[honte]

Here are some renders of the current renovations of U.S. Cellular Field. I am a bit confused though. It doesnt look like anything is new, just a redesign of the existing ramp. :shrug:


They tore down about 1/2 of the ramp and then erected all that funny "olde" stuff, including the v-shaped canopy. The steel for the canopy is already in place.

From your renders, looks like a fair amount of the old ramp is going to be glassed in, which is a good thing. It really was a monstrosity.

[cbotnyse]

They tore down about 1/2 of the ramp and then erected all that funny "olde" stuff, including the v-shaped canopy. The steel for the canopy is already in place.

From your renders, looks like a fair amount of the old ramp is going to be glassed in, which is a good thing. It really was a monstrosity.I think glassed in looks better, but they describe it as "weather protected". whats the point of being protected from the weather going to a baseball game?

I just don't see what this adds or how it improves anything. The enclosed escalators makes no sense to me and the staircase is just plain ugly.

what a big missed opportunity to do something big. I hope there is more to these plans.

[honte]

^ I agree.

[Taft]

I'm very excited about the idea of those shell stations being redeveloped. Especially the Chicago/Larrabee, LaSalle/Clark, Halsted/Wrightwood and Halsted/Addison properties. All of those locations (with the exception of LaSalle/Clark, I guess) are in vibrant areas where a gas station detracts from the streetscape and perceived walkability of the neighborhood. The LaSalle/Clark location is just so dang prominent, I hope they really put something good there...

[ChicagoChicago]

All they need to do with Grant Park is cover the rest of the train tracks and get rid of the roads. Columbus Drive should be torn out of the ground or be dug as a tunnel, invisible from the park, and just emerging at either end. If you do that there's no need for Congress to extend into the park either, and there's no reason for Balbo, Jackson or Monroe to cut through the park. Central Park has traverse roads, thankfully dug into trenches so they're almost unnoticed from the park itself, but that's because there are hundreds of thousands of people and businesses on the Upper East and Upper West sides that need to be accessible to each other. There's nothing on the east side of Grant Park but water... anybody driving on one of those roads across Grant Park is either going to turn south or north, taking them past Roosevelt Rd. or Randolph St., respectively, anyway. There would be a bit of additional traffic on Michigan Avenue, but small price to pay to make Grant Park far more appealing and create much more usable parkland. :)



I'm not so sure that they need to do anything with Columbus, other than close it off to street traffic and turn it into a pedestrian walk. It certainly comes in handy during all of the summer events held in Grant Park. I think the money would be better spent burying LSD between Roosevelt and Monroe. It makes no sense to cut off GP from the water...

[Steely Dan]

discussions about a potential sears tower reclad should be held in the sears tower thread:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=4109064#post4109064

[spyguy]

http://chicagojournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=46&SubSectionID=139&ArticleID=7125&TM=3878.516

Foreclosure pending on M Development's Armitage Collectoin

...M Development owns several high-end properties across the city, including the Barney's site, the Esquire Theater, the Cedar Hotel, State and Elm, and the old Lincoln Park Hospital building. As far as State and Elm goes, Shapack said, "we are in discussions with several tenants who are interested in leasing portions of this property."

The Cedar Hotel project, he said, is on hold due to the lack of hotel construction financing.

"We are exploring alternative uses for this site," Shapack said.

[spyguy]

http://chicagojournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=46&SubSectionID=139&ArticleID=7122&TM=3878.516

War on the Gold Coast
Tension boils over lack of plans for Three Arts Club

By Felicia Dechter

It's war on the Gold Coast as neighbors battle with 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly, and each other, over the fate of the Three Arts Club at 1300 N. Dearborn.

M Development put the circa-1914, Holabird and Roche-designed property back on the market Monday, after the threat of a 2010 ballot referendum to vote the precinct dry caused the scrapping of a boutique hotel project. Downtown-based Grubb & Ellis is marketing the 67,000-square-foot building, according to Brian Pohl, senior vice president of the firm. M Development bought the property in 2007 for $13.5 million and is taking offers, Pohl said.

...St. Chrysostom's Church, on the 1400 block of North Dearborn, might be interested in buying the club, Reilly said. Both Mihas and Reilly support a plan that may see the church's pre-school move in. But Steinberg said Latin School - two blocks north on Dearborn - already "turns the street into a nightmare every day."

Steinberg said a private school could be tolerable if "all of the students" lived in the neighborhood and walked to school.

"But the Latin School alone as an auto-commuter school has proven to be and continues to be an intolerable traffic problem for the neighborhood," Steinberg said.
---

With so many conflicting interests, who will Reilly pander to?

[ardecila]

How is a preschool equivalent to a high school? Even in Illinois, preschoolers can't get drivers' licenses.

Also, parents generally choose preschools that are close to home or work, especially in urban locations. I can't see many parents going out of their way to send their children to daycare here... most of them probably WILL walk.

[Mr Downtown]

Because parents have to drive the little dears to school in Range Rovers and then double-park and walk the kids to the door. Look it up. It's apparently now in the Good Parenting Handbook.

