CHICAGO | General Developments - Page 1101

the urban politician · #**22001** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 3:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyguy_7

^ On large projects, owners rent overnight security guards to watch the premises. On smaller projects especially outside of downtown, burglaries happen all the time. They're usually after power tools and will do anything they can to break into an unattended gangbox. Though, last year, one of my subcontractors' employees were robbed of their tools and equipment during the day at gun point ...at a south-side elementary school.

For smaller projects do burglar alarms usually do a good enough job, or are people hiring security guards or (one thing I'm considering) renting guard dogs?

Skyguy_7 · #**22002** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 3:46 PM**

On smaller projects, often times the electric is off, or it involves window/door replacements in which the alarm system is down. If you have a functioning alarm system, I'd say you'd be safe enough with that. Otherwise, many contractors are using a security firm called Kate's Detective Agency, which is probably a few hundred $ per night. Guard dogs seem a bit unnecessary these days.

Link N. Parker · #**22003** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 5:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by marothisu

1258 N Milwaukee issued a new building permit yesterday for 6 units and 1 commercial space. Currently that's a little plaza type an area. Written about here:

http://chicago.curbed.com/tags/1256-n-milwaukee

The apartment building that they have slated for Milwaukee avenue is ugly as hell; it looks like a suburban dentist office building from the 70's.

Chi-Sky21 · #**22004** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 5:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomarandlee

Interesting. I wonder if there is a any or even if a slim chance of the owner selling the building only to knock it down and build another project. Are the owners also the Kennedy group? Given that plans for Wolf Point seem to be setting sail I wonder if it could spur ideas to maximize the Sun-Times lot and attempt to piggyback the plans for Wolf Point and intertwine the two. One can always dream...........

I highly doubt that would happen, the Kennedy's no longer own the chicago apparel mart so they would have to buy it back which i think would be WAY to high a price to make it feasible. Which is sad, because tearing that down and using that entire site for a supertall or 2 or 3 really special buildings would in my opinion be the best spot in the city then. I think something like the Shard in London with a huge plaza at the base would fit nicely there.

and yes, One can always dream.

the urban politician · #**22005** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 5:47 PM**

From the city's website:

TIF Approved for New Hyde Park Mixed-Use Project

A new retail and apartment complex in Hyde Park will move forward through $11.3 million Tax
Increment Financing (TIF) assistance approved today by City Council.

Planned for a 2.08 acre site on the southwest corner of Hyde Park Boulevard and Lake Park Avenue,
the $115 million City Hyde Park development will include 120,000 square feet of retail space, 180
apartments and underground parking for 350 cars. Thirty six of the apartments will be made
available at affordable rates. The retail portion will be anchored by a 30,000-square-foot Whole
Foods Market.

The TIF assistance will be provided to the developer, 1525 HP LLC, in annual installments following
project completion and the fulfillment of all TIF requirements, including ongoing employment and
occupancy requirements.

The complex will create approximately 200 permanent retail jobs and more than 200 temporary
construction jobs. Construction will begin in 2014.

the urban politician · #**22006** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 6:37 PM**

The more the east loop becomes residential/touristy and the more the west loop becomes the heart of Chicago's office district, I begin to wonder if that will affect gentrification trends in the city.

I agree that it's not enough just to have access to downtown jobs for a neighborhood to gentrify. However, I see the westward migration in other ways: the booming West Loop with its burgeoning restaurant and entertainment district, as well as new hotels and tech companies moving to the area (Google being the most notable), and the westward push of new development all the way up to the parking bubble around United Center.

Add to that the Illinois Medical District (and plans for development there as well), as well as relatively lower rents, one can't help but suspect that all of the stars are lining up for SW side hoods such as Pilsen, Little Village, etc along the Pink Line to really take off.

