[ardecila]

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.

Deep Tunnel STILL is not finished? WTF?

[orulz]

Thanks guys, I have thoroughly enjoyed the riverwalk updates.

Somebody on this thread previously said that the decking on the new riverwalk will be wood planks. I think they determined that by looking at the renderings, but has anybody been able to confirm that? Seems to me they wouldn't waste their time with building all these new concrete bulkheads and filling in behind them if they were just going to deck over it with wood. I would think they'd do something much more permanent, particularly if it can be expected to flood periodically.

[Taft]

I walked past the site of a planned development on the corner of Diversey and Lincoln on Sunday. The billboard advertising the development had been torn down and a huge For Sale sign was on the fence surrounding the lot. My guess is this one is dead.

It wasn't a significant building (though it was a "green" development), but it would have filled out that corner nicely. Here is the development's website (while it is still up and running):

http://2800lincoln.com/

[the urban politician]

^ That sucks.

I kind of liked that project. We need more of these corner-type buildings

[ardecila]

Thanks guys, I have thoroughly enjoyed the riverwalk updates.

Somebody on this thread previously said that the decking on the new riverwalk will be wood planks. I think they determined that by looking at the renderings, but has anybody been able to confirm that? Seems to me they wouldn't waste their time with building all these new concrete bulkheads and filling in behind them if they were just going to deck over it with wood. I would think they'd do something much more permanent, particularly if it can be expected to flood periodically.

When I posted that, I also mentioned that it could be some kind of artificial composite decking, like Trex or Epoch. This would be much more water-resistant (although it would look somewhat plastic).

[Via Chicago]

Deep Tunnel STILL is not finished? WTF?

I think the big things to still finish are the reservoirs. The McCook and Thorton Quarries are scheduled to come online around 2014. I believe the tunneling portion (all 110 miles) is complete.

[Chicago3rd]

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.

The gates are shut all the time except when boats use the locks. The river flows from the north and east west ward (the artificial way) to the Mississippi. There is a certain point that the river and what has been completed of the deep tunnel can no longer hold the higher amount of water and the city has to open the gates up in Wilimette in order for the river to drain into the lake through the North Shore Channel.

I believe the locks were built to keep water in the lake...since we reversed it.

[brian_b]

This morning as I walked across the Washington St bridge I noticed that the river water was almost glassy-smooth. I've never seen it like this before, even when I had walked over during other high-water events when the locks were open for natural flow into the lake. I guess the water was at the perfect level and wasn't going in any direction.

[brian_b]

...and speaking of the river and its natural flow...

Now that there are no pollution concerns, the only reason to keep the river flowing towards the Mississippi is for shipping. Presently, the Corps of Engineers has to keep the locks in good operating condition to maintain compliance with the 1967 consent decree limiting the amount of water diverted from Lake Michigan. This certainly can't be inexpensive.

I was wondering if perhaps constructing something similar to the Falkirk Wheel would end up being a better solution over time. The wheel was built instead of a series of locks precisely because of concerns of the amount of water flowing from one river to the other

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkirk_wheel

[lawfin]

^ That sucks.

I kind of liked that project. We need more of these corner-type buildings
Yeah I did too and my wife and I were toying with the idea of getting a unit in it....guess not now.

[Taft]

Yeah I did too and my wife and I were toying with the idea of getting a unit in it....guess not now.

I tipped off the guys at YoChicago and they contacted the developer:

Hans Fedderke of Helios said in a phone call this afternoon that his company will continue to market 2800 Lincoln, but he confirmed that the project is on hold for now.

"We had the land locked up for the duration of pre-sales, but we're restructuring that deal right now and did have to take the signs down until that gets finished," Fedderke says. "We've obviously put in considerable time and money into building this, and we'd still like to move forward with it."

From the sound of it, the project's future hinges on the desires of the lot's current or future owner, but Fedderke sounds optimistic that Helios can work with "a new partner or the person who's currently selling land" to keep the project afloat. Dream Town Realty has listed the 5,700 square-foot lot at $1.25 million.


http://yochicago.com/today/new-condos/market-hasnt-sunk-helios-developments-2800-lincoln-battleship_8507/

So maybe not-quite-dead, but prolly close enough for this board.

[denizen467]

Now that there are no pollution concerns,

I think maybe you are being a bit hasty on this one?

Agreed though that seeing a Falkirk-type contraption somewhere, somehow in the city would be way. friggin. cool.
Maybe even a 5th star on the city flag.

[BVictor1]

...and speaking of the river and its natural flow...

Now that there are no pollution concerns, the only reason to keep the river flowing towards the Mississippi is for shipping. Presently, the Corps of Engineers has to keep the locks in good operating condition to maintain compliance with the 1967 consent decree limiting the amount of water diverted from Lake Michigan. This certainly can't be inexpensive.

I was wondering if perhaps constructing something similar to the Falkirk Wheel would end up being a better solution over time. The wheel was built instead of a series of locks precisely because of concerns of the amount of water flowing from one river to the other

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkirk_wheel

No pollution concerns? Have you been drinking river water lately or are you just mental? Of course it's still polluted. Don't be daft.

You can't swim in it, you can't really fish in it and you can't drink it.

Also we don't want to help the asian carp which has infested the Illinois River to have an easier path the the lake.

[Steely Dan]

...and speaking of the river and its natural flow...

Now that there are no pollution concerns, the only reason to keep the river flowing towards the Mississippi is for shipping.
you can't possibly be serious, can you?

as an avid kayaker on the chicago river, i can assure you that our river is most absolutely still polluted, unless you don't mind hundreds of thousands of used condoms and other such raw sewage mingling with our drinking water supply out in the lake. don't let the main branch fool you, it is generally cleaner than the rest of the river because it's mostly just lake water, but the north and south branches are still filthy, especially after heavy rain events.

if you don't believe me, just take a closer look at the signs posted along the river bank:

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/1568/65warninggn6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

it says in plain english that river water is "not suitable for any human body contact". do you really think that pollution is no longer a concern in our river?





I was wondering if perhaps constructing something similar to the Falkirk Wheel would end up being a better solution over time. The wheel was built instead of a series of locks precisely because of concerns of the amount of water flowing from one river to the other

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkirk_wheel

a falkirk wheel only makes sense if there is a large differential between the two water levels trying to be connected. as the river level is typically only several feet below lake level, a conventional lock is many times more practical and easier to operate, both from a functional and maintenance perspective.

[Chicago Shawn]

you can't possibly be serious, can you?

as an avid kayaker on the chicago river, i can assure you that our river is most absolutely still polluted, unless you don't mind hundreds of thousands of used condoms and other such raw sewage mingling with our drinking water supply out in the lake. don't let the main branch fool you, it is generally cleaner than the rest of the river because it's mostly just lake water, but the north and south branches are still filthy, especially after heavy rain events.






a falkirk wheel only makes sense if there is a large differential between the two water levels trying to be connected. as the river level is typically only several feet below lake level, a conventional lock is many times more practical and easier to operate, both from a functional and maintenance perspective.

