[CenIL_LA]

If you follow the figures Tracy Cross puts out (see this week's Crain's for the latest - 3rd Quarter), the suburban housing market has been slowing much more dramatically than the city, and if anything this gap is just widening with each passing quarter. Consider this: his firm just reported that on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis, new home sales in the city are now running at over 50% of suburban sales! That is really incredible when you think about it, as I'm sure suburban new home sales have typically been more like 3-4 times that of the city....

Wow, that is quite incredible. Its a good thing there are others reading more than I get to. Thanks for posting that information.

[Taft]

If you follow the figures Tracy Cross puts out (see this week's Crain's for the latest - 3rd Quarter), the suburban housing market has been slowing much more dramatically than the city, and if anything this gap is just widening with each passing quarter. Consider this: his firm just reported that on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis, new home sales in the city are now running at over 50% of suburban sales! That is really incredible when you think about it, as I'm sure suburban new home sales have typically been more like 3-4 times that of the city....

That is incredible. Almost too much to believe, really. Does Cross post the data/reasoning behind his numbers? I would really be interested in seeing that...

Taft

[BVictor1]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-parkoct24,1,7813738.story

For insider, park a gold mine
City buys contaminated riverfront property from prominent Daley ally, who pockets more than $1 million in sale

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-10/33432539.jpg
A parcel of land along the Chicago River in Bridgeport purchased by businessman Thomas DiPiazza for $50,000 in 1997 and bought by the city six years later for $1.2 million. (Tribune photo / Phil Velasquez / September 24, 2007)

By Laurie Cohen and Todd Lighty | Tribune staff reporters
October 24, 2007

Mayor Richard Daley took an hourlong boat ride on the Chicago River in fall 1997 and came back with a vision of improving the riverfront in the city's neighborhoods.

[aaron38]

^^^I'm in the wrong business.

[honte]

^ Trash or real estate, it doesn't matter what business you're in in this town.... just how you do it.

[Marcu]

^ Well good thing taxes are going up.

[BVictor1]

November Member Meeting
Wednesday, November 14, 2007

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next South Loop Neighbors membership meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 14 at 7:00 pm.

The meeting will be hosted at Columbia College, 600 S. Michigan. Our guest speaker will be Alicia Berg, Vice President, Campus Environment.

We will also be showcasing the newest “green” development in the South Loop. This meeting is open to the community. Come and bring your Neighbor!

[the urban politician]

Well, I must say that NIMBYism can sometimes be a good thing:

Strip mall headed for Bucktown
MCM Properties to develop 60 condos with Smithfield

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER
Editor

Neighbors are trying to put the brakes on a proposed strip mall in Bucktown by real estate developer Smithfield Properties.

Representatives of the Bucktown Triangle Association-bounded by Western, Milwaukee, Leavitt and North-say plans for the strip mall at the intersection of Milwaukee and Leavitt have changed from a proposal presented to the group more than a year ago. Previous plans for the development put buildings up against the stretch of Milwaukee, creating a more traditional Chicago streetscape. Greenstein said the development would go on empty parcels of land that abut the el track to the west. West of the el track, the company is working with MCM Properties to develop five condominium buildings that will stand five stories high and include 60 parking spaces.
http://www.chicagojournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=25&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=3575&TM=40754.89

[honte]

^ Yeah. That's the parcel that started out with some awesome design and has been re-worked about 5 times now over the last 6 years or so. The plans just keep getting worse. Good for the neighbors to fight this one.

[lazar22b]

Theres absolutly no need for a strip mall there.

[VivaLFuego]

Well, I must say that NIMBYism can sometimes be a good thing:

Strip mall headed for Bucktown
MCM Properties to develop 60 condos with Smithfield

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER
Editor

Neighbors are trying to put the brakes on a proposed strip mall in Bucktown by real estate developer Smithfield Properties.

Representatives of the Bucktown Triangle Association-bounded by Western, Milwaukee, Leavitt and North-say plans for the strip mall at the intersection of Milwaukee and Leavitt have changed from a proposal presented to the group more than a year ago. Previous plans for the development put buildings up against the stretch of Milwaukee, creating a more traditional Chicago streetscape. Greenstein said the development would go on empty parcels of land that abut the el track to the west. West of the el track, the company is working with MCM Properties to develop five condominium buildings that will stand five stories high and include 60 parking spaces.
http://www.chicagojournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=25&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=3575&TM=40754.89


That site plan is revolting. Is that even allowed under the zoning? And if it's a PUD, can't the city just revoke the approval for a material change like that?

[VivaLFuego]

There is scaffolding up at the building 2nd from the corner at Superior/Dearborn. I remember some time ago there was talk of the American Poetry Association (?) getting some large endowment to bulldoze these structures and put up a new museum/center/something. Anyone have any more details? I hope this one was documented before demolition, the facade was really quite flawless, hope it can be partially salvaged...

[spyguy]

There is scaffolding up at the building 2nd from the corner at Superior/Dearborn. I remember some time ago there was talk of the American Poetry Association (?) getting some large endowment to bulldoze these structures and put up a new museum/center/something. Anyone have any more details? I hope this one was documented before demolition, the facade was really quite flawless, hope it can be partially salvaged...

They recently selected John Ronan to build their new HQ.

Here's a snippet from their press release (http://poetryfoundation.org/foundation/release_101107.html):

Located on the southwest corner of Dearborn and Superior Streets in downtown Chicago, the new building is expected to encompass 25,000 square feet and include offices for the Poetry Foundation headquarters, editorial offices for Poetry magazine, a library and archives containing 30,000 volumes now housed at the Newberry Library, a public reading room with access to the collection, a visitors’ center, a garden or similar outdoor space, and multipurpose space designed to support the newly created Harriet Monroe Poetry Institute as well as the Foundation’s roster of public programming events such as readings, lectures, and panel discussions. The Foundation expects the project to be designed in an environmentally responsible manner.

