[StatenIslander237]

aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh GLASS.

that really was my reaction.

I'm excited for this project, but I don't have a clear view of the finished product. would someone be kind enough to post some refresher renderings?

[bnk]

:previous:

but is it cheap funhouse glass?

we will see. I lean fh from what I have seen so far.

[hdtvtechno]

WOW
This project is really taking off like a bombshell
Cant wait for the finish product and the News IN HDTV from WBBM :cheers: :banana:

[takascar]

Almost time for a topping out party for the office tower. I count 14 floors of steel so far - 3 more to go!

[Chicago3rd]

^ No, the foundation plans clearly leave room for the CTA connector to be constructed without obstruction. The projects are very coordinated.

That is what I thought. After the Fullerton/Belmont incident I have regained a lot of trust in CTA's coordinatoin of large projects.

[ardecila]

The glass on CBS/Morningstar Tower, from today (5/10):
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/215/492850527_d8ad8b8941.jpg

[honte]

Looks "funhousier" than Trump's glass to me...

[budman]

Almost time for a topping out party for the office tower. I count 14 floors of steel so far - 3 more to go!
^I was next to the tower today and I was crossing the street next to a management-type looking guy with a hardhat discussing the construction with some other people in hardhats, and he pointed to the top of the tower and said "we only have 4 more stories to go".

[i_am_hydrogen]

Taken today:

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/2830/b37bg9.jpg

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2489/b371xb7.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/2760/b373zq9.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/5021/b377lh5.jpg

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3376/b372fj9.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/7834/b378hm4.jpg

Workin hard
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/522/b37workercm6.jpg

[Jersey Mentality]

Well Im glad something is finally happening with Block 37, I have felt it was one of the most prime undeveloped parcels of land anywhere in a central business district in America! It has went years with so many proposals and plans, but nothing. I seemed like it had a curse or something.

[museumparktom]

Here we go:banana: :banana:
Get ready for the 2nd tower to start going up. Anyone have the height of this one?

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l221/Mansmith_2006/DSCN2839.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l221/Mansmith_2006/DSCN2842.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l221/Mansmith_2006/DSCN2840.jpg

[MrLakepoint]

Great pictures "MP-Tom"
If anyone is interested here is a link to the camera that is over looking this project.

http://38.112.40.106:8081/CgiStart?page=Single&Resolution=640x480&Quality=Clarity&RPeriod=0&Size=STD&PresetOperation=Move&Language=0

[woodrow]

Question -

Has anyone seen what the north tower will look like. Given that they are indeed erecting a tower crane, I am curious. Plus, why no marketing for condo's?? What am I missing.

BTW, given the location of the crane, the north tower will front State Street

[takascar]

Question -

Has anyone seen what the north tower will look like. Given that they are indeed erecting a tower crane, I am curious. Plus, why no marketing for condo's?? What am I missing.

BTW, given the location of the crane, the north tower will front State Street

As I understand it (I may be wrong), they haven't decided yet what the residential tower will look like. The Northeast corner (State and Randolph)
is not the residential tower, its part of the retail - Retail fronts on State all the way from Washington to Randolph.

The residential tower, I think, is going to be at Dearborn and Randolph.

[museumparktom]

As I understand it (I may be wrong), they haven't decided yet what the residential tower will look like. The Northeast corner (State and Randolph)
is not the residential tower, its part of the retail - Retail fronts on State all the way from Washington to Randolph.

The residential tower, I think, is going to be at Dearborn and Randolph.

I am constantly amazed that there is so little information on this project. You can't put a steel beam on top of a building with out members of the Chicago threads taking a picture, pulling the permit and having attended the community meeting. But when it comes to B37 even the most seasoned forumers don't seem to have a "full picture" I have seen renderings that would indicate that the N.E tower is the tallest of the 3 - over 30 stories but who knows what real. Very confusing.

[SportsWorld]

is cbs going to be here when completed?

[SamInTheLoop]

I am constantly amazed that there is so little information on this project. You can't put a steel beam on top of a building with out members of the Chicago threads taking a picture, pulling the permit and having attended the community meeting. But when it comes to B37 even the most seasoned forumers don't seem to have a "full picture" I have seen renderings that would indicate that the N.E tower is the tallest of the 3 - over 30 stories but who knows what real. Very confusing.


