[ardecila]

I imagine the city is trying to avoid eminent domain, which is usually a fairly combative legal process (involving substantial legal fees paid by the city), by making a high initial offer and having negotiations with property owners. If they refuse to sell for whatever reason, then eminent domain may become involved. I don't know whether this project has advanced to this point yet. I do hope, however, that the city does something worthwhile with the excess land, rather than just selling it to the highest bidder. A riverfront park would be wonderful, although it would probably need a decent-sized parking lot - the surroundings aren't very pedestrian-friendly.

left of center - there's no room for a flyover, or even a tunnel really. Elston is a fairly narrow street with a high traffic volume. If a grade separation were built, there would probably be no room left over for turn lanes at-grade, so turning traffic would need to be directed onto neighborhood streets. There's also the issue of property values and quality of life, which probably suffer when there's a huge pier or giant trench outside your front door. Cost isn't the only reason CDOT rejected this plan.

[VivaLFuego]

left of center - there's no room for a flyover, or even a tunnel really. Elston is a fairly narrow street with a high traffic volume. If a grade separation were built, there would probably be no room left over for turn lanes at-grade, so turning traffic would need to be directed onto neighborhood streets. There's also the issue of property values and quality of life, which probably suffer when there's a huge pier or giant trench outside your front door. Cost isn't the only reason CDOT rejected this plan.

I'm pretty sure the original plan was for Fullerton to be tunnelled - it's the widest, highest overall volume, and highest thru-volume of the 3 streets. These Elston shenanigans are a copout and I think the area will still back up, as each street will still have two signalized intersections to traverse and turn-lane queues between Damen/Fullerton will block traffic during peak weekday and weekend hours. It may end up "feeling" faster to drivers but I'm not convinced without seeing the actual modeling that the travel time savings will be anywhere remotely close to an actual grade separation.

[Mr Downtown]

Just seems to me that new grade separations should be avoided as a matter of principle, except in the most industrial or suburbanized parts of the city. I view Clark/Roosevelt as an urban design disaster.

[orulz]

Just seems to me that new grade separations should be avoided as a matter of principle, except in the most industrial or suburbanized parts of the city. I view Clark/Roosevelt as an urban design disaster.

Clark/Roosevelt has a strange design because the northbound Clark bypass lane doesn't bypass only the Roosevelt intersection - it bypasses the next stoplight as well.

Central Washington DC has like 10 of these underpasses, mostly at 6 or 8-point intersections. Though not without their tradeoffs, they all seem to be pretty successful from an urban design standpoint.

Washington's streets are generally wider streets than Chicago's, but then their bypasses are mostly 4-lane; couldn't a 2-lane bypass work here?

[spyguy]

So it turns out that UNStudio's temporary Millennium Park structure is a more fitting tribute to Burnham than previously thought.

The pavilion (made of steel, wood, bondo/plaster) is crumbling in areas where people have tried to climb it. Sound familiar? ;)

[spyguy]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/1701056,CST-NWS-northwestern05.article

Hospital boosts parking pledge
August 5, 2009

BY FRAN SPIELMAN

Northwestern Memorial Hospital wants to build a 1,300-space parking garage and ground floor day-care center in congested Streeterville -- topping the promise made in exchange for approval to build a new Children's Memorial Hospital on the NU medical campus.

...Ralph Weber, vice president of community relations for Northwestern Memorial, said the 1,100 spaces promised were a "minimum" the hospital opted to exceed to accommodate future expansion.

"We have the Veterans Affairs property we purchased about five years ago. We are also evaluating the potential of a medical office building on the campus," Weber said.

[VivaLFuego]

Just seems to me that new grade separations should be avoided as a matter of principle, except in the most industrial or suburbanized parts of the city. I view Clark/Roosevelt as an urban design disaster.

I agree on both points - and frankly, Damen/Fullerton/Elston is already an urban design disaster between the industrial uses along the river and proliferation of stripmalls in every direction. It's one of the few intersections where I feel like not much is lost through grade separation. Ashland/Clybourn/Armitage/Cortland might be the only other such intersection in town, at least on the north side.

[VivaLFuego]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/1701056,CST-NWS-northwestern05.article

Hospital boosts parking pledge
August 5, 2009

BY FRAN SPIELMAN

Northwestern Memorial Hospital wants to build a 1,300-space parking garage and ground floor day-care center in congested Streeterville -- topping the promise made in exchange for approval to build a new Children's Memorial Hospital on the NU medical campus.

...Ralph Weber, vice president of community relations for Northwestern Memorial, said the 1,100 spaces promised were a "minimum" the hospital opted to exceed to accommodate future expansion.

"We have the Veterans Affairs property we purchased about five years ago. We are also evaluating the potential of a medical office building on the campus," Weber said.

quote from the article:

The garage would be reserved for hospital employees.

:rolleyes: This is precisely the one and only reason to vehemently NOT allow these additional spaces. Workers driving to and fro every single day and storing their cars for 9+ hours is the specific action by which auto-dependency destroys cities. The occasional/irregular/short-term trips made by car are those that should be accommodated and provided for - NOT commute trips. If NU is so concerned about ample cheap (free?) parking for employees they should go blight another neighborhood with their bland crapola and leave Streeterville as something resembling a city rather than an office park.

[lawfin]

quote from the article:

:rolleyes: This is precisely the one and only reason to vehemently NOT allow these additional spaces. Workers driving to and fro every single day and storing their cars for 9+ hours is the specific action by which auto-dependency destroys cities. The occasional/irregular/short-term trips made by car are those that should be accommodated and provided for - NOT commute trips. If NU is so concerned about ample cheap (free?) parking for employees they should go blight another neighborhood with their bland crapola and leave Streeterville as something resembling a city rather than an office park.

Absolutely, well said

[ChicagoChicago]

quote from the article:

:rolleyes: This is precisely the one and only reason to vehemently NOT allow these additional spaces. Workers driving to and fro every single day and storing their cars for 9+ hours is the specific action by which auto-dependency destroys cities. The occasional/irregular/short-term trips made by car are those that should be accommodated and provided for - NOT commute trips. If NU is so concerned about ample cheap (free?) parking for employees they should go blight another neighborhood with their bland crapola and leave Streeterville as something resembling a city rather than an office park.Hospitals are unique and quite frankly, can't be lobbed in with other 9-5 businesses. The employees that work there work long hours, come in at odd times, and potentially need to be able to get into work VERY quickly. They will always be auto-centric for that reason.

[J_M_Tungsten]

Hospitals are unique and quite frankly, can't be lobbed in with other 9-5 businesses. The employees that work there work long hours, come in at odd times, and potentially need to be able to get into work VERY quickly. They will always be auto-centric for that reason.

Well put, as a hospital worker, it is necessary to get in quick, and not circle the block attempting to find street parking or circle a full parking structure.