[ih8spires]

Does anyone know anything about the Museum of Brodcast Communications at State and Kinzie? I hope there is something going on.

[honte]

They recently selected John Ronan to build their new HQ.

Well, at least that part of the sad story is good news. Ronan is certainly one of the best in Chicago.

[the urban politician]

IIT chief going for 'exciting'
BRONZEVILLE | 'We'd love to see a little college town develop,' school's new president says

October 28, 2007
BY DAVE NEWBART Staff Reporter dnewbart@suntimes.com
No one would suggest the social life at the Illinois Institute of Technology's Bronzeville campus would ever rank it on Playboy's list of the top party schools.

There are no restaurants or trendy bars near campus. Students say they head downtown or to the North Side on weekends.

"It's not a party school," noted Elizabeth Schmit, who lives in an alcohol-free Kappa Phi Delta house. "We don't have toga parties."

New IIT president John Anderson, a chemical engineer, isn't looking to turn the school into the University of Wisconsin. But he would like to see a vibrant community sprout near campus.

"We'd love to see a little college town develop," said Anderson, who will be inaugurated as the school's eighth president Tuesday. "It would be great to have a pub."
http://www.suntimes.com/technology/623632,CST-NWS-IIT28.article




Chicago Lawn teams up to back Cannery

To learn more about and show support for a proposed 1 1/2 million-square-foot retail complex in Chicago Lawn, about 50 community leaders assembled at the Churchview Senior Complex on Sept. 26 for a meeting convened by primary partners General Growth Properties and NCP lead agency Greater Southwest Development Corp.

Jeff Bartow, director of Southwest Organizing Project, holds up the Chicago Lawn NCP quality of life plan, titled "Making Connections," in setting the tone for the Sept. 26 meeting about a proposed 1 1/2 million square foot retail development called The Cannery.

http://www.newcommunities.org/cmaimages/Cannery-leasingplan2.jpg

The residents, business owners, educators, clergy, police, and nonprofit social services providers and community developers packed the room to hear about The Cannery, which would incorporate existing retail outlets like Jewel-Osco and Sears while adding new anchors, smaller stores, restaurants and a community center.

In introducing the 27-acre concept, Jeff Bartow, director of the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP), a key partner in the NCP task force process, held up the Chicago Lawn quality-of-life plan, titled "Making Connections." He reminded those assembled that the plan called for building a "town center" at 60th Street and Western Avenue.
http://www.newcommunities.org/news/articleDetail.asp?objectID=857&communityID=

[pyropius]

http://www.newcommunities.org/cmaimages/Cannery-leasingplan2.jpg


Reminds me of the development near the Howard Street station.

[forumly_chgoman]

Reminds me of the development near the Howard Street station.

Which by the way SUCKS....I deal w/ it everyday and God could it have been much better. While this southside development is better than nothing there really could be better integration w/ the neighborhood as opposed to this shit for brains schaumburgian development

[forumly_chgoman]

Reminds me of the development near the Howard Street station.

Which by the way SUCKS....I deal w/ it everyday and God could it have been much better. While this southside development is better than nothing there really could be better integration w/ the neighborhood as opposed to this shit for brains schaumburgian development


Oh and by the way General Growth should simply not be allowed to develop anything within the City of Chicago with the only exception being their river front location on wacker, where a nice 80-100 story building should go.

[the urban politician]

Which by the way SUCKS....I deal w/ it everyday and God could it have been much better. While this southside development is better than nothing there really could be better integration w/ the neighborhood as opposed to this shit for brains schaumburgian development


Oh and by the way General Growth should simply not be allowed to develop anything within the City of Chicago with the only exception being their river front location on wacker, where a nice 80-100 story building should go.

^ We're having a discussion about that at SSC, and to make a long point short, I think this is exactly what Chicago's south side (outside of core lakefront hoods well-served by transit) needs more of to attract more residents. I hate strip-style development too, but attracting more residents requires appealing to the general public, not internet urban enthusiasts.

But I agree with you about the Gateway Mall at Howard St. That kind of design has no business being near a transit station

[Marcu]

^ We're having a discussion about that at SSC, and to make a long point short, I think this is exactly what Chicago's south side (outside of core lakefront hoods well-served by transit) needs more of to attract more residents. I hate strip-style development too, but attracting more residents requires appealing to the general public, not internet urban enthusiasts.


I agree. We're not in a position to dicate terms to developers on the southside. There's very little development as it is.

[Alliance]

Its probably a needed development, but the parking bothers me.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Agreed

I agree. We're not in a position to dicate terms to developers on the southside. There's very little development as it is.

Hopefully we will get the Olympics and that will change...

[VivaLFuego]

^^^ Agreed



Hopefully we will get the Olympics and that will change...

I don't get why a 2-week event will forever change the development and ivnestment picture (which is on a much longer timeline) throughout the city. At most, over the long run, the city's image will improve and increase tourism and overall housing demand to spur development, but we're talking a 20+ year time horizon and the dearth of investment in the south side is in the here and now.

[Nowhereman1280]

I don't get why a 2-week event will forever change the development and ivnestment picture (which is on a much longer timeline) throughout the city. At most, over the long run, the city's image will improve and increase tourism and overall housing demand to spur development, but we're talking a 20+ year time horizon and the dearth of investment in the south side is in the here and now.

I'm saying that it will change the southside because of the massive amounts of infrastructure improvements that will occur. Also, you can expect that quite a bit of money will be put into generally sprucing up the area, and don't forget the Olympic village adding to development momentum in the area. Also, crime rates will drop because the government will have to make the Washington Park area extremely secure for the Olympic Stadium. Overall, that whole area would be a much more desirable place to live by the time the Olympics are over.

