[spyguy]

http://chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=27275

Block 37 developer signs 2 restaurants, clothing store
By Lorene Yue

A new Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Inc. restaurant concept and a Club Monaco clothing store are among the tenants joining Block 37 along State Street.

...the first Midwest location for Rosa Mexicano restaurant, an upscale Mexican restaurant expected to take up two floors in Block 37...Freed is in talks with other high-end retailers, including Apple Inc. and J. Crew.

----
The article mentions the third floor will partially house the LEYE restaurant and they will also operate a coffee shop on the first floor.

[spyguy]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-071129block37-tenants,0,5155581.story?coll=chi_tab04_layout

Five tenants announced for Block 37
November 29, 2007

...Richard Melman, Founder and Chairman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc. said the company is developing a new dining concept for the third floor project as well as a new coffee idea for street level.

"We have been developing and cooking lots of new ideas in our test kitchen and look forward to introducing some of them at Block 37," Melman said.

Rosa Mexicano will have a bi-level space with a terrazzo staircase and signature water wall, similar to its Lincoln Center location in New York City.

[Tom Servo]

b37 is shaping up to have bad ass collection of retail. apple and club monaco? YAY! i hate michigan ave so much and 900 even more! i can't wait to have a better alternative that is 146 accessible!
if only levis were to come to b37, i'd have a new home away from home! :)


spy guy, i love you and your artical findingness! thanks for giving me some things to look forward to! :tup:
also, is there a list of all the retail so far to be mentioned in the b37 deal?
if so, it'd be great to see it.

[10023]

People are excited about Club Monaco? Really? Rosa Mexicano isn't bad (I live a few blocks from the location mentioned in the article), but its not even close to Frontera Grill / Topolobampo and no cheaper from what I remember. I'd say Salpicon and Adobo Grill are both better as well... Mexican food is really an area where New York doesn't hold a candle to Chicago, and I'd say the same for Thai food. But I guess it's good that there will be something like that in the Loop.

I still think this is a huge missed opportunity.

[cbotnyse]

People are excited about Club Monaco? Really? Rosa Mexicano isn't bad (I live a few blocks from the location mentioned in the article), but its not even close to Frontera Grill / Topolobampo and no cheaper from what I remember. I'd say Salpicon and Adobo Grill are both better as well... Mexican food is really an area where New York doesn't hold a candle to Chicago, and I'd say the same for Thai food. But I guess it's good that there will be something like that in the Loop.

I still think this is a huge missed opportunity.count me in the not-too-excited camp as well. I dont use Apple products but the store on Michigan is very nice and only about a mile or so away. Ditto for Club Monaco. Give me something different!

I havent heard about that Mexican place, but it sounds pretty good.

[VivaLFuego]

A good selection of retail that generates pedestrian activity both on the sidewalk outside and in the corridors of the mall, would go a long way towards salvaging the missed opportunities of the design aspects of this project. So far, I think these developments are good news. Something State St has over Boul Mich is that it is better positioned as a destination for Chicagoans; B37 is within a couple minute walk of every CTA line (connected directly to the two busiest) and is walking distance from each Metra station. Michigan has superior location for the bulk of hotels, particularly the higher-end hotels. A corollary of this is that even with the Apple Store on Michigan less than a mile away, the shoppers of Michigan Ave and State St/B37 may be composed of much different stock, i.e. the stores won't compete that much.

[BVictor1]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-fri_block37_1130nov30,0,2700814.story?coll=chi_tab01_layout

Block 37 locks in 5 retail tenants
Pair of restaurants, clothier, gym, movie theater are signed up

By Tribune staff
November 30, 2007

The first five retail tenants for the mixed-use Block 37 project on North State Street include two restaurants, a gym, a clothing retailer and a movie theater, developer Joseph Freed and Associates LLC said Thursday.

[Marcu]

Well if there's one thing that Freed's good at, it's signing on tenants. The seemingly high demand for retail space makes me wonder why this project needed any city money.