The water level averages a difference of 1.5-2 feet on each side of the lock, and yes the river is still filthy. Any fish caught in the river are strictly catch and release and swimming is a no-no.

[wrabbit]

.....unless you don't mind hundreds of thousands of used condoms.....

AKA Chicago jellyfish.

[Saber925]

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/1568/65warninggn6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Wow, a city sign without Mayor Daley's name scrawled across it.
Wonder why? LOL

[Steely Dan]

Wow, a city sign without Mayor Daley's name scrawled across it.
Wonder why? LOL

that's because it's not a city sign, it's an MWRD sign, a governmental body that mayor daley has no authority over.

[Taft]

Wow, a city sign without Mayor Daley's name scrawled across it.
Wonder why? LOL

Try visiting chicagoareawaterways.org. I wonder if they ever even owned the domain...

[BVictor1]

Central Area Plan Meeting

Where: Chicago Cultural Center

When: 03/19/09

Time: 6pm

I believe that this will be held in the Cassidy Theatre and it's free.

[Via Chicago]

AKA Chicago jellyfish.

I eat lunch along the North Branch during the summertime, and I've also come close to losing it on a couple occasions. Anyone who dosent think the river is still highly polluted needs a serious reality check. Hell, the river still bubbles in places due to the high levels of methane gas from dumping animal carcasses during the time of the stockyards, as well as other forms pollution.

But hey, if someone thinks its all cleaned up I'd encourage them to go for a dip some day. Then again, they might not live to tell about it....

[Steely Dan]

Hell, the river still bubbles in places due to the high levels of methane gas from dumping animal carcasses during the time of the stockyards, as well as other forms pollution.


it sure does. bubbly creek still bubbles to this very day:

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/3504/063bubblyis1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)




although, if you can get past the bubbles, bubbly creek is actually a very pretty and serene part of the river to paddle on:

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/153/066sceneyt3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/5396/069loftsxh1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5011/07235thhn6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[wrabbit]

Imagine the biomass that must be down there.

Steely, what precautions if any do you take for tipping over in the water?

[intrepidDesign]

So why don't the clean the river up, I mean fully clean it it. Doesn't this some how fall under the governments Superfund environmental clean up project? Someone mentioned Chinese carp earlier, is that honestly a reason? It seems to me that it would be beneficial on all levels to have the river as non toxic as possible.

[Steely Dan]

Steely, what precautions if any do you take for tipping over in the water?
none. i have never capsized in my kayak, and i don't have any plans to ever try. the chicago river is flat-water, and my boat is pretty stable, so it's not a huge concern of mine. the only thing that gives me pause are the stupid river taxis on the main branch, they routinely break the "no wake" rules of the river and sometimes the wakes they kick up and the way the waves reverberate off of the revetment walls can create some odd wave situations that can toss my little boat around, but i have yet to go over.





So why don't the clean the river up, I mean fully clean it it. Doesn't this some how fall under the governments Superfund environmental clean up project? Someone mentioned Chinese carp earlier, is that honestly a reason? It seems to me that it would be beneficial on all levels to have the river as non toxic as possible.
ummmmmmmm, it's a bit hard to clean a river when it routinely has billions of gallons of raw sewage dumped into it every year.

[Abner]

Isn't it treated sewage? (note: still filthy)

[Mr Downtown]

I don't think there's very much raw sewage going into the river any more, except perhaps during the most extraordinary rainstorms or Dave Matthews Band tours. I think the main nasty stuff going into the river these days is nonpoint source pollution, mainly runoff from streets and parking lots. That picks up a lot of oil and heavy metals.

[Steely Dan]

I don't think there's very much raw sewage going into the river any more, except perhaps during the most extraordinary rainstorms
that's true, but it seems like we've been having a lot of extraordinary rainstorms lately. i've seen more than enough used condoms and fecal logs floating in the river during my paddles to know that raw sewage does still make it into the river. whenever we get tons of rain all at once, the metro area's sewage treatment facilities simply back-up and over flow into the river, and eventually into the lake if they have to open the locks. once the deep tunnel reservoirs are complete that will hopefully become an extremely rare event, but as it is now, it seems like we have raw sewage back-ups into the river during a couple of big rainstorms each year.

[BWChicago]

Here's a cool new web project, a commentable RSS feed of the Chicago Demolition Delay Hold List:

http://cheerocracy.com/demolition-hold-list/

Equally interesting is the writeup of how it was done:

http://www.derivativeworks.com/2009/03/launch-demolition-hold-list.html

[Nowhereman1280]

Imagine the biomass that must be down there.


They say Bubbly Creek has something like 7 feet of raw animal entrails and blood at the bottom that is so dense that all but the very top layer can't decompose. Apparently the only living things in there other than bacteria are bloodworms (and lots of them, the gross little things) because they can tolerate extremely low oxygen environments.

Steely if I were you I'd steer clear of Bubbly Creek just out of fear of the slight chance of tipping over and disturbing the bottom. Terrified of the gross stuff at the bottom: bloodworms, blood, and animal entrails, some over 100 years old! *shiver*

[Steely Dan]

^ what's the source for that info?

i mean, the creek was still bubbling when i paddled it, which kinda weirded me out, and it did smell pretty funky at times, but i had no idea about the bloodworms and 7 feet of animal entrails. maybe i will think twice before i paddle bubbly creek again.

[88th floor]

Not that I would eat anything out of the Chicago river, but a few years back eating small fish out of the river was OKed.

http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/fishadv/chicagoriver.htm

[Abner]

^ what's the source for that info?


http://www.wetlands-initiative.org/BubblyCreek.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubbly_Creek

A more in-depth history, with all the disgusting details, is here (http://books.google.com/books?id=vPLEXRfnzJAC&pg=PA104&lpg=PA104&dq=bubbly+creek+history&source=bl&ots=o6NbVbcJ-w&sig=DYMQsf8ymjODoRHMajzaLdGAJTc&hl=en&ei=TVa4SdXfG6HQMq7UjeIK&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result) (apparently you have to get the book to read the whole section).

It's true, the hypoxic environment in the riverbed has preserved the blood and entrails that were dumped there. Due to the low oxygen environment, the bubbles are probably mostly methane, which also contributes to the smell.

[emathias]

They say Bubbly Creek has something like 7 feet of raw animal entrails and blood at the bottom that is so dense that all but the very top layer can't decompose. Apparently the only living things in there other than bacteria are bloodworms (and lots of them, the gross little things) because they can tolerate extremely low oxygen environments.