[emathias]

Because parents have to drive the little dears to school in Range Rovers and then double-park and walk the kids to the door. Look it up. It's apparently now in the Good Parenting Handbook.

I used to live across the street from the church that wants to turn the arts club into a school. there was traffic and double-parking in the morning and afternoon, but it was very rare for it to completely obstruct the street, and I would think that moving it to a corner would help alleviate the problem because then there would be two streets to handle the traffic instead of one.

[lawfin]

Because parents have to drive the little dears to school in Range Rovers and then double-park and walk the kids to the door. Look it up. It's apparently now in the Good Parenting Handbook.

I agree with you here Mr Dtown....the clusterfcuk in the morn on clark by Latin is ridiculous....worst case they should bus these kids, but they are probably to good for that low-brow solution. Best-case walk.

To be quite honest I do not think that the double parking or waiting down there should be allowed and should be vigoroulsy ticketed....and if parents circle then we should ticket them for crusing


walk your precious future to school

[EarlyBuyer]

Borders to close Mag Mile store


"...The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based retailer announced Thursday it would shut down the store at 830 N. Michigan Ave. in January 2010, a move that will affect about 100 employees.

“This store has not met our profit objectives for some time now,” Steve Davis, a Borders senior vice-president, says in a press release. “In today's economy, no retailer can afford to operate stores that do not produce the kind of results required to sustain a location..."


http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=33137

[cbotnyse]

^^ wow that is surprising. That could be the busiest retail corner in the city. I hope it gets replaced immediately and doesn't sit vacant. what an eyesore that would be.

[woodrow]

^^ I'm guessing vacant. Along with all the other vacant. All over the city - downtown, neighborhoods - everywhere. yeah - I'm in a bummer mood.

[jjk1103]

Borders to close Mag Mile store


"...The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based retailer announced Thursday it would shut down the store at 830 N. Michigan Ave. in January 2010, a move that will affect about 100 employees.

“This store has not met our profit objectives for some time now,” Steve Davis, a Borders senior vice-president, says in a press release. “In today's economy, no retailer can afford to operate stores that do not produce the kind of results required to sustain a location..."


http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=33137

......that store is ALWAYS jammed !!! how much profit do they need ?!

[Chicago3rd]

Borders Michigan Avenue was a great cultural gem. Tons of writers came in. Hopefully State Street will stay open. I know that about 1 year ago there was talk that they wanted to dump the on on North/Clyborne, Diversey and Clark, and Broadway up in Uptown.

[simcityaustin]

Not meeting profit projections....that must mean they were making profit then...Gah.

[denizen467]

......that store is ALWAYS jammed !!! how much profit do they need ?!

Well, how sky-high are those N Mich rents?

Remember, this is about a lease that expires Feb 2010, and they're saying they'll close in Jan 2010. This public announcement might just be a tactic to negotiate the renewal price with the landlord.

Remember a year or so ago the Goose Island brewpub announced it was leaving their Sheffield/Clybourn facility ... and a couple months later Crain's reported how the landlord caved on the rent renewal increase, and now the brewpub is still there.

So we should keep our fingers crossed.

Related question to Nowhereman/others: Is Loyola's textbook department in some particularly new or built-to-suit facility? Because if it could be moved and combined into this Borders (as is common on many college campuses), maybe that could help increase traffic for this bookstore.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ They kind of do. They built a special space in the new downtown residence hall that is currently the bookstore, but I don't think Loyola would be very upset to move it elsewhere and use that space for something else.

However, I don't think that Borders is in trouble. I am doing the same thing to my landlady right now. "I can't afford to renew my lease in 3 months, I'm not making enough money." I expect to be getting a deducted rent as a result. I'm sure Borders is doing something similar...

[lawfin]

maybe....hopefully, those n mich ave rents are high.....what are they a sq ft?

[Steely Dan]

Well, how sky-high are those N Mich rents?

Remember, this is about a lease that expires Feb 2010, and they're saying they'll close in Jan 2010. This public announcement might just be a tactic to negotiate the renewal price with the landlord.


yeah, this sounds like a lease negotiation ploy to me. borders is a national chain and their specific spot on the mag mile offers them very high visibility on one of the nation's premiere shopping streets. they want a discount on their rent because the economy is in the shitter, simple as that, there's no way in hell they actually want to leave that space just because they're not making as much money as they thought they would. the kind of visibility they have with their store on north michigan is so high that they'd probably even operate it at a loss if they had to.

[Mr Downtown]

Remember that there's a lot of national speculation that the entire Borders chain will shut down.

[lawfin]

I thought it was Barnes and Noble that was in danger, and that Borders might acquire them......I probably have it confused as I can't tell the difference between the two as it is

Maybe Borders tries to be a bit hipper perhaps?

[wrabbit]

These large book chains have been hurting for a while, long before the downturn, ever since internet sales exploded in the late 90s. Sill, you'd think that the Mag Mile branch would outperform the North Ave & Uptown stores, even with the higher rent factored in?

