[cbotnyse]

Sofitel Chicago Water Tower Ranks No. 1 in the World (http://www.cnbc.com/id/24539508/)
Sofitel Exceeds Expectations on Expedia's Insiders' Select List| 09 May 2008 | 09:42 AM ET
DALLAS, May 9, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Sofitel Chicago Water Tower received top recognition on the second annual Insider's Select(TM) list of the world's best hotels, unveiled this week by Expedia(R). Of the 899 worldwide hotel properties listed, Sofitel Chicago Water Tower captured the No. 1 spot.:omg: :whatthefuck: :whatthefuck: :whatthefuck:

in the world??? Penninsula? Four Seasons? Park Hyatt? Ritz?

pretty cool though.

[Via Chicago]

From the Art Institute webcam..the bridge has been going in since last night
http://oxblue.com/archive/9b35f7af965c42dcc84247ad5b0e3472/1024x768.jpg

[jcchii]

wow
that looks great. very cool

[spyguy]

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/2078/artic2hk1.gif

[honte]

Does anyone know the name of the building being built the is northwest of the intersection of clybourn and division?

Nothing is being built at the NW corner ... that is where the Crate + Barrel is, etc.

You are probably thinking of SW. The two projects going on there are the SoNo towers by Booth+Hansen and the Chicago British School by Valario DeWalt Train.

[EarlyBuyer]

Thanks spyguy for the time lapse!

[neverdone]

Nothing is being built at the NW corner ... that is where the Crate + Barrel is, etc.

You are probably thinking of SW. The two projects going on there are the SoNo towers by Booth+Hansen and the Chicago British School by Valario DeWalt Train.

I think you are right Honte, it may be the Chicago British School. I will take closer look. These are the same guys who designed the Miglin Staybridge Suites, two interesting projects.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by neverdone
"Does anyone know the name of the building being built the is northwest of the intersection of clybourn and division? "

>>Nothing is being built at the NW corner ... that is where the Crate + Barrel is, etc.

You are probably thinking of SW. The two projects going on there are the SoNo towers by Booth+Hansen and the Chicago British School by Valario DeWalt Train.

If neverdone meant Division then I think you guys have a disconnect. Crate&Barrel is at Clybourn and North Avenue.

There is a slick modern building on the west side of Clyborn just NW from the intersection with Division, across from the Dominick's strip mall/parking lot. That building is a modern SRO, I believe.

Edit: yeah this may be what you're thinking of? Mercy Lakefront SRO (http://www.aerotecture.com/projects_mlh.html)

[neverdone]

emathias, I'm sorry I should have been more specific, the building I was talking about is still under construction, and it isn't exactly on the corner or division and cylbourn, it is much further northwest, it could even be on a different street. I just saw it around that particular intersection. The building you pointed out is pretty interesting too, it's also quite famous!

[honte]

There is a slick modern building on the west side of Clyborn just NW from the intersection with Division, across from the Dominick's strip mall/parking lot. That building is a modern SRO, I believe.


Yeah, yeah, my mistake for misreading his message. Anyway, there is nothing new at the NW corner of Division / Clybourn either. Jahn's SRO has been done for over a year now (maybe two?), so I assume that's not what he's talking about. There is a new "Green" condo building with a tacky strip of LEDs changing colors a bit further up the street, but I forget the architects and the building is pretty forgettable too. There is also the Brininstool building that will happen along that stretch, but it's not started yet.

So, I think my post probably answered his question anyway.

[AdrianXSands]

emathias, I'm sorry I should have been more specific, the building I was talking about is still under construction, and it isn't exactly on the corner or division and cylbourn, it is much further northwest, it could even be on a different street. I just saw it around that particular intersection. The building you pointed out is pretty interesting too, it's also quite famous!

the helmut jahn sro is expanding all the way to division and then wrapping around the corner to cleveland ave... i didn't know it was already under construction though. hmmm

also, on the SOUTH WEST corner, there is that atrociously ugly, horrifyingly bad residential development u/c
http://www.parksideofoldtown.com/

http://www.parksideofoldtown.com/images/glob/condos.jpg

u/c:
http://www.parksideofoldtown.com/images/gallery/Construction/Apr_2008/DSC_2009.jpg

(bad architecture: ruining chicago one god awful development at a time)

[BVictor1]

ARCHITECTURE NOTES

City to mark 100th anniversary of Burnham Plan

By Blair Kamin | Tribune critic
May 5, 2008

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/alternatethumbnails/story/2008-05/38501702-06073354-300219.jpg

The publicity drums already are beating for next year's 100th anniversary celebration of the Burnham Plan, the masterful urban planning document that changed the face of Chicago and established the field of city planning worldwide. Officially called the Plan of Chicago, the 1909 plan was co-authored by Chicago architects Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett (everybody always forgets Bennett) and sponsored by the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Among its legacies: North Michigan Avenue, the Michigan Avenue bridge, Wacker Drive, Congress Parkway, Roosevelt Road, Northerly Island and Chicago's continuous chain of lakefront parks. Most important, in successfully remaking key portions of booming but chaotic Chicago, the plan revealed that cities everywhere could be reshaped to provide generous public spaces and, with them, a sense of community.