Steely if I were you I'd steer clear of Bubbly Creek just out of fear of the slight chance of tipping over and disturbing the bottom. Terrified of the gross stuff at the bottom: bloodworms, blood, and animal entrails, some over 100 years old! *shiver*

Mmm, pass the hotdogs!

[the urban politician]

They say Bubbly Creek has something like 7 feet of raw animal entrails and blood at the bottom that is so dense that all but the very top layer can't decompose. Apparently the only living things in there other than bacteria are bloodworms (and lots of them, the gross little things) because they can tolerate extremely low oxygen environments.

Steely if I were you I'd steer clear of Bubbly Creek just out of fear of the slight chance of tipping over and disturbing the bottom. Terrified of the gross stuff at the bottom: bloodworms, blood, and animal entrails, some over 100 years old! *shiver*

^ Sounds gross but I have a hard time believing that. Decomposition simply requires the activity of bacteria, and I see no reason why bacteria wouldn't eventually get to all the layers of animal entrails after 100 years.

Bubbly creek sounds really damn nasty. I don't think I've ever really seen it up close

[Nowhereman1280]

^ Sounds gross but I have a hard time believing that. Decomposition simply requires the activity of bacteria, and I see no reason why bacteria wouldn't eventually get to all the layers of animal entrails after 100 years.


I believe it, how do you think oil, coal, and fossils form? Once you get enough organic material in one spot without oxygen, it can't decompose. Then it gets buried and compressed either calcifying (turning into a fossil), or just compressing and turning into pure hydrocarbons (fossil fuels). If we backfilled Bubbly creek and let it be for a few million years eventually we'd have coal, oil, or fossils...

[denizen467]

I wonder if that 7-foot-thick-bed-of-decades-old-preserved-guts thing is unique in the (developed) world?

It may be a minor, little-known vestige of the city's past, but if that were ever to become some kind of worldwide news story/scandal, it would be devastating to Chicago's image.

Think of the long-festering political corruption in Illinois and Chicago that remained largely local for decades, and then before you could say "Blago hearts Burris", the crap was smeared over television sets all across the globe. One little event and it's a negative publicity nuclear bomb.

So think of some Olympic athlete wandering with his boat down towards bubbly creek, and ending up with some creepy infection, with photos on TV, that cancels his appearance in some major competition. Then before you know it, Chicago is known worldwide as the city of Al Capone and Stockyard Zombie Carcasses.

Conclusion? Let's hurry up and clean out the very goriest of this stuff. For the pride of our children, and our children's children...

If Dubai can build an archipelago in the shape of the globe, we can do a little bit of nip/tuck dredging of a fetid little river offshoot.

[Taft]

http://www.wetlands-initiative.org/BubblyCreek.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubbly_Creek

A more in-depth history, with all the disgusting details, is here (http://books.google.com/books?id=vPLEXRfnzJAC&pg=PA104&lpg=PA104&dq=bubbly+creek+history&source=bl&ots=o6NbVbcJ-w&sig=DYMQsf8ymjODoRHMajzaLdGAJTc&hl=en&ei=TVa4SdXfG6HQMq7UjeIK&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result) (apparently you have to get the book to read the whole section).

Awesome--and completely repulsive--links. Thanks for ruining my dinner. ;)

[intrepidDesign]

I wonder if that 7-foot-thick-bed-of-decades-old-preserved-guts thing is unique in the (developed) world?

~

Conclusion? Let's hurry up and clean out the very goriest of this stuff. For the pride of our children, and our children's children...

If Dubai can build an archipelago in the shape of the globe, we can do a little bit of nip/tuck dredging of a fetid little river offshoot.

Is this even possible? If so, why wouldn't the city have taped into federal Superfund dollars and the EPA to get it cleaned up?

[left of center]

why not just fill it in? its a stagnant stream, with the water having nowhere to go, meaning it will always be a stinking mosquito infested stretch of polluted swamp. i say just fill it in and make it into one long park out of it.

[denizen467]

^^ Superfund: It's not as simple as the city just "tapping into" Superfund ... but in any event this might not be sufficiently grave of a pollution site to warrant Superfund monies.

^ Yeah - between Ozinga and Prairie, the whole problem could be solved in like a weekend. Then use it as a park or as remote parking for Comiskey or something.

[left of center]

^ exactly. im all in when it comes to waterways and thier importance to this city as vital assets and natural resources (the lakefront and riverfront are absolute gems for the city) but for this particular stretch, i say we throw in the towel

[Via Chicago]

It may be a minor, little-known vestige of the city's past, but if that were ever to become some kind of worldwide news story/scandal, it would be devastating to Chicago's image.


Worldwide news story? It was exposed and shocked the world a LONG time ago. The author was Upton Sinclair, the name of the book is The Jungle ;)

Read it, and in all likelihood you'll turn vegetarian by morning.

[Abner]

A big part of Bubbly Creek WAS filled in and replaced with Pershing Road:

http://pages.ripco.net/~jwn/bubcreek.gif

It's kind of amazing that there's so little information about all this on the internet. That book I linked to might be the best source of information on it you'll find.

TUP, surely you remember from your o-chem that decomposition requires oxygen in order to be efficient. The vast amount of decomposing matter entering Bubbly Creek quickly consumed all the oxygen in the water (which became virtually stagnant when the river was reversed); in an anoxic environment such as the lower levels of entrail deposits, decomposition certainly can take that long, especially since the shallow creek freezes easily in the winter.

Also, Superfund is probably not an option for a creek that was polluted 100 years ago and whose polluters are long since gone. The polluter usually pays for cleanup under the Superfund program. Of course if you actually want the site to get cleaned up, the LAST thing you probably want is to get it declared a Superfund site.

[denizen467]

Worldwide news story? It was exposed and shocked the world a LONG time ago. The author was Upton Sinclair, the name of the book is The Jungle ;)

Read it, and in all likelihood you'll turn vegetarian by morning.

Well, that was a story about something that the world knows has now ceased to exist (on that scale) - the Chicago Stockyards and its meatpacking industry - and is regulated by federal and local agencies now.

The news story I'm talking about is that, like Jason in Friday the 13th, it would have all come back from the dead murky waters, in this supposedly modern, environmentally conscious era. That would become a new worldwide news story.

This thread is starting to gross me out...

[ardecila]

why not just fill it in? its a stagnant stream, with the water having nowhere to go, meaning it will always be a stinking mosquito infested stretch of polluted swamp. i say just fill it in and make it into one long park out of it.

The wikipedia article mentions several interesting possibilities. Simply oxygenating the water would greatly accelerate the decay of the stuff at the bottom. The river would probably become rather smelly for awhile as the release of methane increases. However, after a time, the bottom would wholly decompose and the river could return to a semi-natural state.