I don't see how it can't change the course of the southside forever. I mean that's one of Daley's stated goals, to gentrify the south side, make it like the north side, you don't think he would use the Olympics as an excuse to pour money into doing this?

[nomarandlee]

True, while i am very weary of any lofty expectations and promises of change I think a games will at least have some marginal effect on some neighborhoods as they have in Sydney, Barcelona, and the near West Side did for the 96 convention. But that could also be argued that if the public investment was made in such areas even without a games or large event would an eventual uplift occur more because of the investment rather then an event itself. Really it gives a city an excuse to improve infrastructure and spur investment in areas in which it should ideally do anyway.

Much more important in the long run to neighborhoods health would be schools, crime, and general quality of living that will draw people in and make it all sustainable in a way that building infrastructure for an event will never be able to do.

[Alliance]

They'll have marginal impact, but what they really should be is an excuse for building sensible developments.

[Chicago2020]

What are the chances there will be a green roof on this beast?????

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/8215/180101820698d8b6b54fbvu1.jpg

courtesy of charlton_b from flickr

[honte]

^ Zero, I'd say, considering it's a long-span structure and the loads from the vegetation would be incredible. Unless, that is 1) the mayor sends the decree, or 2) they do one of the newer, much more lightweight vegetated roofs, which typically involve small sedum plants in planter boxes. Even with option 2, the roof structure would probably have to be reinforced.

For example, the structural acrobatics needed to put the green roof on the Cultural Center were nothing short of heroic.

[2PRUROCKS!]

What is the possibility of putting solar panels on the roofs of MCP? It is just a vast amount of space that seems that it should be put to some good use. I would imagine the weight of solar panels would be much less than a green roof.

[Alliance]

What are the chances there will be a green roof on this beast?????



Can you please stop posting everythign in size 5 bold green text? We can read.


A green roof on McCormick would be amazing. Olympics?

[Marcu]

Green roofs/solar panels do very little to save energy costs/emissions and are just a way for Daley to appease environmentally conscious voters. So if the cost is high, chances are very low.

[Alliance]

Hnace why you need the games. Many events would be helt at McCormick place and it would be an easy way to garner attention.

[Nowhereman1280]

[COLOR="DarkGreen"]What are the chances there will be a green roof on this beast?????


Much lower than the chances of that huge parking lot behind it getting a green roof! :cool: :tup: :cool:

[simcityaustin]

Is that low income housing in the upper right?

[Mr Downtown]

No, those are the Prairie Shores apartment towers; Loebl, Schlossman & Bennett, 1962.

[ardecila]

No, those are the Prairie Shores apartment towers; Loebl, Schlossman & Bennett, 1962.

They appear quite a few times in Stranger Than Fiction, as does a lot of other mid-century Modernism in Chicago.

[GregBear24]

I hope they never knock those down. Call me crazy, but I really think they're a staple in that area and are strangely pleasant to have. No pun intended for "strangely".

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Well they are just about the only mega development of the modern era left in Chicago that isn't completely ghetto or torn down...

I mean its almost reminiscent of LeCorbusier's style of commie block housing projects. We really don't have much of that left in this city. Not to mention these are relatively integrated unlike the towers in a park scheme of Robert Taylor Homes and Cabrini Green.

But I agree, there is something awkwardly pleasing about them. Maybe they will someday be landmarked (very doubtful) as a remnant of our Urban renewal/housing project past.

I just did some reading on them and they were apparently built in conjunction with Michael Reese Hospital. Hopefully they won't be torn down if the Olympic village is built on Michael Reese Hospital...

[honte]

^ No, they are privately owned. Unless Preckwinkle gets any more stupid ideas, they should be ok. Michael Reese hospital was responsible for instituting the discussions that led to most of the urban renewal in the area - such things as Lake Meadows, IIT, and Dearborn Homes. In this case, as their contribution to the cause, they partnered in land with a private developer. Their architect of choice (the very Jewish Loebl, Schlossman, and Bennett) did the work therefore. Anyone interested in this project should also go to Michael Reese and see some of LS&B's very cool designs there - while they are still standing.

We've been here before, but I'll say it again for the record: I agree 100% that these are great buildings, and along with Lake Meadows, they represent a rare, very successful, and wonderful example of this type of design/planning. The owners have been remarkably faithful to the original schemes, and I do think if they survive intact for another 20 or so years, they would be landmark candidates.

[Alliance]

I'd rather see Presidential towers torn down first. The hidious things....

[Nowhereman1280]

Thanks Honte, you are incredibly informational as usual...

[GregBear24]

Honte, thanks for the info.
Alliance, amen!

[SamInTheLoop]

[QUOTE=honte;3136696]^Unless Preckwinkle gets any more stupid ideas


Unfortunately I believe there's a reasonably high probability... :(

[SamInTheLoop]

Earlier in the week it looked as though soil testing was occurring just to the south of the former Pacific Garden Mission...

[VivaLFuego]

We've been here before, but I'll say it again for the record: I agree 100% that these are great buildings, and along with Lake Meadows, they represent a rare, very successful, and wonderful example of this type of design/planning. The owners have been remarkably faithful to the original schemes, and I do think if they survive intact for another 20 or so years, they would be landmark candidates.

Architecturally, I think both developments are great.

My biggest qualm is with the large fields of parking for residents. I'd much prefer parking underground and a slightly tighter street network a la Sandburg Village. From a planning standpoint, PS and LM thoroughly break up neighborhood continuity, particularly pedestrian continuity. Nearby South Commons has a similar deficiency.

