A fond farewell to Marina City - Page 2

OhioGuy · #21 Posted **Sep 7, 2023, 1:14 AM**

Congrats on the sale! Tough to give up a piece of a Chicago landmark like Marina City but hopefully it worked out well for you financially. Love those buildings. I was just in Chicago this past weekend and snapped this photo.

Steely Dan · #22 Posted **Sep 7, 2023, 3:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhioGuy

Tough to give up a piece of a Chicago landmark like Marina City

Yeah, that aspect stings a bit.

But then, nothing lasts forever.

I got to call MC home for 5 years.

That memory is more important in the grand scheme of things.

And fab pic!!

craigs · #23 Posted **Sep 7, 2023, 6:52 AM**

End of era!

Do I remember correctly that you first owned a unit there that faced north?

Steely Dan · #24 Posted **Sep 7, 2023, 11:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigs

End of era!

Do I remember correctly that you first owned a unit there that faced north?

No, the only unit I ever lived in/owned at MC faces mostly west (WNW).

photoLith · #25 Posted **Sep 7, 2023, 6:11 PM**

You can rent an apartment in there for 1600 a month? Thats insane. I would have thought that theyd be like 3 grand or more.

Steely Dan · #26 Posted **Sep 7, 2023, 7:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by photoLith

I would have thought that theyd be like 3 grand or more.

If lake Michigan was filled with salt water, perhaps that would be the case.

But as things are, Chicago is the great big American city for regular people.

Demand is moderate, and we build enough to meet it, more or less.

UrbanImpact · #27 Posted **Sep 7, 2023, 8:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooted Arborial

Most of these photos make Chicago look amazing, but #1 and #8 - River North views - make me wonder what the hell happened in that area.

I know that area has noteworthy buildings within it, but the abundance of beige blandness there is a striking contrast to the rest of the central part of the city.

Was it mainly bad aldermanic judgement or is it that the wealth of the city had limitations which the rest of the central part of the city has been able to disguise?

Is River North the price paid for the other stunning views?

You mean the change from commercial to mostly residential buildings? If so, then its a pattern that repeats itself from Chicago to Miami to Sao Paulo to Shanghai. Residential buildings tend to be more bland exterior wise, especially if there are multiple in a development (of course with many exceptions like Marina City).

Wigs · #28 Posted **Sep 7, 2023, 8:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

possibly the best pad of an SSP forumer.

Best we've seen featured anyway

Sad to see it go, Steely. I've loved the look of these buildings since I first saw them in a Chicago architecture book my Dad picked up decades ago. Like the Hancock tower I've imagined what it must be like to live in such a cool building.
All good things (from your previous life) must come to an end, I suppose.

It is wild the pricing both for rent and for purchase. Even in little old Buffalo you could get slightly higher rent and for sale prices, given a downtown location with good sized balcony and views from up high.
City of Buffalo residential real estate is currently selling for 20-25% over asking.

I can see why mousquet was shocked because he doesn't understand how a major American city/Metro can still be affordable, compared to Euro equivalents.

Wigs · #29 Posted **Sep 7, 2023, 9:02 PM**

Can you show us the interior photos and balcony again? (when you have time)

Steely Dan · #30 Posted **Sep 7, 2023, 10:05 PM**

^ I'll try to dig some up.

Rooted Arborial · #31 Posted **Sep 8, 2023, 4:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by UrbanImpact

You mean the change from commercial to mostly residential buildings? If so, then its a pattern that repeats itself from Chicago to Miami to Sao Paulo to Shanghai. Residential buildings tend to be more bland exterior wise, especially if there are multiple in a development (of course with many exceptions like Marina City).

Perhaps it is as simple as Location, location, location...

Beyond a location along the river - like Marina City's - the bulk of River North seems like a backwater area when compared with the diversity East of Michigan Avenue and

elsewhere along the lakefront or the river.

In any case, Marina City is probably where George Jetson would want to be!

Rooted Arborial · #32 Posted **Sep 8, 2023, 5:05 AM**

I am imagining the opening sequence of the Bob Newhart Show from 1972.

Steely Dan · #33 Posted **Sep 8, 2023, 2:07 PM**

Even on a super-gray, washed-out, drizzly morning, these towers always manage to look good.

Crawford · #34 Posted **Sep 8, 2023, 2:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooted Arborial

Perhaps it is as simple as Location, location, location...
Beyond a location along the river - like Marina City's - the bulk of River North seems like a backwater area when compared with the diversity East of Michigan Avenue and

I'm not a Chicago local, but River North definitely isn't a backwater, and the area east of Michigan (Streeterville) is generally much less interesting than west of Michigan. Streeterville is basically a medical campus and some newer apartment towers. It feels transient. River North is much busier, more vibrant and more central, and more of a real neighborhood. You have rail access and much closer walk to work location.

Rooted Arborial · #35 Posted **Sep 8, 2023, 5:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crawford

I'm not a Chicago local, but River North definitely isn't a backwater, and the area east of Michigan (Streeterville) is generally much less interesting than west of Michigan. Streeterville is basically a medical campus and some newer apartment towers. It feels transient. River North is much busier, more vibrant and more central, and more of a real neighborhood. You have rail access and much closer walk to work location.

I am only referring to the bland designs of so much of River North. The majority of better/more interesting designs tend to be at the outer edges of the area. Marina City

is so much better designed and thankfully helps block the view from the river of so much of what is North of it. The fact that the area has the characteristics you describe

makes the poverty of design of so much of the area even more pathetic.

Steely Dan · #36 Posted **Sep 8, 2023, 9:25 PM**

The great rivernorth beige-a-thon of the '00s was one of the lowest architectural nadirs in the city's history.

Thankfully, residential tower design standards have greatly improved over the past 15 years.

montréaliste · #37 Posted **Sep 9, 2023, 1:26 PM**

Great shots, Steely! The views are amazing all around. Your life there before renting the place must have been pretty nice with the oversize balconies, which in the Marina towers are an integral part of the cool design.

mrnyc · #38 Posted **Sep 9, 2023, 3:10 PM**

well, i am sure the neighbors will be glad to be rid of "the constant tenant revolving door."

edale · #39 Posted **Sep 13, 2023, 10:29 PM**

Nice shots, thanks for sharing. I'd also be interested to see some interior pics. I've heard that all Marina City apartments are pie shaped, which sounds interesting.

Also I can't believe a unit that high up with amazing city and river views is only $190,000, and renting for $1,600 a month. That is just crazy to me. You couldn't get a tent for that money in LA

Is there a parking space included?

Steely Dan · #40 Posted **Sep 14, 2023, 12:53 AM**

^ as I said before, Chicago is America's great big city for regular people!

You do not need to be a millionaire to live very comfortably here.

As for parking at MC, there are parking spaces you can rent in the towers, but none of the units come with deeded parking spaces.

And I keep forgetting about pics from inside my unit. I will try to dig some up when I have the time.