[Abner]

Well, methane is a byproduct of anaerobic activity and contains no oxygen, so if the water were oxygenated it would release much less methane and much more carbon dioxide. Generally speaking, anaerobic decomposition produces much nastier-smelling gases than aerobic decomposition (as anyone who has composted probably knows). While speeding the decomposition is probably a good start, there's still the problem of the creek being stagnant because of the reversal of the river and the destruction of the wetlands that used to feed it. Maybe it could be turned into a wetland, which would be great environmentally although it would limit the amount of "use" people would get out of it.

[Steely Dan]

^ exactly. im all in when it comes to waterways and thier importance to this city as vital assets and natural resources (the lakefront and riverfront are absolute gems for the city) but for this particular stretch, i say we throw in the towel

i strongly disagree, the stock yards and bubbly creek are an important part of chicago history and lore. why senselessly bury that history when there's a way to both preserve the waterway and improve it? i think a MUCH better idea would be to implement the improvement strategy for bubbly creek outlined in the link below:

http://www.wetlands-initiative.org/BubblyCreek.html

[a chicago bearcat]

you'd be surprised how right of center filling in wetlands and waterways is

[cbotnyse]

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=33297


Daley lays out $1 billion stimulus wish list
By: Meghan Streit March 12, 2009
(Crain’s) — Mayor Richard M. Daley on Thursday unveiled his plans for spending the $1 billion he expects Chicago to receive from the federal stimulus package.

The largest allocation, $260 million, would go to education, Mr. Daley said. Most of that would be earmarked for after-school programs and teacher recruitment and training. It also would be used to expand Head Start and provide child care to an additional 7,000 to 10,000 Chicago children.

The city’s public transportation system is in line for $241 million to purchase new hybrid buses, rebuild bus and rail cars, improve stations and upgrade the Blue Line. Mr. Daley said his proposed transit projects would create or maintain 1,000 CTA jobs.

Money for public housing is high on Mr. Daley’s list, too. About $144 million would be spent on housing, including $31 million to rehabilitate the Altgeld Gardens and Phillip Murray Homes on the South Side.

“There are many opportunities to create jobs and protect people in their quality of life,” Mr. Daley said of the stimulus.

In total, he said, the federal funding would create or save 16,000 jobs in Chicago, nearly half of them involving summer employment for young people.

Mr. Daley said Chicago could get $86 million to repair roads. The largest chunk of that cash, $10.5 million, would be used to improve Chicago Avenue between Laramie and Grand avenues. Lakeshore Drive would get a $3.3-million upgrade, and $9 million would be spent to improve Congress Drive between Wells Street and Michigan Avenue. In total, Mr. Daley’s proposal includes improvements to 43 miles of Chicago streets.

Pat Harney, the mayor’s deputy chief of staff, said bidding on the road projects will begin next week, and work could start as soon as June.

Mr. Daley’s stimulus plan also includes funding for homelessness prevention, energy conservation, foreclosure prevention and a $2.5-million program to turn foreclosed condos into affordable rental units. Programs to provide community service jobs to ex-offenders would get $16 million. More than $10 million would fund new police cars and cameras for squad cars.

The stimulus cash will help the city avoid some spending cuts, Mr. Daley said, but it won’t eliminate Chicago’s budget deficit, which could reach $200 million by the end of the year. Strict federal regulations dictate how the money can be spent.

The federal stimulus package also includes $28 billion in competitive grants available nationwide to cities, states and private organizations. The application rules and timelines have not been finalized, but Mr. Daley said he intends to pursue additional money through the grants. Grant programs include funding for airport improvements, police and firefighter assistance, school technology and prevention of violence against women.

[brian_b]

OK, so I was completely wrong about the river pollution levels... :)

Anyway, this morning I saw that the glass installation on the trading floor of the old Merc is finished on the river side, leaving just the Wacker side to do. It looks like they have all the framing in place on the Wacker side so I would imagine that it will start pretty soon.

[emathias]

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=33297


Daley lays out $1 billion stimulus wish list
By: Meghan Streit March 12, 2009 ...

I don't understand why the rehab of the NS stretch of Wacker wasn't stuck into a stimulus request. I thought they'd done the engineering on it already and we just timing the funds request. And, I don't see why they couldn't have gotten enough rehab money for the CTA to eliminate all slow zones, including the Purple Line overpasses (although I guess that would fall to Evanston to request).

[Abner]

I don't see why plugging the CTA's budget hole is not the #1 request for stimulus money. I understand that the federal restrictions may make that impossible with this money, but even if that's the case, the mayor should be shouting from the rooftops that we're going to need help to avoid system-wide calamity.

[Mr Roboto]

that's true, but it seems like we've been having a lot of extraordinary rainstorms lately. i've seen more than enough used condoms and fecal logs floating in the river during my paddles to know that raw sewage does still make it into the river. whenever we get tons of rain all at once, the metro area's sewage treatment facilities simply back-up and over flow into the river, and eventually into the lake if they have to open the locks. once the deep tunnel reservoirs are complete that will hopefully become an extremely rare event, but as it is now, it seems like we have raw sewage back-ups into the river during a couple of big rainstorms each year.

This is correct, with large rainfall events the overflow (raw sewage combined with storm runoff that cannot be treated due to capacity issues) has to be sent directly into the river, and yes sometimes back into the lake. However, even after construction is completed for the deep tunnel project and the McCook and Thronton reservoirs (huge reservoirs), the capacity for storage will only be something like 12 billion gallons. While this is nothing to sneeze at keep in mind that for some of the larger rain events runoff in the chicago area exceeds 30 billion gallons. So yeah, there may not be time to treat all this water and thus we may have this problem still - just far less often.

And I think eventually there are plans to clean up Bubbly Creek, but I dont know much about the details. I do know there is a mitigation project for the surrounding area and the south branch, to restore it to its more natural setting for boaters etc; and this project should be happening fairly soon once money is allocated. But as far as cleaning out the er, organic matter on the bottom, Im not quite sure when that will happen, if ever. Its kind of like a chicago landmark in its current state, or glimpse into its past as 'hog butcher of the world'. Maybe it will become a tourist attraction, hehe.

[Chicago3rd]

I don't think there's very much raw sewage going into the river any more, except perhaps during the most extraordinary rainstorms or Dave Matthews Band tours. I think the main nasty stuff going into the river these days is nonpoint source pollution, mainly runoff from streets and parking lots. That picks up a lot of oil and heavy metals.

http://caskaorg.typepad.com/caska/2008/06/chicago-river-w.html
CASKA along with other area paddling and rowing groups have actively intervened in the Illinois Pollution
Control Board's rulemaking proceeding that will set water quality standards for the Chicago River system. A key part of the proposed rules will require the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to disinfect the sewage it discharges into the River. Discharges from the MWRD make up roughly
75 percent of the water in the River.