The recent surprise sale of residential development rights to Freed instead of Golub has led to further confusion. Golub was very clear about what (and when) they intended to do with the residential section (see the renderings on SCB's website - this was 1 condo tower (State and Randolph) and 1 rental tower (Dearborn and Randolph). However, it was implied in the media reports that Mills never secured city approvals to change from the 1 condo tower + 1 hotel tower plan to the apartment + condo tower. Also, it was very clear that Golub intended to immediately build both residential towers beginning in summer 2008 upon completion of the retail podium. So, here we are. Freed has not been at all forthcoming on their plans for the residential (and hotel?) components. I wish they would speak up, and also commit to something right away (frankly 'phasing' of this project is no longer necessary - condos at this location would sell like hotcakes, the rental and hotel markets are humming right along, etc.) What I fear is that they are going to just focus on the retail for now and worry about the residential later. What they really should do is to bring Golub back into the game and form a JV with them on the residential side - Freed doesn't seem to have a tremendous amount of experience in high-rise development...

[VivaLFuego]

I still am amazed that a hotel isn't currently part of this, given the prime State Street/"Theatre District"/Central-Loop-Office-District location, not to mention direct train service to BOTH airports from within the building complex.

[SamInTheLoop]

Also, I don't know that this necessarily has anything to do with one of the other towers...I suppose it's possible it could also be intended to construct them later next year after the podium is complete

[hdtvtechno]

is cbs going to be here when completed?

Yes their new home :D
they gonna have a Awsome all digital High Definition News Studio Digs
:cheers:

[SamInTheLoop]

I'm wondering if they will be constructed with a similar technique as MoMo (concrete on top of steel, perhaps with another massive steel truss system)? Is anybody here familiar with the preliminary (or actually I guess it would already have to be pretty advanced!) structural engineering work for the residential component?

[Lecom]

Am I the only one who would rather have seen the block as the site of some mega-development that would become Chicago's centerpiece, something on the scale of Chicago Spire (perhaps the Spire itself, bringing it into the highrise core)?

[nomarandlee]

i wouldn't have cared so much if it was a high rise or a low rise. I just wanted a truly great, energizing, unique public space with retail built in. Right now my worst fear is that it will be little better then a glorified downtown mall with some quasi-public uses.

[trvlr70]

Am I the only one who would rather have seen the block as the site of some mega-development that would become Chicago's centerpiece, something on the scale of Chicago Spire (perhaps the Spire itself, bringing it into the highrise core)?

Of course, naturally. I was at least hoping for something as decent as NYC's Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle.

But lament.

[takascar]

^I was next to the tower today and I was crossing the street next to a management-type looking guy with a hardhat discussing the construction with some other people in hardhats, and he pointed to the top of the tower and said "we only have 4 more stories to go".

Looking at the web cam, it appears that the office building may have topped out. Anyone know for sure??

[denizen467]

Tribune reports today that the Virgin Megastore at Ohio & Michigan is closing. They're still leaving 4 stores in southern Calif., 2 in NYC, and 5 others in SF, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, and Orlando.

With all the retail space opportunities on State Street, you'd think they could just move there..

[ardecila]

It's not about lack of space - they weren't getting the customers they need to stay in business, combined with the sheer price of space on the Mag Mile.

In NYC, there's more people period, which means more people who still go to stores to buy music. LA has their 4 locations because it's the music capital of the world, and the other cities' locations apparently get enough business and have low enough rents to stay where they are. Believe me when I say that no retail space in any of those 4 cities approaches Mag Mile prices. I do know, however, that the Orlando location is at Downtown Disney, so it gets tons of traffic.

[denizen467]

Thus my point. State Street rents are lower than North Michigan, and at least 108 and Sullivan Center have large spaces that a Virgin Megastore would need. Plus, tons of students there, and I'm sure that students still make purchases at stores like this, even if a majority of their music is downloaded.

Actually, at the rate Macy's is going:hell: , it'll want to shrink the space it's using and before we know it there'll be space in the former Field's buildings for VM too.

[jcchii]

with the exception of the alleged transit hub this thing is worth ignoring at this point

[Marcu]

It's not about lack of space - they weren't getting the customers they need to stay in business, combined with the sheer price of space on the Mag Mile.

In NYC, there's more people period, which means more people who still go to stores to buy music. LA has their 4 locations because it's the music capital of the world, and the other cities' locations apparently get enough business and have low enough rents to stay where they are. Believe me when I say that no retail space in any of those 4 cities approaches Mag Mile prices. I do know, however, that the Orlando location is at Downtown Disney, so it gets tons of traffic.