[Chicago Shawn]

People are excited about Club Monaco? Really? Rosa Mexicano isn't bad (I live a few blocks from the location mentioned in the article), but its not even close to Frontera Grill / Topolobampo and no cheaper from what I remember. I'd say Salpicon and Adobo Grill are both better as well... Mexican food is really an area where New York doesn't hold a candle to Chicago, and I'd say the same for Thai food. But I guess it's good that there will be something like that in the Loop.

I still think this is a huge missed opportunity.

Agree on the mexican food, but suprised on the Thai. Try out Thai Bowl on Taylor Street next time your in town, IMO blows away most of the places downtown and is cheaper as well.

I am really happy to hear of the tennant mix now, this most certinally will generate extra buzz on State. The plus side too is that items like restaraunts will want windows facing outside which will improve the look of the exterior facade which I worry will became far too blank and uninteresting, as they are shapping up to be right now.

On the city financing note, well we are getting a new CTA station and track connection, even if it sits dormant for a while, it was a one and only opportunity to link the red and blue lines togther. This will be useful in the future by providing more routing options for trains, and perhaps even stashing an empty rush hour train or two, realiving crush loads at peak travel times, i.e, running from 95th to Monroe, then pulling onto the connector track and running from Clark/Lake to O'Hare. Sort of a re-incarnation of the old stub terminals from the early days of the Loop elevated.

Plus, given the history of the site and all the past and ongoing complications since Mills was awarded the right to develop the site, I am not so sure it would be this far along without the city's aid.

[SolarWind]

Solarwind, that is the best shot I have seen of this tower...looks better than it does in person, although maybe they cleaned the glass and that is why the tower looks so good in your picture. Seeing your picture made me optimistic about the results of this part of the project for the first time. Although I will have to check it out in person to confirm.
Thanks, budman. Yes, the glass has been cleaned and it's quite reflective. I took the photo on a clear day and the facade was mirroring the blue sky.

[harryc]

The space on the NW corner is ready to be filled in - over. You can see the attachment plates on these beams - which are at the edge of the space.

Nov 28
http://lh5.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R1ICLzR3TdI/AAAAAAAAPa4/Je0dHjiqeS8/P1130896.JPG?imgmax=720

Nov 30
http://lh6.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R1ICNDR3TeI/AAAAAAAAPbE/sBo2H67cp8Q/P1140297.JPG?imgmax=640

This will be a cool street level studio.
http://lh5.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R1ICOzR3TfI/AAAAAAAAPbQ/vI8wtX_z5s4/P1140346.JPG?imgmax=720

Daley plaza at Christmas
http://lh3.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R1ICQTR3TgI/AAAAAAAAPbc/TFXop07cYCo/P1140351.JPG?imgmax=800

http://lh3.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R1ICRTR3ThI/AAAAAAAAPbo/wh4N-pgcFqM/P1140370.JPG?imgmax=800

Top down in action Looking under on the south side

http://lh3.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R1ICkTR3TkI/AAAAAAAAPcM/2TtqW3MG8jk/P1140341.JPG?imgmax=720

http://lh5.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R1IClzR3TlI/AAAAAAAAPcY/5j2sZ2SOtPo/P1140343.JPG?imgmax=640

Root detail

http://lh5.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R1ICSzR3TiI/AAAAAAAAPb0/LEH8ThBk-hI/P1140383.JPG?imgmax=640

Panoramic from the Walnut Room

http://lh3.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R1ICUTR3TjI/AAAAAAAAPcA/XgXeeBBF5vY/2007_11_30f.JPG?imgmax=800

[Tom Servo]

http://lh3.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R1ICUTR3TjI/AAAAAAAAPcA/XgXeeBBF5vY/2007_11_30f.JPG?imgmax=800

harry, what time were you at the christkindlmarket? i saw some dude taking pictures there last night...

[harryc]

harry, what time were you at the christkindlmarket? i saw some dude taking pictures there last night...

