CHICAGO | General Developments - Page 2268

JK47 · #**45341** Posted **Jul 1, 2019, 6:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiPlanner

From 44th Ward Alderman Tunney:

I'm going to miss watching cars get towed from that lot. Despite all the signs in the lot and all the signs on adjacent buildings saying don't park there because you'll get towed I frequently see tow trucks hauling cars out of that lot.

Steely Dan · #**45342** Posted **Jul 1, 2019, 6:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jibba

Admittedly, I was being dramatic--my choice of language reflects the accumulation of impatience from having to cross it for 5 years now. By the way, I'm specifically talking about the portion of Broadway from Hollywood north.

My belief is that, relatively speaking, yes, it is a pain in the ass. E-W crossings are woefully infrequent, and when they do arise, the allotted time is insufficient (if you're not queued at the crossing when the signal changes, you're not going to make it across with ease, and that's for a person with an able body at that).

i only lived over by there for 3.5 years (elmdale/glenwood), so maybe i didn't have enough time to get as jaded as you, but i still think you're being ridiculously over-dramatic.

between hollywood and devon, there are 6 signaled E-W crossings (not including hollywood and devon themselves), over a span of 4600', or one signaled crossing every 650' on average. that does not seem terribly unreasonable for such a major auto-sewer like broadway.

could the situation be improved for pedestrians? of course! there's ALWAYS room for improvement in our stupid-ass auto-centric society, but after living there for years, i never found broadway to be some kind if impenetrable barrier that some make it out to be. as i said earlier, it's nearly identical to crossing any other major 4 lane street on the northside (ashland, western, irving, etc.).

LouisVanDerWright · #**45343** Posted **Jul 1, 2019, 10:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckman821

Best Option: Vouchers
2nd Best Option: Vouchers
Bottom Feeder Options: Everything else.

Vouchers are the only way to deliver housing for that type of individual without A: creating a bunch of perverse incentives B: costing the taxpayers more per unit than new construction housing intended for upper class consumers.

Interestingly enough I literally just signed a lease with a fellow who works as a tenant placement specialist for CHA at one of my properties in Marshall Square (I'm done calling it LV after I was thoroughly internet chastized for calling it Little Village in that video a while back). The CHA just took over the old Nathaniel Pope Elementary that Rahm closed and renovated it into a Class A office building for their workers.

First of all he's a really interesting individual who was homeless 8 years ago and was picked up by Salvation Army and indoctrinated and is now a soldier or whatever they call themselves. They gave him shelter, then clean clothes, and then job training and he's been working at CHA for like 3 years now.

I could talk to this guy for hour about these topics, but he came right out and said he was shocked by the digs some of his clients land with vouchers. People paying $80 a month for $2,000 apartment in Wicker or Lincoln Park. Meanwhile he has been forced to live in Austin while he got his shit together in a $1200 a month apartment in a building full of transients where he had to watch TV at night laying on the floor because of the constant shootings. He seemed to think it was awfully unfair to people like him who have busted their ass "pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps" that others sit and live off vouchers their whole lives.

I'm sure there's tons of room for improvement in the system and I'll obviously be chatting my new tenant up about the topic whenever I run into him. But generally vouchers are the best thing we have, that and existing buildings in moderately depreciated condition. Just rented out another 2BD at Albany and Cermak for $800 for example. It's still got mostly double hung wood windows and space heaters for heat, but it's home.

Handro · #**45344** Posted **Jul 2, 2019, 3:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

Interestingly enough I literally just signed a lease with a fellow who works as a tenant placement specialist for CHA at one of my properties in Marshall Square (I'm done calling it LV after I was thoroughly internet chastized for calling it Little Village in that video a while back). The CHA just took over the old Nathaniel Pope Elementary that Rahm closed and renovated it into a Class A office building for their workers.

First of all he's a really interesting individual who was homeless 8 years ago and was picked up by Salvation Army and indoctrinated and is now a soldier or whatever they call themselves. They gave him shelter, then clean clothes, and then job training and he's been working at CHA for like 3 years now.

I could talk to this guy for hour about these topics, but he came right out and said he was shocked by the digs some of his clients land with vouchers. People paying $80 a month for $2,000 apartment in Wicker or Lincoln Park. Meanwhile he has been forced to live in Austin while he got his shit together in a $1200 a month apartment in a building full of transients where he had to watch TV at night laying on the floor because of the constant shootings. He seemed to think it was awfully unfair to people like him who have busted their ass "pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps" that others sit and live off vouchers their whole lives.

I'm sure there's tons of room for improvement in the system and I'll obviously be chatting my new tenant up about the topic whenever I run into him. But generally vouchers are the best thing we have, that and existing buildings in moderately depreciated condition. Just rented out another 2BD at Albany and Cermak for $800 for example. It's still got mostly double hung wood windows and space heaters for heat, but it's home.

Anecdotal stories like this are useless. Have any concrete examples of people paying $80 to live in a $2,000 apartment in Lincoln or Wicker Park? Reminds me of the old Fox News stories about people with food stamps buying steak and lobster.

ardecila · #**45345** Posted **Jul 2, 2019, 5:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handro

Anecdotal stories like this are useless. Have any concrete examples of people paying $80 to live in a $2,000 apartment in Lincoln or Wicker Park? Reminds me of the old Fox News stories about people with food stamps buying steak and lobster.

It’s not anecdotal, google “CHA super voucher”. It is a real program run by CHA to move low income individuals and families into the city’s best neighborhoods, where violent crime is not a concern and access to jobs and amenities is easy.