[aaron38]

This is a very general question, and I'm just asking it here because I don't get downtown enough on normal weekday evenings to judge the changes firsthand.

A lot of the boom is still U/C, but for what has been completed, is the impact being felt yet in terms of street life / pedestrian traffic?
I mean, the city is always busy to someone who grew up in a small town.
But in terms of daily foot traffic, retail traffic, is it noticeably busier than one year or two years ago?

[VivaLFuego]

This is a very general question, and I'm just asking it here because I don't get downtown enough on normal weekday evenings to judge the changes firsthand.

A lot of the boom is still U/C, but for what has been completed, is the impact being felt yet in terms of street life / pedestrian traffic?
I mean, the city is always busy to someone who grew up in a small town.
But in terms of daily foot traffic, retail traffic, is it noticeably busier than one year or two years ago?

It's definitely noticeable in the South Loop; each year a bit more streetlife than the last. The Loop (State, Michigan) and River North have been quite lively for several years now between residential/hotel construction and the booming universities, so each new development isn't very noticeable in terms of pedestrian traffic. West Loop is still largely a pedestrian wasteland except for a very few particular new nodes (like Jefferson/Lake) where a core of officeworkers, residential, and retail have developed.

So yeah, South Loop

[honte]

This is a very general question, and I'm just asking it here because I don't get downtown enough on normal weekday evenings to judge the changes firsthand.

A lot of the boom is still U/C, but for what has been completed, is the impact being felt yet in terms of street life / pedestrian traffic?
I mean, the city is always busy to someone who grew up in a small town.
But in terms of daily foot traffic, retail traffic, is it noticeably busier than one year or two years ago?

The place I notice it most is over in Streeterville. That once-desolate stretch from Navy Pier to Michigan always seems to be alive. Sometimes, I just have to marvel at the transformation, and we're only 1/2 of the way there!

[the urban politician]

:haha:

Are they finally getting it?

10/31/2007 10:00:00 PM
Neighbors: More condos, please
Neighbors say Walgreens development should be transit oriented

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER
Editor


It's like déjà vu all over again for East Village and Wicker Park residents who fought a commercial development at the corner or Ashland and Division more than 20 years ago.

Back then neighbors opposed the establishment of Pizza Hut at 1601 W. Division and Wendy's restaurant at 1623 W. Division. Now they're opposing the construction of a freestanding Walgreens drug store. The Walgreens would replace Pizza Hut, which closed down and has sat vacant since early 2007, but the Wendy's location is expected to stay.

Neighbors have opposed the proposal by developer Interra Vision, stating that the site, which many consider a gateway to Wicker Park and East Village, does not suffice in terms of scale to adjacent buildings. They argue that the building, located across the street from the historic MB Financial building, should balance the bank and serve as a transit-oriented development.

Justin Schultz, an Interra Vision representative, did not return phone calls requesting an interview.

"It can have a Walgreens in it; we just don't want it to be just a Walgreens," said Scott Rappe, head of the East Village Association's zoning committee. "We object to that land being solely a single-tenant building and a parking lot."

"Imagine if you had a gym or professional offices and a mix of dwelling apartment types all concentrated there with access to the Blue Line and the busses. It could really be desirable for both residents and businesses."

Rappe and others have been garnering support for the initiative to persuade the developer to build a multi-story building. Last week, the East Village Association sent a request to Arnold J. Randall Jr., commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, asking that he work with the developer and neighbors to build a more substantial structure.

"Chicago-as it works to become a more environmentally responsible, 'green' city-must take advantage of opportunities to establish transit-oriented developments. The proximity of the site to public transit (the subway and three bus lines), three major thoroughfares, and the Kennedy Expressway, as well as prime shopping and service amenities, makes it the ideal location for such a development," the EVA letter reads.

More at link:

http://www.chicagojournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=25&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=3600&TM=23997.12

[Chi_Coruscant]

www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-thu_casinonov01,0,4011603.story

Site of city casino anyone's bet

Power brokers and special interests to play high-stakes game over location if approved
By Kathy Bergen, Tribune staff reporter Tribune staff reporters Gary Washburn and Susan Diesenhouse contributed to this report

November 1, 2007

With a downtown casino looking like a real possibility for the first time in years, the central city is starting to resemble a giant Monopoly board, with competing interest groups hoping the potentially lucrative enterprise will be built on their turf.

[Loopy]

I would vote for the Post Office and Navy Pier as the best Locations; Congress Hotel and Riverside Park as the worst.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/graphic/2007-11/33588258.jpg

[honte]

^ If we absolutely have to have this thing... if having it means they can save the entire Post Office, I say go for it. That was always the levee anyway. ;)

Otherwise, I like the Air Rights idea north of McCormick. My least favorite is the Lower Wacker site by Michigan Avenue - how tacky!

[honte]

:haha:

Are they finally getting it?

10/31/2007 10:00:00 PM
Neighbors: More condos, please
Neighbors say Walgreens development should be transit oriented

EVA has a new leadership, focus, and direction that is highly preservation-oriented and interested in smart growth. They are in favor of density or progressive design in the right places. I would expect to see a lot of good things coming out of this area in the near future - if they can hang on to it.

[the urban politician]

^ If we absolutely have to have this thing... if having it means they can save the entire Post Office, I say go for it. That was always the levee anyway. ;)

Otherwise, I like the Air Rights idea north of McCormick. My least favorite is the Lower Wacker site by Michigan Avenue - how tacky!

