CHICAGO | Highrise Projects & Construction, v7

[rgarri4]

Originally Posted by archguy

What are those towers north of the tracks along Morgan and Carpenter near 1000 W Carroll and 400 N Aberdeen? Are those proposed?

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Nothing publicly announced, but they have appeared in several presentations in diagrams showing the future context of the area. They show up in the 13 N May presentation deck and a few Sterling Bay project presentations decks I'm blanking on. The fact that the massing looks similar across presentations makes me wonder if they know something we don't. But could just be placeholders.

[10023]

Originally Posted by rgarri4

As someone who actually lives in the area, I'm going to need that Portillos to stay right were it is lol.

True. Doesn’t need to be a freestanding building though.

I’ve always thought that “hole” in River North would be perfect for a massive, multi-block development. I’m pretty sure I came back from a trip to Berlin when I was like 15 and wanted to build something like Potsdamer Platz there. You could even bury parts of Ontario and Clark (not below grade, but under a raised plaza built over them) and make it a pretty awesome public space.

[harryc]

Originally Posted by 10023

True. Doesn’t need to be a freestanding building though.

I’ve always thought that “hole” in River North would be perfect for a massive, multi-block development. I’m pretty sure I came back from a trip to Berlin when I was like 15 and wanted to build something like Potsdamer Platz there. You could even bury parts of Ontario and Clark (not below grade, but under a raised plaza built over them) and make it a pretty awesome public space.

Clark is already a pretty awesome public place - for the people who live and work there - just a few blocks to the south.



For the winter months they go all out with "temporary" shelters complete with TV (for the game) and heaters. Even the cannabis shop has a waiting area marked off in the street.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by 10023

American cities should really have curb side pumps like some European cities (notably Paris). But then American car manufacturers would have to put the tank opening on the correct (passenger) side.

We used to, back in the early days of motoring. I always assumed they were eliminated for fire safety reasons. That was part of it, but it seems they were eliminated because they backed up traffic and offended the American's right to drive freely at high speed.

https://www.google.com/books/edition...sec=frontcover

It looks like even in Paris, most of the stations are American-style off-street stations with a canopy, just more compact and wedged between buildings. Or they're built into underground parking garages. A quick survey on Google Maps only shows a small number of those curbside pumps.
This one in the 6e has a sidewalk wide enough that they just carved a pumping area out of the sidewalk. This one is on the service road of a boulevard, so it doesn't back up traffic on the main portion.

[sentinel]

Google Maps 3D view is now back to showing Chicago projects through mid-2020 (roughly), what was previously shown months ago, before they somehow decided to revert back to late 2018/early 2019..

[Briguy]

Originally Posted by sentinel

Google Maps 3D view is now back to showing Chicago projects through mid-2020 (roughly), what was previously shown months ago, before they somehow decided to revert back to late 2018/early 2019..

Sadly everything west of des plaines is still 2018, so no new WL stuff

[10023]

Originally Posted by harryc

Clark is already a pretty awesome public place - for the people who live and work there - just a few blocks to the south.

For the winter months they go all out with "temporary" shelters complete with TV (for the game) and heaters. Even the cannabis shop has a waiting area marked off in the street.

Yeah but that’s the nice bit of Clark where a handful of original buildings remain.

It would be nice to do something with the big hole that was more than just a few separate condo towers on pedestals.

[rivernorthlurker]

Originally Posted by Toasty Joe

Thanks rgarri - the height bump on the northern tower is fairly significant and helps break up the cluster. If only 'The Porch' tripled its height and added setbacks ('The Porches??')...

They've already lost the western views from the outdoor area, and with increased demand for individual outdoor space, I'm sure the extra terraces (with actual skyline views) would be scooped up.

Yeah I can't stand this space. I was so excited when they shut the BP and started demolition only to be totally crushed when they were just building a newer BP lol. The McDonalds wouldn't be so bad if there wasn't a full 1 acre parking lot next door. Rainforest Cafe recently closed and I think Conlon is shopping this around for something possibly a residential tower IIRC so that could be the start of some redevelopment here. I could see Hard Rock going eventually too. But the McDonalds/Portillos/BP triumvirate will be hard to break. Same with Ohio House.

I had the same fantasy if the McDonald's block became a huge public park or something and everything go built up around it that would be super amazing although I have 0 idea how that could even happen.

[rivernorthlurker]

Originally Posted by harryc

Clark is already a pretty awesome public place - for the people who live and work there - just a few blocks to the south.



For the winter months they go all out with "temporary" shelters complete with TV (for the game) and heaters. Even the cannabis shop has a waiting area marked off in the street.

As sh**** as the pandemic has been one positive has been this trend of out door dining and closing streets like shown on Clark here. The mayor's office has discussed making stuff like this more permanent and so this is positive news. I looking into this and recently learned about 'Open Streets' initiatives in both Chicago and New York that I thought I'd share. I know there is a kind of festival/cultural plan for closing streets in Chicago as well - I'm not sure if this is the same thing.

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...enstreets.html
https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/p...nstreets.shtml

Edit: Ok I found it, the 'Chicago Alfresco Program.'

https://www.chicagotribune.com/busin...togallery.html
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept.../alfresco.html

As much incompetence as the city often exemplifies, I have to hand it to them that they are doing a great job on this.