Expect a June 24 announcement from the Burnham Plan Centennial Committee, including the tantalizing—and already controversial—possibility that two Pritzker Prize-winning architects may design special (and presumably temporary) pavilions in Millennium Park to mark the plan's centennial.

With the debate over the Chicago Children's Museum's plan for a mostly underground new facility in Grant Park looming in the background, commentors on my blog— www.chicagotribune.com/theskyline—don't like the idea of cluttering Grant Park with another building, even if it's temporary.




One writes: "A new plan is needed for the next 100 years in Chicago, and it's time to move away from the lakefront, which is so full they're burying stuff to fit it in."

• Speaking of the Children's Museum battle, the Union League Club of Chicago on Tuesday will hold a forum featuring two principals in the debate: Jennifer Farrington, the museum's president and chief executive officer, and Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd), who has defied Mayor Richard M. Daley in opposing the museum's plan. The public is welcome. The discussion will start at 8 a.m. at the club, 65 W. Jackson Blvd. You can sign up by calling 312-435-5946. Cost is $20 per person. The event begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. The club promises that adjournment will occur no later than 9:30 a.m. The club has not taken a position on the controversy.

bkamin@tribune.com

[the urban politician]

http://www.parksideofoldtown.com/images/gallery/Construction/Apr_2008/DSC_2009.jpg

(bad architecture: ruining chicago one god awful development at a time)

^ That part of Chicago was already "ruined" by that shitty, hopelessly anti-urban strip mall across the street. GOD what a collossal waste of space! TEAR IT DOWN ALREADY!

[BVictor1]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/943712,CST-NWS-bridge11.article

New Millennium Park bridge shaping up as work of art

May 11, 2008Recommend

BY MONIFA THOMAS Staff Reporter mjthomas@suntimes.com
It's hard to steal attention from the Bean and those giant faces on the video screens at Millennium Park. But the sleek bridge being built next door came pretty close.

Tongues were wagging Saturday about Nichols Bridgeway, a 620-foot-long pedestrian bridge linking the Art Institute's under-construction Modern Wing to Millennium Park. Contractors began installing the frame of the bridge over Monroe Street on Friday night.

http://media1.suntimes.com/multimedia/051108bridge.jpg_20080511_02_54_52_4-265-400.imageContent
Workers install the bridge’s frame over Monroe Street on Saturday. The bridge will link the Art Institute’s under-construction Modern Wing to Millennium Park.
(Al Podgorski/Sun-Times)

http://media1.suntimes.com/multimedia/051108bridge2.jpg_20080511_04_53_09_10-265-400.imageContent
This view of the bridge looks west along Monroe from the lakefront. The bridge was designed by architect Renzo Piano.

And while the structure isn't complete, onlookers seemed pretty impressed by what they saw Saturday.

"I think it's fabulous," said Bill Padnos, of Ukrainian Village, who noticed the bridge while driving by on Michigan Avenue and stopped to take a closer look. "It goes right along with [Frank Gehry's BP Bridge] as something that's unique to Chicago and also is aesthetically beautiful."

The steel bridge was designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano, who also designed the Modern Wing building. The structure takes its name from Art Institute donors John and Alexandra Nichols, who gave $19 million toward the cost of the Modern Wing project.

Unlike Gehry's snakelike BP Bridge over Columbus Drive, Nichols Bridgeway is long and thin with only a slight curve to it -- a design inspired by the hull of a boat.

The bridge is to open to the public next spring, in conjunction with the museum's new wing.

When it does, it should offer stunning views of Michigan Avenue, Millennium Park and the lakefront.

Bridge installation will continue for the rest of the weekend, shutting down Monroe between Michigan and Columbus until about 5 a.m. Monday.

[aaron38]

^^^ I forsee some forumers getting some great shots from that bridge.

[emathias]

...
(bad architecture: ruining chicago one god awful development at a time)

Personally, I'm just glad they didn't just throw up more 3-flats like they did a few blocks west on Division.

[honte]

^ Agreed. At least it resembles the core of a city somewhat. However, that development includes a whole bunch of smaller buildings too, unfortunately.

[mcfinley]

Personally, I'm just glad they didn't just throw up more 3-flats like they did a few blocks west on Division.

I agree, it would have been better if they included some mixed use retail on the site, but this is bringing some substantial density to the area. It looks like they're putting about 120 units on a site that would fit 20 townhouses on the same footprint.

Overall, the architecture doesn't seem that bad to me. It's no X/O, but it's better better than the average POS you see in the suburbs.

[HowardL]

^ Agreed. At least it resembles the core of a city somewhat. However, that development includes a whole bunch of smaller buildings too, unfortunately.
And it's good that they have re-introduced the street grid back into the superblocks. It wasn't like that when Florida and JJ still lived there.