[the urban politician]

Hospitals are unique and quite frankly, can't be lobbed in with other 9-5 businesses. The employees that work there work long hours, come in at odd times, and potentially need to be able to get into work VERY quickly. They will always be auto-centric for that reason.

^ Yep. Plus, unlike pretty much every other type of office district, hospitals are open and actively humming along 24-7, 365 days a year.

Employees are coming in & out around the clock, as are "customers" (patients and their families).

I loathe parking as much as the next guy, but in the case of major hospitals I"m just not sure how one can get around not having parking.

[whyhuhwhy]

^ Yep. Plus, unlike pretty much every other type of office district, hospitals are open and actively humming along 24-7, 365 days a year.

Employees are coming in & out around the clock, as are "customers" (patients and their families).

I loathe parking as much as the next guy, but in the case of major hospitals I"m just not sure how one can get around not having parking.

I think we've discussed this before and I have to add my 2 cents in and agree. I am a doc and it was really funny the last time I took the CTA to the hospital, I literally ended up 35 minutes LATE which is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE and actually quite dangerous. For some reason the CTA decided it would be a good day to delay the Purple line and not run it on schedule. It was not my fault at all and I literally waited 45 minutes for a Purple line train. No joke. I thought I was doing the "right" thing by taking transit but it ended up a nightmare. Some days were great, others weren't. Chicago traffic is bad but it is predictable and I have found the CTA to not be. So I only ride it now when I am not going to work. If I am not in for work on time and I am working the ER reads people can die, someone has an aortic dissection, an acute PE, etc., and I am not even kidding about that. I drive to work every day for a reason--I have never been late to the hospital with my car once in 6 years.

How's southeast WI treating you BTW? That's where I grew up. Milwaukee and Chicago are great cities and your lucky to have access to both, and the whole highway between the two cities will be up to 8 lanes probably by the end of next year along with 110mph rail. Exciting times IMO. But right now all of the construction is a huge headache.

[J_M_Tungsten]

^^^ why wouldn't you take a cab after waiting more than 10 mins if it was that urgent?

[whyhuhwhy]

^^^ why wouldn't you take a cab after waiting more than 10 mins if it was that urgent?

If I took a cab everytime I waited 10 mins or more for the el....

Now if I was a psychic I could have predicted that I should have taken a cab. But when you are standing on the platform and the el could come at any minute, what would you do? Hopefully the new Belmont stop will have arrival time signs for this reason.

[J_M_Tungsten]

If I took a cab everytime I waited 10 mins or more for the el....

Now if I was a psychic I could have predicted that I should have taken a cab. But when you are standing on the platform and the el could come at any minute, what would you do? Hopefully the new Belmont stop will have arrival time signs for this reason.

Hopefully your pt can wait 10 minutes for you to wait 10 minutes at the el, but I digress. We both agree that parking, and lots of it, is a necessity at a major hospital.

[the urban politician]

^ Plus, we need to remember that NWU is building this garage to serve Children's and several of NWU's current and future properties. I'm sure not all 1,300 spots (or anywhere near it) will be reserved just for Children's employees.

[AdrianXSands]

:rolleyes: This is precisely the one and only reason to vehemently NOT allow these additional spaces. Workers driving to and fro every single day and storing their cars for 9+ hours is the specific action by which auto-dependency destroys cities. The occasional/irregular/short-term trips made by car are those that should be accommodated and provided for - NOT commute trips. If NU is so concerned about ample cheap (free?) parking for employees they should go blight another neighborhood with their bland crapola and leave Streeterville as something resembling a city rather than an office park.

good point. and it'd be a whole lot easier to disgusted with the city for it's decent into auto-dependancy if the CTA weren't a complete and miserable failure. i mean, lately i've actually been considering buying a car, or at least a motor bike, because the CTA is just unacceptable. i blame the CTA for the number of car-parks and garages that plague our city.


oh and whywhywhy, you're supposed to COUNT on being late... haven't you seen the signs that tell you to ALLOW EXTRA TRAVEL TIME / LEAVE EARLIER.
:haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: isn't it absurd to think that more than hour is an acceptable amount of time for 'rapid' transit to take you less than 4 miles?

[VivaLFuego]

Hospitals are unique and quite frankly, can't be lobbed in with other 9-5 businesses. The employees that work there work long hours, come in at odd times, and potentially need to be able to get into work VERY quickly. They will always be auto-centric for that reason.

Then their demand for parking in what should be considered the downtown area should be priced accordingly - I bet there are already ample off-street spaces to house hospital workers coming in at off hours, when parking would be priced lower than during the peak anyway.

If every last worker is going to drive, the hospital shouldn't be located downtown, simple and plain. Like I said, if that's the case then NU should go blight a different neighborhood, not Streeterville. I wouldn't be complaining about a big parking structure in the IMD, where the location and transportation network imply a much higher proportion of trips of all types should be arriving by car anyway.

^ Yep. Plus, unlike pretty much every other type of office district, hospitals are open and actively humming along 24-7, 365 days a year.

Employees are coming in & out around the clock, as are "customers" (patients and their families).

I loathe parking as much as the next guy, but in the case of major hospitals I"m just not sure how one can get around not having parking.

I am absolutely NOT proposing there be no parking. Just that employees shouldn't be actively encouraged to drive to work downtown, and those who do want to drive downtown to work (whatever their reason... that's their business) should pay accordingly. If you're going to work at an odd hour, you'll pay a commensurately lower rate, and again I would love to see proof that more spaces are needed for employees working the grave shift because I have strong doubts that there is presently an overnight shortage of parking.

The issue with just letting "the market" take care of parking supply in very high density areas is that traffic impacts bus service too, so more cars on the road make bus travel that much less reliable, that much slower, and thus that much less attractive an option. Of course, "the market" can take care of parking demand via appropriate pricing schemes.

[VivaLFuego]

good point. and it'd be a whole lot easier to disgusted with the city for it's decent into auto-dependancy if the CTA weren't a complete and miserable failure. i mean, lately i've actually been considering buying a car, or at least a motor bike, because the CTA is just unacceptable. i blame the CTA for the number of car-parks and garages that plague our city.


oh and whywhywhy, you're supposed to COUNT on being late... haven't you seen the signs that tell you to ALLOW EXTRA TRAVEL TIME / LEAVE EARLIER.
:haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: isn't it absurd to think that more than hour is an acceptable amount of time for 'rapid' transit to take you less than 4 miles?

I have a car that I use a few times a week, give or take.

I don't drive it to work, nor do I store it in the most high-density area of the region for 9+ hours a day, 5+ days a week, during peak demand/business hours. That would be expensive - and it should be expensive. And if my job were important enough that people's lives depended on it (it's not, and people don't... bless tup and whyhuhwhy for their work), I would probably be making a high enough salary that the cost to park daily wouldn't be a deterrent.