[FlashingLights]

yeah, this sounds like a lease negotiation ploy to me. borders is a national chain and their specific spot on the mag mile offers them very high visibility on one of the nation's premiere shopping streets. they want a discount on their rent because the economy is in the shitter, simple as that, there's no way in hell they actually want to leave that space just because they're not making as much money as they thought they would. the kind of visibility they have with their store on north michigan is so high that they'd probably even operate it at a loss if they had to.

While I can tell your not a Finance person. Money is money, they wouldn't operate at a loss for a minimal marketing reputation gain. Companies will almost always shut down stores that are high profile if they are not profitable.

It's sometimes better to have fewer low profile stores that are more profitable then a few high profile ones that are not.

[simcityaustin]

^^^ That's not always true though, look at some stores in NYC, they write off the rent as advertising expense.

[jcchii]

^similar on Mich ave. A number of stores are flat to money-losers, but for national chains it's like an ad that you can walk into

[ChicagoChicago]

^^^ That's not always true though, look at some stores in NYC, they write off the rent as advertising expense.That is true. Unfortunately, advertising is one thing that takes a hit when budgets get cut.

[mind field]

For some reason i always have kept this copy of an April 2001 issue of Fortune magazine, and it lists the Michigan Ave. Borders store as the chains most profitable in sales per square foot. This is in a section where fortune asked a lot of different retail corps what their most profitable location was.

[cbotnyse]

I might believe this is a ploy to try and negotiate lower rents, but Borders itself is not doing well and will probably shut down soon. The stock price is 0.55 a share. http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=BGP&time=5yr

hopefully it doesnt sit vacant for long, or at all.

[ardecila]

For some reason i always have kept this copy of an April 2001 issue of Fortune magazine, and it lists the Michigan Ave. Borders store as the chains most profitable in sales per square foot. This is in a section where fortune asked a lot of different retail corps what their most profitable location was.

Lots of things have changed since then. I would not be surprised if the State/Randolph Borders is now more profitable now that the theater scene has boomed on State Street and Millennium Park is drawing millions of people into the East Loop.

[spyguy]

It will be a larger lifestyle store with a bank (US Bank?) and Starbucks. Most of the parking is on top of the building. I believe the parcel to the north (and also possibly to the east) will probably be sold, so hopefully we get some density there.
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1853/dominicksfs1mn7.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/9154/dominicksfs2nm1.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6238/dominicksfs3lt0.jpg

[spyguy]

I think a long time ago VivaLFuego asked about the abandoned 9 story building at Kenmore and Hollywood, the Pomeroy. According to Ald. Smith, the CHA will start renovating that building plus another called the Kenmore at 5040 North Kenmore and turn them both into senior housing.

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

^ So they're planning on relocating the Dominick's on top of the actual corner of the intersection?

It makes financial cents (hey-o) that they would consolidate the parking by moving it to the roof, not to mention that it's better urban planning. That's been the arrangement of the Whole Foods in Evanston for awhile and it seems to work really well there; I only wish more grocery stores and similarly large retailers would follow suit.

As far as the design, it's certainly better than the status quo for these types of businesses though the complex seems pretty sprawling. Is it just me or does it look like they are planning green walls?

I do hope that whatever land remains from the Chicago Lodge is sold for development. It would be a great location for a high-rise.

[BWChicago]

There are some plans at http://www.uptownupdate.com/2009/02/sheridan-foster-dominicks-rendering.html

^ So they're planning on relocating the Dominick's on top of the actual corner of the intersection?

It makes financial cents (hey-o) that they would consolidate the parking by moving it to the roof, not to mention that it's better urban planning.

[honte]

^ The Jewel at Chicago / Damen has rooftop parking. It actually makes going to the strip-mall grocer a little bit more interesting.

We've been seeing many more developments of that nature in Chicago recently.

[aaron38]

Sorry if this is already been mentioned, but I've heard a radio spot a couple of times for a business conference coming up for Lake Shore East aimed development issues and attracting retail tenents. Thought I'd pass it on.

[Nowhereman1280]

I love that new Dominicks, that is exactly what that corner needs! Right now I dread walking down there every time I have to go to the store. You have to walk past a half block of blank brick wall and then through a parking lot to get in. It will be nice to have doors right on the street and no parking lot.

I've also heard that there is talk of a 400 or so unit building being constructed in the newly freed up space to the north of here. At 10-15 units a floor that means we are looking at a 25-40 story building. This area could really use a fresh apartment tower to spruce up the neighborhood's dated look. And lets face it, Catalpa Gardens (the only thing of note built here since the 70's) isn't doing much to positively influence the aesthetics of the area...

Anyone have a concrete idea of the time frame for this building? I've heard that the Dominicks is going to close fairly soon, but that is just building gossip with a bunch of old people who probably have no idea what is really going on...

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

^ I disagree. Catalpa Gardens is fun! The "Clairvoyant" or "Clairvista" or WeverTF it's called a few blocks to the north, on the other hand, is a disaster.