[the urban politician]

Kind of hard to get excited about the density when you've got this trash across the steet:

Trash across the street (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=41.919012,-87.63588&spn=0.030017,0.108147&z=14&layer=c&cbll=41.903915,-87.639718&panoid=yOaiE3MH9vEt1b6R_awqhQ&cbp=2,20,,0,5)

[spyguy]

Kind of hard to get excited about the density when you've got this trash across the steet:

Trash across the street (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=41.919012,-87.63588&spn=0.030017,0.108147&z=14&layer=c&cbll=41.903915,-87.639718&panoid=yOaiE3MH9vEt1b6R_awqhQ&cbp=2,20,,0,5)

Meh - it's getting better. There will be another 4 or 5 of these midrise buildings in the Parkside development plus the townhomes behind them. A little further away there's Jahn's SRO, Clybourn Point, and that 9 story Brininstool+Lynch building. Hopefully some day that Dominick's will be replaced with something more appropriate.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Like a WTB!

[VivaLFuego]

Kind of hard to get excited about the density when you've got this trash across the steet:

Trash across the street (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=41.919012,-87.63588&spn=0.030017,0.108147&z=14&layer=c&cbll=41.903915,-87.639718&panoid=yOaiE3MH9vEt1b6R_awqhQ&cbp=2,20,,0,5)

To me, even the strip mall isn't as bad as what they did to Division street: widen it to about 7 lanes and make it basically uncrossable. The strip mall, while crappy, is at least -somewhat- accessible by foot, and -slightly- attractive as parking lots go (I know, scraping the bottom of the barrel here...) but Division is a suburban-arterial-nightmare now; it really needs an overhead pedestrian bridge or some such. I would almost suggest a tunnel, but maybe not right by Cabrini-Green.

[ardecila]

^^ What Cabrini-Green? By the end of '08, I believe, all high-rises will be torn down, leaving only the rowhouses, which are 3 blocks away and probably house only 1000 people tops.

A tunnel might be challenging to build around the Red Line subway, though.

ParkSide will be mixed-income, and any public-housing residents will be subject to the CHA's new stricter requirements, and hopefully less dangerous.

[Taft]

To me, even the strip mall isn't as bad as what they did to Division street: widen it to about 7 lanes and make it basically uncrossable. The strip mall, while crappy, is at least -somewhat- accessible by foot, and -slightly- attractive as parking lots go (I know, scraping the bottom of the barrel here...) but Division is a suburban-arterial-nightmare now; it really needs an overhead pedestrian bridge or some such. I would almost suggest a tunnel, but maybe not right by Cabrini-Green.


Agreed. Between the strip mall and the crazy weird widening of Division, they have ruined that intersection for years to come. IMO, the Park Side development is significantly improving the intersection from what was there. Though it hides less dense townhomes behind the larger condo development, the entire development certainly gives the appearance of density. Given the proximity of this area to the loop and some of Chicago's hottest real estate markets, there needs to be more density here. Even if it is POMO crap architecture.

About the widening of Division...what exactly was the purpose here? Division was widened for a single city block. Orleans was widened for about half a block. From using that intersection, the only net benefit seems to be in extra right turn lanes off of Division onto Clyborn, Sedgwick and Orleans and an extra right turn lane off of Orleans onto Division.

It seems to be netting very little benefit for a confusing maze of streets. And in some places, the planning seems to be atrocious. Why, for instance, is there dead road going west on Division between the forward lanes and the two (TWO!?!?!) right hand turn lanes? Why, again, does there need to be two right hand turn lanes feeding into a single lane street (Orleans)? Also, going East on Division, the road splits from a single lane into three highly confusing lanes. Two of these are meant as forward lanes (again feeding into a single lane road: the rest of Division) and one of these is a right turn lane onto Sedgwick and Clyborn.

All of these are fantastically bad decisions, IMO, and improve the experience for neither autos or pedestrians. It was just a bad, bad move.

Taft

[Taft]

^^ What Cabrini-Green? By the end of '08, I believe, all high-rises will be torn down, leaving only the rowhouses, which are 3 blocks away and probably house only 1000 people tops.

Does anyone know the fate of these rowhouses? They seem like the last holdouts of the projects in the area and are (IMO) really out of character with the surrounding neighborhood and encroaching gentrified developments.

Will they fall? Stay?

Taft

[VivaLFuego]

About the widening of Division...what exactly was the purpose here? Division was widened for a single city block. Orleans was widened for about half a block. From using that intersection, the only net benefit seems to be in extra right turn lanes off of Division onto Clyborn, Sedgwick and Orleans and an extra right turn lane off of Orleans onto Division.

It seems to be netting very little benefit for a confusing maze of streets. And in some places, the planning seems to be atrocious. Why, for instance, is there dead road going west on Division between the forward lanes and the two (TWO!?!?!) right hand turn lanes? Why, again, does there need to be two right hand turn lanes feeding into a single lane street (Orleans)? Also, going East on Division, the road splits from a single lane into three highly confusing lanes. Two of these are meant as forward lanes (again feeding into a single lane road: the rest of Division) and one of these is a right turn lane onto Sedgwick and Clyborn.

All of these are fantastically bad decisions, IMO, and improve the experience for neither autos or pedestrians. It was just a bad, bad move.

Taft

Well put. What's pathetic is that it didn't even accomplish moving the congestion farther downstream like most widening projects do. That intersection was VERY congested before....and it still is, because of multiple idiotic design choices that you point out. What once sucked for cars but was at least passable by pedestrians is now dreadful for both, and is aesthetically hideous to boot.