LA is the music capital of the world? ANd even if it is, that's reason enough for Virgin to keep 4 stores around?

[Dalton]

It's not about lack of space - they weren't getting the customers they need to stay in business, combined with the sheer price of space on the Mag Mile.

In NYC, there's more people period, which means more people who still go to stores to buy music. LA has their 4 locations because it's the music capital of the world, and the other cities' locations apparently get enough business and have low enough rents to stay where they are. Believe me when I say that no retail space in any of those 4 cities approaches Mag Mile prices. I do know, however, that the Orlando location is at Downtown Disney, so it gets tons of traffic.

That Virgin Records store at Michigan and Ohio was lousy. I don't think it was the high rent that did them in - the store got plenty of foot traffic to make up for it. Come on, it's Michigan Ave - there are plenty of people with money wandering around. Yes, the prices were as high as Tower and that didn't help (we all know what happened to Tower). But for me, it was the selection (at least in classical and jazz, which is all I'm interested in buying on disc) that was pathetic in comparison. To have called that a "megastore" was really false advertising. It didn't help that they mixed their meager selection of SACDs in with the CDs, making them too difficult to find. Good riddance. I'll buy on line.

[wrab]

Perhaps Virgin was getting the wrong kind of foot traffic on Mag Mile; maybe tourisits (& locals out for luxury items) didn't bother with more widely available items like CDs & DVDs but would save these for home, or for State St...Still, I'm surprised that SF has the business, given that it is a somewhat smaller market with very high rents.

I'm still pissed off at them for not keeping Lost Highway in stock when I was last there in March.

Seems like Block 37 would be perfect for them, though, especially now that the pedestrian mall is gone & retail is returning.

[the urban politician]

That Virgin Records store at Michigan and Ohio was lousy. I don't think it was the high rent that did them in - the store got plenty of foot traffic to make up for it. Come on, it's Michigan Ave - there are plenty of people with money wandering around. Yes, the prices were as high as Tower and that didn't help (we all know what happened to Tower). But for me, it was the selection (at least in classical and jazz, which is all I'm interested in buying on disc) that was pathetic in comparison. To have called that a "megastore" was really false advertising. It didn't help that they mixed their meager selection of SACDs in with the CDs, making them too difficult to find. Good riddance. I'll buy on line.

^ I disagree. I really liked the Virgin Megastore there. I'm really into techno music, and they had a solid selection. I only wish that they had a specific floor devoted to electronic music as they do in their Union Square NYC store.

[hdtvtechno]

5/21/07
Starting Tuesday, CTA will reroute nine bus routes that currently operate near the Block 37 construction site. Rerouting these bus routes away from the lane reductions on Washington, Dearborn and Randolph for construction activity will improve the reliability of CTA bus service in the area and create a more predictable flow of traffic for the duration of this phase of the project.

Nine CTA bus routes that normally travel through the Loop will be rerouted. These bus routes are the #14 Jeffery Express, #20 Madison, #X20 Washington/Madison Express, #56 Milwaukee, #60 Blue Island/26th, #124 Navy Pier, #127 Madison/Roosevelt Circulator, #129 West Loop/South Loop and the #157 Streeterville.

Seven routes will be diverted from Washington at South Wacker Drive then travel eastbound on Monroe. The #14 Jeffery Express, #20 Madison, #X20 Washington/Madison Express, #56 Milwaukee, #60 Blue Island/26th and the #127 Madison/Roosevelt Circulator buses will operate from Washington to South Wacker, then travel south to Monroe and travel east on Monroe to Michigan Avenue.

The #20, #X20, #56 and #60 buses will continue northbound on Michigan Avenue and the #14 and #127 buses will continue southbound trips on Michigan Avenue. Four new eastbound bus stops will also be established for these routes along Monroe: at Monroe and Franklin, Monroe and LaSalle, Monroe and Dearborn, and Monroe and Wabash.

In the morning, the #129 West Loop/South Loop will operate northbound on Dearborn then travel westbound on Wacker, continuing southbound on Wacker to Randolph, and travel westbound on Randolph resuming its normal morning route. In the afternoon, the #129 West Loop/South Loop will operate from Washington to South Wacker, then travel east on Monroe to Clark, then south on Clark resuming the regular route.