[lawfin]

^^^^Ughh....everytime I see them I want to scream out "Tubbs"

[Mr Downtown]

If you're walking from the north your pedestrian experience will be no different than it is now. You'll still walk past a blank wall and into a door fronting on Sheridan, just as you do now. In fact, the new entrance will be further south.

[Nowhereman1280]

No, I won't be walking past a blank wall. There are two entrances and exits according to the site plans here: http://www.uptownupdate.com/2009/02/sheridan-foster-dominicks-rendering.html

The north entrance on Sheridan will probably be slightly further north than the current entrance and therefore closer. Also, the wall that will be against the road, will not be blank, according to those renderings there are at least two window segments to break it up, plus what appears to be a few landscaped beds as well as potential ivy on the walls. That alone would be a huge improvement over the current 15 foot vertical brick wall that is right against the sidewalk and towering over you directing all of the wind right onto you. I'm really excited for this plan, it is going to make a world of difference in our neighborhood, even without the potential for 400 plus new neighbors to liven up the street a bit.

^ I disagree. Catalpa Gardens is fun! The "Clairvoyant" or "Clairvista" or WeverTF it's called a few blocks to the north, on the other hand, is a disaster.

I personally agree with you, Catalpa Gardens is fun and spices things up. I also like some of its modern features like the glass work on the walk ways between the three separate sections. However, the market seems to disagree with us because that building is not selling at all. I've heard that its like 55% sold or something with only maybe 40% of the units actually occupied...

[Mr Downtown]

Look carefully. The new store is being built essentially in the current parking lot. In fact, the dimensions are so close, I wonder if the plan is to keep the existing store open during construction.

[Taft]

Look carefully. The new store is being built essentially in the current parking lot. In fact, the dimensions are so close, I wonder if the plan is to keep the existing store open during construction.

I think you misunderstand. The criticisms of the existing structure are around its pedestrian unfriendliness (blank wall, entrance in the parking lot, etc.). While you are correct that the entrances are in the same approximate geographic location, the fact is: a) the entrance isn't in the parking lot, b) the wall will be broken by windows and c) the existing, oppressive wall will be torn down (likely to be replaced by a large development). All of these factor into a more pleasant pedestrian experience.

The fact that parking is above ground level also can't hurt.

Taft

[Mr Downtown]

The current entrance from Sheridan isn't across a parking lot. You use an outdoor, covered sidewalk for about 30 feet between sidewalk and door. My first Chicago apartment was in the 4+1 across the street, which was overheated in the winter. I would dash across the street in t-shirt and shorts, even during a snowstorm.

[Nowhereman1280]

Yes, its not "across" a parking lot, but its pretty damn close. I wouldn't count that as a "covered walkway" since the covered area is used for cart storage now and the overhang is meager to begin with. It is, however, across a parking lot from all building to the south, not to mention its a fenced parking lot making it particularly annoying...

[Patel]

^ The Jewel at Chicago / Damen has rooftop parking. It actually makes going to the strip-mall grocer a little bit more interesting.

We've been seeing many more developments of that nature in Chicago recently.

Do you or anyone have a rough idea on the premium paid to construct a grocery-mall structure to support a garage on the roof? How would it affect the height of the ceiling and the number of internal central column supports needed?

Just wondering.:shrug:

[BWChicago]

Do you or anyone have a rough idea on the premium paid to construct a grocery-mall structure to support a garage on the roof? How would it affect the height of the ceiling and the number of internal central column supports needed?

Just wondering.:shrug:

Don't know about the premium, but it's interesting to note that this sort of arrangement was more common from the late 40s to the early 60s. Funny that it's only now coming back.

[Mr Downtown]

Were there examples in the Chicago area from the 50s or 60s?

The only ones I can think of are the Jewel on North Avenue in Oak Park, at UIC, and the one at Addison/Broadway (which was originally a garage).

[BWChicago]

Were there examples in the Chicago area from the 50s or 60s?

The only ones I can think of are the Jewel on North Avenue in Oak Park, at UIC, and the one at Addison/Broadway (which was originally a garage).

In a quick Trib search, the 1946 Marshall Field's annex in Evanston was the first to come up; then there is Harlem/Irving Plaza and a few auto dealers I can think of; an old Zenith plant at Dickens and Austin in 1952.

[EarlyBuyer]

Photos taken by EarlyBuyer


http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2634/dsc0818.jpg


http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1153/dsc0821.jpg


http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/9024/dsc0825.jpg


http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6176/dsc0827.jpg

[the urban politician]

Lakeshore East is evolving into what could ultimately be one of the coolest, most unique urban neighborhoods out there. I realize there are a lot of criticisms, such as:

1. Boring architecture
2. Its exclusive, cul-de-sac nature

But I think its positives will ultimately outweigh these. Look at the juxtaposition of architectural styles (see the first of EarlyBuyer's pictures in the post above), not to mention the grade separation between this neighborhood and the surrounding city, requiring people to descend spiraling or zig-zagged stairs to get to it by foot. It's excluded from the streetgrid, yet when completed it's a mixed-use, dense neighborhood still accessible by foot (thus not a suburb in the heart of the city, which one can easily criticize Dearborn Park of being); and thus it makes itself an incredibly unique, yet still urban, place. And then, of course, there is that wonderful park in the middle that allows one to appreciate the space around him.