[honte]

Does anyone know the fate of these rowhouses? They seem like the last holdouts of the projects in the area and are (IMO) really out of character with the surrounding neighborhood and encroaching gentrified developments.

Will they fall? Stay?

Taft

I am fairly certain that the rowhouses are on the National Register... meaning that they cannot use federal money to tear them down. My understanding is that will be rehabbed therefore. I don't have time to get on the NRHP web site to verify, but it's easily done if anyone is motivated to do so.

Concerning the two traffic turn lanes on Division, it seemed fairly obvious to me that the city is expecting major traffic eventually to come down Clybourn and Division Streets, and head down Orleans toward the Ohio Feeder. Division is a big bottleneck there because it narrows leading into the GC and the GC people surely don't want all of that traffic heading into their 'hood.

I have read that the City intends to tear down the two beautiful bascule bridges on Division Street from Goose Island, widening them to two lanes each direction. This surely will cause major traffic leading to this location. However, I am very saddened to see those great and historic bridges come down; there should have been a way to reuse them either in place or elsewhere in the city.

[Taft]

Concerning the two traffic turn lanes on Division, it seemed fairly obvious to me that the city is expecting major traffic eventually to come down Clybourn and Division Streets, and head down Orleans toward the Ohio Feeder. Division is a big bottleneck there because it narrows leading into the GC and the GC people surely don't want all of that traffic heading into their 'hood.

I just wonder where they expect that traffic to go (from a commute-in perspective). They can't feasibly widen Division east of Orleans, which makes it a poor feeder street for La Salle or Inner Lake Shore. I guess they could possibly widen Orleans between Division and Chicago...but is there room? Personally, I don't think the problem was with the intersection. Rather, there just aren't compelling reasons to use Orleans, Clyborn or Sedgwick. Orleans doesn't feed cleanly into other commuter streets until Ohio (thanks to the messed up street grid around Moody Bible College and the cluster f' that is Chicago/Orleans) and Sedgwick is useless unless you live in Old Town.

As it stands, the backups I see at this intersection are Division-related. Traffic headed West on Division backs up behind the Orleans intersection and the bridge and Halsted. Traffic headed East on Division backs up behind the Orleans intersection and the numerous other lighted intersections to the east. Orleans and Clyborn backups are far less common at this intersection, due to (comparatively) limited use of Sedgwick and Orleans.

I agree that they are planning for something...but I think the city has a lot of work do to if they are trying to get people off of Division. They put the cart before the horse, IMO, and now we've got a needlessly confusing, fancy new intersection leading to no good alternative traffic routes. Big waste o' money.

Way off topic here... this should probably go in transportation...

Taft

[Taft]

I am fairly certain that the rowhouses are on the National Register... meaning that they cannot use federal money to tear them down. My understanding is that will be rehabbed therefore. I don't have time to get on the NRHP web site to verify, but it's easily done if anyone is motivated to do so.

I've never used the NRHP website before, but I couldn't find the Frances Cabrini Homes anywhere in their database. I think that is their official name. Even if it isn't, I couldn't find anything in the registry on Cambridge street in Chicago either.

So I'm going to say they aren't on the registry.

Taft

[BWChicago]

I've never used the NRHP website before, but I couldn't find the Frances Cabrini Homes anywhere in their database. I think that is their official name. Even if it isn't, I couldn't find anything in the registry on Cambridge street in Chicago either.

So I'm going to say they aren't on the registry.

Taft

I'm going to take this opportunity to advertise the HAARGIS system, which encompasses a variety of surveys, including NRHP, CHRS, and several more obscure ones. Some even have pictures from the 70s.

http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/hargis/

[honte]

I've never used the NRHP website before, but I couldn't find the Frances Cabrini Homes anywhere in their database. I think that is their official name. Even if it isn't, I couldn't find anything in the registry on Cambridge street in Chicago either.

So I'm going to say they aren't on the registry.

Taft

Yeah, interesting. I took a quick look and didn't see them either. I could be remembering this incorrectly - was it a failed attempt, or another listing, etc? I'll try to look into it more closely if I can find time.

In any case, the CHA's policy seems to be to rehab all of the low-rise units. I can't remember any instances of small walk-up units coming down, except the Prairie Courts and Ida B. Wells, if those counted. There probably are others I am forgetting, but it seems like significant effort is being put into retaining the very small units, such as Wentworth Gardens, etc.

[Eventually...Chicago]

I agree that the Dominick’s development on division is terrible city development but considering they were the first ones into a neighborhood no one wanted a part of earns them some credit. Like it or not, big, evil national (or super regional) retailers are often the only ones who can afford to take the risk like that. There wasn't even a "west town" further down division when they came here. As much as we would all like development to take a different pattern sometimes we have to swallow our pride until the economics of an area take over. (A similar situation to the BP, jewel & starbucks at wabash and roosevelt)

Eventually, the land consumed by the parking lot will grow too valuable for its current use and the crappy retail building will deteriorate. Hopefully, by that time the area will have appreciated so much that it inspires traditionally planned city development. Look what happened at the North & Clybourn BP. The land grew too valuable for a gas station and now you're getting an apple store and other retail. Hopefully, the same thing will happen to that strip mall across the street.