From 6:05 til 6:24 - saw Santa there - then hit the Walnut room. Were you one of the critical mass folk ?

http://lh5.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R1IbJzR3T3I/AAAAAAAAPj4/HsH_EqCpJ34/P1140387.JPG?imgmax=512

[SamInTheLoop]

I'm with Viva and Shawn on the tenant mix - I have confidence Freed has a solid strategy at work here - especially in the top-down leasing model. I'm sure Lettuce will have a great concept on the third floor - hopefully they land some more tenants on floor 3 in the next few months (I think that is where a large amount of the project's dining will be) This concentration in entertainment-restaurants-gym on the upper floors is great - it's very challenging to get critical mass of foot traffic to anything above floor 2 for small shops, apparel outlets, etc. I am really hoping Apple signs on for a first floor space.

The retail I'm not worried about - I think Freed will make it a great success and vital addition to State St. What I am very interested in is the residential or residential/hotel portion. It was my understanding that Freed was preparing to make an announcement on the residential this month or next, but I'm no longer sure that's the case. To my knowledge Freed has more experience with condos than any other non-retail product. I'm hoping they don't hold out for condos though and go with apartment or apartment and hotel (if they need to bring a JV partner or two on, they should). Work with the market, not against it....

[10023]

Agree on the mexican food, but suprised on the Thai. Try out Thai Bowl on Taylor Street next time your in town, IMO blows away most of the places downtown and is cheaper as well.

I was saying Chicago has better Thai food than New York.

[spyguy]

This concentration in entertainment-restaurants-gym on the upper floors is great - it's very challenging to get critical mass of foot traffic to anything above floor 2

I'm still hoping against hope that somehow Mills' plan for a new Lucky Strike concept makes it. The combination of dining, movies, and billiards/bowling would be great IMHO.

And I agree; this project definitely needs a hotel and should have a rental tower vs. condos.

[Marcu]

^ Aren't there two "upscale" bowling alleys within walking distance? One next to another movie theater?

[StatenIslander237]

This will be a cool street level studio.
http://lh5.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R1ICOzR3TfI/AAAAAAAAPbQ/vI8wtX_z5s4/P1140346.JPG?imgmax=720



Just out of curiosity, what corner is this on? I kind of wonder if this studio will work with/correspond visually and passage-wise with the ABC7 studio on State Street.

[jjk1103]

Just out of curiosity, what corner is this on? I kind of wonder if this studio will work with/correspond visually and passage-wise with the ABC7 studio on State Street.

south west corner Dearborn & Washington....I think ABC has a way better location (IMO)

[DCCliff]

south west corner Dearborn & Washington....I think ABC has a way better location (IMO)

No. Northeast corner of Dearborn & Washington. SW cor. is the county office tower.

[ardecila]

He meant the southwest corner of the block, not the intersection.

[jjk1103]

No. Northeast corner of Dearborn & Washington. SW cor. is the county office tower.

.....I meant the SW corner of Block 37 (not the intersection) :)

[jjk1103]

He meant the southwest corner of the block, not the intersection.

..exactly !!

[harryc]

The little "plaza" space on the NW corner of the site is now filled in.

http://lh5.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R1YQKzR3UwI/AAAAAAAAP7g/3mEuiZ7dzsw/2007_12_04d.JPG?imgmax=800

[jjk1103]

The little "plaza" space on the NW corner of the site is now filled in.

http://lh5.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R1YQKzR3UwI/AAAAAAAAP7g/3mEuiZ7dzsw/2007_12_04d.JPG?imgmax=800

.............what are they planning to do with the lower floors on the NW corner? .......retail? .........or is this the start of a tower?

[SamInTheLoop]

I'm still hoping against hope that somehow Mills' plan for a new Lucky Strike concept makes it. The combination of dining, movies, and billiards/bowling would be great IMHO.

And I agree; this project definitely needs a hotel and should have a rental tower vs. condos.



Could not agree more re new Lucky Strike concept - there's more than enough room still on the 3rd floor....another can't-miss, large entertainment venue like that
would really ensure this project is a commercial success....

[SamInTheLoop]

.............what are they planning to do with the lower floors on the NW corner? .......retail? .........or is this the start of a tower?


Retail/restaurant. Looks like there will only be 1 core for the entire residential/hotel component.

