CHICAGO | 669 N Michigan Ave | 668 FT | 56 FLOORS

[mh777]

What!!Heard from alderman Reilly’s newsletter… this was unexpected!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QxvZKqwQP2AfSZWe4zBxhe4lpZiNHpr1/view?usp=sharing

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by mh777

What!!Heard from alderman Reilly’s newsletter… this was unexpected!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QxvZKqwQP2AfSZWe4zBxhe4lpZiNHpr1/view?usp=sharing

What the what??!!

[Steely Dan]

Hot damn!

That was.....

unexpected.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by mh777

What!!Heard from alderman Reilly’s newsletter… this was unexpected!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QxvZKqwQP2AfSZWe4zBxhe4lpZiNHpr1/view?usp=sharing

From the planning doc in the link:


Looks sleek.

[Zapatan]

Kinda like One Chicago + Wolf Point Tower

Not bad though, looks ~700 feet. Is this a real proposal or just concept?

[MorganChi]

Ooooohhhhhh I was hoping a lakeview rending of the proposal

[iguy]

Between this, the Wacker proposal, and the increases in secured financing I’m hoping that maybe development is on the upswing after bottoming out.

But, as always, gotta see it to believe it

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by iguy

Between this, the Wacker proposal, and the increases in secured financing I’m hoping that maybe development is on the upswing after bottoming out.

But, as always, gotta see it to believe it

Still very much at the bottom/end of the last development cycle, especially with hyper inflated material and product costs, as well as borrowing rates still being high as well.
Local factors as well are cutting into Chicago's RE developments, with a city administration that is not very business friendly, so developers are potentially sitting on things to ride out the current storm that plagues big developments. This is a prime example of that: absolutely none of us knew about this, as far as I can remember. But it's clearly been in the design development stages for quite some time; so I suspect a lot of big RE developers in Chicago are quietly working under the radar with plans to announce unknown projects (to the regular public, that is), until the proverbial winds shift. Patience is a virtue, especially when one is savvy enough to know when to jump up.

[lakeshoredrive]

Wow, that would be a solid addition to that part of the skyline!

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by sentinel

Still very much at the bottom/end of the last development cycle, especially with hyper inflated material and product costs, as well as borrowing rates still being high as well.
Local factors as well are cutting into Chicago's RE developments, with a city administration that is not very business friendly, so developers are potentially sitting on things to ride out the current storm that plagues big developments. This is a prime example of that: absolutely none of us knew about this, as far as I can remember. But it's clearly been in the design development stages for quite some time; so I suspect a lot of big RE developers in Chicago are quietly working under the radar with plans to announce unknown projects (to the regular public, that is), until the proverbial winds shift. Patience is a virtue, especially when one is savvy enough to know when to jump up.

Indeed, if the current line of proposals go through next cycle it could be just as exciting as the last.

[JK47]

Still, this kinda sucks in terms of location if only because it will knock out one of the actually operating large retail spaces on the street.

[pip]

This is the building that is being torn down for that project? This is a beautiful old building
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8944424,..._ep=EgoyMDI1MDkxNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[MorganChi]

Originally Posted by pip

This is the building that is being torn down for that project? This is a beautiful old building
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8944424,..._ep=EgoyMDI1MDkxNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

It can be sacrifice for possibly another 700 foot building , Tear it !!!!!!!

[mh777]

Originally Posted by MorganChi

It can be sacrifice for possibly another 700 foot building , Tear it !!!!!!!

Exactly! There are enough NIMBYs out there… we don’t need more on this board.

[Bonsai Tree]

Heights looks to be 668' from the presentation

[cloudbod]

Originally Posted by pip

This is the building that is being torn down for that project? This is a beautiful old building

Yeah I've been writing to some folks (the Ald, etc) about reusing the beautiful art deco limestone facade of the existing buildings.



I like the new proposal, but the historic facade should be retained, Toronto-style. Otherwise that podium is gonna be a massive downgrade.

[pip]

Originally Posted by mh777

Exactly! There are enough NIMBYs out there… we don’t need more on this board.

To be clear I'm not a NIMBY in the slightest. I am though concerned about how Chicago tears down so much of it's beautiful old architecture, like this building. After spending about 3 years in Boston recently, I have grown to appreciate preservation of old buildings.

This new highrise will clearly be good to look at from a distance and will be a nice addition to the skyline but most people are at street level and not looking at the skyline from a distance. The pedestrian experience is more important. With all the empty lots and crappy lowrise 60's type buildings in River North it seems as if it a large portion of development targets historic buildings for demolition.

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by pip

To be clear I'm not a NIMBY in the slightest. I am though concerned about how Chicago tears down so much of it's beautiful old architecture, like this building. After spending about 3 years in Boston recently, I have grown to appreciate preservation of old buildings.

It's a nice looking older building but not that special, I would trade it for a modern high-rise personally.

This new highrise will clearly be good to look at from a distance and will be a nice addition to the skyline but most people are at street level and not looking at the skyline from a distance.

I don't think anything much under 900' is that noticeable in downtown Chicago. The lobby and pool look really cool though, just as much of a street level experience as the original building (at least from photos).

[Jstange059]

I just thought I'd share another angle of the existing building

I've seen a bunch of people in other places (Specifically on Chicago Yimby) complaining about the proposed building having blank streetfronts when this is the building it is replacing. I really don't get those people's point because the proposed building has storefronts lining the street edge? Sure, there's a parking garage, but that's 3 floors up, no one walking along Michigan will notice that. Anyways, I think it is a bit of a shame for the buildings to be demolished, but it would undoubtedly be worth it. The existing buildings are nice, but nothing notable. In a perfect world, we would do a Toronto and perform a facadectomy, but I really don't see the loss of these existing buildings as much of a loss, especially considering the massive blank facade they have on Erie Street

[Mulan]

Credit: Solomon Cordwell Buenz

"Information in the announcement indicates a 498-unit tower. An eight-story podium would include the residential lobby on the ground floor, 26,000+ square feet of retail space on the first and second floors, 199 parking spaces on levels three through seven, and the eighth level would be a mechanical floor with a 200-space bike storage room and the leasing office. The 56th floor would also be mechanical. Parking would be accessed from Erie Street, while trash and loading zones would be on the alley behind the building, parallel to Michigan Avenue."

https://chicagoyimby.com/2025/09/42nd-wa...posal-for-669-north-michigan-avenue.html