Sometimes you have to be patient, the city wasn't built in a day. I'm just happy cabrini green is (almost) gone.

[Taft]

In any case, the CHA's policy seems to be to rehab all of the low-rise units. I can't remember any instances of small walk-up units coming down, except the Prairie Courts and Ida B. Wells, if those counted. There probably are others I am forgetting, but it seems like significant effort is being put into retaining the very small units, such as Wentworth Gardens, etc.

I can see that policy making sense in other neighborhoods, but here it seems daft. Cambridge will continue to be a mini-cabrini if the only thing lining the street is CHA low rises. Given how valuable (and central to the neighborhood) that land is, it just seems crazy.

I mean, by just throwing up 3 flats along the whole street, you could probably fit the same number of CHA units while diversifying the neighborhood.

Taft

[ChiPsy]

I'm going to take this opportunity to advertise the HAARGIS system, which encompasses a variety of surveys, including NRHP, CHRS, and several more obscure ones. Some even have pictures from the 70s.

http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/hargis/

Thanks -- that's a cool system. Here's what it says about the Frances Cabrini rowhouses:

"This property is formally determined eligible for the National Register."
"This property is within a CLG."

CLG = Certified Local Government??? http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/clg/clg_p.htm

[Tom In Chicago]

From today's Crains Chicago Business about this new Jahn building:

University of Chicago unveils plans for Joe and Rika Mansueto Library
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/images/news/29392.jpg
May 12, 2008
(AP) — Authorities at the University of Chicago unveiled plans Monday for a striking new glass-domed library — most of which will be underground.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=29392

[aaron38]

^^^ Is there a ground floor under the dome? Or is it basically puting a dome over U of I's underground undergrad library, and that's a domed atrium?

[spyguy]

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/549/080512libraryjahn1printrn4.jpg
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/6796/080512libraryjahn2printmf3.jpg
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/6606/080512libraryjahn3printpq7.jpg
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5203/080512libraryjahn4printol3.jpg
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/7615/080512libraryjahn5printeg3.jpg
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/562/080512libraryjahn6printti6.jpg

[Taft]

Thanks -- that's a cool system. Here's what it says about the Frances Cabrini rowhouses:

"This property is formally determined eligible for the National Register."
"This property is within a CLG."

CLG = Certified Local Government??? http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/clg/clg_p.htm

Good find. So it isn't on the National Register, but it is eligible? I'm guessing this has been nominated for inclusion, but hasn't been put on the list.

Taft

[AdrianXSands]

wow, that u of c library addition is supercool! i had seen these drawings on the wall at helmut jahn before, but never new it was for a CHICAGO PROJECT!! cooooool! :)

[a chicago bearcat]

the helmut jahn sro is expanding all the way to division and then wrapping around the corner to cleveland ave... i didn't know it was already under construction though. hmmm

also, on the SOUTH WEST corner, there is that atrociously ugly, horrifyingly bad residential development u/c
http://www.parksideofoldtown.com/

http://www.parksideofoldtown.com/images/glob/condos.jpg

u/c:
http://www.parksideofoldtown.com/images/gallery/Construction/Apr_2008/DSC_2009.jpg

(bad architecture: ruining chicago one god awful development at a time)

I would agree if you said it wasn't great architecture. But this is much better if you take it into context that this will be a background development to the other much better developments that will be filling in this part of the city in the next 7 years.

[Jibba]

http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/7948/dsc05078ar2.jpg
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7603/dsc05088xc8.jpg
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3192/dsc05091zy4.jpg
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/6931/dsc05090cu1.jpg

[killaviews]

^^^ Great shots, I'm really excited about this bridge and the expansion.

[Nowhereman1280]

Re Reg expansion:

I would say that the best uses of the Bruatlist style has to be libraries for major universities. Not only is the Reg super dope, but so is the Weese designed one at Northwestern, they are both incredibly awesome!

[the urban politician]

Gourmet version of Taste planned for fall (http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-gourmet_tastemay13,0,6871358.story)
By Monica Eng and Phil Vettel | Tribune reporter
9:06 PM CDT, May 12, 2008
Attention foodies: Chicago plans to use its top chefs to show the world that there's more to the city's cuisines than the Taste of Chicago. The city can dish up gourmet flair too.

Chicago Gourmet, billed as "a celebration of food and wine," is expected to feature several of the city's nationally known chefs when it runs from Sept. 26-28 in Millennium Park. The event is sponsored by the City of Chicago and the Illinois Restaurant Association.

Mayor Richard Daley apparently wants a gourmet version of Taste, one that will show off Chicago as a world-class culinary destination.

[SolarWind]

May 12, 2008

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5538/dsc0169kd9.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2568/dsc0168bn1.jpg

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/9881/dsc0167yf5.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/9216/dsc0171ds8.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/4659/dsc0174lh3.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/6819/dsc0178ht9.jpg

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/6944/dsc0177sa7.jpg

[neverdone]

Re Reg expansion:

I would say that the best uses of the Bruatlist style has to be libraries for major universities. Not only is the Reg super dope, but so is the Weese designed one at Northwestern, they are both incredibly awesome!

