CHICAGO | General Developments - Page 627

aic4ever · #**12521** Posted **Apr 13, 2011, 12:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

Not to get too off topic, but many high-speed systems overseas and in the US do objectively turn an operational profit...

Acela made $46.8 million last year, which helped cover the losses incurred by Amtrak's other services. That's because the costs to operate a high-speed train aren't markedly higher than the costs of a slower train, but the demand is much higher because of the faster travel time.

Hell, even the Hiawatha turned a profit - but much smaller at $300,000 for FY2010.

Amtrak FY2010 Performance Report

Boston to NYC to Philly to DC...I can't imagine why that would turn a profit. That means the entire rest of the system combined to lose money to the tune of what Wikipedia marks out at about $46 million.

Back to the point of emathias' post...exactly why would Florida have wanted a new rail line? From where to where?

Miami to Orlando/Tampa or maybe Jacksonville?

Those cities aren't big enough to support it at that level.

ardecila · #**12522** Posted **Apr 13, 2011, 1:15 AM**

You said "rail will never be economically viable anywhere", not "rail will never be economically viable in Florida". Obviously it is economically viable in some places, including the Midwest, if travel times are fast enough.

spyguy · #**12523** Posted **Apr 13, 2011, 1:16 AM**

Northwestern Memorial Hospital parking garage

J_M_Tungsten · #**12524** Posted **Apr 13, 2011, 1:39 AM**

^^^ blah thats what that crane is for over there, a garage? Ugh

Alliance · #**12525** Posted **Apr 13, 2011, 1:58 AM**

^^^ Its important. Thats what we need to tear down Prentice for.

aic4ever · #**12526** Posted **Apr 13, 2011, 2:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

You said "rail will never be economically viable anywhere", not "rail will never be economically viable in Florida". Obviously it is economically viable in some places, including the Midwest, if travel times are fast enough.

My apologies for ignoring the one line in the country that is turning anything that can be considered a reasonable profit, and the other that is just barely past breaking even in order to provide rhetorical flourish.

I'll save my opinions for high speed rail for one of the transit threads if I ever care to get into arguments about rainbows and unicorns with you guys, but suffice it to say, as Amtrak's own numbers show, the ridership needs to be immense to begin with, and it's most definitely not a Field of Dreams, "if you build it they will come" type of transportation alternative that builds communities (Sturtevant, anyone?).

Off topic rant over.

Rizzo · #**12527** Posted **Apr 13, 2011, 4:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyguy

Northwestern Memorial Hospital parking garage

Do you think it may it will support a building on top?

J_M_Tungsten · #**12528** Posted **Apr 13, 2011, 4:09 PM**

Like a future addition?

ardecila · #**12529** Posted **Apr 13, 2011, 6:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hayward

Do you think it may it will support a building on top?

This is Northwestern Hospital. What do you think?

george · #**12530** Posted **Apr 13, 2011, 9:23 PM**

The best intentions are laid to waste

Requiem for a dream

the urban politician · #**12531** Posted **Apr 13, 2011, 11:20 PM**

1235 W Belmont, medical office building with ground level retail. Replacing a small warehouse:

Source

brian_b · #**12532** Posted **Apr 14, 2011, 1:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by aic4ever

My apologies for ignoring the one line in the country that is turning anything that can be considered a reasonable profit, and the other that is just barely past breaking even in order to provide rhetorical flourish.

I'll save my opinions for high speed rail for one of the transit threads if I ever care to get into arguments about rainbows and unicorns with you guys, but suffice it to say, as Amtrak's own numbers show, the ridership needs to be immense to begin with, and it's most definitely not a Field of Dreams, "if you build it they will come" type of transportation alternative that builds communities (Sturtevant, anyone?).

Off topic rant over.

Where are you going to put the next group of airports that will need to be built once the current ones reach capacity?

If you could put half of the 30+ daily flights between Chicago and Cleveland on HSR @ 4 hours travel time, you free up a lot of airport slots for flights that will always beat HSR. And then maybe you don't need new airports for a few more decades.

BWChicago · #**12533** Posted **Apr 14, 2011, 2:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

1235 W Belmont, medical office building with ground level retail. Replacing a small warehouse:

Source

1325 W Belmont. I was confused how it would fit at 1235...

ardecila · #**12534** Posted **Apr 14, 2011, 5:03 AM**

It's a horrid building, but at least that section of Belmont will be consistently horrid when it's done.

the urban politician · #**12535** Posted **Apr 14, 2011, 5:22 AM**

^ Speaking of the Belmont streetscape, remember this project?
According to Curbed Chicago, this thing has a new owner and work will resume on it within 45 days:

(source at link above)

I'm so glad that this eyesore will finally be completed. Adds great visual density to the streetscape.

denizen467 · #**12536** Posted **Apr 14, 2011, 10:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Standpoor

The show Robert AM Stern: Presence of the Past was funded by Notre Dame. So it is far from an indulgence on Baer's part but following where the money told him to go. The question is: Will this become a yearly show paid for by ND or a one off because Stern likes the cameras?

Thanks for this clarification.

denizen467 · #**12537** Posted **Apr 14, 2011, 10:16 AM**

The Wells Street Grossinger site is basically all demo'd now, except for the most ornate (relatively speaking) of the existing buildings, which appears as preserved (at least its facade and frontmost portion) in the final redevelopment render.

Nowhereman1280 · #**12538** Posted **Apr 14, 2011, 5:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

I'm so glad that this eyesore will finally be completed. Adds great visual density to the streetscape.

And a nice solid, windowless, brick wall along half a block of streetscape too! Fuck you pedestrians!

lawfin · #**12539** Posted **Apr 14, 2011, 9:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

And a nice solid, windowless, brick wall along half a block of streetscape too! Fuck you pedestrians!

Yeah the base could have been done better but that parcel is a tough one to work with just off the river and sloped. I think the execution while not perfect is not too bad considering constraints of the parcel.

I am just glad it isn;t going to sit mouldering any longer; I would see this when I brought my new pup to dog training

Nowhereman1280 · #**12540** Posted **Apr 14, 2011, 9:08 PM**

^^^ It certainly isn't as bad as the monstrosity across the street which is essentially a gated community with 10'+ walls along the street that have garage vents pumping fumes onto anyone who dares pass by on foot.