I remember hearing about this a year or two ago. MWRD believes the that the sun and oxygen clean the river naturally. Here is a great link to the LA-Times article discussing the topic of the undisinfected water:

http://articles.latimes.com/2007/sep/14/nation/na-river14

[Nowhereman1280]

I don't see why plugging the CTA's budget hole is not the #1 request for stimulus money.

Because they aren't allowed to use "stimulus" funds to plug gaps in the budget. They had to request certain ready to go projects that would quickly start moving and employ people. Plugging a budget gap is not a project and does not employ people...

[BVictor1]

I don't understand why the rehab of the NS stretch of Wacker wasn't stuck into a stimulus request. I thought they'd done the engineering on it already and we just timing the funds request. And, I don't see why they couldn't have gotten enough rehab money for the CTA to eliminate all slow zones, including the Purple Line overpasses (although I guess that would fall to Evanston to request).

Well remember, there is still the Transportation Bill that I believe is coming up later this year.

[BVictor1]

Central Area Action Plan Community Meeting

Monday, March 16 from 6 to 7:30 PM


Please join Alderman Reilly at an upcoming community presentation to review a near-final draft of the "Chicago Central Area Action Plan." The Central Area Action Plan represents the next step in the implementation of the economic development and land use goals set-out in the 2003 Central Area Plan (CAP) by prioritizing the CAP's key urban design, transportation, open space and waterfront projects. A broad group of civic and private leaders worked collaboratively to produce this draft of the Central Area Action Plan. Representatives from the City of Chicago and the Central Area Plan Committee will present the details of the planning process and describe the long-term projects outlined in the Action Plan. This meeting will be held at the Chicago Cultural Center, in Preston Bradley Hall, at 78 E. Washington Blvd. For more information, please call (312) 642-4242 or visit www.ward42chicago.com/contact_us_form.html


Remember, this is open to the public.

[Abner]

Because they aren't allowed to use "stimulus" funds to plug gaps in the budget. They had to request certain ready to go projects that would quickly start moving and employ people. Plugging a budget gap is not a project and does not employ people...

I figured that it would be against the rules of the stimulus and said so, but of course plugging a budget gap is stimulative--in fact, it is the most easily and quickly implemented type of stimulus besides automatic stabilizers. The CTA has to balance its budget. If it doesn't get outside funding to maintain current service, it will have to cut service (i.e. cut jobs) and raise fares (i.e. reduce transit users' disposable income). Prevention of job losses and spending cuts is every bit as good as the creation of new jobs somewhere else, and in fact is almost sure to be better. So my point was that I think Daley and the CTA, as well as other cities across the country, really ought to organize fast to lobby for some kind of assistance as their tax revenues fall off a cliff.

[the urban politician]

I figured that it would be against the rules of the stimulus and said so, but of course plugging a budget gap is stimulative--in fact, it is the most easily and quickly implemented type of stimulus besides automatic stabilizers. The CTA has to balance its budget. If it doesn't get outside funding to maintain current service, it will have to cut service (i.e. cut jobs) and raise fares (i.e. reduce transit users' disposable income). Prevention of job losses and spending cuts is every bit as good as the creation of new jobs somewhere else, and in fact is almost sure to be better. So my point was that I think Daley and the CTA, as well as other cities across the country, really ought to organize fast to lobby for some kind of assistance as their tax revenues fall off a cliff.

^ I don't think it would work politically as well as how the Stimulus is currently laid out. If you read the Tribune commentors now, they're already complaining--just imagine how much of an outpouring of hate there would be if they found out that Stimulus money was being used to bail out perceived corrupt, inefficient, clout-run Daley-machine organizations like the CTA.

[Chicago3rd]

I don't understand why the rehab of the NS stretch of Wacker wasn't stuck into a stimulus request. I thought they'd done the engineering on it already and we just timing the funds request. And, I don't see why they couldn't have gotten enough rehab money for the CTA to eliminate all slow zones, including the Purple Line overpasses (although I guess that would fall to Evanston to request).

Aren't they already paying to eliminate the slow zones with bonds? Thought this has been going on for over a year already.

[BWChicago]

^ I don't think it would work politically as well as how the Stimulus is currently laid out. If you read the Tribune commentors now, they're already complaining--just imagine how much of an outpouring of hate there would be if they found out that Stimulus money was being used to bail out perceived corrupt, inefficient, clout-run Daley-machine organizations like the CTA.

I've become convinced that there's literally nothing the CTA can do without those idiots bitching about how magical "privatization" would somehow make it work better. Third party reports saying the organization is largely efficient and not clouted? They don't listen. Job cuts upon job cuts? Same complaints. The fact that the new building is far cheaper than the Merchandise Mart space? "gleaming new office tower". Bunch of useless ne'er-do-wells.

[ummagumma]

As a frequent CTA rider I'm very concerned over potential transit cuts, so I cannot help but wonder how much, if any, of the sting will be removed from the budget deficit from the portion of the stimulus that "preserves or creates 1,000 CTA jobs?"

[munda]

Does anyone know if public is allowed on the roof garden on top of city hall?

[the urban politician]

I've become convinced that there's literally nothing the CTA can do without those idiots bitching about how magical "privatization" would somehow make it work better. Third party reports saying the organization is largely efficient and not clouted? They don't listen. Job cuts upon job cuts? Same complaints. The fact that the new building is far cheaper than the Merchandise Mart space? "gleaming new office tower". Bunch of useless ne'er-do-wells.

^ Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with you.

The fuck-faces who keep complaining in the comments sections of the Tribune are just a bunch of angry, overly vocal Republicans. They're pissed off because they don't have a chance in hell of winning a major local election and they HATE public assets because they go against their personal philosophy of the "every man for himself" dream that died with the old West over a century ago. Most of them belong in Oklahoma & Louisiana

[emathias]

Aren't they already paying to eliminate the slow zones with bonds? Thought this has been going on for over a year already.

Yes, but there are still more slow zones, plus there are further improvements that could be done. For example, the Red Line subway now has concrete ties throughout, but the Blue Line subway does not. Doing that to the Blue Line would greatly reduce recurrence.

[alex1]

^ Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with you.

The fuck-faces who keep complaining in the comments sections of the Tribune are just a bunch of angry, overly vocal Republicans. They're pissed off because they don't have a chance in hell of winning a major local election and they HATE public assets because they go against their personal philosophy of the "every man for himself" dream that died with the old West over a century ago. Most of them belong in Oklahoma & Louisiana

amen. but to be fair, there are plenty of reasonable Republicans that believe a strong mass transit system is important. Okay, maybe not plenty but some.

[Abner]

Yeah, the Secretary of Transportation, for example.

