CHICAGO | The 78 Site - Page 38

Ineffable · #**741** Posted **Aug 9, 2020, 4:38 PM**

As long as the bikes actually use the bike lanes. Could that be enforced?

ardecila · #**742** Posted **Aug 9, 2020, 10:15 PM**

^ Not really. I'm sure once offices open up here, we'll get bike messengers zooming down the traffic lanes. But for those who want a safer, more low-stress option the sidewalk lanes should be pretty nice. The ones on Roosevelt are pretty popular.

SIGSEGV · #**743** Posted **Aug 9, 2020, 10:52 PM**

Yeah although clueless pedestrians wander into them on Roosevelt

emathias · #**744** Posted **Sep 1, 2020, 8:24 AM**

I still don't understand why the Red Line station won't be open until 2028 unless they don't expect people to be working there until then.

the urban politician · #**745** Posted **Sep 1, 2020, 1:58 PM**

^ Well, you sorta answered your own question. I mean, unless you want to get off the subway and hang out on a large field, there will need to be some more buildings there before spending $$ on the station will be worthwhile.

Plus, with the pandemic slowing things down for a while, it makes even more sense

ardecila · #**746** Posted **Sep 1, 2020, 3:30 PM**

Wells Wentworth - 08/25/20

Vintage retaining wall being unearthed:

Temporary bridge waiting to be used:

Chi-Sky21 · #**747** Posted **Sep 1, 2020, 5:14 PM**

Thanks for the update!

r18tdi · #**748** Posted **Sep 1, 2020, 5:54 PM**

I heard a rumor that a big finacnial company might be kicking the tires around these parts...

ChiPlanner · #**749** Posted **Sep 1, 2020, 6:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by r18tdi

I heard a rumor that a big finacnial company might be kicking the tires around these parts...

Out-of-state relocation or in-metro move?

the urban politician · #**750** Posted **Sep 1, 2020, 7:14 PM**

Discover Financial? I always wished they'd get out of the burbs

The Pimp · #**751** Posted **Sep 1, 2020, 7:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Discover Financial? I always wished they'd get out of the burbs

A very close friend/C level Discover Exec of mine confirmed Discover's interest in the 78 plot. Their current location in riverwoods no longer viable. Traveling to riverwoods is too far from the city. This is all driven by millennials.

sentinel · #**752** Posted **Sep 1, 2020, 8:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Pimp

A very close friend/C level Discover Exec of mine confirmed Discover's interest in the 78 plot. Their current location in riverwoods no longer viable. Traveling to riverwoods is too far from the city. This is all driven by millennials.

Interesting, that would be great if Discover moved to the City..but I'm curious, which 'plot' is being referred to? The only work I know of that is going on right now is the Wells/Wentworth connector, and Phase II/shortlist of the Discovery Partners Institute building.

CrazyCres · #**753** Posted **Sep 1, 2020, 8:56 PM**

If discover were to move their headquarters to the 78 I would assume they would occupy the the Gateway towers since its a very large company they'll take the building with the most space and the towers are orange like the company so it would work pretty well.

ardecila · #**754** Posted **Sep 1, 2020, 8:59 PM**

I believe Related was planning the first phase, apart from DPI, would be a long "groundscraper" building. https://www.instagram.com/p/B4DEf6IH8oH/

It doesn't look like these buildings are actually groundscrapers like OPO or Merch Mart, I think it's just more of a marketing gimmick to promote their large(er) floorplates.

EDIT: now that I see that image from CrazyCres, I'm even more sure that Related is courting Discover for the "Parkside HQ" (groundscraper). Admittedly, Discover isn't a tech company so they're probably not the intended tenant... but the promise of huge floorplates and "innovation" is tempting even for more traditional industries.

Sorry, but I can't see the Gateway Tower being the first phase... Discover will not fill up a building that large, leaving lots more space to fill. There's a lot of risk building that much space in an unproven South Loop submarket, far from Metra. Fulton Market is a much more established area and nobody's proposing supertalls or near-supertalls over there.

The 78 actually offers an interesting advantage, they can provide the initial tenants with basically unlimited surface parking which may help sweeten the deal as downtown recovers from Covid.

sentinel · #**755** Posted **Sep 16, 2020, 7:51 PM**

I think given current market conditions (which, admittedly could change quickly in either direction), the Gateway towers are probably one of the final pieces of the proverbial puzzle, similar to Vista at LSE. Hopefully, I'm wrong, because I love the design of those two buildings..

I can't recall if this information was already posted here, but apparently, the shortlisted firms for the DPI design competition are:

• Foster + Partners with Epstein

• Jacobs Consultants, Inc., with OMA*AMO Architecture, P.C.

• Studio Gang Architects

Zapatan · #**756** Posted **Sep 16, 2020, 8:07 PM**

Never realized how close they would be to NEMA and the other high-rises, certainly a good place for more...

Why is there a 950 foot height limit for the site though? Would that count parapets etc.? Would be nice to see some supertalls.

SIGSEGV · #**757** Posted **Sep 16, 2020, 8:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zapatan

Never realized how close they would be to NEMA and the other high-rises, certainly a good place for more...

Why is there a 950 foot height limit for the site though? Would that count parapets etc.? Would be nice to see some supertalls.

Probably because otherwise DPII would look too stupid.

CrazyCres · #**758** Posted **Sep 16, 2020, 9:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sentinel

I think given current market conditions (which, admittedly could change quickly in either direction), the Gateway towers are probably one of the final pieces of the proverbial puzzle, similar to Vista at LSE. Hopefully, I'm wrong, because I love the design of those two buildings..

I can't recall if this information was already posted here, but apparently, the shortlisted firms for the DPI design competition are:

• Foster + Partners with Epstein

• Jacobs Consultants, Inc., with OMA*AMO Architecture, P.C.

• Studio Gang Architects

When will the designs be released?

ardecila · #**759** Posted **Sep 16, 2020, 9:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zapatan

Never realized how close they would be to NEMA and the other high-rises, certainly a good place for more...

Why is there a 950 foot height limit for the site though? Would that count parapets etc.? Would be nice to see some supertalls.

There's a 950 foot height limit for the site because that's what Related asked for. The whole site is a giant PD negotiated with the city, truly a blank slate from a zoning standpoint. Chicago DPD had some input but they're more concerned about FAR and buildable square footage, not how it's distributed on the site. There's no neighborhood context to fit into, either.

If Related genuinely wanted a supertall they could have gotten one.

Lakeshore East was a similar story, IIRC it had a lower height limit but they got the limit revised so they could build Vista.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sentinel

• Foster + Partners with Epstein

• Jacobs Consultants, Inc., with OMA*AMO Architecture, P.C.

• Studio Gang Architects

Sigh. These are undoubtedly talented firms but isn't it time we got some fresh blood? Gang is the only local one but she doesn't need the exposure that this kind of commission would provide...

https://i.imgur.com/GFksb7o.jpg

sentinel · #**760** Posted **Sep 16, 2020, 10:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyCres

When will the designs be released?

Unsure on timetable - my firm responded to the RFQ in July (?...sorry, the months just blend together now...), but were not shortlisted. The three finalists are the last phase, as I recall seeing a larger list somewhere, that was apparently whittled down even further..