CHICAGO | General Developments

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Alright Lori!

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg...k-place-revamp

Originally Posted by ChiHi

Because it's Chicago. Our motto here is demolish everything and renovate nothing. Chicago is always big on ideas when it involves someone elses money so just tack on another special purpose tax for the next 30+ years. Not really sure how many conventions or trade shows have turned down Chicago because they didn't like this building. Yes it's underutilized and run down but it seems like that's more on purpose by the city just so they can sell building a new building.

Yeah it's dumb. Serious lack of vision to suggest that this building be torn down for yet more green lawns on the lakefront. Why not convert it into an indoor sports complex for the Park District that can be used year-round? The main hall can fit four full-sized soccer fields or football fields, or way more if you're talking basketball, volleyball or tennis. Then there's a lower level hall with an equal square footage and just a lower ceiling height. Spend a few million to redecorate the building, build a few locker rooms and lay down some astroturf. The Park District is spending millions to build enormous suburban-style fieldhouses across the city, ugly tilt-up boxes. McCormick already has the parking infrastructure, bus connections, etc to be accessible to Chicago's families.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Yeah it's dumb. Serious lack of vision to suggest that this building be torn down for yet more green lawns on the lakefront. Why not convert it into an indoor sports complex for the Park District that can be used year-round? The main hall can fit four full-sized soccer fields or football fields, or way more if you're talking basketball, volleyball or tennis. Then there's a lower level hall with an equal square footage and just a lower ceiling height. Spend a few million to redecorate the building, build a few locker rooms and lay down some astroturf. The Park District is spending millions to build enormous suburban-style fieldhouses across the city, ugly tilt-up boxes. McCormick already has the parking infrastructure, bus connections, etc to be accessible to Chicago's families.

Nice idea, too bad it discriminates against the neighborhoods so will be dismissed from consideration immediately.

[rgarri4]

Originally Posted by KWillChicago

Interesting article from curbed on how chicago neighborhood's got their names.

https://chicago.curbed.com/2019/5/30...ot-their-names

That was a really interesting read.

[harryc]

May 29

Chicago | 444 N Orleans by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | 444 N Orleans by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | 444 N Orleans by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

[harryc]

May 30

Chicago | 230 May by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

[harryc]

May 30

Chicago | Tribune Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | Tribune Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | Tribune Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | Tribune Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

[LaSalle.St.Station]

So 4.3 Billion set aside for State Facilities in Capital
Construction bill. Could a new State office building downtown be in the offering ?

[marothisu]

Around 20 condos sold in a few buildings in Woodlawn in May near the 67th Street Metra Stop and what will be close to the Obama Library (I think). Very interesting. Another 20+ multi unit buildings and other condos sold in Woodlawn. In my 21 months of data (back to September 2017), May 2019 was the top selling month for Woodlawn. Hyde Park also was at a high number since August - and the May number I see is higher than last May and June.

Obama library related maybe?

Overall in some neighborhoods sale wise (according to my data), May was good:

* Near West Side: May 2019 was its 21 month high and April 2019 was its 2nd highest
* Uptown: May 2019 was its 21 month high by over 40 sales
* Lincoln Square: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* Logan Square: April 2019 was its 21 month high and May 2019 was 2nd highest
* Near South Side: May 2019 was its 21 month high and April 2019 was 2nd highest
* West Town: May 2019 was its 2nd highest - only June 2018 was higher but only by a few sales.
* North Center: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* Auburn Gresham: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* Lincoln Park: April 2019 was the 2nd highest in 21 months, and May 2019 was its 3rd highest (just a few behind April 2019)
* Near North Side: May 2019 was its 2nd highest in 21 months (June 2018 was higher) while April 2019 was 3rd highest in 21 months.
* Washington Park: May 2019 was tied for 21 month high
* North Park: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* Forest Glen: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* North Lawndale: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* Woodlawn: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* Morgan Park: April 2019 was its 21 month high and May 2019 was 2nd highest
* Washington Heights: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* Humboldt Park: May 2019 was its 2nd highest month in 21 months.

According to my data, May 2019 was the 2nd highest month total in the city since I've been keeping track. Only June 2018 had more - and May 2019 had about 140 more sales than May 2018. Again, not official data but still seems positive enough to post.