Yes, but there are still more slow zones, plus there are further improvements that could be done. For example, the Red Line subway now has concrete ties throughout, but the Blue Line subway does not. Doing that to the Blue Line would greatly reduce recurrence.

Isn't the Dearborn subway work part of the CTA's stimulus funding? I thought there was just a story about that.

[the urban politician]

Isn't the Dearborn subway work part of the CTA's stimulus funding? I thought there was just a story about that.

^ Yes, it is

[Mr Downtown]

No public access to City Hall roof except during specially arranged tours.

[munda]

:previous:
Thanks dude
That sucks everything

[ardecila]

No public access to City Hall roof except during specially arranged tours.

I didn't realize that there was public access before. Apparently somebody realized it, though, or this wouldn't be an issue.

[Mr Downtown]

There has never been public access to City Hall roof, but since the mayor spent a fortune putting a demonstration green roof up there (and then replacing it after it all died), a few groups a year are allowed to tour it, usually accompanied by someone from Dept. of Environment. Generally there's a tour during Great Chicago Places & Spaces each May. But it's easier usually to just go up in one of the surrounding buildings and look down on it. If nothing else, brave the metal detectors and visit the law library on the 29th floor of the Daley Center.

[ardecila]

My mom works in 30 N. LaSalle (with a window office), so I got a great view of it when I went to her office. My dad used to work in the Chicago Title & Trust Building, also with a good view of the roof.

[harryc]

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/Sb1i-ASjmAI/AAAAAAABIZY/oFqeBE06Bm8/s800/P1280456.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/Sb1i_QFCUnI/AAAAAAABIZk/ykPicNGccHY/s800/P1280464.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/Sb1jBeHuh7I/AAAAAAABIZw/8Ne0Y5NZX90/s720/P1280467.JPG

[EarlyBuyer]

Nice progress shots harry...thanks for these!

[EarlyBuyer]

Photo taken by EarlyBuyer 3/15/09


http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/6894/dsc0457.jpg

[denizen467]

There has never been public access to City Hall roof, but since the mayor spent a fortune putting a demonstration green roof up there (and then replacing it after it all died), a few groups a year are allowed to tour it, usually accompanied by someone from Dept. of Environment. Generally there's a tour during Great Chicago Places & Spaces each May.
Although it must be easier to get one's hands on the honey from the beehives up there, I hope? Where do they sell that? I've seen those can be nice mementos for tourists visiting the city.

[Jibba]

^^At times, LSE as a whole feels somewhat "special" (still not sure if this qualifies as "good" too), but I feel that the special feeling is simply the result of the slight elevation changes that you make from the upper levels of the street system down into the park. That topography is extremely rare in this city, and in that regard LSE is a unique experience. When tooling through the park, it's a pleasant (I guess?) experience to be sunk down, surrounded by a forest of skyscrapers. The road circumventing the park does help to add to that feeling of isolation and solitude (versus connecting the whole of LSE to the city grid--not sure if that would be all that practical anyway), but at the same time it feels an awful lot like a giant, all-inclusive high-rise resort area you'd find at some cheesy Florida spot. Something about the plan just feels so selfish and insular; it's really hard for me to accept such a developmental scheme at a prime spot in the city. The horrid design of those half-baked Parkhomes doesn't help, either.

[ardecila]

I don't think LSE is cheesy at all. In fact, I would say it's quite urbane. Apart from the parkhomes, everything there is of a modern design. It's mixed-use, and it doesn't stray into the historicism that similar developments like Central Station or Roosevelt Collection here, or Atlantic Station in Atlanta, have done.

Mr. D has made the point before, and it's a good one, that everything seems contrived and a little uncomfortable when it's new. If it is allowed to age gracefully, then it will become a valued part of the cityscape. A big failure of the towers-in-a-park scheme was a universal lack of attention to maintenance. The advanced building technology used in those modernist towers means that they require lots of attention to be paid to maintenance, but everybody wanted to set it and forget it. The rare places where they have been maintained nicely have become great places within our cities.

[the urban politician]

I still think the space under the 2 staircases would be an ideal site for a cafe or convenience store

[spyguy]

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=33328

Advocate Ill. Masonic eyes Lakeview addition
By: Mike Colias March 16, 2009

Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center is seeking city approval to build an 11-story addition at the bustling Lakeview hospital.

Planning documents filed with the city last month request zoning amendments to clear the way for a “patient care pavilion,” slated for the north side of the 319-bed hospital at 836 W. Wellington Ave. The proposed 423,000-square-foot facility would be built along West Barry Avenue, just east of Sheffield Avenue.

[BWChicago]

A couple more rooftop parking examples:
-McGrath at 6750 W Grand (1965)
-Jewel in Oak Park (1960s)
http://bp1.blogger.com/_Ei2Ik5quiI0/SC5Qc8SiKmI/AAAAAAAAA9I/iQf9y-giGGg/s1600-h/jewel+osco+1966jpg

[wrabbit]

3/16 email from the Save Grant Park campaign:



As many of you know, there are currently two lawsuits in progress that were filed in response to the Chicago Children's Museum's plans to build their new museum in protected Grant Park.

The first lawsuit, and Administrative Review calls for a review of the Chicago Plan Commission's decision and the entire process of the Museum's application to the Plan Commission.

A hearing for this first lawsuit will be Tuesday, March 31st with Judge Martin Agran.

If Judge Agran rules in our favor, the Chicago Children's Museum (CCM) must go back to the drawing board and resubmit new plans to the Chicago Plan Commission. We anticipate they would appeal this decision. If the judge does not rule in our favor we will have 30 days to appeal.

The second lawsuit, a Denovo Review, asks the court to take a fresh look at the entire process of the Musuem's application including the Plan Commission, Zoning Committee and the City Council.

A hearing on this second lawsuit will be Thursday, April 9th with Judge Sophia Hall.

If Judge Hall rules in our favor, the CCM will have to repeat the entire process over again: Plan Commission, Zoning Committee and City Council. Any appeal must be made within 30 days.

We will send out updates after each hearing detailing the decisions.

The Chicago Park District and the Chicago Children's Museum thought the citizens of Chicago wouldn't notice their plot to takeover public green space for private interests. They were wrong. Indeed, they thought they would have construction well underway by now. They did not understand how hard Chicagoans would fight to preserve it's most important public green space. We will continue to file appropriate lawsuits based on the Montgomery Ward decisions that have protected Grant Park for more than 172 years. Save Grant Park has led this community effort for more than three years now, and we are in it for as long as it takes. Thank you for all your support. We know you will stay with us to Save Grant Park.

[orulz]

3/16 email from the Save Grant Park campaign:

. . .

I'm so conflicted. That e-mail reads just like a crock of NIMBY platitudes - the wording, the tactics, even the name of the group. And, by and large, I hate NIMBYs.