This is an important distinction. Because offhand it sure as hell sounds like NU wants to build enough parking spaces for the peak demand point, which is just the urban equivalent of a suburban strip mall with acres and acres of parking that go underutilized except for the absolute peak 15 minute period on the Day After Thanksgiving but otherwise sit there the rest of the year, a festering cancer on the urban fabric.

By all means though, I'm sure making public transit an ever less attractive option is the best way to whip those slackers at CTA into shape.

[the urban politician]

I am absolutely NOT proposing there be no parking. Just that employees shouldn't be actively encouraged to drive to work downtown, and those who do want to drive downtown to work (whatever their reason... that's their business) should pay accordingly. If you're going to work at an odd hour, you'll pay a commensurately lower rate, and again I would love to see proof that more spaces are needed for employees working the grave shift because I have strong doubts that there is presently an overnight shortage of parking.

The issue with just letting "the market" take care of parking in very high density areas is that traffic impacts bus service too, so more cars on the road make bus travel that much less reliable, that much slower, and thus that much less attractive an option.

^ What makes you think that this parking will be free for its employees?

I parked at the hospital garage where I worked in Queens and I still had $120/month deducted from my paycheck as a hospital employee.

While I believe NWU will subsidize the cost of parking for the higher level talent that it competes to attract (physicians, upper level administration, highly skilled nurses, etc), I don't see it wasting money on the respiratory techs, custodial staff, secretaries, human resources staff, etc etc who certainly are clinging to their jobs in this economy. A large 1300 spot garage in the middle of downtown Chicago is by all means not a cheap thing to build & maintain.

I just checked NWU Hospital's website--under benefits is "discounted" employee parking--not the same as "free."

Trust me, as a physician who paid $120/month (which was my "discount") in Queens as opposed to paying absolutely nothing to park at my new hospital in Wisconsin, that adds up to a lot of money. I still chose to sometimes drive to work in New York, but if I was trying to save on some dough I would still highly consider mass transit even with the option to park at a so-called "discount".

[VivaLFuego]

I'll listen to reason if the demand studies justify such a huge garage. Intuitively, I think the vast majority of garage spaces in Streeterville will go underutilized for most hours of the year, and already are - on weekends it's pretty easy to hop the elevator to the roofs of the garages in the hospital area for a pleasant rooftop urban retreat far removed from the handful of cars parked on the lower levels. Granted Children's will add much more demand to the area as well, I just doubt that any analysis went into this behemoth downtown garage other than 'what's the maximum amount of spaces we can build at the lowest cost per space given existing legal and site constraints?'

Which is, well, bad planning that will have unintended consequences. Think 1300 additional cars in rush hour won't impact Lakeshore Drive, Fairbanks, Ohio, Illinois, etc? There's a reason why suburban towers-in-parks-with-mammoth-garages-because-everyone-drives are universally fed by a network of 6-lane, 40+ mph arterials funneling people off expressways.

A large 1300 spot garage in the middle of downtown Chicago is by all means not a cheap thing to build & maintain.

The land would presumably be tax-exempt given the ownership, so we're not talking about the opportunity cost of the underlying land value being born as a 'cost' by NU or passed on to its employees. Of course, the way property tax exemptions encourage crap land use (or the almost solid square block of surface parking at Chicago/State) is a whole 'nother topic...

[lawfin]

^ What makes you think that this parking will be free for its employees?

I parked at the hospital garage where I worked in Queens and I still had $120/month deducted from my paycheck as a hospital employee.

While I believe NWU will subsidize the cost of parking for the higher level talent that it competes to attract (physicians, upper level administration, highly skilled nurses, etc), I don't see it wasting money on the respiratory techs, custodial staff, secretaries, human resources staff, etc etc who certainly are clinging to their jobs in this economy. A large 1300 spot garage in the middle of downtown Chicago is by all means not a cheap thing to build & maintain.

I just checked NWU Hospital's website--under benefits is "discounted" employee parking--not the same as "free."

Trust me, as a physician who paid $120/month (which was my "discount") in Queens as opposed to paying absolutely nothing to park at my new hospital in Wisconsin, that adds up to a lot of money. I still chose to sometimes drive to work in New York, but if I was trying to save on some dough I would still highly consider mass transit even with the option to park at a so-called "discount".

We have been witnessing the reactionary TUP devolve before us from the most strident Urban enthusiast to an autocentric defender...the irony and humor is palpable

[J_M_Tungsten]

^^^ How? TUP's logic makes perfect sense.

[FlashingLights]

TUP is right some of you people are so unrealistic and are to ultra obsessed with everything being "urbanized" that you sometimes need a reality check.

[AdrianXSands]

oops, sorry.

[emathias]

...
The land would presumably be tax-exempt given the ownership, so we're not talking about the opportunity cost of the underlying land value being born as a 'cost' by NU or passed on to its employees. Of course, the way property tax exemptions encourage crap land use (or the almost solid square block of surface parking at Chicago/State) is a whole 'nother topic...

Yeah, we downtown residents LOVE to subsidize things that reduce our quality of life - it's such a pleasure.

I don't think stand-alone parking garages should ever be tax-exempt, regardless of who owns the land.

[ChicagoChicago]

^^^^
I suppose I always view parking garages as just part of the hospital, particularly in Chicago. I'm willing to cut hospitals some slack in the 'addition to auto-centricity' complaint, considering most people not working in a hospital are generally there on the worst day of their lives.

[VivaLFuego]

TUP is right some of you people are so unrealistic and are to ultra obsessed with everything being "urbanized" that you sometimes need a reality check.

I am not proposing a hospital have no parking - I doubt any others are, either. Of course a hospital is a much different animal in terms of trip generation and trip purpose compared to an office tower, a residential highrise, a retail center. And of course having parking available (at some price) is mandatory.

But I strongly reject the notion that hospitals should have unlimited/maximum day-long car storage available at minimal cost irrespective of their location and context (not even getting into how our society's treatment of hospitals as non-profit, tax-exempt land uses even further distorts land use decisions, as previously alluded to). First, it is important to distinguish between types of parking, and the important distinction between occasional visitors (e.g. patients/families/consultants) and people who are there every day, all day (commuters).

If this gargantuan garage were being proposed because of a demonstrated shortage of visitor/short-term parking, I wouldn't be objecting. It's the fact that it's for the express purpose of providing parking for commuting employees downtown that is troubling.

[the urban politician]

^ I guess I can understand your frustration, Viva. Truth is, NWU has the money to build the garage and wants to build it for its employees, and even though it won't have to pay taxes on it it will still have to pay the expense toward building maintenance, staffing, power, garage-related paraphernalia (stickers, cards, etc etc). If NWU can afford to do it, and if it brings a couple extra thousand people downtown every day to sometimes patronize local businesses, then so be it. I think Children's moving downtown is still worth it, considering that they were also considering a move to the suburbs.