The #124 Navy Pier and #157 Streeterville buses will turn from Washington to northbound Wacker Drive, then east following Wacker Drive to Michigan Avenue. The #124 buses will cross Michigan Avenue from Wacker Drive and continue eastbound on South Water Street. The #157 buses will continue their northbound trips on Michigan Avenue.

Six new bus stops will be added on Wacker Drive to accommodate routes that are being redirected to Wacker Drive. Two CTA bus stops already exist at Wacker Drive and Lake Street, and Wacker Drive and State Street. The six new bus stops will be established as follows: northbound at Wacker Drive and Randolph Street, eastbound at Wacker Drive and Wells Street, eastbound at Wacker Drive and LaSalle Street, eastbound at Wacker Drive and Dearborn Street, westbound at Wacker Drive and Clark Street, and westbound at Wacker Drive and Wells Street.

In addition, the southbound CTA bus stop currently located on State and Washington in front of the Hotel Burnham will be relocated to State and Randolph in front of Borders. The northbound CTA bus stop currently located at Dearborn and Randolph will be removed to allow space for a designated theater loading zone.

Construction is currently underway at Block 37 on a mixed-use retail, entertainment, office, hotel and residential complex that will also include a new CTA transit station.

http://www.transitchicago.com/news/ctaandpress.wu?action=displayarticledetail&articleid=123028

[SolarWind]

May 21, 2007

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/1464/dsc0196copybp9.jpg

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/6537/dsc0199copywj9.jpg

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/9076/dsc0211copyds7.jpg

May 23, 2007

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8337/dsc0348copypk4.jpg
^ the glass is visible in this last picture too

[ardecila]

Well, the curtain-wall on this thing is extremely sub-par. Hopefully the video screens are interesting, because there's nothing else to look at on this building.

[Ecker]

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb167/EckerTallness/IMG_3557.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb167/EckerTallness/IMG_3558.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb167/EckerTallness/IMG_3560.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb167/EckerTallness/IMG_3561.jpg

[SolarWind]

June 1, 2007

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/6537/dsc0481copyad2.jpg

[takascar]

Anyone know yet if the office tower is topped off??

[Norsider]

The thing just keeps going up. Honestly, every day I half expect to hear the news that the workers have walked off the job, the project is out of money, and all the steel will be sold at 50 cents on the dollar to cover outstanding debts.

[Tom Servo]

The B37 project is out of money?

[dagobert]

The B37 project is out of money?

No I don't think so, Norsider was just joking about the fact that it is feels unreal to see this plot of land being developed, given the history of B37.

Speaking of running out of money. On Saturday I walked past the 600 N. Fairbanks and there was a notice from the gas company posted on the fence. It was dated May 7th and stated that the gas had been disconnected due to non-payment. Apparently whoever owns 600 N. Fairbanks owes over $16k to the gas company. Hopefully we won't see such a notice on B37 construction perimeter fence.

Sorry for the OT.

[ardecila]

Some progress on the subway front; they have removed the platform at Washington/State to build the track crossover. Of course, this means we lose the world record for the world's longest subway platform.... They are also still doing utility relocation in the location of the crossover, and they are about to start construction of slurry walls near the intersections of Washington/State and Randolph/Dearborn.

In the photos below, the workers are standing at track level, having removed the platform down to that height. They have apparently also poured a new concrete floor on which they will lay the tracks. The current Red Line track (the northbound one, I believe) runs on the other side of that plywood wall.

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/7884/0705constupdate18dj9.jpg

[APPRAISER]

Don't know if someone has already asked, but how tall are the residential towers suppose to be?
Thanks

[headcase]

Don't know if someone has already asked, but how tall are the residential towers suppose to be?
Thanks

I don't remember if the residential towers were ever actually designed and released to the public, I thought what we had see were just place holders. I do know that the PD is capped at 500', and I remember that one of the designers said the towers would be shorter than that.

Specifics I don't know.

SSDD

[Mr Roboto]

How many CTA lines can be reached from the new station here; just the blue orange and red? If they do find a way to have express trains to both airports, it will really add this development, but right now (with all the CTA problems, slow zones etc) I dont see how it would be possible.

[dropdeaded209]

i honestly don't see how this benefits the average chicago commuter--while the CTA threatens doomsday scenarios this "express" route to the airports (which according to reports I've read doesn't even save you that much time) is underway. does anyone else think this "superstation" is just a colossal waste of resources and money?

[VivaLFuego]

i honestly don't see how this benefits the average chicago commuter--while the CTA threatens doomsday scenarios this "express" route to the airports (which according to reports I've read doesn't even save you that much time) is underway. does anyone else think this "superstation" is just a colossal waste of resources and money?