But yet... I can't help but agree. I really don't think that this museum belongs in Grant Park.

On the one hand, I want a world where standard NIMBY tactics don't work, but on the other hand I'm pulling for them to succeed here. How can we achieve a balance?

[Jibba]

Well, in this case, those opposing the Children's Museum are being NIMBYs, insofar as a literal interpretation of the acronym goes (or perhaps, in this case, it should be "NIMFYs" in keeping with how Grant Park is colloquially referred to).

But, so what? The negative connotation of the word NIMBY comes from the attempt of these so-designated people to prioritize personal interests at the expense of the public realm, and being a NIMBY in the case of the Children's Museum is inverse to this scheme: advocating for the public good at the expense of a single, private interest.

[wrabbit]

^ Yeah - maybe a better acronym here would be "NIMFY" - "Not In My Front Yard" - since Grant Park is functionally more like a front yard, town square or city green.

No doubt there is a selfish anti-development faction that has hitched its agenda to the broader Free & Clear coalition - but my sense of the Grant Park contingent as a whole is that it is more pro-preservation than it is anti-development.

[Taft]

From my standpoint, I think you have people being NIMBYs, people being NIMFYs and the NIMBYs are also using the NIMFYs arguments because they suit them in this particular case.

I really question how much the LSE residents opposed to this move really care about preservation or "free and clear" edicts for the park. IMO, these arguments merely align with their interests this time around.

[whyhuhwhy]

^ Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with you.

The fuck-faces who keep complaining in the comments sections of the Tribune are just a bunch of angry, overly vocal Republicans. They're pissed off because they don't have a chance in hell of winning a major local election and they HATE public assets because they go against their personal philosophy of the "every man for himself" dream that died with the old West over a century ago. Most of them belong in Oklahoma & Louisiana

You know you are a good poster, always seem reasonable to me and I agree with most everything you say. But the whole "Republican" bashing thing has got to stop. You live among these people. These people post here and could very well be your friends. Let's ease up a bit. Most Republicans I know are for trains and transit, they are just not for government excess. Hence why many of them didn't vote Republican this last election, me included. And IMO this society works mostly by "every man for himself" there is no keeper or government that gets me out of bed and into work each morning. So let's stop the whole Republican hating backwater Oklahoma stereotype garbage OK? I mean if you want to call yourself accepting and tolerant than do it. BTW both Oklahoma and Louisiana are nice states.

[Busy Bee]

Here here.

[Chicago3rd]

Well, in this case, those opposing the Children's Museum are being NIMBYs, insofar as a literal interpretation of the acronym goes (or perhaps, in this case, it should be "NIMFYs" in keeping with how Grant Park is colloquially referred to).

But, so what? The negative connotation of the word NIMBY comes from the attempt of these so-designated people to prioritize personal interests at the expense of the public realm, and being a NIMBY in the case of the Children's Museum is inverse to this scheme: advocating for the public good at the expense of a single, private interest.

I don't live anywhere near that area and am totally opposed to the CM being located in that part of GRANT park. So I am a NIMP kind of guy. You shouldn't be making such sweeping huge generalizations about those of us who oppose this museum. Grant Park is a city park...not just owned by the city but for the City as a whole. It isn't a neighborhood park. But we have to stop building in the park. Maybe over the tracks is okay...but not under/through the park.

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

^ You totally misread his post...

[Mr Downtown]

Don't be fooled by shallow news reports and get overly excited when both these CCM lawsuits are tossed out. These are just kitchen-sink suits about the procedures followed for the approval.

The real lawsuit, based on Montgomery Ward's permanent injunction, can't begin until groundbreaking has occurred.

[pilsenarch]

For all of you so outraged over the CCM 'takeover' of the park (which, incidentally, adds green space and accessiblity), where were you when:

Hundreds of thousands of square feet of concrete parking garage were built both below and above ground, The Monroe Street Garage, and subsequently bermed over.

A 2000 seat theater with full fly loft was built just south of Randolph, The Harris Theater

A restaurant and bar was built in the park, east of Michigan between Washington and Madison, The Park Grill

A restaurant and putting green were built between Lake Shore and Columbus just north of Monroe

And, finally, the Grant Park Pavilions housing fast food establishments


I use these examples, rather then the many more examples of mere 'buildings' in the park, because they all represent a 'takeover' of the park for private use....

This is indeed a NIMBY issue as well as an anti-Daley, anti-establishment outcry...not a principled issue re the Ward decision or you would have heard that crowd speak up long before now...

[the urban politician]

It will have 112 parking spaces on the second floor and roof, according to the article:

Trader Joe’s plans Lincoln Park store (http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=33362)
By Eddie Baeb, March 18, 2009

(Crain’s) — Trader Joe’s is planning a fourth Chicago store at a Lincoln Park site where another grocer, Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc., had been considering a larger store.
Trader Joe’s, known for its budget-conscious gourmet offerings and its upbeat employees who sport Hawaiian shirts, has leased 14,500 square feet in a new building planned on Diversey Parkway next to two vacant retail stores at 651 and 659 W. Diversey, sources say.

[ChicagoChicago]

http://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/images/existing_proposed.jpg

I love this render of the proposed museum. They clearly aren't trying to sway public opinion with this one...posting an "existing view" of the horrendous Monroe St. Garage entrance (completely blocks GP views), and then the "proposed view" if the Museum is built.

[Via Chicago]

For all of you so outraged over the CCM 'takeover' of the park (which, incidentally, adds green space and accessiblity), where were you when:

Hundreds of thousands of square feet of concrete parking garage were built both below and above ground, The Monroe Street Garage, and subsequently bermed over.

A 2000 seat theater with full fly loft was built just south of Randolph, The Harris Theater

A restaurant and bar was built in the park, east of Michigan between Washington and Madison, The Park Grill

A restaurant and putting green were built between Lake Shore and Columbus just north of Monroe

And, finally, the Grant Park Pavilions housing fast food establishments


I use these examples, rather then the many more examples of mere 'buildings' in the park, because they all represent a 'takeover' of the park for private use....

This is indeed a NIMBY issue as well as an anti-Daley, anti-establishment outcry...not a principled issue re the Ward decision or you would have heard that crowd speak up long before now...

I would even go so far as to put the Ward ruling aside. What I dont understand why above all else, the CM needs to relocate in that one exact spot. Why should we continue to give up usable, secluded park space? The lakefront is turning into an amusement park clusterf*ck, as you pointed out. This is a huge city with tons of available land and sites, all easily served by transit. Think about the outreach opportunities the museum could carry by locating in an under-served neighborhood? But that wouldnt fit with Penny Pritzkers' status-conscious ego and her planned after-hours cocktail parties (yup, someone explain to me why this museum needs an alcohol license).