[10023]

^ Just as long as they’re not like the NYC “street fairs” that would always close streets and make it impossible to get anywhere in a cab, just so the same bullshit corporate foodservice vendors selling hot dogs, bad churros and cotton candy could set up on a different avenue every weekend.

These things are only worthwhile if they’re hyper local, only allow small businesses and highlight the local community.

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by rivernorthlurker

Rainforest Cafe recently closed and I think Conlon is shopping this around for something possibly a residential tower IIRC so that could be the start of some redevelopment here.

Conlon unloaded all of his Chicago retail holdings. He was spooked by the 2020 riots.

I could see Hard Rock going eventually too

But it's a Stanley Tigerman design!

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by rivernorthlurker

Yeah I can't stand this space. I was so excited when they shut the BP and started demolition only to be totally crushed when they were just building a newer BP lol. The McDonalds wouldn't be so bad if there wasn't a full 1 acre parking lot next door. Rainforest Cafe recently closed and I think Conlon is shopping this around for something possibly a residential tower IIRC so that could be the start of some redevelopment here. I could see Hard Rock going eventually too. But the McDonalds/Portillos/BP triumvirate will be hard to break. Same with Ohio House.

I had the same fantasy if the McDonald's block became a huge public park or something and everything go built up around it that would be super amazing although I have 0 idea how that could even happen.

I mean, just in the last decade we've seen Ed Debevic's and Planet Hollywood/Gino's East get torn down for residential towers. Carson's Ribs closed and Tom Barrett from Milwaukee has a tower planned for that site. So we've definitely seen the River North Hellhole shrink around the edges due to attrition. The Rainforest Cafe site will undoubtedly get a highrise eventually too now that the restaurant has closed.

Also, the new flagship McDonalds is far more urban-friendly than the old Rock-n-Roll store, even if it's still got a parking lot and drive-thru.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by 10023

^ Just as long as they’re not like the NYC “street fairs” that would always close streets and make it impossible to get anywhere in a cab, just so the same bullshit corporate foodservice vendors selling hot dogs, bad churros and cotton candy could set up on a different avenue every weekend.

These things are only worthwhile if they’re hyper local, only allow small businesses and highlight the local community.

Could. Not. Agree. More.

I remember those festivals from my NYC days. After going to a few of them I realized it was the same shit, different neighborhood.

Chicago’s street fests are far more local and 100 times better

[thegoatman]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Also, the new flagship McDonalds is far more urban-friendly than the old Rock-n-Roll store, even if it's still got a parking lot and drive-thru.

how?

[left of center]

Honestly, I don't mind that McDonalds. It can stay as long as the parking lot on the western half of the property is either developed or is turned into a park. Getting rid of the drive thru would be ideal as well, but probably pretty unlikely. Which is fine, I'd rather they get rid of their drive through location on Chicago & State first.

And since we are on the topic of development, when is that uggo post office kitty corner to the rock-n-roll McDonalds finally going to move and the building bulldozed? That lot could actually be a cool spot for a big public plaza/square, and its smack in the middle of River North, a neighborhood relatively starved for open/green space. The only downside is that it would be surrounded on 2 sides by the parking garage podiums of some mid-00s crap developments, including the city's greatest architectural sin, Grand Plaza.

[thegoatman]

They're lots of lots and buildings in river north that need to be redeveloped...

I understand the need for gas stations, but it can still be built urban...proof, this was built in Atlanta of all places. Yes its a gas station with surface parking but it has a highrise with lots of retail at the base.

https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/t...ideshow_05.jpg

[SIGSEGV]

Originally Posted by thegoatman

They're lots of lots and buildings in river north that need to be redeveloped...

I understand the need for gas stations, but it can still be built urban...proof, this was built in Atlanta of all places. Yes its a gas station with surface parking but it has a highrise with lots of retail at the base.

https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/t...ideshow_05.jpg

Here is one in Cambridge that doesn't completely suck: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3614...7i16384!8i8192
Who wouldn't want an office above a gas station?

[BVictor1]

Nothing new. Just confirmation for what I heard on the street.

https://therealdeal.com/chicago/2022...=feature_posts

Sterling Bay, Colorado firm start joint venture to develop Class A residential building in Chicago’s Fulton Market

The 29-story project will break ground in Q1 2022, with construction expected to be complete by year-end 2023

January 07, 2022 10:56 AM
By Connie Kim

Sterling Bay partnered with Ascentris to build its first residential project in the rapidly developing former meatpacking district, the developer said Thursday. The 29-story, 282-unit project at 160 North Morgan received the Chicago City Council’s approval in October 2021 and is expected to break ground in the first quarter of this year. Construction will be completed in 2023.

The developer will provide 28 affordable units onsite to meet the city’s requirements, provide $5.3 million in housing fees and pay $2 million into Chicago’s Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, which was created in 2016 to promote the city’s equitable neighborhood development.

https://ascentris.com/sterling-bay-a...fulton-market/

[thegoatman]

160 N Morgan will add great height and prescence to that whole area. Love what Fulton Market is becoming

[left of center]

But now where am I going to go to get my hard kombucha fix?

But in all seriousness, that is going to add some impressive height in that part of the West Loop. It will only be 10 stories shorter than Skybridge, which was itself an eye popping pioneer back in its day. I remember the long and ultimately futile fight WLCO put up against it, even though it was on the other side of their self declared boundary of Halsted. NIMBY tears are my bread and butter.