I can't wait to see LSE built to completion. So far I see a gem in the making.

[simcityaustin]

^^^ Exactly, as long as communities like these don't pop up to often, it's a unique feature to the downtown area....good in moderation....maybe good because it's unique.

[the urban politician]

^ Unfortunately, similar concepts have already/are already being built:

1. Dearborn Park--no mixing of uses, not dense enough (part 2 particularly), turns its back on the city--a shovel-ready teardown, imo
2. Roosevelt Collection--dull architecture that lacks the architectural variety of LSE, but could have potential if more towers are built around it in the next 20 years

[brian_b]

...
It's excluded from the streetgrid
...

I agree with your post, but this statement made me think... How exactly would it be connected to the street grid? It's surrounded on three sides by a triple-level street system and on the 4th by a limited-access highway.

I think they did a very good job with what they had. And if you look at the future plans and Google satellite photos of what they already built, they are just one small piece away from connecting Columbus and Wacker to Harbor Dr on the top level and of course it has already provided a way to connect the top level of Randolph to the bottom level of Wacker.

I've read that some LSE residents are annoyed that tow-trucks are using LSE as a shortcut to get from the surface streets of the Loop to the auto pound on the bottom level of Wacker. So in that regard, LSE has improved the street grid!

[emathias]

Don't know about the premium, but it's interesting to note that this sort of arrangement was more common from the late 40s to the early 60s. Funny that it's only now coming back.

When I was a boy in Portland in the late 70s, there was a Safeway (owner of Dominick's) in Portland with rooftop parking. Even then I thought that was a great use of space and, even better for a boy, afforded me a nice view of the area anytime we went for groceries.

[Mr Downtown]

^The one at Lloyd's Center? That always struck me as a rather special, near-downtown circumstance.

[Jibba]

Vision on Division:
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5860/vision8614000.jpg

[emathias]

^The one at Lloyd's Center? That always struck me as a rather special, near-downtown circumstance.

That's the one.

EDIT: Actually, the one I remeber isn't a Safeway now (maybe it never was - that was 30 years ago) anway, this is the building I was thinking of:
Now a drugstore (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=NE+Sandy+Blvd+and+NE+41st+Ave,+portland,+or&sll=45.536009,-122.620339&sspn=0.005118,0.009656&ie=UTF8&ll=45.535498,-122.620919&spn=0.010596,0.019312&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr)

[StatenIslander237]

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6176/dsc0827.jpg

I agree. When I was in school at IIT last year, I always loved walking in LSE. You got such a sense of place and I felt like the grade separation and abundance of staircases make the whole complex like an urban jungle-gym for adults (hence you may understand my excitement over the TWO new staircases at Aqua). These townhomes are really turning into exquisite gems. I love how they pay homage to the rowhomes all over the city and still have a chicago-architecture look to them. These couldn't belong anywhere else. Simply outstanding. :banana: :banana: :banana:

[Steely Dan]

speaking of grocery stores from the 50s & 60s with roof-top parking, there was a jewel's on green bay road up in evanston that had most of it's parking on the roof. from my memory it seemed to be of 1960s vintage, though it could have been early 70s. i loved going there as a kid with my mom because it meant a free escalator ride (or 10).

the building is still there, but it's now an office depot or something and i believe the rooftop parking area has been closed because there is a small street-level parking area and office depot didn't require the massive amount of parking that the grocery store needed.

[Taft]

speaking of grocery stores from the 50s & 60s with roof-top parking, there was a jewel's on green bay road up in evanston that had most of it's parking on the roof. from my memory it seemed to be of 1960s vintage, though it could have been early 70s. i loved going there as a kid with my mom because it meant a free escalator ride (or 10).

the building is still there, but it's now an office depot or something and i believe the rooftop parking area has been closed because there is a small street-level parking area and office depot didn't require the massive amount of parking that the grocery store needed.

There are a few retail/grocers in the city that have this type of model: the Sport Authority at Clark/Halsted and the Whole Foods at Ashland/School are two that come to mind. Of course the big difference with those two is that there is also a small parking lot fronting the street in both cases. I really like the concept in general, though.

[photolitherland]

I dont know, those town homes in LSE are too flat looking. They need more detail imo. I do like the real copper cladding though, at least Im assuming its real copper.