I don't know any major University hospital in any city that doesn't provide parking. Even Cornell in Manhattan's Upper East Side has multiple garages available for visitors and employees

[the urban politician]

Here's Bellevue Hospital, or NYU Medical Center's parking plan. This hospital is on the east side of Manhattan and is much more well-served by mass transit than Northwestern/Children's Memorial are.

As you can see, there are plenty of parking facilities and 2 facilities devoted entirely to employee parking. For limited staff there is permit parking. I only use this as an example because, on these forums, NYC is the ideal model of urbanism everyone aspires to, so if hospitals in Manhattan have employee parking facilities then I guess Chicago is doing okay:

http://redaf.med.nyu.edu/real-estate-housing-and-parking/parking-and-transportation/employee-parking

http://redaf.med.nyu.edu/files/redaf/u4/empparking.jpg

Employee Parking
Summary
The on-site parking facilities of NYU Langone Medical Center are managed by the Department of Real Estate Development and Facilities (RED+F). Three of the six parking facilities (Lots C and D and the Bellevue lot) are designated solely for employee parking.

Two of the remaining parking facilities (Lots A and B) are reserved for visitors, patients, and limited staff. Lot E is generally available to the public, although its use will be more restricted during construction of the new Ambulatory Surgery Center. Valet parking is available from the front entrance of the Medical Center. Parking is not permitted anywhere else on the property of the Medical Center. All of the facilities are operated by Rapid Parking under a management agreement administered by RED+F.

Employee parking is available only through a permit system. Employees who qualify for on-site parking are issued parking permits allowing them access to a designated employee parking lot at the discounted employee rate. Due to the high demand for and the limited supply of on-site parking at the Medical Center, permits are not readily available. Currently, employees requesting parking permits are placed on a waiting list to be notified when space is available. It is the current practice of the Medical Center that nurses are given the highest priority for permit parking. Permits are annually renewable.

[VivaLFuego]

Employees who qualify for on-site parking are issued parking permits allowing them access to a designated employee parking lot at the discounted employee rate. Due to the high demand for and the limited supply of on-site parking at the Medical Center, permits are not readily available. Currently, employees requesting parking permits are placed on a waiting list to be notified when space is available. It is the current practice of the Medical Center that nurses are given the highest priority for permit parking.

If NU is proposing a similar scheme (though frankly I'd even like/advocate on-call doctors having parking availability as well) then I'd be for it, but that sure ain't the sense I'm getting.

Besides, if there is such a shortage of available supply relative to demand, then it is evident that the hospital is applying too large of an employee discount to the price of its parking. By underpricing their parking the hospital is basically administering a cross-subsidizing welfare scheme for its employees.

I don't advocate against the provision of off-street parking - there is nothing inherently bad or unvirtuous about driving a car to a destination. I advocate against the provision of underpriced, subsidized off-street parking.

Anyway,
http://frederatorblogs.com/channel_frederator/files/2009/06/beating_a_dead_horse1.gif

[cbotnyse]

Roosevelt Collection going rental. buyers given money back.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=35067

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

oops, sorry.

:haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha:

[Nowhereman1280]

...the irony and humor is palpable

So is your habit of useless personal attacks and arrogance...

Anyhow, I really don't see what problem people have with limited uses of parking. The doctor exception is real and needs to be realized. However, in the event that their promise to limit the parking to employees turns out to be BS, then I am outright against building that garage. Also, I feel like a lot of employees already find parking in the other garages in the area and therefore this garage, even if it is reserved, would still increase the supply of parking for everyone by drawing doctors and staff out of neighboring garages. Also, I hate Northwestern's downtown campus, they are destroying the whole section of the city...

[J_M_Tungsten]

Just found this on the 2nd wards webpage.

http://chicago2ndward.com/

Old Post Office: The building formerly home to the Post Office at 401-439 W. Van Buren will be utterly transformed into another focal point for business and residence. When complete the building will contain 300 housing units, 230 hotel rooms, 825 parking spaces, 450,000 square feet of office space, and 75,000 square feet of retail space. Once again this development I have striven for will bring jobs, businesses, and more residents to our Ward

Is this old news, thought I would have heard something about this were all going to happen?

[Busy Bee]

That's got to be old news.

[rascacielos]

Just found this on the 2nd wards webpage.

http://chicago2ndward.com/

Old Post Office: The building formerly home to the Post Office at 401-439 W. Van Buren will be utterly transformed into another focal point for business and residence. When complete the building will contain 300 housing units, 230 hotel rooms, 825 parking spaces, 450,000 square feet of office space, and 75,000 square feet of retail space. Once again this development I have striven for will bring jobs, businesses, and more residents to our Ward

Is this old news, thought I would have heard something about this were all going to happen?


That's old news. The entire building goes up for action at the end of the month: http://www.ricklevin.com/auctionDetails.aspx?aid=212

[Hayward]

Roosevelt Collection going rental. buyers given money back.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=35067

I called the leasing office about renting, and for some odd reason I felt they weren't all that enthusiastic. I was asking some pretty important questions and they were having a difficult time answering. Then I was put on hold and I hung up after 10 minutes. I later found the website, and found all the details there. C'mon people, lease those units!

Fortunately, I'll brush this aside and consider them again if I don't find anything better soon.

[VivaLFuego]

^ the rental rates for 1 bedrooms posted in the news do seem incredibly low and competitive, particularly for new construction. Is the catch the unit size, or are they really just hoping to cut the BS and speed up occupancy to improve the near-term cash flow situation of the property?

[TorancisOMP]

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs182.snc1/6052_129914296063_605241063_3231155_400334_n.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs162.snc1/6052_129914261063_605241063_3231152_4311051_n.jpg

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs162.snc1/6052_129914276063_605241063_3231153_4035304_n.jpg

Can anyone explain what this place is. Seeing these man hole all the time down the Stevenson Expy, drives me nuts. I finally had the chance to see it up close.

-
-
-

[Busy Bee]

Isn't part of the deep tunnel project?

[emathias]

^ the rental rates for 1 bedrooms posted in the news do seem incredibly low and competitive, particularly for new construction. Is the catch the unit size, or are they really just hoping to cut the BS and speed up occupancy to improve the near-term cash flow situation of the property?

I think they probably want the cash flow, and they probably don't plan on keeping it rental for any longer than they have to, so getting them filled quickly to get some revenue flowing is better than waiting a year to find a high-dollar renter just to turn round and sell it in 36 months.

