planned development. It will have a proper connective street grid, a CTA subway station and probably water taxis and new bus routes to link it into downtown, which is directly adjacent (only a mile to Union Station). Given the design and location, it could actually function as a true transit-oriented neighborhood, so it will not cause the traffic armageddon that Lincoln Yards will.

The isolated nature of the site certainly plays a role but most of its neighbors just aren't prone to kicking up the noise that say Lincoln Park does. DP residents don't seem to really care as long as their little suburban slice of heaven isn't touched (see the need to shift the proposed Red Line head house). Certainly not the case at all for LP/Bucktown/WP residents.

The arguments for less density at LY due to street congestion aren't particularly persuasive to me when that's largely a result of a near total failure on our part to manage capacity. Lots of the city is developing even in places without optimal rail connections. We need to deal with reallocating the surface street resources we have rather than simply building to a standard that people in SOVs can tolerate. Americans will only actually do something when a situation is pushed well beyond tolerability (congestion pricing in NYC for example). Also as I already visit this pocket of the city at least a few times a week my opinion is of someone directly impacted.

[BonoboZill4]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

Careful with that drooling. No buildings have even been sketched yet. And what economic forces could possibly ever justify a supertall in this location?

30 years ago Vista would have been laughed out of the room at LSE, because it too had no economic forces that would encourage someone to sell million dollar condos in that part of town... I'm not gonna argue it's likely, but it's 100% possible by 2045 that we are looking at that sort of situation...

[Suiram]

Originally Posted by BonoboZill4

30 years ago Vista would have been laughed out of the room at LSE, because it too had no economic forces that would encourage someone to sell million dollar condos in that part of town... I'm not gonna argue it's likely, but it's 100% possible by 2045 that we are looking at that sort of situation...

Exactly. Related will work to get a generous allotment of FAR / units into their PD and start building tower by tower over the next decades. Most likely as the buildings get built there will be some leftover and leave them flexibility towards the end to decide what makes sense for their final plots. Keep in mind it will most likely be new people deciding since those in charge today will be dead or at least retired.

Maybe buildings keep getting taller. Maybe DP gets acquired for redevelopment. Nobody knows but I am sure Related is angling to give themselves flexibility

[Mr Downtown]

The PD has already been approved, and building height is capped at 950 ft. But as we saw at Central Station, height limits can easily be waived.

The laws of economics are not so easily waived.

[r18tdi]

Despite City Approval, South Loop’s ‘The 78’ Mega-Project A Work In Progress As Neighbors Sound Off
https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/04...ors-sound-off/

A weak retroactive attempt at a community-driven development process?

[Jim in Chicago]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Despite City Approval, South Loop’s ‘The 78’ Mega-Project A Work In Progress As Neighbors Sound Off
https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/04...ors-sound-off/

A weak retroactive attempt at a community-driven development process?

I have no doubt that there are many issues that should be resolved, but Neighborhood displacement? Um, there is no neighborhood there - the site is walled off and a wasteland. Who's being displaced?

[LouisVanDerWright]

Originally Posted by Jim in Chicago

I have no doubt that there are many issues that should be resolved, but Neighborhood displacement? Um, there is no neighborhood there - the site is walled off and a wasteland. Who's being displaced?

Lol don't dispute the narrative, we gotta push the narrative at all times!

Seriously though, this site is like a Mile from anywhere that isn't already condo towers full of upper middle class white people. These DSA types are getting truly rediculous...

[Randomguy34]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

Lol don't dispute the narrative, we gotta push the narrative at all times!

Seriously though, this site is like a Mile from anywhere that isn't already condo towers full of upper middle class white people. These DSA types are getting truly rediculous...

Chinatown is two blocks away

[BVictor1]

The amendment that would have approved the CTA station for the 78 has been deferred. Being in the 25th Ward and not the 3rd, there's a new alderman.

[LouisVanDerWright]

^^^ Great so pinko is probably going to screw up the train station by trying to use it to force the developers to add "affordable housing".

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

Chinatown is two blocks away

I suppose, but Chinatown is an entity unto itself and I don't see that community ever being infiltrated by "gentrifiers". There was just an article the other day about how there are basically no English language apartment listings in that entire area.

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

^^^ Great so pinko is probably going to screw up the train station by trying to use it to force the developers to add "affordable housing".



I suppose, but Chinatown is an entity unto itself and I don't see that community ever being infiltrated by "gentrifiers". There was just an article the other day about how there are basically no English language apartment listings in that entire area.

Probably... He's sitting to the right of me at plan commission right now...

I have no problem with more affordable housing, but just add it on top of the density that already been approved. If the new alderman wants 1,000 affordable units, FINE! just add that 1,000 to the 10,000 units already approved.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

Probably... He's sitting to the right of me at plan commission right now...

^ Tap him on the shoulder and say "You better damn well not trip up the CTA Red Line station!"

Seriously, we need to END Aldermanic prerogative

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ Tap him on the shoulder and say "You better damn well not trip up the CTA Red Line station!"

Seriously, we need to END Aldermanic prerogative

He's not alderman yet. It may be Related wanting to play nice.

[r18tdi]

Is Related deferring the revised plan for 1061 Van Buren too? That's also in the 25th Ward.

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Is Related deferring the revised plan for 1061 Van Buren too? That's also in the 25th Ward.

Yes...

[the urban politician]

^ You've gotta be kidding me.

None. Of. This. Is. Necessary

[Jim in Chicago]

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

Chinatown is two blocks away

And no one in Chinatown is being displaced - except, I guess, for the couple buildings already removed for the Wells St. expansion.

[Handro]

Originally Posted by Jim in Chicago

And no one in Chinatown is being displaced - except, I guess, for the couple buildings already removed for the Wells St. expansion.

Not to mention Chinatown property is owned by Chinese people, and any renters are Chinese specifically rented to because they Chinese. If anything, rising property values would be great for the people in that neighborhood. Anyone raising the prospect of "gentrification" in Chinatown is either lying or oblivious.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by Handro

Not to mention Chinatown property is owned by Chinese people, and any renters are Chinese specifically rented to because they Chinese. If anything, rising property values would be great for the people in that neighborhood. Anyone raising the prospect of "gentrification" in Chinatown is either lying or oblivious.

The anti gentrification crowd are fucking idiots. If Chicago is going to solve its financial mess (as the IL Supreme Court has determined we can't alter unearned future benefits of current public employees), it needs more gentrification, not less.