[left of center]

^ give it a few months, well see if it starts turning green :)

[spyguy]

http://www.yournews.com/copyroom/postmynews.asp?empid=0&zipcode=44758&STORY_id=71402&sections_id=381&sections_CHILD_id=0&FULLNAME=

Arlington-Deming landmark challenger comments
March 5

By Peter von Buol

Hanna, whose own home on Deming Place was included in the city’s Arlington-Deming Historic District in September 2007, believes the city actually helps to promote racial segregation and to concentrate poverty in certain neighborhoods when it chooses to down-zone (down-zoning reduces the size and density allowed on a residential parcel) certain residential neighborhoods.

“In Chicago, down-zoning is promoted by self-serving individuals and organizations intent on social and economic cleansing of their neighborhoods,” said Hanna, a mortgage banker who purchased his home in 1965.

“Some media reports have described me as a real-estate developer but I am not,” said Hanna, who is an avid mountain climber who came within 300 feet of reaching the summit of Mt. Everest. “I am doing this because I am a property-rights advocate.”

Throughout the city, local neighborhood organizations have long played an advisory role in decisions made by alderman and the city Hanna believes some organizations have too much power.
----

At the end of the article he makes several good points, but I don't see why you need to destroy Chicago's landmarks ordinance in order to have high density areas.

[the urban politician]

said Hanna, who is an avid mountain climber who came within 300 feet of reaching the summit of Mt. Everest. “I am doing this because I am a property-rights advocate.”

^ Not to get off topic, but why the hell would you make all that effort and not traverse the last 300 feet? Come on!

[emathias]

^ Not to get off topic, but why the hell would you make all that effort and not traverse the last 300 feet? Come on!

I can see you've never been a mountain climber. :-)

300 feet doesn't seem like a lot to a flatlander, but in places like Everest, depending on conditions, it could literally kill you.

[Jibba]

http://www.yournews.com/copyroom/postmynews.asp?empid=0&zipcode=44758&STORY_id=71402&sections_id=381&sections_CHILD_id=0&FULLNAME=

" 'Communities with a higher-density create a quality of life where people may choose to live near their work, walk to the local store or bike to the park. There is also a vibrant street-life with inviting stores and restaurants,' said Hanna.

Hanna added the current trend towards encouraging the construction of single-family homes hurts the overall character of a community. Affordable housing allows for a community of people from all walks of life.

'[However], by reducing the size of buildings and the number of units that can be built in them, down-zonings and height limitation overlay districts reduce the availability of affordable rental and self-owned properties for minorities, the disabled, single-people, workers, the elderly and others of moderate means who typically rent.' "

You know, this is something I have observed for a long time, and there is no denying the validity of the statements of his I have quoted here; there is evidence of this developmental paradigm shift in every gentrifying area of the city, and the movement is rampant in Wicker Park and Bucktown where I live. However, like you said spyguy, there is no explicit connection of this phenomenon to the landmarks ordinance offered by Hanna. If anything, the landmarks ordinance allows gentrifying neighborhoods like Wicker Park hold on to higher-density building stock that would otherwise be leveled by speculative developing. So if his grievance is with the zoning, why go after the landmarks? Because he knew it was a vulnerable ordinance to begin with and a battle he could possibly win? Why stick it to city hall for something that, in many ways, runs counter to your urban philosophy? And WTF does climbing Everest have to do with any of that?

[lawfin]

I can see you've never been a mountain climber. :-)

300 feet doesn't seem like a lot to a flatlander, but in places like Everest, depending on conditions, it could literally kill you.
Agreed TUP does not appreciate the extreme difficulty it takes to traverse each and every yard as one get higher in altitude...its not like walking to the corner store for a gallon of milke during a frigid blizzard

Every step is intensely arduous

[BWChicago]

" 'Communities with a higher-density create a quality of life where people may choose to live near their work, walk to the local store or bike to the park. There is also a vibrant street-life with inviting stores and restaurants,' said Hanna.

Hanna added the current trend towards encouraging the construction of single-family homes hurts the overall character of a community. Affordable housing allows for a community of people from all walks of life.

'[However], by reducing the size of buildings and the number of units that can be built in them, down-zonings and height limitation overlay districts reduce the availability of affordable rental and self-owned properties for minorities, the disabled, single-people, workers, the elderly and others of moderate means who typically rent.' "

You know, this is something I have observed for a long time, and there is no denying the validity of the statements of his I have quoted here

I don't think there's any truth to the statement that high density=diversity of rents, either. There are lots of non-landmark districts where this could be happening but isn't. There are lots of landmark districts that would not have improved but for landmarking either. It's all red herrings.

[EarlyBuyer]

Photo taken by EarlyBuyer 3/6

Window washing at Harbor Point today


http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/88/dsc0345f.jpg

[Nowhereman1280]

I don't think there's any truth to the statement that high density=diversity of rents, either.

Eh, I don't know about this. Except when centrality over powers it, density does indeed increase the diversity of rents. For example, Edgewater has very diverse rents and is one of the densest areas in the city. However, if Edgewater were 5 miles south, right next to downtown, this would not be the case because the diversity of rents would be over-ridden by the excellent location. Same goes for neighborhoods like Hyde Park, Uptown, and large parts of the West Loop.