^ I pretty much agree. This casino should not be in the core of downtown, but somewhat in its periphery. I certainly would not want to see Chicago's casino become the "star of the show" for downtown visitors. Let the shopping, theatres, architecture, culture, etc etc play that role. The casino should be top-notch in quality (Chicago should never not shine in anything it does), but I wouldn't mind a bit if Chicago treated this thing with just a hint of embarrassment, like "yeah there's a casino way over there, we had to build it because the State is full of butt-heads who won't fork over a few pennies for our transit system, so go over there and play some slot machines or blackjack if you want to have a good time but our city isn't really about the whole gambling thing" kind of attitude would fit nicely.

[DHamp]

Post Office. Hands down. None of those other locations are even options IMO. South Loop is for new residential + some retail. The lot north of McCormick should be park. Fronting Grant Park on Congress is just a BAD idea. If anything extra goes into Block 37, it should have something to do with the Theatre District. Putting it on lower Wacker would ruin what we've achieved thus far this boom, and make it less attractive for residents fueling the condos in the area. And Daley is right about Navy Pier; it's for families.

If we have to go that route, use the Post Office. Especially if it means that the exterior won't be marred and chopped.

[Loopy]

^ If we absolutely have to have this thing... if having it means they can save the entire Post Office, I say go for it.

I would gladly put up with a casino if it could facilitate the wholesale preservation of that magnificent structure.

[Alliance]

Its not' THAT magnificent, but if they go with the current plan, I'd rather see Casino with hotel towers than condos.

how cool would it be to have an art deco casino :cool:

[StormFire]

This is a very general question, and I'm just asking it here because I don't get downtown enough on normal weekday evenings to judge the changes firsthand.

A lot of the boom is still U/C, but for what has been completed, is the impact being felt yet in terms of street life / pedestrian traffic?
I mean, the city is always busy to someone who grew up in a small town.
But in terms of daily foot traffic, retail traffic, is it noticeably busier than one year or two years ago?

I was just thinking that along E/W Wacker, Lake Street, and Randolph I have seen more young moms and strollers than I did 3-4 years ago.

I don't want the casino, by if we had to have it, throw it on the tourist trap (Navy Pier), McCormick, or the Post Office. Keep it out of the Loop.

Ok guys - I have a question. I work at the Apparel Center, and there is a third floor roof overlooking the river and Orleans. They just put two curvy paths of groundcover on that roof. So it is now "green." I can't see a great environmental impact here (is there one?). Do the owners get some kind of a tax credit or some other benefit?

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ There is some benefit, I mean it absorbs some water and vegitation/dirt is very good at insulation, so it saves a little energy. I think they get a one time only tax credit for installing it. That and they get the publicity of being able to say that they are for the environment.

[dropdeaded209]

Carbine and Carbon building crown is going to be permanently lit starting November 16 at 5PM. Tribune has the full story (http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/arts/chi-1101archnotesnov01,1,4537218.story?ctrack=6&cset=true).

anyone know if the beacon atop the Palmolive Building is going to start swinging anytime soon?

[Loopy]

All of this talk about Carbide and Carbon's "crown" makes me wonder about whether there was a "spire" at one time.

In the Hard Rock Hotel, there is a beautiful green terra-cotta tapering "column" in the adjacent China Grill and a more pointed matching piece on the roof of the low-rise section of the building. The color matches the terra-cotta of the building perfectly.

I have always wondered whether this "spire" was once mounted on the "crown" and removed for safety reasons.

Anybody know what I'm talking about?

[VivaLFuego]

Congress Hotel is definitely the best location, in my opinion.

Block 37 would be decent, location-wise, but it's a non-starter this late in the game in that project's development. Oh well.

The Post Office is intriguing, but a distant second to the Congress site. Distant second because 1) I can't really fathom the cost effectiveness and 2) while its transport access is decent, it is in a wasteland in terms of hotel/entertainment amenities. It would require building a whole new upscale entertainment disctrict (this has to be upscale or da mare ain't interested), which would also mean ancillary costs like moving the Greyhound bus depot, streetscaping, fighting with landowners over rezonings to encourage redevelopment, etc. It would be great if it would happen, but it would be an incredibly expensive and time consuming process to make it happen.

Lower Wacker is probably thrown in as a joke.

The Congress site offers up top scores on almost every measure of location quality for a casino. And I urge you guys to try to convince me that dump (and its even dumpier parking garage) are worth saving. (EDIT: in fairness, the north building has some nice facade details that could possibly be re-used)

[Alliance]

It would require building a whole new upscale entertainment disctrict (this has to be upscale or da mare ain't interested), which would also mean ancillary costs like moving the Greyhound bus depot, streetscaping, fighting with landowners over rezonings to encourage redevelopment, etc. It would be great if it would happen, but it would be an incredibly expensive and time consuming process to make it happen.

Eaxctly. :cool:

[aaron38]

The Post Office is intriguing, but a distant second to the Congress site. Distant second because 1) I can't really fathom the cost effectiveness and 2) while its transport access is decent, it is in a wasteland in terms of hotel/entertainment amenities.

But isn't that the point, to spur redevelopment and expand the vibrant areas of downtown?
If you put the casino on Michigan ave, then an already busy area just becomes overcrowded, and a wasteland stays a wasteland.

[Haworthia]

I have to agree with Alliance, put it in the old Post Office. It would spur development in that area and bring to life another part of downtown.

It would save an iconic building.

It would be a novelty. Putting it there would grab headlines. I think we'd be more likely to get people from out of state if we put it there. Where as Block 37, it may be the most logical choice, but it isn't the most exciting choice.

Also, I think putting near any area that is booming would be a disaster. For instance, near McCormick. The South loop and near Southside seem to be doing OK all by themselves in terms of development.

No matter where it would go, it needs to be near the loop. I suppose that goes without saying.

Old Post Office!

[honte]

All of this talk about Carbide and Carbon's "crown" makes me wonder about whether there was a "spire" at one time.