I couldn't agree with you more, Nowhereman. I love both of these buildings, but I believe they were designed by Walter Netsch and not Harry Weese. Either way, that addition, although a bit strange, is very respectful of the existing library :tup:

I do hope that underground building doesn't become a trend (Children's Museum, Regenstein addition, ....)

[honte]

^ Correct you are.

And, one more time for the record: Thank god Helmut's back.

[BWChicago]

Netsch provided expansion blueprints when the Reg was first built; I still would much rather have seen that built, although obviously the interior plans would have to be altered considerably. But you still could have had the underground systems plus a bunch of additional user floors above. I don't see how the dome is respectful at all; nothing about it really relates to anything about the Reg or UoC for that matter. It certainly DOES relate to Jahn.

[Taft]

Covered in this tribune piece:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-children-museum-13-may13,0,1559292.story

I don't want to start a dust up around this again, but I thought their arguments against the move are some of the best I've heard. From the article:

"We deserve better than being presented with the proposal to relocate the Chicago Children's Museum to Grant Park as a faitaccompli without the benefit of a thoughtful planning process which would have added and provided answers to many of the issues circling this controversial proposal," said the statement co-writtenby MarySue Barrett, the group's president and former top Daley aide. "In the absence of those answers and a public planning process, we cannot support this plan."

Very similar to the arguments used against the Latin School soccer field dust up in Lincoln Park. Very effective as well, in my opinion.

Taft

[ChiPsy]

the helmut jahn sro is expanding all the way to division and then wrapping around the corner to cleveland ave...

Adrian, are you sure that SRO is expanding? I didn't think it was, but I may have missed something.

Meanwhile, demo continues on the "Reds" (Frances Cabrini Extension) as we speak. This may be the year the CHA meets its perpetually revised transformation schedule for Cabrini -- if incessant litigation doesn't delay them again. Next up: The "Whites" (the William Green high-rises north of Division).

Scheduled for demo by September 2008:
The 2 reds (out of 5 total) that they're working on now.
2 of the 3 remaining whites (1230 N. Larrabee & 1230 N. Burling)

Scheduled for demo by September 2009:
The last 3 reds (412 W. Chicago + 364 & 365 W. Oak)
The last white (660 W. Division)

[AdrianXSands]

Adrian, are you sure that SRO is expanding? I didn't think it was, but I may have missed something.



that's what i heard. and murphy/jahn has a model of the entire project sitting in their office. and a full set of drawings for it apparently. and i was told the phase 2 (?) would happen in 09. :shrug: i hope the whole thing gets built because it's awesome.

[aaron38]

Does the Art Institute bridge look like a waterslide to anyone else?

[Nowhereman1280]

I couldn't agree with you more, Nowhereman. I love both of these buildings, but I believe they were designed by Walter Netsch and not Harry Weese.

DAMN IT! I always do that, Honte has told me 1000 times that its a Netsch, but I always mess it up. I knew I was doing it too when I wrote that! GRRR. I think Weese did the stuff up in Madison and that might be why I always mess it up. Whatever, I fail...

[honte]

^ Not a big deal! :tup:

[cbotnyse]

Does the Art Institute bridge look like a waterslide to anyone else?yeah I'm not really sold on it yet. I guess I am comparing it to Gehry's bridge in my mind. I'm sure it will be great when completed, and something the area sorely needs. Anything that makes GP more pedestrian friendly is OK with me.

Now we need some bridges over (or under I guess) LSD at the fountain.

[ethereal_reality]

I love the idea of the bridge, but
I don't know why Piano chose a curved bottom.
There are no curves anywhere else in his design.

And yes...it DOES look like a waterslide (albeit a boring one at that angle) :)
I also read a post on a Trib blog where someone compared it to a gutter.

I think it will be fine once people are using it...and enjoying the sightlines.

[nomarandlee]

http://www.suntimes.com/business/roeder/948007,CST-FIN-roeder14.article

Barr's double trouble
REAL ESTATE

....PURPLE POWER: The buyers of the shuttered Purple Hotel in Lincolnwood have submitted plans for the property to village officials. Inland Real Estate Acquisitions Inc. and TMK Development Ltd. have proposed up to 800,000 square feet of new construction at 4500 W. Touhy, near Touhy and Lincoln. Included are 350 hotel rooms, 100,000 square feet of stores and restaurants, a Lucky Strike bowling alley, a movie theater, about 200 condos or apartments and 40,000 square feet of office space. ..

[aaron38]

I also read a post on a Trib blog where someone compared it to a gutter.

Ouch. And I thought I was being overly harsh with the waterslide dig...
It'll look fine when it's got railings on it.

[spyguy]

I love the idea of the bridge, but
I don't know why Piano chose a curved bottom.
There are no curves anywhere else in his design.


I think it's supposed to look like a boat's hull.

[Busy Bee]

..


Wow! I hope this goes through without being whittled down too badly. That sounds like good density and attractions for that area.

[CenIL_LA]

Could this new bridge from the museum be trying to borrow language from the ped bridge going over Colombus Ave from Millenium Park towards the lake? That is the only place where a curved bottom comes to mind.

[ChiPsy]

that's what i heard. and murphy/jahn has a model of the entire project sitting in their office. and a full set of drawings for it apparently. and i was told the phase 2 (?) would happen in 09. :shrug: i hope the whole thing gets built because it's awesome.