[harryc]

Floor after floor - NW corner of lot

http://lh6.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R1ixIjR3VgI/AAAAAAAAQRw/YnTMA8ErkqU/P1140954.JPG?imgmax=800

[10023]

Sigh... was just looking at ColdDay's photos of Milan. Haven't been there since I was little but his photos of the Gallery Victor Emanuele reminded me again what I'd wanted on this site for a decade living in Chicago. Imagine a modern-day take on this basic design...

http://www.urbanohio.com/UOThreads/Milan/Milan16.jpg

http://www.urbanohio.com/UOThreads/Milan/Milan25.jpg

Obviously it would not have the beautifully carved stone (or any stone, really) and Renaissance frescos, but the basic idea of two crossing 4-story passageways with a glass ceiling, open to the outside at State Street, Daley Plaza, etc, with shopping inside, would have been perfect. They could still place towers at 2 of the corners, and perhaps an accessible rooftop on the other two with a rooftop restaurant and maybe an outdoor area for the condo tower.

Such a shame...

[Dr. Taco]

Guys, stop it! stop telling us what could have been! :(

[VivaLFuego]

^10023,
buzzkill. Just as I was starting to come around and look forward to the completion of this tower with its decent retail mix...

[BorisMolotov]

^That is really nice, though. Maybe on a different site, later.?.

[VivaLFuego]

^That is really nice, though. Maybe on a different site, later.?.

empty block at State/Chicago/Dearborn/Superior, I'm looking at you...

[ardecila]

Ask Holy Name about that one.

Of course, that could be a very good thing - the church knows how to pick 'em nowadays when it comes to traditional architecture.

[jjk1103]

.......approximately when will they have the subway station dug out ?

[Bucky]

It is my understanding as of a few weeks ago that the bowling alley at B37 is no longer probable. In fact, the movie theater has leased the space originally set aside for a bowling alley.

[VivaLFuego]

Ask Holy Name about that one.

Of course, that could be a very good thing - the church knows how to pick 'em nowadays when it comes to traditional architecture.

Holy Name has that whole site?

....does that also mean that one of the most valuable sites in the city is not paying property tax?

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Yes, they control nearly the whole block as well as the block to the east where the cathedral, school, and offices are.

Then the block north of there is half owned by Loyola, another Catholic non-profit, both the block north and to the east of that one are completely owned by Loyola, as well as the red brick "lewis tower" buliding that abuts Water Tower square and Park Tower.

Catholics have lots of prime land that they don't pay tax on. Just look at what it is doing to Roger's Park, Loyola is completely buying up all of the Tax generating properties there and getting away with no tax on any of them...

[Ecker]

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb167/EckerTallness/Construction%2012-14/IMG_4175.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb167/EckerTallness/Construction%2012-14/IMG_4176.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb167/EckerTallness/Construction%2012-14/IMG_4177.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb167/EckerTallness/Construction%2012-14/IMG_4178.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb167/EckerTallness/Construction%2012-14/IMG_4179.jpg

[ArteVandelay]

Rumors are circulating that the CTA may call off, at least for now, completing the underground subway station and tunnel connections.

As construction is already well underway, word is it will be completed to a point that in the future work can procede easily from track level without the need to reexcavate - perhaps by pouring some kind of roof slab on the tunnel "connection", and then leaving it at that.

Rumors are also flying about talks to have a public-private partnership to fund the OHare express train are actually decently far along.

I think in the next couple months will get some clarity on what is really going to happen in the basement of Block 37.

[jjk1103]

Rumors are circulating that the CTA may call off, at least for now, completing the underground subway station and tunnel connections.

As construction is already well underway, word is it will be completed to a point that in the future work can procede easily from track level without the need to reexcavate - perhaps by pouring some kind of roof slab on the tunnel "connection", and then leaving it at that.

Rumors are also flying about talks to have a public-private partnership to fund the OHare express train are actually decently far along.

I think in the next couple months will get some clarity on what is really going to happen in the basement of Block 37.