[Handro]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Around 20 condos sold in a few buildings in Woodlawn in May near the 67th Street Metra Stop and what will be close to the Obama Library (I think). Very interesting. Another 20+ multi unit buildings and other condos sold in Woodlawn. In my 21 months of data (back to September 2017), May 2019 was the top selling month for Woodlawn. Hyde Park also was at a high number since August - and the May number I see is higher than last May and June.

Obama library related maybe?

Overall in some neighborhoods sale wise (according to my data), May was good:

* Near West Side: May 2019 was its 21 month high and April 2019 was its 2nd highest
* Uptown: May 2019 was its 21 month high by over 40 sales
* Lincoln Square: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* Logan Square: April 2019 was its 21 month high and May 2019 was 2nd highest
* Near South Side: May 2019 was its 21 month high and April 2019 was 2nd highest
* West Town: May 2019 was its 2nd highest - only June 2018 was higher but only by a few sales.
* North Center: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* Auburn Gresham: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* Lincoln Park: April 2019 was the 2nd highest in 21 months, and May 2019 was its 3rd highest (just a few behind April 2019)
* Near North Side: May 2019 was its 2nd highest in 21 months (June 2018 was higher) while April 2019 was 3rd highest in 21 months.
* Washington Park: May 2019 was tied for 21 month high
* North Park: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* Forest Glen: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* North Lawndale: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* Woodlawn: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* Morgan Park: April 2019 was its 21 month high and May 2019 was 2nd highest
* Washington Heights: May 2019 was its 21 month high
* Humboldt Park: May 2019 was its 2nd highest month in 21 months.

According to my data, May 2019 was the 2nd highest month total in the city since I've been keeping track. Only June 2018 had more - and May 2019 had about 140 more sales than May 2018. Again, not official data but still seems positive enough to post.

Very good news. Could all of the HQs moving to Chicago over the past couple years and starting to be finalized be translating to these home sales? And in neighborhoods like Woodlawn and Lawndale, too.

With this new capital bill and the money it sets aside for Chicago(land) transportation and especially the Discovery Partners Institute, plus some reporting yesterday about a trend of engineering jobs moving to Chicago from Silicon valley I'm really starting to daydream about a Chicago return-to-form as one of the nations leading innovation hubs... lots of new jobs and residents...

[moorhosj]

Originally Posted by Handro

Very good news. Could all of the HQs moving to Chicago over the past couple years and starting to be finalized be translating to these home sales? And in neighborhoods like Woodlawn and Lawndale, too.

With this new capital bill and the money it sets aside for Chicago(land) transportation and especially the Discovery Partners Institute, plus some reporting yesterday about a trend of engineering jobs moving to Chicago from Silicon valley I'm really starting to daydream about a Chicago return-to-form as one of the nations leading innovation hubs... lots of new jobs and residents...

I love seeing Washington Park, Washington Heights, Morgan Park, Woodlawn and Auburn Gresham recovering. These neighborhoods represent the traditional black middle-class of Chicago.

[nomarandlee]

I guess it's time to revive the casino talk again given the bill passed over the weekend that will be handling Chicago one casino.

So where do you think it very well may go? Or should go?

I use to think that the OPO would be the ideal location. Still maybe it can go over there in the SW Loop to capture some Amtrak riders and out of towners coming off the Blue Line.

Or will the ole Michael Reese Hospital site be finally utilized by a casino complex. Quick and easy 55/LSD access and Metra access. The biggest con is that it is near poor vulnerable communities.

Or the LakeSide Center at McCormick Place. Though I think I remember reading that the officials at McPier want nothing to do with being near a gambling center let alone attached to one.

[Mister Uptempo]

Originally Posted by nomarandlee

I guess it's time to revive the casino talk again given the bill passed over the weekend that will be handling Chicago one casino.

So where do you think it very well may go? Or should go?

I use to think that the OPO would be the ideal location. Still maybe it can go over there in the SW Loop to capture some Amtrak riders and out of towners coming off the Blue Line.

Or will the ole Michael Reese Hospital site be finally utilized by a casino complex. Quick and easy 55/LSD access and Metra access. The biggest con is that it is near poor vulnerable communities.

Or the LakeSide Center at McCormick Place. Though I think I remember reading that the officials at McPier want nothing to do with being near a gambling center let alone attached to one.

From the Bright One-

Pritzker: Forget downtown, put Chicago casino in area that has ‘been left out, left behind’

by Mark Brown, David Roeder, and Fran Spielman

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday he would prefer a newly-allowed Chicago casino be located separately from the downtown business district and away from McCormick Place.