Handro · #**45346** Posted **Jul 2, 2019, 6:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

It’s not anecdotal, google “CHA super voucher”. It is a real program run by CHA to move low income individuals and families into the city’s best neighborhoods, where violent crime is not a concern and access to jobs and amenities is easy.

Thanks! So now I know it was less than 2% of housing vouchers issued, and only 1 person received one in 2013 (the year before the program was substantially cut.)

It also required a good credit score, proof of income, etc., so the idea that it's just a bunch of lazy people gaming the system was, indeed, anecdotal.

LouisVanDerWright · #**45347** Posted **Jul 2, 2019, 10:32 PM**

Check out this huge proposal for Belmont Craigin:

dan ryan · #**45348** Posted **Jul 2, 2019, 10:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

Check out this huge proposal for Belmont Craigin:

Fingers crossed that this is a giant Culver's

aaron38 · #**45349** Posted **Jul 3, 2019, 12:32 PM**

5 stories is huge for that stretch of Belmont. Encouraging.

Navy Pier Hotel

marothisu · #**45350** Posted **Jul 3, 2019, 6:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyguy

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but there's a proposal by Cedar St. to build another FLATS building on an oddly shaped lot between Racine and Blue Island, 14th and 15th St. 7 stories, 197 apartments, some retail. Hartshorne Plunkard Architects.

Also, the Fast Track building on Lake and Desplaines is apparently for sale. Could make for a nice midrise development.

FYI, this was issued building permits yesterday for new construction - the caissons..

the urban politician · #**45351** Posted **Jul 3, 2019, 6:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by marothisu

FYI, this was issued building permits yesterday for new construction - the caissons..

Which one? The post by Spyguy that you quoted mentioned two separate properties

Handro · #**45352** Posted **Jul 3, 2019, 6:30 PM**

New construction of 4 story, 30 residential unit building just south of the Southport browline stop:

Here's what's there now:https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ri...!4d-87.6636232

Anyone ever tried that sushi spot? I always meant to...

gebs · #**45353** Posted **Jul 3, 2019, 6:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handro

Anyone ever tried that sushi spot? I always meant to...

Back in 2008-2010 when I lived a few blocks away, yes. It was great by my then 26-year old standards.

marothisu · #**45354** Posted **Jul 3, 2019, 6:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Which one? The post by Spyguy that you quoted mentioned two separate properties

Oops. The new 7 story building on the weird lot at 14th, 15th, Racine, and Blue Island.

The area is a bit weird and quite frankly one of my least favorite in the entire city. It needs all the help it can get. My friend lives near there in the old converted produce market buildings and his place is nice, but the area leaves a lot to be desired. Hopefully projects like this can make it a tiny bit better.

glowrock · #**45355** Posted **Jul 3, 2019, 10:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

Check out this huge proposal for Belmont Craigin:

I only live about 2 miles due east of this location, so I should be able to keep up on the situation. Personally, I think the additional height and density here would be a great addition to the neighborhood!

Aaron (Glowrock)

ardecila · #**45356** Posted **Jul 4, 2019, 1:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by marothisu

Oops. The new 7 story building on the weird lot at 14th, 15th, Racine, and Blue Island.

The area is a bit weird and quite frankly one of my least favorite in the entire city. It needs all the help it can get. My friend lives near there in the old converted produce market buildings and his place is nice, but the area leaves a lot to be desired. Hopefully projects like this can make it a tiny bit better.

I just moved here, so I’m very happy to see this moving forward after so many years of inactivity. I’ll have to provide birds eye views of the construction.

I bike past the site twice daily and I haven’t seen any signs of soil testing... you would think they need that before issuing foundation permit.

I agree with you, the urban renewal wasteland between Roosevelt, Halsted, 15th and Western is a shameful scar on the city and a painful reminder of Chicago’s racist past (and present, tbh). University Village and Roosevelt Square had potential to fix the problems, but unfortunately they just ended up erecting walls through the cityscape to keep the “riff raff” contained. Then they just came to a screeching halt during the recession never to begin again, leaving blocks and blocks of empty land.

harryc · #**45357** Posted **Jul 4, 2019, 4:58 PM**

Just picture all the townhomes .....

June 17

Chicago | Riverline by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

harryc · #**45358** Posted **Jul 4, 2019, 5:32 PM**

June 20

To build an overpass by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

BonoboZill4 · #**45359** Posted **Jul 5, 2019, 1:09 AM**

At least almost all the townhomes will be in the southern section near Roosevelt

ardecila · #**45360** Posted **Jul 5, 2019, 3:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonoboZill4

At least almost all the townhomes will be in the southern section near Roosevelt

Townhomes are fine with me so long as they have an urban site plan. None of that closed-off, urban fortress Dearborn Park crap.

I think it is worth noting, though, that the city almost never holds up its end of the bargain in providing new streets, paths, bridges, etc that would allow these huge post-industrial sites to develop in a walkable manner so fortress development is sort of inevitable.

We did a townhouse development in Cabrini, the City (and CHA) promised a new street on the eastern side where there was just vacant land, but never did a damn thing, so we put in a fence... now it's in the hands of the homeowners association, so if the city ever does build that street, there will just be a blank fence forever. Fortunately our project was only about one square block, but if it had been a larger project then we would effectively end up with another Dearborn Park wall because of the city's inaction.

Thankfully Lincoln Yards and The 78 are both moving forward under a TIF that allows the developer to build that needed infrastructure themselves and forces the city to reimburse them out of tax proceeds. I believe Riverline actually falls under the same TIF as The 78, so it may get some new infrastructure out of the deal like a Taylor St bridge (which adds value to the project, imagine buying a townhouse or condo with a 3 minute walk to Whole Foods...)