[Mr Downtown]

The Deep Tunnel project includes several reservoirs to store storm runoff until it can be treated and released. There's one off the Addams Tollway near O'Hare, one under construction at the former MWRDGC drying fields beside I-55, and another planned for part of the Thornton Quarry south of the Tri-State Tollway:

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/3720.html

[aic4ever]

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs182.snc1/6052_129914296063_605241063_3231155_400334_n.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs162.snc1/6052_129914261063_605241063_3231152_4311051_n.jpg

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs162.snc1/6052_129914276063_605241063_3231153_4035304_n.jpg

Can anyone explain what this place is. Seeing these man hole all the time down the Stevenson Expy, drives me nuts. I finally had the chance to see it up close.

-
-
-

http://www.value-eng.org/pdf_docs/2003FedGovVMConf/Chicago_Underflow_Plan_BushCOE.pdf

[TorancisOMP]

http://www.value-eng.org/pdf_docs/2003FedGovVMConf/Chicago_Underflow_Plan_BushCOE.pdf

aic4ever, great information. Thanks. Does anyone know why the CS thread is closed?

[harryc]

Slow but steady Aug 4
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SogTADS4qdI/AAAAAAABZ0M/Pv74WukV6rE/s800/P1490303.JPG

[harryc]

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/Sog7Pd4mcII/AAAAAAABZ6A/xq8kQOnj2GE/s800/P1480034.JPG

New antenna (stubby cylinder on Right (E)
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/Sog7P0ixsfI/AAAAAAABZ6I/5z53_sY5BSQ/s800/P1490965.JPG

[JMO_0121]

:previous: Woe, whats going on in the middle?

[harryc]

:previous: Woe, whats going on in the middle?

Scaffolding is down now,

On another note - 540 Fairbanks
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/Soh-ThxTqQI/AAAAAAABaBE/h9RmT-n6M90/s800/P1490473.JPG

[Mojava]

^^^I'm sure this makes south facing condo owners at 600 N Fairbanks very happy.

[ChicagoChicago]

Wow, that new antennae on Aon looks horrendous. Like a giant hot water heater on the roof...

[Mr Downtown]

^From further away it looks more like a tampon applicator.

[Via Chicago]

[IMG]http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-
Can anyone explain what this place is. Seeing these man hole all the time down the Stevenson Expy, drives me nuts. I finally had the chance to see it up close.

-
-
-

This is a really interesting video on the deep tunnel project, if youve never seen it

Cvl9jIhMk-w

[spyguy]

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=35154

Northwestern Memorial seeks OK for $73M project
By: Mike Colias Aug. 17, 2009

...Northwestern plans to add 24 medical/surgical beds and 12 observation beds on Galter’s 9th floor and a 24-bed intensive care unit on the 10th floor. The 13th floor would house a 29-bed psychiatric unit, which would be relocated from its existing psychiatric facility at the Stone Pavilion, on the site of the old Prentice women’s hospital.

...Northwestern describes the project as a “bridge” to give it breathing room until it’s able to build another pavilion on the former Lakeside Veterans Affairs hospital site at 333 E. Huron St., which is adjacent to the Feinberg Pavilion. Development of that site is several years out, Northwestern’s application says. The hospital is in negotiations with Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, which owns 30% of the property.

[denizen467]

New antenna (stubby cylinder on Right (E)
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/Sog7P0ixsfI/AAAAAAABZ6I/5z53_sY5BSQ/s800/P1490965.JPG

Wow, that new antennae on Aon looks horrendous. Like a giant hot water heater on the roof...

harryc, do you know this is an antenna, or is it an educated guess, or is it a semi-wild guess? If really an antenna, does anyone know why it would be this shape and size -- is it a broadcast antenna as opposed to just a receiving antenna?

[spyguy]

http://www.chitowndailynews.org/Chicago_news/CHA_okays_demolition_of_South_Side_church_building,31440

CHA okays demolition of South Side church building
By Adrian G. Uribarri

Chicago Housing Authority officials this morning approved the demolition of a vacant and deteriorating church that the agency purchased in 1993.

The 11,350 square-foot property at 3600 S. Vincennes Ave. is part of what is known as the Madden/Wells Revitalization Area in Chicago's South Side. The former church was built in the 1870s.

[wrabbit]

EDIT: I've moved the Burnham Pavilion pics to their own thread in General Development at http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=172708

[ChicagoChicago]

^^^^
I'll never understand how an area with so much history can to fall to waste like that.

[Via Chicago]

http://www.chitowndailynews.org/Chicago_news/CHA_okays_demolition_of_South_Side_church_building,31440

CHA okays demolition of South Side church building
By Adrian G. Uribarri

Chicago Housing Authority officials this morning approved the demolition of a vacant and deteriorating church that the agency purchased in 1993.

The 11,350 square-foot property at 3600 S. Vincennes Ave. is part of what is known as the Madden/Wells Revitalization Area in Chicago's South Side. The former church was built in the 1870s.

Can someone explain to me why the CHA bought this, and then proceeded to let it rot for 15 years?

[ardecila]

http://www.chitowndailynews.org/Chicago_news/CHA_okays_demolition_of_South_Side_church_building,31440

CHA okays demolition of South Side church building
By Adrian G. Uribarri

Chicago Housing Authority officials this morning approved the demolition of a vacant and deteriorating church that the agency purchased in 1993.

The 11,350 square-foot property at 3600 S. Vincennes Ave. is part of what is known as the Madden/Wells Revitalization Area in Chicago's South Side. The former church was built in the 1870s.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2376460764_f97541346b.jpg?v=0
Lee Bey

Link to Lee's photo gallery (http://leebey.com/blog1/2009/07/last_rites_sixth_prez.html)

[wrabbit]

^ Very sad-making about Sixth Pres.

[spyguy]

http://www.hpherald.com/

U. of C. abruptly begins demo of Harper Ct.

The University of Chicago unceremoniously began demolition of Harper Court last Friday, when the jaws of a piece of heavy construction equipment tore into the back of the space formerly occupied by Dixie Kitchen.
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/3943/60567157.jpg
tompin/ twitpic (http://twitpic.com/e8oo0)

---
http://www.hpherald.com/

Dead or alive: a roundup of developments in Hyde Park and Kenwood
The Shops and Lofts at 47

...City planners and Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th) didn't want to let the deal die, so early this year they introduced legislation that would allow the city to buy the land - 15 parcels in all. Their stated goal: to hand it over to Mahogany when the economy improves, so that some version of the original Shops and Lofts plan (probably minus the hard-to-finance condos) can still go forward.

[spyguy]

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=35179

City bonds, TIF money possible for Bronzeville project
By Eddie Baeb, Aug. 19, 2009

The Daley administration is upping its efforts to help Capri Capital Partners LLC finance its proposed Metropolis retail development in Bronzeville.