Well, the superstation and tunnels had to be built there, and they had to be built now, if it was ever going to happen. That doesn't necessarily mean it was the right decision, but if everything else is hunky dory in 15 years and the city decided it wanted Airport Express, it would be quite simply cost-prohibitive.

[Tom Servo]

http://a818.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/21/l_f71adb0610429ab9495f873458d044c1.jpg

B37 is really starting to make an visual impact! i can't wait for the glass on the mall!

[SamInTheLoop]

Well, the superstation and tunnels had to be built there, and they had to be built now, if it was ever going to happen. That doesn't necessarily mean it was the right decision, but if everything else is hunky dory in 15 years and the city decided it wanted Airport Express, it would be quite simply cost-prohibitive.


Exactly right. Its understandibly difficult for most Chicago commuters to comprehend (given the current nonsense going on with the CTA and state politics - don't even get me started on that!), but taking a long-term cost-benefit view, this was unquestionably the right decision.......(again, easy to say when I'm not waiting for the bus for 25 minutes on a frigid January morning, but even then it would still be the right thing to do)...

[SamInTheLoop]

I don't remember if the residential towers were ever actually designed and released to the public, I thought what we had see were just place holders. I do know that the PD is capped at 500', and I remember that one of the designers said the towers would be shorter than that.

Specifics I don't know.

SSDD

I believe the designs for the 2 residential towers (1 condo, 1 apartment) that Golub would have developed (designed by SCB) were, while not necessarily the finalized design, much more than mere place-holders. Those were pretty firm. Now that Golub has been cut out of the deal, I think were definitely back to a place-holder type situation - Freed needs to get their act together and move on the residential towers imo.....unfortunately, I have a feeling they are concentrating all of their effort right now on the retail leasing (which is obviously important - but I think there is no reason to put the residential component on the back-burner.....they should be actively planning for it with DPD in a hopefully somewhat-transparent manner...(afterall it is a city-subsidezed project)...

[SamInTheLoop]

Well, the curtain-wall on this thing is extremely sub-par. Hopefully the video screens are interesting, because there's nothing else to look at on this building.



Unfortunately I need to agree with this. Spent some time recently studying from Daley Plaza and it doesn't do much for me.......it's falls very 'flat' - in more ways than one........

[Eventually...Chicago]

I don't know about anyone else, but i think the building is turning out very nice. I think the curtain wall is just fine.

Concerning the airport express... I think it is a great idea. Even cities with world-class transit systems like barcelona, don't have direct rail connections to the city from the airport. I think this will be an absolute boon to travel from ohare & midway to the loop. a genius idea, really

[Eventually...Chicago]

I don't know about anyone else, but i think the building is turning out very nice. I think the curtain wall is just fine.

Concerning the airport express... I think it is a great idea. Even cities with world-class transit systems like barcelona, don't have direct rail connections to the city from the airport. I think this will be an absolute boon to travel from ohare & midway to the loop. a genius idea, really. Especially if they charge 7-10 bucks a trip, they could make huge money on this.

[SolarWind]

June 19, 2007

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/8363/dsc0147copypy2.jpg

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3297/dsc0149copycr7.jpg

[Alliance]

ugh...its even wavy from far away.

Shiny though....I like shiny :cool:

[museumparktom]

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l221/Mansmith_2006/DSC_0136.jpg

[honte]

^ I think we have a new kind of bird / glass problem on our hands. Seagulls are going to start diving into the glass looking for fish.

[museumparktom]

The Unitrin Building in the reflection looks like as wavy as the Aqua.

[neverdone]

How high is this espected to be? Also why was it built completely out of steel?

[Hayward]

^ I'm going to guess the answer to your second question is because it's an office tower and steel allows for thinner columns are larger open floor spaces? It always seems like concrete structure is a hotel or a residential thing.

[SolarWind]

June 20, 2007

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/7181/dsc0022ku8.jpg

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3806/dsc0020ax6.jpg

[budman]

I am not a big fan of the curtain wall either, but my girlfriend really likes it> I am hoping when more/all of the glass is installed and the windows are washed I will like it more. It is too dark for me right now.

[Rise To The Top]

How high is this espected to be? Also why was it built completely out of steel?

Dont expect it to get too high (800ft), steel cant support that much.

