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Originally Posted by k1052
I'd suspect that Sterling Bay/JP Morgan has a plan B and plan C for Lincoln Yards.
The rest of the big developments feel more tentative.
I'm curious to see if the leasing logjam breaks now that Amazon has finally decided. Lots of big names looking for space.
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I think Plan B and Plan C for these parcels was always going to be less intensive and more residential, I expect they will acquiesce in part to the aldermen's demands for more park space. Other components like the soccer stadium only made sense in the context of a massive infrastructure package, which in turn only made sense in the context of a huge anchor tenant. TBH the Finkl area and the big FFM site, given their relative lack of transit access, are better suited to low-rise multifamily and townhouse developments. We've seen almost no new supply of townhouses since the recession. Of course, that conflicts with the city's new zoning so expect that to be controversial.
Maybe the North Branch as a whole can continue to develop office at the south end where train stations are reasonably walkable. The "River District" on the Tribune site and the O'Donnell project just north of it can attract office, they are a reasonable walk from the Blue Line and can easily run shuttles around the congestion to Union/Ogilvie with only a minor new road connection through the Blommer Chocolate property.
On the other hand, the 78 has the best transit access out of the various megaprojects, with the Red Line tracks literally right on site. If the construction cost of a new station doesn't literally destroy the city's budget.