In the Hard Rock Hotel, there is a beautiful green terra-cotta tapering "column" in the adjacent China Grill and a more pointed matching piece on the roof of the low-rise section of the building. The color matches the terra-cotta of the building perfectly.

I have always wondered whether this "spire" was once mounted on the "crown" and removed for safety reasons.

Anybody know what I'm talking about?

Hi Loopy,

That piece was a new fabrication by Mr. LaGrange's office, in an attempt to tie the modern addition into the old. I am not aware of any extra material ever being atop the Carbide and Carbon; I believe the original drawings show it pretty much as-is. Nice idea though!

[nomarandlee]

The thing about the post office it is so large that it could fit what many stand alone resort casinos in Las Vegas do and put many of those amenities (a club, some bars, few restaurants, production theater) all inside the OPO. Not to mention I think the South end of the Union Station parking lot could be fused together with the OPO and serve as a connecting complext/hotel. The transit access isn't just good it is amazing. Arguably the best anywhere in the city with its proximity to Metra, Amtrak, Blue Line, and the IKE. Also I think it would make sense to have a new bus depot somewhere over by the Clinton blue line and Metra as well. I have always thought that the Greyhound was built a few blocks too far west.

I agree with those who say that Block 37 and The Congress are too close to the city center. Yes, they very well may be successful and increase traffic to those areas but those areas already are near attractions and will have functions that serve their purpose without putting an awkward mix of casino right in the middle.

It is just as important to ask how big the casino the city wants and what exactly we want to get from it. From what I have read the intention seems to be a mega complex of near Vegas proportion and not a complementing venue and if that is the case then I especially think the OPO is the one that make sense.

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

I would vote for the Post Office and Navy Pier as the best Locations; Congress Hotel and Riverside Park as the worst.

I wish there were a suitable location along Ohio. That corridor's so close to being endearingly kitschy... a glitzy casino, I'm sure, would really do the trick.

[forumly_chgoman]

I go w/ the old post office...I think it could serve to segue area in the south loop, the loop and west loop..all these areas are seeing burgeoning development growth this could serve as part of the grout holding it all together..

It could be amazing

[forumly_chgoman]

At 2.5 million sq ft how would this compare w/ a typical vegas style casino?

[GregBear24]

Why can't we create a resort with a hotel and casino on the lake somewhere? Maybe a little south of mccormick place with a nice new beach? I would like to see a casino be targeted and mostly available to tourists/ other visitors who have a lot of dough instead of yours truly wasting his money away there, which doesn't seem to get our city anywhere when it's all said and done if the money coming from the casino to build transit comes from the same people who use the transit- doesn't that defeat the general purpose of it all? We have a beautiful coastline, so why can't we do a better job at showcasing it to outsiders? My friends from Indiana didn't even know we had amazing sandy beaches until I showed them this summer, and if they don't know then I'm assuming most of the world doesn't either. With that unrealistic statement out of the way, I'm for mccormick or old post office.

[forumly_chgoman]

^^^The beaches must remain public...not some gated, walled of coven of well to do hi-steppers

[firstcranialnerve]

I have a question about Chicago's lack of underground shopping systems. If you go to Sydney, China or Japan, you will find extremely extensive underground shopping walkways and systems what link up to businesses, shopping centers, train stations, public buildings, theaters etc, all from teh underground. I grew up in Sydney and Chicago and Sydney has winters around 50 -65 at coldest, yet they still have such an extensive system. Whereas here in Chicago, the underground between the train and Daley is shocking and horrible to walk through, as well as being extremely short, with almost no decent stores or shopping malls connected. While i don't give block 37 any love, it may be the start of the kind of underground linkage system Chicago needs. At least I hope so... Is there some kind of reason these systems haven't been developed here? I think it is because the trains are elevated. In China now, they are developing miles and miles of these linked systems underground as we type. Montreal also has a great underground system. Can we use what we have and make a great underground system here?

Wiki: Underground Cities
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_city

[trvlr70]

Congress Hotel is definitely the best location, in my opinion.


)

No way! That hotel has gorgeous bones and public areas....even if they are in a current state of disrepair. This hotel will eventually be sold and refurbished into its original 5-star status. A casino would not help IMHO.

[Mr Downtown]

Is there some kind of reason [underground pedway] systems haven't been developed here?

Because they suck the life off the sidewalks, there was a sort of policy in the 80s and 90s to discourage them, particularly over-street skyways. In places like Charlotte and Dallas, skyway systems got to be known as "honky tubes" because the office workers stayed in their hermetically sealed environments and the only people left on the sidewalks were poor folks waiting for a bus.

Chicago does have a fair-sized underground system, but two chunks of the main east-west spine have been closed for the last several years: Block 37 and the Heritage site. Chicago also has a lot of through-block passages that allow the cognoscenti to move several blocks through the Loop with only a few brief dashes across streets.

[jpIllInoIs]

^ From what Ive seen skywalks tend to really kill the sidewalk activity. In Minneapolis you can make an argument for them because their winters are even more brutal than Chicago. But in Des Moines, the skyway system has had a deafening affect on the pedestrian - sidewalk activity even in the summer.

[Alliance]

We have a beautiful coastline, so why can't we do a better job at showcasing it to outsiders?

Because our coastline is not for developing and is for PUBLIC use.

Period.

[Nowhereman1280]

Because our coastline is not for developing and is for PUBLIC use.

Period.

I agree, what good is "showcasing" our coastline to outsiders if we can't even use it ourselves. There are much better ways of showing off our coastline, like better integrating it with already hot neighborhoods, a la the plan to cover up the McCormick staging lots for a park or the Olympic village...

If we had a few billion sitting around I would say to sink all of Lakeshore drive South of downtown, the north is already very integrated with the lake despite LSD and that leg has probably the best skyline views in the world.