[ardecila]

*cough*Sears Tower*cough*

[honte]

How high is this espected to be? Also why was it built completely out of steel?

I am fairly sure the answer to this has to do with the limited construction time. The anchor tenant has a short time before their lease expires, and with Mills screwing around, there was some question if they could even finish it in time.

Another scenario would be the height of the building. Perhaps the labor cost for 17 floors of bracing was less than the expense of a massive foundation for the core and having two trades on-site.

[Rise To The Top]

*cough*Sears Tower*cough*

Sears alot more steel than this, as you can see from the thickness of the supports on this one. Sears was simply massive size wise.

[orulz]

i honestly don't see how this benefits the average chicago commuter--while the CTA threatens doomsday scenarios this "express" route to the airports (which according to reports I've read doesn't even save you that much time) is underway. does anyone else think this "superstation" is just a colossal waste of resources and money?

I was under the impression that this station probably won't even be used or even built out for some time yet, when the airport express service is built (perhaps including bypass tracks on the blue line.)

The main purpose of building this is not for the airport express station; it is for flexibility. Flexibility in equipment moves, and flexibility in future routings. This tunnel may reduce non-revenue hours significantly by easing interchange between lines. It may allow for further consolidation or specialization of yard facilities. Who knows. At any rate, if a quick-and-easy connection between the Blue and the Red lines was to ever be built, it had to be here and it had to be now.

[takascar]

I am fairly sure the answer to this has to do with the limited construction time. The anchor tenant has a short time before their lease expires, and with Mills screwing around, there was some question if they could even finish it in time.

Another scenario would be the height of the building. Perhaps the labor cost for 17 floors of bracing was less than the expense of a massive foundation for the core and having two trades on-site.

I'm starting to wonder about this latest crowd building the office tower. They've been screwing around with topping off the building for three weeks now. Almost nothing has been done to complete that last floor. The steel beams have been stacked up there and they haven't finished it off. If I were Morningstar, I'd still be worried. I'm sure they are making progress on the lower floors on the interior, but I wish they'd top the stupid thing off already.

[nomarandlee]

I was under the impression that this station probably won't even be used or even built out for some time yet, when the airport express service is built (perhaps including bypass tracks on the blue line.)

The main purpose of building this is not for the airport express station; it is for flexibility. Flexibility in equipment moves, and flexibility in future routings. This tunnel may reduce non-revenue hours significantly by easing interchange between lines. It may allow for further consolidation or specialization of yard facilities. Who knows. At any rate, if a quick-and-easy connection between the Blue and the Red lines was to ever be built, it had to be here and it had to be now.

True. As far as the airport express deal I think the city for sure needs one I am just not sure if this or an express running along the NCS tracks out of Union wouldn't have been better. Their are pros and cons to each but I read somewhere that the Union Station/ORD would have been quicker then the Blue Line Express (I am also guessing it may be smoothers?).

[ardecila]

The NCS tracks don't go into the terminal. The Metra station doesn't even have a direct connection to the People Mover system. You have to take the Metra to O'Hare Transfer Station, transfer to a shuttle bus, transfer to the People Mover, then walk to your gate. Talk about annoying.

You can't create a transfer track, either, because FRA laws would kick in, requiring a much higher weight and durability for the CTA cars, since they are now connected to the national rail network. It's a big pain in the butt that other countries don't have to deal with.

[nomarandlee]

The NCS tracks don't go into the terminal. The Metra station doesn't even have a direct connection to the People Mover system. You have to take the Metra to O'Hare Transfer Station, transfer to a shuttle bus, transfer to the People Mover, then walk to your gate. Talk about annoying.

You can't create a transfer track, either, because FRA laws would kick in, requiring a much higher weight and durability for the CTA cars, since they are now connected to the national rail network. It's a big pain in the butt that other countries don't have to deal with.


Thats true, but they are planning on building the Airport Transit Mover over to Parking lot F (I think) which which is right by the NCS tracks anyway as part of the OMP.

Obviously you use CTA cars obviously but you could use some single level DMU's or something similar to what they plan to use on the STAR line as an express service I would think. Maybe eventually they will implement both, a few other cities around the world have multiple express trains from differant locations I think.

[Hayward]

Sears alot more steel than this, as you can see from the thickness of the supports on this one. Sears was simply massive size wise.

Correct.

[woodrow]

As I understand it (I may be wrong), they haven't decided yet what the residential tower will look like. The Northeast corner (State and Randolph)
is not the residential tower, its part of the retail - Retail fronts on State all the way from Washington to Randolph.