Thanks, Adrian. I'd rather see SRO's less concentrated than on contiguous lots, but I agree fully with you about the architecture.

[Jibba]

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/5112/dsc05168fj2.jpg
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/2935/dsc05170zo0.jpg

[AdrianXSands]

Thanks, Adrian. I'd rather see SRO's less concentrated than on contiguous lots, but I agree fully with you about the architecture.

you should see the whole thing... it looks REALLY nice turning the corner on division and ... if only the rest of the city could get great modern architecture like this on a regular basis we'd be set! :yes:

[HowardL]

Barneys v2.0 is going to look nice, I think. Simple but it perks that corner up a bit.

[AdrianXSands]

as pitiful as the design of that building is, it works really well with that corner... that height is perfect!



also////////along with the ELYSIAN right down the street, it'll be JUST LIKE WE'RE IN PARIS... :rolleyes:


but seriously, i'm dreading being DRAGGED (as happens often when with a certain someone in this part of town) into this new barney as it looks SO much bigger... sigh.

[emathias]

Thanks, Adrian. I'd rather see SRO's less concentrated than on contiguous lots, but I agree fully with you about the architecture.

SRO-preschool-prada-starbucks-kmart-mcdonalds-tacostand-SRO-liquorstore-currencyexchange-luxuryhotel-bananarepublic-gap-SRO

[aic4ever]

as pitiful as the design of that building is, it works really well with that corner... that height is perfect!



also////////along with the ELYSIAN right down the street, it'll be JUST LIKE WE'RE IN PARIS... :rolleyes:


but seriously, i'm dreading being DRAGGED (as happens often when with a certain someone in this part of town) into this new barney as it looks SO much bigger... sigh.

100,000 sqft of sheer opulence for your dragged-along pleasure...:whip:

[neverdone]

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/5112/dsc05168fj2.jpg


Will the, what looks like possibly concrete block, be removed from the curved corner portion?

[honte]

Thanks, Adrian. I'd rather see SRO's less concentrated than on contiguous lots, but I agree fully with you about the architecture.

When the project was first announced (which coincidentally was the last time I've heard anything about this addition), the addition was planned as market-rate units, not an addition to the SRO.

(At least, as far as I remember. It definitely was not more SRO units - possibly a mix of market rate and subsidized units, but a more traditional setup than SRO.)

[killaviews]

A rendering of the new Barney's New York from SSC:

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa81/killaviews/snightrenderfinalew6.jpg

[Jibba]

Those "puzzle piece" bits on the front worry me a little. Obviously this rendering is a little crude, and I'm sure the texture wont resemble the closeup-of-comic-book-ink-dots that it looks like here, but the shape and placement is likely accurate. Doesn't really look bad, just looks like an afterthought.

[spyguy]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-dicks-last-resort-web-may17,0,286667.story

City OKs noisy restaurant's move to Marina City

By E.A. Torriero
1:45 PM CDT, May 16, 2008

Despite a plea by some Marina City residents to halt the relocation of a boisterous restaurant to one of Chicago's iconic structures, Dick's Last Resort received a permit to move to the Dearborn Street concourse of the towers.

...Reilly also sent a letter this week to Marina City residents asking for opinions on whether Marina City should be designated as a historic landmark. He hopes to then convene a public meeting on the issue. If the complex receives landmark status, changes to the structure—such as adding the doors—would be made more difficult, Reilly said.

[honte]

^ OK Steely Dan, cast your bloody vote!! :D

[i_am_hydrogen]

I just realized there's a dedicated Children's Museum Thread. I bricked and posted about it here. I'm going to move that post and all of the responses thereto to the that thread.

[neverdone]

That's just plastic for weather protection. The curved area will be curtainwall with, I believe, a decorative metal screening in front of it, assuming the option was approved. The area in general will be an atrium type opening from the second floor through the fifth floor with three flights of curved monumental stairs. Should look pretty cool when it's all said and done.

Thanks, your description sounds much more appealing. The Ben-day dots on the rendering above, however, do not.


I feel bad for Marina city, Dick's restaurant is the last thing that Chicago treasure needs. :yuck:

[ChiPsy]

Thanks, your description sounds much more appealing. The Ben-day dots on the rendering above, however, do not.


Agreed! They look like the kind of decorations student committees put up for the High School prom.

[Mr Downtown]

Hydrogen, I think you also moved a couple of Barneys posts there by accident.

[EarlyBuyer]

Photo's taken by EarlyBuyer 5/18/08


http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3972/dsc0021ta9.jpg


http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/7876/dsc0005zg6.jpg

[Busy Bee]

Looks good. Should be 10-15 story mid-rises though.

[jjk1103]

I love the idea of the bridge, but
I don't know why Piano chose a curved bottom.
There are no curves anywhere else in his design.

And yes...it DOES look like a waterslide (albeit a boring one at that angle) :)
I also read a post on a Trib blog where someone compared it to a gutter.

I think it will be fine once people are using it...and enjoying the sightlines.

....the curved bottom provides strength.....

[Eventually...Chicago]

Just when you had given up all hope in the aldermanic system...