....well that would be the best of all worlds if the CTA got the tunnel excavated and didn't have to spend huge dollars to complete it now.....

[spyguy]

From 12/11/07 (http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0158795371.1197680285@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdaddmkijggmkcefecelldffhdfgn.0&contentOID=536946587&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Dept&blockName=Planning+And+Development%2FI+Want+To&context=dept&channelId=0&programId=0&entityName=Planning+And+Development&deptMainCategoryOID=)
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/7031/block37121107widenq9.jpg

[ardecila]

Rumors are circulating that the CTA may call off, at least for now, completing the underground subway station and tunnel connections.

As construction is already well underway, word is it will be completed to a point that in the future work can procede easily from track level without the need to reexcavate - perhaps by pouring some kind of roof slab on the tunnel "connection", and then leaving it at that.

Rumors are also flying about talks to have a public-private partnership to fund the OHare express train are actually decently far along.

I think in the next couple months will get some clarity on what is really going to happen in the basement of Block 37.

Damn.... I was looking forward to having the first new subway station in the city since the 1970s. How would Gensler design it? Their CTA work at 35th/Bronzeville is promising.

BTW - the protective covering has come off of some of the glass at the SE corner. It looked similar to the glass on the Morningstar building, but with an interesting set of window clips.

[jjk1103]

......is there going to be some sort of roof top deck ?

[denizen467]

the first new subway station in the city since the 1970s
That's a good trivia question - was it one of the Blue Line stops along Congress? Or along Milwaukee/Kennedy..?

[Tom In Chicago]

Orange Line. . .

[denizen467]

^ 1970s ?!?
Besides, does Orange Line even have any underground stations?

(Pls respond only if you know the answer - just remembered this ain't the transportation forum.)

I think private involvement in the airport express will be essential, and the benefit from such involvement will spill over to the B37 project substantially.

[left of center]

The last subway station built in Chicago (meaning a fully subterranian station) is the O'Hare Airport stop, which serves as the terminus to the Blue line. It was built in 1984. Before that, the Logan Square and Belmont stations on the Blue line, which connect the Milwaukee Ave elevated to the transit line running down the middle of the Kennedy Expressway, were the last subway stations built in the city. And before that, during the 1940's and 1950's, was the Dearborn Street/State Street/Milwaukee Ave subway lines. The last actual new stations constructed would be those on the Orange line during the mid 90's. Ofcourse, none of them are underground.

[Neuman]

Please tell me that those air conditioning chillers atop the office building are doing to be hidden from view by some sort of screen? If not that is just ugly!

[the urban politician]

Please tell me that those air conditioning chillers atop the office building are doing to be hidden from view by some sort of screen? If not that is just ugly!

^ You don't like them? Call me strange, but I kind of like functional/mechanical items on top of buildings. They kind of remind us that there are real machines & utilities at work behind all of this urban technology. They add to the 'urban-ness' of a building's presence, if you will.

[Alliance]

I'd take chillers over a craptastic screen any day.

[honte]

Good architecture anticipates the mechanicals and provides ample space to accomodate them into the actual design. If you want to expose it (think Helmut Jahn), the go right ahead, but it had better be integrated and damn good if you are going to pull it off. Otherwise, it is just going to feel tacked on and careless, as you see above.

[VivaLFuego]

As construction is already well underway, word is it will be completed to a point that in the future work can procede easily from track level without the need to reexcavate - perhaps by pouring some kind of roof slab on the tunnel "connection", and then leaving it at that.


....which really should have been the plan all along, considering how far off we are from an actual Airport Express implementation

[Nowhereman1280]

Good architecture anticipates the mechanicals and provides ample space to accomodate them into the actual design. If you want to expose it (think Helmut Jahn), the go right ahead, but it had better be integrated and damn good if you are going to pull it off. Otherwise, it is just going to feel tacked on and careless, as you see above.

Remember that side of the building is going to be facing another tower anyways so it will be very diffucult to actually catch a glimpse of this mechanical equipment from street level once this project is built out. Plus, the glass in that picture is not finished being installed so that should block at least half the height of those chillers.