Mayor Richard Daley wants the city to issue up to $28 million in “Enterprise Zone” bonds for the already-downsized $50-million project, which is to be anchored by a Roundy’s grocery store.
---
http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=35177

2 Gold Coast sites face foreclosure
By Andrew Schroedter, Aug. 19, 2009

...In the larger of the two suits, Anglo Irish Bank Corp. is seeking to collect $33.2 million for the nearly half-acre Esquire site at 58-104 E. Oak St., where Mr. Hunt had once planned to demolish the 1930s-era theater, known for its vertical neon marquee, and build a boutique hotel.

...Separately, Anglo Irish filed to foreclose on the former Cedar Hotel, a mostly empty building that Mr. Hunt owns at 1112-1118 N. State St., seeking to collect nearly $18.7 million. As with the Esquire property, Mr. Hunt wanted to bring a trendy hotel to the site, but a deal with Morgans Hotel Group Co. collapsed late last year amid the deepening the financial crisis.

[ardecila]

Recovering a touch of greatness: Sullivan facades in Loop are now complete
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2009/08/recov... (http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2009/08/recovering-a-touch-of-greatness-sullivan-facades-in-loop-are-now-complete-.html)

It's a small dose of Louis Sullivan's dazzling ornament, but architecture buffs will take it all the same.

The handsome restoration of two Sullivan-designed cast-iron facades in the Loop, including one discovered during construction, is finally complete. Developer Joseph Freed and Associates will hold a private reception Wednesday to mark the milestone, which represents a happy exception to a rash of Sullivan debacles.

Meanwhile, the scaffolding along the State and Madison Street sides of Sullivan's former Carson Pirie Scott & Co. store -- one of his masterpieces, with lush cast-iron ornament wrapping the building's base -- is scheduled to come down by late October.

The delicious small storefronts on Wabash are the appetizer to that main course.

Now they just need tenants. Freed says it is in talks with restaurants and retailers.

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

I'm not sure if it's been discussed, but what's going on at the site of the Sports Corner bar at Sheffield and Addison? I was driving by last night and noticed they were possibly trying to emulate the old facade in the new building?

[pip]

^yeah i see it everyday. they have done a good job on that building

[emathias]

harryc, do you know this is an antenna, or is it an educated guess, or is it a semi-wild guess? If really an antenna, does anyone know why it would be this shape and size -- is it a broadcast antenna as opposed to just a receiving antenna?

I think it's a transistor, as they transform AON into the world's largest transistor radio.

[k1052]

It would be nice to see the Esquire operate again sans terrible Loews (then AMC) management. Some money would definitely have to be spent getting it into shape again after such a long period of neglect by Loews and then going dark for several years.

[ardecila]

Specialty food shops on menu in West Loop commuter marketplace (http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=35193)
By Lorene Yue, Aug. 19, 2009

(Crain’s) — Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine joins a list of specialty food stores set for a late-October debut at the MetraMarket’s French Market.

U.S. Equities Realty, developer of the European-style market taking shape in the Ogilvie Transportation Center concourse in the West Loop, announced Wednesday the names of roughly half the tenants expected for the 15,000-square-foot space.

They include:

* Albano’s Deli, an Italian specialty store.
* Canady Le Chocolatier.
* Chicago Organics grocery store.
* Completely Nuts.
* Flip Crepes.
* Fraternite Notre Dame bakery.
* Sweet Miss Giving’s bakery.
* Vanille Patisserie pastry shop.
* Wisconsin Cheese Mart.

Other MetraMarket tenants include a CVS drugstore and an Expression by Lavazza Italian café.

Retail leases launch Presidential Towers redevelopment (http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=35101)
By Eddie Baeb, Aug. 12, 2009

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/6/preztowershealthclubren.jpg

(Crain’s) — A health club and a trendy breakfast restaurant have signed leases to become the first new retail tenants at Presidential Towers in the West Loop, paving the way for a major redevelopment to take place beginning later this year.

Chicago-based Fitness Formula Ltd. has leased 52,043 square feet that will be spread over two levels along Clinton Street, where a glass-enclosed, three-story atrium will be built to replace a loading dock there now.

The restaurant Yolk has leased 4,200 square feet just south of the new gym that will also front Clinton between Madison and Monroe streets.

One deal that didn’t come together for Presidential Towers was a CVS drugstore, Mr. Kaplan says. Sources had said Woonsocket, R.I.-based CVS Caremark Corp. signed a letter of intent last year.

A gourmet market is now looking at the CVS space, at the northeast corner of Jefferson and Monroe streets, while the complex’s current grocer, Presidential Market, is also in talks about renewing its lease, says Waterton’s Mr. Schwartz.

[the urban politician]

City planners and Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th) didn't want to let the deal die, so early this year they introduced legislation that would allow the city to buy the land - 15 parcels in all. Their stated goal: to hand it over to Mahogany when the economy improves, so that some version of the original Shops and Lofts plan (probably minus the hard-to-finance condos) can still go forward.

:rolleyes: ^ Oh, boy--we've seen what happens to mixed use developments in Bronzeville when the residential portion is removed. For some reason, developers and the city can only think in two frames of mind--either 1) multilevel building with ground level retail, or 2) completely suburban strip mall.

We'll see if the Alderman and the developer can actually make something worth building out of this, or whether it will join the list of developments that do nothing to make the south side worth paying a visit to.

[AdrianXSands]

I'm not sure if it's been discussed, but what's going on at the site of the Sports Corner bar at Sheffield and Addison? I was driving by last night and noticed they were possibly trying to emulate the old facade in the new building?

who knows? it looks as thought the new building was built to be a replica of the old.

the old building was torn down because it was falling apart, right? if not, it seems a little odd to tear something down just to rebuilt a new version of the same thing...

[aic4ever]

Can someone explain to me why the CHA bought this, and then proceeded to let it rot for 15 years?

Because the CHA is stupid.

[wrabbit]

So that they could cite its decrepit state as a public safety hazard in order to get it out of the way?

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Why did the CHA build the Robert Taylor Homes, stuff them with more than two times their capacity of residents, then proceed to allow them to decay into a decrepit state of gang warfare and physical hazards? Maybe because the government sucks at deciding the best use of a piece of real estate?

If CHA wanted to be effective they would simply provide vouchers to their "clients" to subsidize or completely pay for them to live in regular apartments like the rest of us. I feel like not segregating the poor might help to alleviate the segregation of the poor? But that's a whole other story for another thread. Point is I hate the CHA and all their dumb ideas...

[ardecila]

^^ You mean, like, umm, Section 8?

There's evidence that segregation happens even under the supposedly free market of Section 8... search The Atlantic for an article with a good overview of the problem.

[denizen467]

Ok, it is an antenna. (^Good guess with "transistor" though.)