The residential tower, I think, is going to be at Dearborn and Randolph.

So I am walking along State St. and notice a newish-billboard at the NE corner of the site (Randolph & State) that shows an L-shaped residential tower with the short side fronting Dearborn, the long side facing Randolph and the end of the long side of the L fronting State Street. I took a cell phone picture, but am utterly clueless as to loading/displaying, etc. photos. Maybe one of the better photog's could grab one.

[Tom Servo]

(I don't know if anyone posted these pics yet... so... yeah)

I went to the JosephFreed.com website that I saw on that billboard on State and Ran.

http://josephfreed.com/images/com/108_N_State/pdfs/108_N_State_468_401.pdf

http://josephfreed.com/images/com/108_N_State/photos/108-NState1.jpg
http://josephfreed.com/images/com/108_N_State/photos/108-NState2.jpg
http://josephfreed.com/images/com/108_N_State/photos/108-NState3.jpg
http://josephfreed.com/images/com/108_N_State/photos/108-NState7.jpg
http://josephfreed.com/images/com/108_N_State/photos/108-NState5.jpg
http://josephfreed.com/images/com/108_N_State/photos/108-NState6.jpg

[Tom In Chicago]

I think they've renamed this building 22 WEST WASHINGTON. . .

[SamInTheLoop]

^ The office building is 22 W. Washington. I am sure the the residential/hotel tower(s) will have their own separate address(es) as well.

[pherek]

Viewed from Randolph and State

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/1201/img2986xc7.jpg


Signage on Washington Street

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8084/img2989qc1.jpg


Viewed from Washington and Dearborn

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7330/img2990wu6.jpg

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/560/img2991aa6.jpg


Viewed from Randolph and Dearborn

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/122/img2993me3.jpg

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2623/img2994mq7.jpg

[Alliance]

meh...at least its not horrible from far away.

[SportsWorld]

Woah, glass. didn't see that before. this seems like it may be finished relatively soon.

[SolarWind]

June 28, 2007

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4718/dsc0110cg7.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8656/dsc0112uy8.jpg

[hdtvtechno]

hmm who knows maybe they can finish it by christmas... ? i mean the CBS2 Studio

[Norsider]

I think it'd be nice if they left this side an open plaza.

[Stephenapolis]

I am not a big fan of this tower. The facade looks dated to me.

[Tom Servo]

:pepper:

[ardecila]

A plaza here would quickly turn into Chicago's version of Dundas Square in Toronto, with Times Square-like signage and all that stuff. I'm all for flashy electronics, but not adjacent to a formal civic space like Daley Plaza. Keep it on State Street, where it oughta be.

[honte]

^ Agreed completely.

If I had my druthers, the ritzy, flashy stuff would be along Randolph. Daley and Dearborn would be more formal. And State would be returned to the "great white street," with very classy retailing, great architecture, and vibrant storefronts. But I'd rather not see the flashy stuff along there if possible - it would be ideal if it could be reserved for art purposes and for theatres, rather than having it become overly commercialized (and, hence, tacky).

[ardecila]

State would be returned to the "great white street," with very classy retailing, great architecture, and vibrant storefronts.

I wonder if this is possible literally? I'd love for State to be paved with something other than asphalt. A discarded idea for the IIT Campus Center involved paving State in aluminum; I wonder if that would be possible further north, in the Loop. It would have to withstand the stress of State's heavy traffic, and be low-glare, but if done properly, it would really make the streetscape into a knockout.

[Alliance]

I wonder if this is possible literally? I'd love for State to be paved with something other than asphalt. A discarded idea for the IIT Campus Center involved paving State in aluminum; I wonder if that would be possible further north, in the Loop. It would have to withstand the stress of State's heavy traffic, and be low-glare, but if done properly, it would really make the streetscape into a knockout.

Interesting...but potentially WAY to gaudy.

[ardecila]

Potentially.

[Tom Servo]

?ü¨ä¨ë

[SamInTheLoop]

Along Randolph St, it looks like work is beginning on the core for the residential/hotel tower........I'm still wondering what type of structure this will be - are they going with steel for the residential tower, or are they going to switch to concrete ala Momo with some sort of huge truss??

[Alliance]

I still think those huge trusses on MoMo were awesome...I with they would have done more with them externally.

[SamInTheLoop]

^ Agree - they really should have expressed it - that could have been impressive...