[Alliance]

If we had a few billion I'd be enacting a few Chicago Prizes, ibut first and formost, building an Olympic stadium in place of Smith's POS obs tower in the lake.

[spyguy]

http://www.nearwestgazette.com/Archive/1107/Newsbriefs1107.htm

GPAC/GPC tackles variety of park issues
Marie Balice Ward

Queen's Landing: Officials have contacted British firms to fund a bridge or other structure for a direct connection between Queen’s Landing/Buckingham Fountain and the lakefront east of Lake Shore Drive, said Bob O’Neill, president of GPAC/GPC. Discussions are underway to ask a British architect design the structure, O’Neill added. He mentioned two Pritzker Prize winning architects—Sir Norman Foster and Richard Rogers—who are highly regarded internationally. Work on a crossing would tie in with the upcoming 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s arrival in Chicago at that site.

Updating the south end: A proposal for the south end of Grant Park would update the railroad tracks and the antiquated bridge. Officials will hire planners to develop conceptual ideas in the next couple of weeks.

[VivaLFuego]

http://www.nearwestgazette.com/Archive/1107/Newsbriefs1107.htm

GPAC/GPC tackles variety of park issues
Marie Balice Ward

Queen's Landing: Officials have contacted British firms to fund a bridge or other structure for a direct connection between Queen’s Landing/Buckingham Fountain and the lakefront east of Lake Shore Drive, said Bob O’Neill, president of GPAC/GPC. Discussions are underway to ask a British architect design the structure, O’Neill added. He mentioned two Pritzker Prize winning architects—Sir Norman Foster and Richard Rogers—who are highly regarded internationally. Work on a crossing would tie in with the upcoming 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s arrival in Chicago at that site.

Updating the south end: A proposal for the south end of Grant Park would update the railroad tracks and the antiquated bridge. Officials will hire planners to develop conceptual ideas in the next couple of weeks.

Good deal. We'll see if anything actually comes of either initiative; I'm not sure why a "British firm" would want to drop millions for such a project, and other than BP can't think of any with a significant tie to Chicagoland.

[honte]

^ Even so, thank goodness the City is actually thinking along the lines of great architects for civic projects. Gives me some hope...

[Alliance]

Yes. Hopefully Foster and Rodgers can create some stunning work. I tend to think that starchitects smaller projects are better.

That being said...its interesting that we could have four starchitect bridges in the park Ghery, Piano, Foster and Rogers.

[honte]

^ We'll see if we get either, but I doubt it will be both.

I still think the City dismissing Rodgers' competition plan to save North Avenue bridge and build a new one further north was one of their stupidest moves. I wonder if he'll have hard feelings toward the city, just like when they dissed Calatrava.

[SamInTheLoop]

If we had a few billion I'd be enacting a few Chicago Prizes, ibut first and formost, building an Olympic stadium in place of Smith's POS obs tower in the lake.


I wouldn't spend too much time thinking about it - it's obviously not a real project...just like all the other communications/observation supertall proposals over the years - just not gonna happen....

[SamInTheLoop]

Good deal. We'll see if anything actually comes of either initiative; I'm not sure why a "British firm" would want to drop millions for such a project, and other than BP can't think of any with a significant tie to Chicagoland.


I think it's just a case of a stupid and/or careless jounalist (this city's just overflowing with them unfortunately). I'm pretty sure the sentence should include the word "design" rather than "fund"...

[Via Chicago]

Why can't we create a resort with a hotel and casino on the lake somewhere? Maybe a little south of mccormick place with a nice new beach? I would like to see a casino be targeted and mostly available to tourists/ other visitors who have a lot of dough instead of yours truly wasting his money away there, which doesn't seem to get our city anywhere when it's all said and done if the money coming from the casino to build transit comes from the same people who use the transit- doesn't that defeat the general purpose of it all? We have a beautiful coastline, so why can't we do a better job at showcasing it to outsiders? My friends from Indiana didn't even know we had amazing sandy beaches until I showed them this summer, and if they don't know then I'm assuming most of the world doesn't either. With that unrealistic statement out of the way, I'm for mccormick or old post office.

"Forever open, clear, and free."

[10023]

I think McCormick Place is by far the best place for a casino. The old post office is really too big, and they'd likely want new construction. Locating near McCormick Place will help the convention industry (casinos are the big reason Vegas has grown its convention industry) and take money mostly from out of town visitors, which is crucial if a casino is to be a net positive economically.

Funding transit with a casino is stupid unless you can get the vast majority of revenue from out of town visitors.

[Chicago Shawn]

:haha:

Are they finally getting it?

10/31/2007 10:00:00 PM
Neighbors: More condos, please
Neighbors say Walgreens development should be transit oriented

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER
Editor


It's like déjà vu all over again for East Village and Wicker Park residents who fought a commercial development at the corner or Ashland and Division more than 20 years ago.

Back then neighbors opposed the establishment of Pizza Hut at 1601 W. Division and Wendy's restaurant at 1623 W. Division. Now they're opposing the construction of a freestanding Walgreens drug store. The Walgreens would replace Pizza Hut, which closed down and has sat vacant since early 2007, but the Wendy's location is expected to stay.

Neighbors have opposed the proposal by developer Interra Vision, stating that the site, which many consider a gateway to Wicker Park and East Village, does not suffice in terms of scale to adjacent buildings. They argue that the building, located across the street from the historic MB Financial building, should balance the bank and serve as a transit-oriented development.

Justin Schultz, an Interra Vision representative, did not return phone calls requesting an interview.

"It can have a Walgreens in it; we just don't want it to be just a Walgreens," said Scott Rappe, head of the East Village Association's zoning committee. "We object to that land being solely a single-tenant building and a parking lot."