[SolarWind]

March 6, 2009

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/2502/dsc0127b.jpg

Article on the pavers:
http://www.uni-groupusa.org/PDF/estormwater-com_Unilock-Permeable-Pavers-Selected-for-Buckingham-Fountain-Project.pdf

[EarlyBuyer]

Excellent!

No more sand/dirt blowing into the eyes.

This project is a much appreciated upgrade.

[Nowhereman1280]

Yeah those pavers give it more of a European plaza feel. I just hope they won't be left to get out of alignment and sink and rise to different levels, giving the area a trashy feel. That's the one thing about pavers, if you don't keep leveling them, especially in muddy Chicago, they will become uneven and ultimately look like crap.

[wrabbit]

I'm sure that I'm in the minority, but I'm gonna miss the crunch of gravel under my feet at Buckingham Fountain.

[woodrow]

UGH to the brick. The "European plaza feel" is diminished with the pavers, especially compared to the decomposed granite that was originally there. The gravel was much superior visually! Plus the crunch underfoot was a delight to the ears.

[spyguy]

I'm sure that I'm in the minority, but I'm gonna miss the crunch of gravel under my feet at Buckingham Fountain.

You're not alone.

[BorisMolotov]

Yea but these pavers are much more "green" than the crushed granite.

[BWChicago]

Yea but these pavers are much more "green" than the crushed granite.

Hah!

Yeah, I love that - sure, the pavers are more permeable than crushed stone! That makes sense! "Help maintain the historic character" by replacing what was historically faithful? As opposed to what, asphalt?

In all seriousness, though, this kills the aesthetic. There's no texture to it, it's totally flat, and now you have this grid imposed on a circular feature... ugh. I'll bet these will retain heat a lot more than the gravel, too. I think permeable pavers could have worked, if they had split tops or something and were round/scalloped shape.

On the plus side, the fountain itself looks FANTASTIC.

[schwerve]

I'm not going to miss the puddles

[Mr Downtown]

Perhaps Comrade Molotov can explain what he means. What is "green" about pumping large amounts of energy into making bricks and then putting them where they impede rainwater absorption?

[Chicago3rd]

I'm sure that I'm in the minority, but I'm gonna miss the crunch of gravel under my feet at Buckingham Fountain.

Me too.

[Jibba]

I don't think there's any truth to the statement that high density=diversity of rents, either. There are lots of non-landmark districts where this could be happening but isn't. There are lots of landmark districts that would not have improved but for landmarking either. It's all red herrings.

To be sure, |high density=lower average rents| certainly isn't a rule, but all other variables being constant, the more supply available will almost necessarily reduce the price of rent. Obviously, when all other variables are not fixed, you end up with something else similar but far more complicated. However, the basic fact remains that if Lincoln Park (as a fixed area) has three times less units available for a given demand the cost of each is going to be more.

Anyway, I should have been more specific with my remarks. My agreeing is with Hana's statements about down-zoning and its effect on development and the use of land and infrastructure in a neighborhood. Socioeconomic changes certainly result from this, but I'm not about the explicate exactly how or why as the issue is very complicated. It will suffice for me to say that zoning policy in the city has resulted in poor development that most enables the wealthiest citizens to make use out of the land as they see fit. Many will see this as fair (I'm not going to explicitly espouse a position as I think it's clear enough), but there's no doubt that it privatizes the interests of a select few at the expense of a lot of other people's quality of life.

[denizen467]

The Columbia College media production center site (15th/16th St) has a huge drilling rig, or perhaps it was just a large crane, on site (maybe this is not new news).

[Via Chicago]

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2009/03/lighterthanair-serta-headquarters-floats-above-the-landscape.html#more


The best new office building in Chicago's suburbs: Lighter-than-air Serta headquarters floats above the landscape
by Blair Kamin
March 6, 2009

The new headquarters for the mattress people at Serta is no architectural snooze. It is, rather, a quiet beauty that floats lightly, almost dreamily, above the land, evoking Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House, the supremely elegant modernist masterpiece that rises on steel stilts along the Fox River.

That is a high compliment, but this building deserves it because, unlike the 58-year-old Farnsworth House, which Mies designed as a weekend retreat, Serta is a workaday structure filled with offices and cubicles and machines that beat up mattresses. The Serta headquarters makes visual poetry, in other words, out of the prosaic stuff of everyday life....(click link for full article + pics)


How was I not aware of this thing? What a drop dead gorgeous design.

[lawfin]

Pretty cool looking but ultimately still office park sprawl,,,,stuff we shoud be getting away from

[ardecila]

Perhaps Comrade Molotov can explain what he means. What is "green" about pumping large amounts of energy into making bricks and then putting them where they impede rainwater absorption?

I'm gonna assume he was being sarcastic, as demonstrated by his use of quotation marks. The linked Unilock propaganda article made several references to environmental issues.

[lawfin]

You're not alone.