[harryc]

http://lh6.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R2nxdZmXe9I/AAAAAAAASaI/LhISs-Kz_Bg/P1160661.JPG?imgmax=800

[SolarWind]

December 26, 2007

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/963/dsc0099gn9.jpg

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

I wonder how it would have turned out if they used some kind of well patterned scrim instead of mirrored glass. (I'm thinking along the lines of Piano's NYT tower, but, you know... nicer.)

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ I don't think I would like it as much. I really really dig the glass on this project despite the fact that it distorts the reflections. Its just so reflective, yet doesn't have a chance to shine because the sun can't get to it due to the fact that it is surrounded by an assload of bigger buildings.

[takascar]

What is the status of the underground construction? I know that there was a report that maybe the CTA was going to delay the completion of the airport express station, but I understand that there is more construction underground that is not related to the CTA.

I'm getting a bit annoyed with the pokey-ness of this project. They seem to be making only slow discernable progress on visible things like the curtainwall.

What is the latest schedule on when the retail section will be opened?

When will CBS move in and when will Morningstar move into their building?

[SamInTheLoop]

What is the status of the underground construction? I know that there was a report that maybe the CTA was going to delay the completion of the airport express station, but I understand that there is more construction underground that is not related to the CTA.

I'm getting a bit annoyed with the pokey-ness of this project. They seem to be making only slow discernable progress on visible things like the curtainwall.

What is the latest schedule on when the retail section will be opened?

When will CBS move in and when will Morningstar move into their building?


I believe CBS will move in first quarter 2008, followed by Morningstar in second quarter. I think the retail is actually not planned to open until first quarter 2009...

For me the biggest question at the moment is what exactly will the residential/hotel component be and what is its timing...

[harryc]

http://lh4.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R3_PyZmXipI/AAAAAAAAUFU/jumvEsyxbMk/P1180278.JPG?imgmax=800

[simcityaustin]

That clear glass will be cool once there is activity going on inside!

[aaron38]

I believe CBS will move in first quarter 2008, followed by Morningstar in second quarter. I think the retail is actually not planned to open until first quarter 2009...

Does B96 move when CBS does? Are they moving to this building? I'm just wondering if the Streeterville building will be entirely vacant once this building opens, because there's a proposal for that site.

[honte]

The glass looks nice... but then you start thinking, wow, that's a lot of surface area with hardly any windows.

Shopping mall, true to form.

[ardecila]

Does B96 move when CBS does? Are they moving to this building? I'm just wondering if the Streeterville building will be entirely vacant once this building opens, because there's a proposal for that site.

Isn't the Streeterville building a historic site, because of the Nixon/Kennedy debate?

[honte]

^ Yes, but that's not stopping anyone. It's been discussed at length. They might put up a street sign or something.

[ardecila]

Okay, Joseph Freed has put up the leasing floorplans for the retail podium on their website. From this, you can glean some information about the interior design of the project.

There will be an underground mezzanine level that aligns with the CTA mezzanines and the Pedway, but above the actual subway platforms. This includes a rather spacious CTA fare area, parking for the office tower, and a loading dock.

There's no floorplan for the platform level, but the downward escalators on the mezzanine level are widely spaced apart, suggesting two side platforms.

The 3rd floor shows a "Food Emporium". I don't know if this is the NYC grocery chain or a food court (I'm hoping the former).

The entire 4th floor is broken up into only 2 leasable spaces, so I'm betting this is where the movie theater will go. Since it's the top floor, the roof can be altered relatively easily to accommodate the height of movie screens. The space at the northwest corner looks like it can fit 6 or 7 screens.

[gttx]

This has to be the most disappointing project built in Chicago in a very long time.

[Eventually...Chicago]

This has to be the most disappointing project built in Chicago in a very long time.

You know, can we all just friggin' knock it off with bashing this project ?!