I think people are just really PO'ed at the CCMs sense of entitlement in this whole thing. They have totally refused to seriously look at alternate options (many of which would probably be BETTER for their mission), which have been provided by both the public and the media. They obviously had their mind made up from day one, and this obviously isnt about the "children" (who in their right mind builds a childrens museum underground??). Its about politics.

[pilsenarch]

:previous: well, it is an accurate depiction...(the renderings, I mean, although the above description is pretty accurate too...)

[ChiPsy]

3/16 email from the Save Grant Park campaign:

The Chicago Park District and the Chicago Children's Museum thought the citizens of Chicago wouldn't notice their plot to takeover public green space for private interests. They were wrong. [/I]

LOL. I'm being agnostic about this issue, but I *love* that psychologically manipulative wording! :) One thing the CPD and CCM certainly couldn't have thought is that "no-one would notice" their effort to locate in Grant Park.

I agree with orluz -- this particular issue aside, it's always difficult to stomach the transparently manipulative "pitchforks and torches" rhetoric of NIMBYism.

[mcfinley]

Five finalists have been named for the Harper Court project. What's your of the qualifiers below, and how's their track record for build quality, smart growth development, staying on budget?


From the HP Herald today, http://www.hpherald.com/hpindex.html

Finalists chosen for U. of C. Harper Court development

By Kate Hawley

Fived development teams have made the short list to redevelop the Harper Court shopping center and adjacent city-owned parking lot.
The city and the University of Chicago, which bought Harper Court in May for $6.5 million, are in the process of choosing a developer for the roughly three-acre site, centered at 52nd Street and Harper Avenue.
The issued a request for proposals, or RFP, in December, and received 11 responses from development teams, according to Susan Campbell, associate vice president for civic engagement for the university.
She announced the finalists Monday, March 9, at a meeting of the 53rd Street Tax-Increment Financing, or TIF, Advisory Council, held at Kenwood Academy, 5015 S. Blackstone Ave.
The proposals (see complete list on page 2) came from some of the biggest names in Chicago real estate.
Joseph Freed and Associates LLC is developer of the massive Block 37 development in the Loop.
Mesa Development LLC and Walsh Construction is the team behind LaSalle Park, the 18-acre project that did much to bring retail options to the South Loop. A TIF council member, Andre Bromfeld, works with Mesa and so will be recusing himself from any decision-making about the RFP process, he announced.
Heitman, a real estate investment management firm that is partnering with Metropolitan Properties and Next Realty, has local experience, having worked on the new Hyde Park Art Center at 5020 S. Cornell Ave. The comp was also behind University Center, the multi-institution dorm on State Street and Congress Parkway.
Lesser-known companies are also represented, such as Vermilion Development, which has a portfolio of mixed-used development in university towns.
McCaffrey Interests Inc. and the Taxman Corporation would use their mixed-use “Market Commons” concept, already executed in Clarendon, Va. and Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Though details have not been nailed down at the early stage, Campbell shared some of the major elements in each proposal. Most of the m include retail, commercial, graduate student housing and hotel uses.
Campbell said the proposals reflected community input from the “visioning workshops” held over the course of the last year that were sponsored by the city, the university, Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th), and a wide array of local organizations.
The community will get the chance for more input in the coming months. All five teams present their proposals, likely at the TIF meetings in July and September—a shift from what city and university officials announced at the TIF meeting on Jan 12.
Campbell and James Wilson of the city’s Department of Community Development said then that only one candidate—the top pick—would present, while Ald. Tone Preckwinkle (4th) argued that the community should hear from at least tree front-runners.
According to the city’s Web site, the development teams will submit their final proposals May 11. Community presentations will take place in July and August 2009, with the final selection process happening in August and September. A purchase/lease redevelopment agreement will be executed by the end of the year.
How quickly the winning development team can move forward from that point depends on its ability to get financing, potentially a challenging proposition given the slumping economy.
In the meantime, the university is moving ahead with its plans to clear out the Harper Court complex by June 30. Calypso Café, which according to owner Carol Andersen has a lease through 2012, will end its lease by June 30. Campbell said at the TIF meeting.
She also said that Park 52 and the Checkerboard Lounge would be allowed to hang onto their leases. That’s because the building they occupy, at 5201 S Harper Ave will not be torn down to make way for the Harper Court redevelopment.
Hyde Park resident Robin Kaufman asked Campbell what the university plans to do with a now closed Hollywood Video store at 1530 E. 53rd St., property it purchased in January.
“Whether or not that gets combined with Harper Court or gets developed independently, the goal is to revitalize 53rd,” Campbell said.



Harper Court Redevelopment Finalists
(From a list provided to the Herald by the University of Chicago, Teams responded to a request for qualifications, or RFQ, aimed at finding developers to take on the project. The finalists have been asked to respond to a request for proposals, or RFP, due in May.)

Mesa Development/Walsh Construction
Track record of projects as a team.
Clear understanding of goals, objectives and opportunities of the RFQ/P
Plan may include 150,000 square feet of office space, 200 graduate student housing units, 150-room hotel, 30,000 square feet of retail, 400-car garage.
Team portfolio includes The Heritage at Millennium Park, Park Boulevard, LaSalle Park

Vermillion Development
Interpreted and advanced opportunities and ideas expressed in the RFQ
Plan may include retail, multi-family housing, institutional, hotel, graduate student housing, active-adult housing, for a total of 390,000 to 625,000 square feet
Experience with “university town” development
Portfolio includes mixed-use complexes at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Western Illinois University, 3030 N. Broadway St. in Chicago

Metropolitan Properties/Heitman/Next Realty
Team has development, design and real estate experience
Plan may include two-level below grade garage, perimeter retail (along Lake Park Avenue and 53rd Street), Two mid-rises west and east of Harper Ave, one of them possibly a 150-to 200-key hotel.
Experience with the Hyde Park community process
Portfolio includes the Hyde Park Art Center, University Center of Chicago (multi-institutional dorm 525 S. State St.), Michigan Avenue condo conversions.

McCaffery interests/The Taxman Corp.
Direct Experience in urban downtown mixed-use development
Concept would follow The Market Commons in Clarendon, Va.
Plan May include retail/entertainment, residential (graduate student and market-rate housing), boutique hotel, office space and parking.
Portfolio includes Streets of Woodfield, The Morgan at Loyola Station, 669 N. Michigan, The Shops of Oak Park, River Forest Town Center

Joseph Freed and Associates
Direct experience in urban downtown mixed-use development
Plan possibly to include retail/entertainment, residential (graduate student and market-rate housing), boutique hotel, office space and parking
Strong interest of team throughout the process, including participation in community workshop
Portfolio includes Sullivan Center (Carson Pirie Scott building), Block 37, Wick Park Center, Uptown Square