Hear, Hear

[Via Chicago]

Pretty cool looking but ultimately still office park sprawl,,,,stuff we shoud be getting away from

I dont know how to break this, but buildings are going to continue to go up in cities outside of Chicago's city limits. While I agree with your sentiment, what we get out of it might as well be good architecture.

[cbotnyse]

Riverwalk floods after this weekends rains.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f21/cbotnyse/trump/DSC_0005edited.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f21/cbotnyse/trump/DSC_0004edited.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f21/cbotnyse/trump/DSC_0006edited.jpg

[ardecila]

Haha. Great news. :rolleyes: Why didn't the city shut the gates at the river mouth to prevent this from happening? It was my understanding that the Chicago River can be controlled in this fashion.

[harryc]

Great shots CBOT you really captured a unique moment.


Feb 19
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9a3-gpKI/AAAAAAABH2g/duYfDkQpm6A/s800/P1260173.JPG

Feb 20
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9dZEnQZI/AAAAAAABH2w/bZenHcpQ2-E/s800/P1260387.JPG

Tote that barge
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9fHdWC2I/AAAAAAABH28/JnGoLYfY91E/s800/P1260400.JPG

Feb 23
Pumping E of Mich ave.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9hNLjroI/AAAAAAABH3I/5PV0JphE1zo/s800/P1260554.JPG

Old reating wall, and ice showing the river height before the pumping started.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9i8q09BI/AAAAAAABH3U/82Nt77NIR08/s800/P1260557.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9kq9qmwI/AAAAAAABH3g/87cAQhLWYY8/s800/P1260565_6_7.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9mdAncZI/AAAAAAABH3s/crS_Jj9DllU/s800/P1260570.JPG

Feb 25
Michigan Ave bridge
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9ogKzaLI/AAAAAAABH34/W7gR3hZw-i8/s800/P1270125.JPG

Wabash Bridge
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9q_GSwfI/AAAAAAABH4E/azsOX4-2HcM/s800/P1270131_29_30.jpg

Panasonic DMZ TZ4 (http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/compact/tz5_tz4_tz15_tz11/index.html) - Picasa (http://picasaweb.google.com/) - Autostitch (http://www.cs.ubc.ca/~mbrown/autostitch/autostitch.html) - Photomatix HDR (http://www.hdrsoft.com/)

[Nowhereman1280]

Yeah, I was gonna say, this is directly connected to the lake, I expect that it would be unable to be any higher than lake level. If that is the case, how can it flood if the lake level remains unchanged?

[harryc]

Mar 5
A finished section of retaining wall
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZlfL2YwI/AAAAAAABH5k/Ajv_RCcmEr0/s800/P1270731.JPG

Forms and rebar in place
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZnP2rIyI/AAAAAAABH5w/GxY97fMYrDQ/s800/P1270740.JPG

Putting the forms in place
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZokXGkgI/AAAAAAABH58/KShTQZP8tPc/s800/P1270756.JPG

Old piles and wall being capped.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZtJd0PpI/AAAAAAABH6Y/grppaNu8G5c/s800/P1270815_3_4.jpg

Bricks used to space the rebar above the old piles
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZquOYkiI/AAAAAAABH6I/rXgnBy9NsmU/s800/P1270840.JPG

Detail of the old wall
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZvVOY9vI/AAAAAAABH6k/r6pJl3eJPuk/s800/P1270774_5_6.jpg

Fixing a hole where the river gets in.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZw6WdtVI/AAAAAAABH6w/pGmvyxc4DVI/s800/P1270781.JPG

The vault that was built on the barge in January ?
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZyvz3NyI/AAAAAAABH68/-3a2X7JNZ_0/s800/P1270786.JPG

E end pumped out showing old piles
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZ04zibkI/AAAAAAABH7I/vaO35PuWCDs/s800/P1270825_6_7.jpg

Panasonic DMZ TZ4 (http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/compact/tz5_tz4_tz15_tz11/index.html) - Picasa (http://picasaweb.google.com/) - Autostitch (http://www.cs.ubc.ca/~mbrown/autostitch/autostitch.html) - Photomatix HDR (http://www.hdrsoft.com/)

[harryc]

Yeah, I was gonna say, this is directly connected to the lake, I expect that it would be unable to be any higher than lake level. If that is the case, how can it flood if the lake level remains unchanged?

There is a set of locks that are used to keep the lake at a different (higher) level. The river flows backwards thx to the Corp of Engineers 1900 (http://www.lib.niu.edu/2001/ihy010452.html)

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ I knew that it flows west, but I thought it was only a little lower than the lake at this point, like only two or three feet.

[woodrow]

With the amount of rain that Chicago has had recently, the locks are opened, allowing the water to flow into the lake. The waste water system cannot handle the tremendous amount of rain we had in such a short time. Plus, I wouldn't be surprised if there is some frozen ground still, minimizing ground absorption. Deep Tunnel should ultimately take care of this, but it is not finished yet.

[Mr Downtown]

The river flows backwards thx to the Corp of Engineers 1900

The Corps of Engineers? What did they have to do with it?