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2009/08/aon.html

Cityscapes
by Blair Kamin

What's 'that thing' atop the Aon Center? Three guesses: A) an antenna; B) a Homeland Security device; C) one of Mayor Daley's cameras

...

It's a communications antenna. Erected in July, the antenna has three transmitters, one of which is leased to Chicago radio station WDRV, according to Brooke Houghton, a spokeswoman for Jones Lang LaSalle, the tower's property manager.

"It brings additional revenue to the building," Houghton said. "We don't think it takes away from the iconic stature of the building or the aesthetics of the skyline."

...

[the urban politician]

I visited the area around Lawrence and Kedzie for the first time ever (yeah I know, it's sad that I hadn't yet made it out there).

I was really impressed. Does anyone know if efforts are being made to maintain that area's pedestrian character? I saw a few newish strip malls in the area.

I can't find that list of Pedestrian Streets (Zoning Ordinance doesn't seem to be loading up), but I would be surprised of at east some portions of Lawrence in Albany Park isn't designated as such. If not, it seems like it would be worth the effort.

On another note, in 2008 Ald Levar and the city/community came up with a Jefferson Park development plan. For those of you who are concerned about that part of town being underdeveloped, the plan calls for higher densities near the transit node and new development that helps shape the street edge. It's still a draft, but the existence of this plan is good news that at least something is being done to address development in that part of town. The plan is here: http://egov.cityofchicago.org:80/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0652232045.1250876374@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadeidlhjdidcefecelldffhdfho.0&contentOID=537051235&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Dept&entityName=Zoning+and+Land+Use+Planning&deptMainCategoryOID=-536903230&blockName=Zoning+and+Land+Use+Planning/Content&context=dept

[the urban politician]

I visited the area around Lawrence and Kedzie for the first time ever (yeah I know, it's sad that I hadn't yet made it out there).

I was really impressed. Does anyone know if efforts are being made to maintain that area's pedestrian character? I saw a few newish strip malls in the area.

I can't find that list of Pedestrian Streets (Zoning Ordinance doesn't seem to be loading up), but I would be surprised of at east some portions of Lawrence in Albany Park isn't designated as such. If not, it seems like it would be worth the effort.


^ Well, I found the pedestrian street designations here (http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Illinois/chicagozoning/title17chicagozoningordinance/chapter17-3businessandcommercialdistrict?f=templates$fn=document-frame.htm$3.0#JD_Ch.17-3), it's interesting that Lawrence isn't included.

There are a lot of strips that are very pedestrian friendly that aren't designated pedestrians streets. For example, Devon is only designated a pedestrian street west of Western, yet it remains a seamless street of storefronts for about 3-4 blocks east of Western as well.

Does anybody know why this designation isn't more comprehensive? One becomes curious what the decision making process was when the zoning rewrite was occurring.

[nomarandlee]

http://www.suntimes.com/business/1727766,CST-NWS-plan21.article


City plan would move Lake Shore Drive east
$15.6 BILLION |
More bike, walking paths, W. Loop transit hub
Comments

August 21, 2009

BY DAVID ROEDER droeder@suntimes.com

A guide for downtown growth through 2020 that calls for $15.6 billion in public works was endorsed Thursday by the Chicago Plan Commission.

The Chicago Central Area Action Plan would allocate most of the spending for transportation projects. The most expensive would be a $6 billion West Loop transit hub beneath Clinton Street with a multilevel connection between Metra and CTA service.

Other big-ticket items include $1.5 billion for CTA express train service to the airports and $500 million for a landscaped roof over the Kennedy Expy. from Monroe to Washington, around which new office buildings could be added.

A project budgeted at $377 million would move part of Lake Shore Drive east from Navy Pier to the Oak Street curve, creating space for bike and pedestrian paths. It also could make the road safer for motorists by straightening a sharp curve around Oak Street Beach.

More broadly, the plan sketches how the city should look if forecasts for growth hold true. It assigns importance to green space and waterfront access but emphasizes roadway and transit changes to speed the movement of people.

It recommends four new CTA L stations near downtown and two pedestrian bridges over the Chicago River, one in the West Loop and the other in Streeterville. The plan's text and graphics are posted on the Web site of the city's Department of Zoning and Land Use Planning.

Each project will require its own review, said downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (43rd), who supports the plan. "It helps guide future discussions about downtown development. It doesn't dictate them," he said.

The commission's unanimous vote is the final action and makes the document official city policy. No City Council action is required because no law was made. While the document includes cost estimates and plans for raising the money, it offers no funding guarantee. Individual projects may have to be deferred for years or may never happen.

The plan was aired in front of downtown area civic groups in recent months and drew support. One critic who addressed the Plan Commission, South Loop resident Enrique Perez, criticized it for opening the door to taller buildings in his neighborhood. He said rapid development already has overwhelmed the sewers and utility lines.

The report said the projects are attainable even amid fiscal austerity if the city can raise money from tax-increment financing, which diverts property taxes from regular government expenses, or obtain federal and state aid. It acknowledged that the aid might be tied to a 2016 Summer Olympics but said the projects are possible even if the city's application is rejected.

The authors are principally officials with city planning agencies or consultants working for them. Benet Haller, director of urban design for the city's Department of Zoning and Land Use Planning, said the proposed expenses aren't out of line with recent budgets for capital projects.


..

[wrabbit]

Wow- 6 billion is a whole lotta clams for a transit hub. Not that I'm complaining, necessarily.

A green roof over the Kennedy would be awesome.

Hopefully, the city can use some of those LSE funds to restore the pedestrian axis to Buckingham Fountain/Queen's Landing/the lake.

[ChicagoChicago]

Somebody help me out with why they need to fix the Oak St. curve. The Wacker Dr. onramp's proximity to Michigan Ave onramp screws traffic up more than anything else. What they really need to do is just eliminate the ability to turn left onto Chicago Ave, get rid of half the stoplights on LSD around that stretch, and sink LSD between Monroe and Roosevelt.

[jstush04]

One critic who addressed the Plan Commission, South Loop resident Enrique Perez, criticized it for opening the door to taller buildings in his neighborhood. He said rapid development already has overwhelmed the sewers and utility lines.

if guys like enrique would shut their damn mouths, maybe the sewers would stop filling up. however, this guy should get credit for coming up with an excuse I haven't heard out of a NIMBY before. But yeah, he trusts they can build tall buildings, but not increase power distribution capacity? :shrug:

[the urban politician]

if guys like enrique would shut their damn mouths, maybe the sewers would stop filling up

:haha: Witty..

[Via Chicago]

Wow- 6 billion is a whole lotta clams for a transit hub. Not that I'm complaining, necessarily.

A green roof over the Kennedy would be awesome.