While stressing the decision on locating the casino belongs to Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the City Council, the governor said his preference is for the casino to be put in an area that hasn’t benefited from downtown’s building boom.

Pritzker would not name potential sites, but his comments would appear to help the prospects of the old Michael Reese Hospital property at 31st Street and the lake or the former South Works property at 83rd Street and the lake. Another possibility is the Illinois International Port District land on the Southeast Side.

“I’ve talked about communities that have been left out, left behind, communities where we need to have some job creation and where this might be beneficial, and I think we can all point to areas that fit that bill in the city,” Pritzker said.

“Rather than call them out, I just would prefer that we’re doing it in areas that haven’t gotten the benefits of all the development that’s occurred in downtown and areas very near to downtown,” he said.

One real estate expert said the Reese property, which abuts Bronzeville and is just south of McCormick Place, is the early favorite because it’s close to downtown, offers ample room, is easy to get to, and the land already is in the city’s hands. “It’s not just the casino itself. It’s the entire ring of what happens around it, and that has to be part of the planning,” he said.

The General Assembly passed legislation that calls for the city and Illinois Gaming Board to pick an independent analyst to study a Chicago casino’s feasibility and report within 150 days of the law taking effect. Pritzker is expected to sign the measure.

[KOgc]

I think someone posted the other day, that the demo permit has been issued for the The Mid building, just south of Gr333n. Heneghan has a fence around the lot and a couple of pieces of equipment in the parking area to the north of the building - can't imagine it'll stay standing for much longer.

[IrishIllini]

The old Michael Reese site at 31st sounds good to me. Anything further south is too far removed and the locals probably don’t want it. I can’t imagine many tourists are willing to travel down to 83rd given the perception of the south side anyway.

Does it have to be on or near the lake? What about somewhere around the UC?

[west-town-brad]

Originally Posted by IrishIllini

The old Michael Reese site at 31st sounds good to me. Anything further south is too far removed and the locals probably don’t want it. I can’t imagine many tourists are willing to travel down to 83rd given the perception of the south side anyway.

Does it have to be on or near the lake? What about somewhere around the UC?

Michael Reese would be smart since the city is still paying the $100 Million mortgage we took out to use that land as the Olympic Village.

[Mr Downtown]

Ald. King has already said no to the Michael Reese site, and I don't think Farpoint had any interest.

Last time this came up, I thought reusing several of the Motor Row buildings would be a good idea, but most of those have now been claimed. Same with the old Post Office, though there's a lot of space left, space that could have its own entrance.

What about Fisk Station? Or Union Station steam plant? The Guyon Hotel still seems too offputting an area for tourists; Pullman seems too remote.

[trvlr70]

It sure doesn't appear as if the Michael Reese site is off the table. It's proximity to McCormick makes it a front runner. Personally, I love the idea of an adaptive reuse of the steam plant.

[The Lurker]

Reese Hospital site is clearly the most sensible but I can think of a couple sporting venues that have more than ample parking surrounding them, that are adjacent to neighborhoods that could benefit from the investment.

[west-town-brad]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

Ald. King has already said no to the Michael Reese site, and I don't think Farpoint had any interest.

Last time this came up, I thought reusing several of the Motor Row buildings would be a good idea, but most of those have now been claimed. Same with the old Post Office, though there's a lot of space left, space that could have its own entrance.

What about Fisk Station? Or Union Station steam plant? The Guyon Hotel still seems too offputting an area for tourists; Pullman seems too remote.

The trick I think will be to pick a location that maximizes the economic return (to feed the pensions) but also pulls some energy towards the south or west sides (to feed the neighborhoods).

I've always imagined a Chicago casino would be a ground-up new construction heavy on the luxury amenities - more like a Wynn, Aria, Bellagio and less like a Rivers by the airport. We have enough of the low end options in the region so it's an opportunity to differentiate.

[KWillChicago]

Originally Posted by KOgc

I think someone posted the other day, that the demo permit has been issued for the The Mid building, just south of Gr333n. Heneghan has a fence around the lot and a couple of pieces of equipment in the parking area to the north of the building - can't imagine it'll stay standing for much longer.

Which building was that supposed to be again? Isnt that the "bookshelf" looking building with all those tappered block-long setbacks? Or was that farther west?