"Imagine if you had a gym or professional offices and a mix of dwelling apartment types all concentrated there with access to the Blue Line and the busses. It could really be desirable for both residents and businesses."

Rappe and others have been garnering support for the initiative to persuade the developer to build a multi-story building. Last week, the East Village Association sent a request to Arnold J. Randall Jr., commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, asking that he work with the developer and neighbors to build a more substantial structure.

"Chicago-as it works to become a more environmentally responsible, 'green' city-must take advantage of opportunities to establish transit-oriented developments. The proximity of the site to public transit (the subway and three bus lines), three major thoroughfares, and the Kennedy Expressway, as well as prime shopping and service amenities, makes it the ideal location for such a development," the EVA letter reads.

More at link:

http://www.chicagojournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=25&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=3600&TM=23997.12

Hell Yes! Finnally a community group preaching a desire to see good urban design and planning on a key TOD site. Could this be the start of more great things to come in this area? I surely hope so. Furthermore, with transit service in question and the budget deficit at city hall, I think this could be a golden opportunity to sway more people to the benifits of having higher density in places where the existing infrastucture and transit service has ample capacity. Doing so would help the financial situations of both entities if we see a good wave of it through out the neighborhoods where appropiate.

[Chicago Shawn]

Green roofs/solar panels do very little to save energy costs/emissions and are just a way for Daley to appease environmentally conscious voters. So if the cost is high, chances are very low.

FALSE. Every small project contributes to a greater whole and the city will see the benifits. Just the green roof at city hall alone reduced the roof surface tempiture by over 50 degrees on a typical summer day. Furthermore, one often overlooked element is the fact that green roofs absorb storm water and slow runoff, and the more of these we have, the fewer sewer backups we will see durring heavy summer downpours. Which also translates to less money needed to fund the Deep Tunnel project to divert the overflowing combined sewer water away from the river and lake.

[spyguy]

http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?rssFeed=news&id=27027&seenIt=1

Salvation Army to unveil community center plans
Nov. 05, 2007
By Brandon Glenn

The Salvation Army’s Chicago Metropolitan Division is set to unveil plans for a $160-million community center on the Southwest Side on Tuesday.

The 220,000-square-foot community center, designed by Helmut Jahn, is to be built on two vacant lots that stretch a combined 33 acres in the West Pullman neighborhood, said Lt. Col. David Grindle of the Metropolitan Division.

[the urban politician]

Some nifty news:

Nov. 05, 2007

Street-entrance retail planned for Presidential Towers
By Eddie Baeb

(Crain’s) — The new owner of Presidential Towers is looking to convert the retail space into stores with entrances on the street and expand the health club in the four-tower West Loop apartment complex.

http://chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=27017

[forumly_chgoman]

^^^Wasn't there originally a plan for at least one more tower maybe two?......can we get that back on the table given the increased rental demand

[2PRUROCKS!]

I am very excited to see the Jahn Salvation Army community center, I have high hopes for this! So, now that 600 N. Fairbanks is nearly complete what other projects does Jahn ahve in the pipline in Chicago? I know there is the U of C Library expansion and chiller plant. I also thought the was some mention awhile ago about a possible residential highrise somewhere (maybe the South Loop)? Anybody remember that or know any more info on it or anyother Jahn projects for Chicago?

[VivaLFuego]

2 unrelated tidbits for your consumption/comment:

1. The CTA stationhouse at North/Damen/Milwaukee is receiving landmark designation, I'm not sure if the platforms are included. I wonder how this will gel with ADA-compliance or potential future Airport Express trackage (frankly, I prefer the awesome station to either ADA-compliance or the AE boondoggle, but there's definitely some conflict in the stated long term goals)

2. Something (I think a 1-2 story structure) just got demo'd on the plot north of the building that formerly housed Sal e Carvao restaurant, the latter of which is currently being renovated. Anyone know what's going on with either of these?

[honte]

^ Hi Viva,

Thanks for the info. Is the stationhouse part of the Milwaukee Ave. landmark district, or an independent designation? I don't have a copy of the Milwaukee Ave. designation report yet.

Can you please let me know the address of the Sal e Carvao restaurant. I forget where that is - Clark Street?

Also, a really nice 3-story loft building on Halsted in the "Pilsen Arts District" was just demoed recently.

[VivaLFuego]

^ Hi Viva,

Thanks for the info. Is the stationhouse part of the Milwaukee Ave. landmark district, or an independent designation? I don't have a copy of the Milwaukee Ave. designation report yet.

Can you please let me know the address of the Sal e Carvao restaurant. I forget where that is - Clark Street?

Also, a really nice 3-story loft building on Halsted in the "Pilsen Arts District" was just demoed recently.


The stationhouse is a seperate designation, I believe.

Sal e Carvao was the NE corner of Clark/Superior.

[Marcu]

^ Sal Carvao is becoming Zed 451. The suburban locations are open already. Not sure when this one is set to open but I would imagine in time for the traditionally busy holiday season.

[honte]

The stationhouse is a seperate designation, I believe.

Sal e Carvao was the NE corner of Clark/Superior.

OK, thanks for the info.

I believe the building that was north of that site was an old theatre, which had a terrible facelift that destroyed its facade.

Also, speaking of bad facelifts ... I asked around about the Moana building around the corner from here, which you mentioned has scaffold surrounding it. Here's the sad story I was told: The Poetry Mag. deal with Ronan has fallen through, and a plastic surgeon has bought the historic building instead. He intends to perform a little plastic surgery on the facade too, and cannot be persuaded otherwise. The terracotta will be torn off and replaced, I think, with limestone. ??? Sounds stupid, I know, but I'm just relaying what gossip I heard. Of course, the city is nowhere to be found on this one.