They've been talking about green roofs over various expressways for decades now..same thing has been proposed repeatedly in Oak Park over the Eisenhower. I doubt any of that will happen in my lifetime, if ever, but its nice to dream.

[wrabbit]

The new(ish) super-sized mega-biggie Whole Foods on Kingsbury:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/3843569785_2ed5f85bbc_b.jpg

[wrabbit]

Trippy ink-blot psychedelia on 202 S State. Anyone know what is going in here?


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2657/3843572231_ebbc50a383_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/3844413024_4575b27e0e_b.jpg

[the urban politician]

The new(ish) super-sized mega-biggie Whole Foods on Kingsbury:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/3843569785_2ed5f85bbc_b.jpg

^ Are those old streetcar tracks?

[BWChicago]

Trippy ink-blot psychedelia on 202 S State. Anyone know what is going in here?


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2657/3843572231_ebbc50a383_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/3844413024_4575b27e0e_b.jpg

They seem to be doing beautification work on the federal plaza buildings. The old "Chicago's Ugliest" building that used to have Mr. Submarine on Jackson has been rehabbed too. The Century building has had this weird permanent scaffold/canopy built that attaches directly to the structure, too.

[ardecila]

^^ That's the North American Building, currently owned by the Federal gov't. It really needs a comprehensive renovation, but GSA can't decide whether they want to tear it down or not for a Federal expansion.

In the meantime, the Feds need to establish a baseline of safety and prevent chunks of the building from harming pedestrians; hence the steel sidewalk canopy. The printed patterns at ground level are kinda weird, but they look to be merely window covering for an intact storefront system. The Feds could possibly get a retail tenant in there to defray their basic upkeep costs, and then kick them out once plans for the site are finalized.

BWChicago - I really like what they've done with the former Mr. Submarine building. Mies would undoubtedly hate the pattern they've painted onto it, but the result is a building that matches the reserved, formal, and clean look of Mies' buildings (if not their dogma) and removes one more blighted blemish from the Loop area.

[Mr Downtown]

^ Are those old streetcar tracks on Kingsbury?

No. Milwaukee Road train tracks.

[BWChicago]

^^ That's the North American Building, currently owned by the Federal gov't. It really needs a comprehensive renovation, but GSA can't decide whether they want to tear it down or not for a Federal expansion.

In the meantime, the Feds need to establish a baseline of safety and prevent chunks of the building from harming pedestrians; hence the steel sidewalk canopy. The printed patterns at ground level are kinda weird, but they look to be merely window covering for an intact storefront system. The Feds could possibly get a retail tenant in there to defray their basic upkeep costs, and then kick them out once plans for the site are finalized.

BWChicago - I really like what they've done with the former Mr. Submarine building. Mies would undoubtedly hate the pattern they've painted onto it, but the result is a building that matches the reserved, formal, and clean look of Mies' buildings (if not their dogma) and removes one more blighted blemish from the Loop area.

It is the Century Building, formerly Buck & Rayner. Built 1915, Holabird & Roche. I think the pattern is inspired by the terra cotta. The North American is at State and Monroe, with Blick Art Supplies in the retail space.

Here's a few more pictures:
18 W. Jackson Building:
http://i31.tinypic.com/2nm12kg.jpg
Before
http://i27.tinypic.com/4kyy68.jpg
During
http://i27.tinypic.com/345h6pc.jpg
After

Personally I think it looked fine even before the stencil.

And the Century:
http://i31.tinypic.com/2q80j5u.jpg

[BVictor1]

Somebody help me out with why they need to fix the Oak St. curve. The Wacker Dr. onramp's proximity to Michigan Ave onramp screws traffic up more than anything else. What they really need to do is just eliminate the ability to turn left onto Chicago Ave, get rid of half the stoplights on LSD around that stretch, and sink LSD between Monroe and Roosevelt.

Because cars "always" crash at that curve.

The Wacker Dr. onramp's proximity to Michigan Ave onramp screws traffic up more than anything else.
What the hell are you talking about?

They want to make it easier to turn left because of Northwestern.

[VivaLFuego]

Does anybody know why this designation isn't more comprehensive? One becomes curious what the decision making process was when the zoning rewrite was occurring.

Indeed - from a planning and urban design perspective, the "pedestrian street" designation is basically the best thing in the entire zoning code. As with most land use controls, I assume that in some cases that would seem to be strong candidates, various property owners are vociferously opposed.

[Mr Downtown]

^Actually, I believe the pedestrian street designations just appeared in the zoning code rewrite, without any discussion that would flush out "vociferously opposed property owners." I think the listing was sort of done quickly, by staff, and wasn't intended to be the canonical listing. After all, remapping was going to follow as soon as the new code designations were in place. . .

[ChicagoChicago]

Because cars "always" crash at that curve.


What the hell are you talking about?

They want to make it easier to turn left because of Northwestern.If they want to make it easier to turn into NU, then that's fine. Spend $300m fixing that problem. But that curve doesn't slow down shit, and there are very rarely accidents there.

And if you've ever driven North on LSD during rush hour, you'd know what I'm talking about. Michigan and Wacker feed into LSD within a few hundred yards of each other and there is no lane expansion.

[BVictor1]

If they want to make it easier to turn into NU, then that's fine. Spend $300m fixing that problem. But that curve doesn't slow down shit, and there are very rarely accidents there.

And if you've ever driven North on LSD during rush hour, you'd know what I'm talking about. Michigan and Wacker feed into LSD within a few hundred yards of each other and there is no lane expansion.

One reason they want to do this is because during harsh winters, water has been blown up onto the walking pathway and the drive in that area and has frozen. It's also a stretch of lakefront that doesn't have any green space, and Streeterville is one of the densest neighborhoods. The lake slams into the shoreline without any visual softening. The seperation of spaces is for visuals and safety. I know the curve doesn't slow people down, that's the problem. They want to soften the Oak Street curve because there are always accidents there, I've seen plenty.

I think you mean Randolph and Wacker possibly? Michigan Avenue doesn't feed into the drive until after the Oak Street curve.

[wrabbit]

^Yeah - LSD currently cuts off almost all of Streeterville, and most of the Gold Coast, from the lakefront. The Streeterville stretch especially is pretty brutal, with just a few feet of concrete separating the road, the pedestrian/bike paths, and the water.

[ChiPsy]

^Yeah - LSD currently cuts off almost all of Streeterville, and most of the Gold Coast, from the lakefront. The Streeterville stretch especially is pretty brutal, with just a few feet of concrete separating the road, the pedestrian/bike paths, and the water.

Yeah, it's obviously in need of major change -- and I hope it actually happens one day. Speaking of which, how 'bout the Division Street pedestrian tunnel/running sewer under LSD? I heard that was going to be part of the same eventual rebuild, but couldn't they do something -- anything -- in the meantime??

[J_M_Tungsten]

edit