[jjk1103]

...when do they project to have the project (ie: Block 37) substantially done?

[Tom Servo]

å∑´ƒß††˜∆∂˙¨qå:previous: ©∫é:yinyang:
:thrasher::thrasher::thrasher::thrasher::thrasher:

[museumparktom]

With the expanse of the retail component of B37 does anyone know if it will have a green roof? What an awsome touch if it does.

[ardecila]

^^ Yes. It won't be just a "green" roof, it will be a terrace. They have constructed a portico and deck for rooftop access from the office building, as well as several doors around other parts of the roof.

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2531/b374ec2.jpg

[ardecila]

Block 37 anchor sues over space

By Susan Diesenhouse
Tribune staff reporter
Published July 17, 2007

Just when the long-troubled Block 37 mixed-use project seemed to be progressing smoothly, another possible obstacle has arisen.

Morningstar Inc., the anchor tenant for the office phase of the $450 million project, filed a lawsuit Monday against the previous developer, Mills Corp. of Chevy Chase, Md.

Morningstar, a Chicago-based financial research firm, claims when it agreed to be the anchor tenant and lease more than 200,000 square feet from Mills, the amount of space it would have to pay for was fraudulently misrepresented.

Morningstar said in the suit filed in Cook County Court that it expected to lease 211,000 square feet. Mills, however, said that upon remeasuring the eight floors in what will be a 16-story building, it learned the space actually would be 237,000 square feet.

Morningstar claims in the lawsuit that it would "suffer millions of dollars in damages as a result of its reliance on Mills Corp.'s and Mills Office's misrepresentations, including but not limited to rent charges," and is seeking compensation.

If the court finds in Morningstar's favor, exactly who would repay it is unclear because Mills was recently purchased by Simon Property Group Inc. of Indianapolis.

Neither Mills nor Morningstar returned calls late Monday requesting comment.

But Michael Newman, chief executive of Chicago-based Golub & Co., which purchased the rights to the office portion of the project from Mills, said, "Morningstar's claim against the former owner of the office tower, Mills Corp., will not interfere with Morningstar becoming a major tenant of Block 37."

Golub still is pursuing claims against Mills in the same court over the residential portion of Block 37. In March, Mills removed Golub from the residential phase to replace it with a Palatine-based real estate firm, Joseph Freed & Associates.

[budman]

Block 37 anchor sues over space

By Susan Diesenhouse
Tribune staff reporter
Published July 17, 2007

Just when the long-troubled Block 37 mixed-use project seemed to be progressing smoothly, another possible obstacle has arisen.

Morningstar Inc., the anchor tenant for the office phase of the $450 million project, filed a lawsuit Monday against the previous developer, Mills Corp. of Chevy Chase, Md.

Morningstar, a Chicago-based financial research firm, claims when it agreed to be the anchor tenant and lease more than 200,000 square feet from Mills, the amount of space it would have to pay for was fraudulently misrepresented.

Morningstar said in the suit filed in Cook County Court that it expected to lease 211,000 square feet. Mills, however, said that upon remeasuring the eight floors in what will be a 16-story building, it learned the space actually would be 237,000 square feet.

Morningstar claims in the lawsuit that it would "suffer millions of dollars in damages as a result of its reliance on Mills Corp.'s and Mills Office's misrepresentations, including but not limited to rent charges," and is seeking compensation.

If the court finds in Morningstar's favor, exactly who would repay it is unclear because Mills was recently purchased by Simon Property Group Inc. of Indianapolis.

Neither Mills nor Morningstar returned calls late Monday requesting comment.

But Michael Newman, chief executive of Chicago-based Golub & Co., which purchased the rights to the office portion of the project from Mills, said, "Morningstar's claim against the former owner of the office tower, Mills Corp., will not interfere with Morningstar becoming a major tenant of Block 37."

Golub still is pursuing claims against Mills in the same court over the residential portion of Block 37. In March, Mills removed Golub from the residential phase to replace it with a Palatine-based real estate firm, Joseph Freed & Associates.

^This shouldnt come as any surprise. They discovered this problem months ago (if not longer), and there was no way Mills was just going to give Morningstar millions to settle the dispute. The only question was when this lawsuit was going to be filed and whether Morningstar would file a suit against Golub as well, forcing Golub to sue Mills over this additional issue. At least Morningstar hasnt pulled out of the project, which is another remedy (albeit a major hassle finding somewhere else to go).