If you live along the Pink Line, you can get to all of this stuff (as well as the Loop proper, of course) pretty quickly. Much quickly, indeed, than if you lived, say, in Uptown or Edgewater. Not that I'm saying that the north lakefront is going to begin a downward slide or anything. The north lakefront is and always will remain the "heart" of gentrified Chicago. But a tendril is looking to be forming further west, and I suspect it will follow the twists and turns of the Pink Line, sort of turning it some day into the "Brown Line south"?

jbrady3324 · #**22007** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 7:11 PM**

Good news! 500 N Milwaukee is a go.

http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info...aukee-is-a-go/

Skyguy_7 · #**22008** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 7:44 PM**

^The existing block looks like it belongs on the set of the movie "Pleasantville"

Image courtesy of Google Maps.

marothisu · #**22009** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 8:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrady3324

Good news! 500 N Milwaukee is a go.

http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info...aukee-is-a-go/

Awesome news...

Tom Servo · #**22010** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 8:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyguy_7

^The existing block looks like it belongs on the set of the movie "Pleasantville"

Image courtesy of Google Maps.

Aw, I'm actually gonna miss that block.

PerryPendleton · #**22011** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 8:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrady3324

Good news! 500 N Milwaukee is a go.

http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info...aukee-is-a-go/

This is up there on the list of projects that in my opinion absolutely need to get done and it is embarassing that they havent yet.

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!

Now, on to some of those River North surface lots.

Vlajos · #**22012** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 8:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrady3324

Good news! 500 N Milwaukee is a go.

http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info...aukee-is-a-go/

Quote:

Originally Posted by marothisu

Awesome news...

I agree! I like this too:

"The developer, Urban Form Investments, has been given city approval to put a four-story building on the corner, and a 14-story building behind it, just across North Green Street. The Pappageorge/Haymes-designed project includes 227 residences over 16,000 square feet of street-level retail. There will also be a 113-space parking garage."

Not overkill on the parking and an appropriate amount of retail.

Steely Dan · #**22013** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 8:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Servo

Aw, I'm actually gonna miss that block.

that probably was a very nice block of nicely detailed 19th century buildings back in the day, but time was not kind to that block. decades of deferred maintenance and eventual abandonment probably makes their restoration prohibitively expensive at this point. i don't like seeing 19th century bones destroyed at all, but in this case, the new development is probably the best realistic hope we have.

emathias · #**22014** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 8:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrady3324

Good news! 500 N Milwaukee is a go.

http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info...aukee-is-a-go/

Great news, although I did wish the corner building would match the height of the building on the NW corner of Halsted and Milwaukee. It would have meant an intersection with some honest-to-god city-level density.

PerryPendleton · #**22015** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 9:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrady3324

Good news! 500 N Milwaukee is a go.

http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info...aukee-is-a-go/

Also, is there a plan for what to do about that one story abondoned building across the street? Something has to be done about that as well.

tjp · #**22016** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 9:20 PM**

Is that parking lot next to Orange (across from 500 N. Milwaukee) still there or has something been developed?

jbrady3324 · #**22017** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 9:33 PM**

Slightly off-topic but definitely on-topic if it happens. Forbidden Root is planning a brewery and brewpub at 1746 W Chicago Ave which would include rehab the building but it community needs support. 1746 is an old movie theater that has a great facade and has been dormant for nearly 20 years. This would be the first brewery of its kind, HOWEVER the East Village Association is not willing to grant them a zoning change. DNA Info is running a story on this shortly. If you live nearby, show your support!

https://www.facebook.com/events/3572...4458/?source=1

emathias · #**22018** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 9:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjp

Is that parking lot next to Orange (across from 500 N. Milwaukee) still there or has something been developed?

Orange no longer exists in that location. And in that lot is filled with The Dawson now.

r18tdi · #**22019** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 9:54 PM**

Well this is some horseshit...
http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info...red-after-all/

the urban politician · #**22020** Posted **Jan 17, 2014, 9:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Well this is some horseshit...
http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info...red-after-all/

^ Wow, that indeed does suck.

I don't doubt that renovating that old sucker will cost an arm and a leg, though. Whoever decides to do so will probably need to somehow wring some major tax credits (TIF?) and other stuff from the city in order to get it accomplished. Perhaps it could be developed into more office space for tech companies? That seems to be the rage in River North these days...