Is this project everything that it could have been? no

Are there missed opportunities? Show me one project where there isn't

Will this project be great for state street and the city? YES

Has the developer made an effort to provide a high quality building? YES

Is this project bringing a group of tenants that will provide new services to the area? YES

You want disappointing? How about anything built on Roosevelt from the river to the dan ryan? Or anything on north ave from halstead to the kennedy? Or the tons of other shitty developments that our planning department failed to act like an educated urban planning group.

The city has lots of awesome projects going on right now, there are still a ton of open lots for downtown redevelopment. So if you are going to post about how disappointing this project is or missed opportunities, BITE ME!

[jjk1103]

I believe CBS will move in first quarter 2008, followed by Morningstar in second quarter. I think the retail is actually not planned to open until first quarter 2009...

For me the biggest question at the moment is what exactly will the residential/hotel component be and what is its timing...

...I simply don't see how the retail portion could take another year ? ...are they going to leave the retail complete .....but vacant because a retail tenant can't move in ? :shrug:

[ardecila]

You know, can we all just friggin' knock it off with bashing this project ?!

Is this project everything that it could have been? no

Are there missed opportunities? Show me one project where there isn't

Will this project be great for state street and the city? YES

Has the developer made an effort to provide a high quality building? YES

Is this project bringing a group of tenants that will provide new services to the area? YES

You want disappointing? How about anything built on Roosevelt from the river to the dan ryan? Or anything on north ave from halstead to the kennedy? Or the tons of other shitty developments that our planning department failed to act like an educated urban planning group.

The city has lots of awesome projects going on right now, there are still a ton of open lots for downtown redevelopment. So if you are going to post about how disappointing this project is or missed opportunities, BITE ME!

LEAVE BLOCK 37 ALONE!

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/1500/crockerinbritneyclipik8.jpg

[the urban politician]

:previous: :haha:

[Northwest]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc

If anyone has a problem with Block 37 developments, you DEAL WITH ME! Because Block 37 isnt well right now!! :haha:

[StatenIslander237]

Amen to that Eventually...Chicago. I find this project to be highly appealing and quite beneficial to the State Street renaissance. oh and Ardecila ......good one. :haha: :haha: :haha: :tup:

[migueltorres]

This forum cracks me up :haha:

[Sir Isaac Newton]

The glass looks nice... but then you start thinking, wow, that's a lot of surface area with hardly any windows.

Shopping mall, true to form.

I could be COMPLETELY off, but I at least got the impression that practically the entire surface is covered with windows?

[Chicago3rd]

I could be COMPLETELY off, but I at least got the impression that practically the entire surface is covered with windows?

Not a fan of the building yet, but it doesn't look like it is typical mall....looks like some generous glass...

http://www.jfreed.com/project/photo_viewer.html?id=2&com=108_N_State&img=0

http://www.jfreed.com/project/photo_viewer.html?id=2&com=108_N_State&img=5

[honte]

^ OK, I stand corrected... my memory was that there was less, and the photo threw me. In reality it looks like about 60% glazing on the retail facades, which is fine.

[jjk1103]

............have they pre-dug the caissons for the supposed high rise that is supposed to be on the NW corner of the site ? ...........also....I haven't
seen any digging on the super-station in a while ? what's going on with that ?

[harryc]

............have they pre-dug the caissons for the supposed high rise that is supposed to be on the NW corner of the site ? ...........also....I haven't
seen any digging on the super-station in a while ? what's going on with that ?

They were pulling dirt out on the N side last week.

[Mister Uptempo]

Does B96 move when CBS does? Are they moving to this building? I'm just wondering if the Streeterville building will be entirely vacant once this building opens, because there's a proposal for that site.

No. Only CBS-TV is headed to Block 37.

CBS Radio properties B-96, US-99, Fresh 105.9, & Jack-FM 104.3, will continue to broadcast from Pru 2. WXRT 93FM will remain at Cicero and Belmont, and The Score 670AM will continue to broadcast from the NBC Tower, in the studios formally occupied by All-News WMAQ.

[ardecila]

US 99 broadcasts from Pru 2?

I always expected them to be somewhere out in Bolingbrook or Joliet somewhere, considering their genre....