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/957339,CST-NWS-cafe19.article

Say what you will about daley and the people under his control, they seem to be much more well adjusted than those who usually oppose him.

I hope this passes so i can go to my favorite bars and sit outside in the sun and have a freakin' beer.

[ethereal_reality]

^^^
jjk1103
There are other alternatives for strength.

[ethereal_reality]

oops! double post. sorry

[Eventually...Chicago]

One more article post...

Fast Company names Chicago 'City of the Year'

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=29492&seenIt=1

Obviously this list means little, but scroll down to the bottom and see who owns this magazine.

I'm sorry, but you have to love good old fashioned Chicago boosting! There is nothing like it!

[Loopy]

^Here's a direct link to the Fast Company article. It is a fantastic piece by Chicago writer Alex Kotlowitz.

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/126/us-city-of-the-year-chicago-soul.html?page=0%2C0

[aaron38]

NIMBY Alert!
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r86/aaron38/misc/MtProspect.jpg

The Mt. Prospect Village Board is voting tonight at 7pm on this proposed redevelopment that is next to the Metra station. These are the 5 and 6 story buildings. There's a 7 story on the other side of the lot. All have first floor retail and there's 105 condos all together.

The NIMBYs are marshalling against this as "Too tall, too dense, and not enough parking." Sounds good to me then. So if anyone lives in Mt. Prospect and you can attend the village meeting, go support TOD in the burbs, cause I'm not sure it's going to pass.

[the urban politician]

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/174/dsc0063el1.jpg

^ In regards to the preservation of this structure, it would make for a great food stand, except perhaps that it appears to be too big. I haven't seen it in person, but if you look at the white door on the right side, clearly this is a 2 level structure.

Would it make a good bar/restaurant? I imagine wonderful views of the river canyon from those second story windows

[cbotnyse]

The NIMBYs are marshalling against this as "Too tall, too dense, and not enough parking." Sounds good to me then. So if anyone lives in Mt. Prospect and you can attend the village meeting, go support TOD in the burbs, cause I'm not sure it's going to pass.WOW. I will simply never, ever, never, ever, never understand this mentality.

[VivaLFuego]

^ Assuming Mt. Prospect has falling municipal revenues like everyone else, here's hoping the Village Board has no choice but to approve for the added tax revenue. After a period of economic boom, people tend to forget the flipside of preventing development is tax increases.

[Eventually...Chicago]

^^^ agreed!

I am not at liberty to say which one but i know of another land-locked suburb in that area whose past two quarters tax renvenue has come in WAYYYYY under projections. It will be grow dense with TOD or go away for a lot of suburbs in the next 5+ years.

[trvlr70]

Fox & Obel has signed a lease in the Sullivan Center[formerly Carson Pirie Scott] on St. Street.

IMO, it is an okay fit. I think F&O is bit high end for this location. College kids will never be able to regularly shop there for grocery basics.

But the high end nature of the grocer is a good fit with the renovated space.

Is Macy's still planning a basement grocery store?

[cbotnyse]

Fox & Obel has signed a lease in the Sullivan Center[formerly Carson Pirie Scott] on St. Street. The loop is slowing becoming a great place to live. A grocery store at the very center of the CBD is kinda cool.

[Mr Downtown]

I guess that rules out the Whole Foods I was told was going there.

[10023]

This is good news for the Loop...

Fox & Obel to open store on State Street

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=29507


Great store - one of the few like it in Chicago.

[Alliance]

Speaking of Sullivan...I forgot these from January:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2378/2508640473_9549685000.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3047/2508641539_012205fa95.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/2508642533_e0bba3bb1e_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2033/2509476292_afd8f49a03_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2002/2509477036_62b9e0e4d3_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2016/2508650103_582e292384.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2508649249_9dba91ff1c.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/2508651403_18804b5dc4.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2018/2508652739_065e6ee35d.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/2509482144_dd64011ae0_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2363/2508654845_99dc32b919_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2508643679_e6b12555ee.jpghttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2195/2508644775_a631ac2c05.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3289/2508656079_bf437a3a09.jpg

[ih8spires]

On the bullitin board next to the Marina Tower Condo Assosiation office is a notice that explains the "River Walk" platforms under the Michigan and Wabash street bridges are going to be built "this summer." It also explains they will extend 17 feet into the river.:)
In addition, today I noticed a banner for a sushi place on the river across for Marina City. I hope the raw fish wont be coming straight from the river!:haha:

[Jibba]

Nice "insider" pictures Alliance! From those shots it looks like the renovation is going to be tastefully and respectfully done.

Good little tidbit of news about the River Walk, ih8spires. If that schedule holds I will be pleasantly surprised.

[mcfinley]

Fox & Obel has signed a lease in the Sullivan Center[formerly Carson Pirie Scott] on St. Street.

IMO, it is an okay fit. I think F&O is bit high end for this location. College kids will never be able to regularly shop there for grocery basics.

It has been my observation that today's generation of college students quite frequently shop at high-end grocery stores. Once they've graduated college and no longer receiving money from mom and dad, that's when F&O becomes too rich for their budgets.

Wait...must resist the "when I was their age" rant before it's too late. ;)