[aaron38]

CBS Radio properties B-96, US-99, Fresh 105.9, & Jack-FM 104.3, will continue to broadcast from Pru 2.

Well then what B-96 functions are done at the McClurg Ct building? They have B-96 signs up.

[johnandahalf]

LEAVE BLOCK 37 ALONE!

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/1500/crockerinbritneyclipik8.jpg

I laughed so hard I think I peed a little.

ô¿ô

[harryc]

A great backdrop for the Winter bike to work rally
http://lh6.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R5GyZZmXmhI/AAAAAAAAVvw/z_zzyjCXgx8/P1190823.JPG?imgmax=800

[the urban politician]

^ Yeah, that's some wavy glass, but then I don't really give a shit.

I'm just happy to see a space-occupying object finally grace this 20-year pit-hole

[Taft]

^ Yeah, that's some wavy glass, but then I don't really give a shit.

I'm just happy to see a space-occupying object finally grace this 20-year pit-hole

Is it possible that a building's glass be so wavy that it lends a distinctive look to the building? Looking at that picture harryc took, the reflections struck me as severely distorted from a realistic view but just coherent enough to be recognizable. Almost as if the distortion was some sort of intentional cubist piece.

Maybe I'm being optimistic, but looking at that picture, it struck me as plausible.

Taft

[depaulhifi]

Hi guys, just found this forum a few days ago whilst doing some research on 108 N State. I live a half block down the street and was really looking forward to Whole Foods moving into 108 as well as DBG. It looks like DBG will be moving in for sure, can anyone confirm one way or the other whether Whole Foods will be moving in? Thanks.

[ardecila]

It's a fairly safe bet that Whole Foods will be moving into either 108 North State or Sullivan Center (i.e. Carson's). Both properties are being developed by Joseph Freed, and either location would probably be convenient for you.

I personally think Sullivan Center is where Whole Foods is headed, since Joseph Freed has continually mentioned trying to sign a grocery store there.

What's DBG? EDIT: David Barton Gym, never mind.

[depaulhifi]

Either would be ok with me, though 108 would be ideal because its on the same side of the street. I'm just fed up with eating Cosi, Potbelly, Jimmy Johns, or Chipotle every freaking day! A Whole Foods next door would be amazing. Thanks for the insight.

[VivaLFuego]

Either would be ok with me, though 108 would be ideal because its on the same side of the street. I'm just fed up with eating Cosi, Potbelly, Jimmy Johns, or Chipotle every freaking day! A Whole Foods next door would be amazing. Thanks for the insight.

...just wanted to mention, you could hop the Red Line to Roosevelt to visit Jewel or to Chicago/State to visit Whole Foods. :yes: but I agree, a Whole Foods or other decent grocer in this location would be ideal.

[Nowhereman1280]

How weird would that be to have a full scale grocery store right square in the middle of the Loop... Talk about a complete change in the area!

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

:previous: mmmm delicious!!

[firstcranialnerve]

Wonderful News, the loop is picking up a lot of residential and it makes perfect sense to have a Whole Foods there. I would prefer it to be in Carson rather than 108 because 108 will draw traffic with what is already planned. State st. is looking up!

[budman]

How weird would that be to have a full scale grocery store right square in the middle of the Loop... Talk about a complete change in the area!
^What about Stop 'n Shop?:jester:

[Chicago2020]

How weird would that be to have a full scale grocery store right square in the middle of the Loop... Talk about a complete change in the area!

that would be nice

[SkokieSwift]

Anybody know if the residential tower will have direct access to the subway? How awesome would it be to not even leave your building to hop on the red line?

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ How much would it suck to have your entire apartment building smell like the subway...

[trvlr70]

Anybody know if the residential tower will have direct access to the subway? How awesome would it be to not even leave your building to hop on the red line?

I'm not certain about "direct" access but certainly residents will not have to venture outside. A few other residential buildings have this luxury as well, such as the Heritage. They used to run ads that said you could go to Harrads in London without ever stepping foot outside.

[Nowhereman1280]

Well you can't do that right now with the Pedway closed by B37 and Carsons and whatever else is blocking that thing right now...