CHICAGO | General Developments

[Andrew|W]

Originally Posted by ardecila

I've seen details like this before... It's probably a single sheet of steel, suspended on the interior and continuing through the glass, tilted slightly towards the sidewalk.

I am curious how it handles snow loads and pigeons, though. I guess heating coils could be on the top and they would not be visible. Unfortunately there's only one way to deal with pigeons.

I've even noticed that standard bird control spikes don't seem to stop pigeons. I have seen them actually perch on top of them at the Thompson Center L-stop. Pretty much the only way to keep birds away is make the surface too steep and slippery for them to take hold...that or don't provide any projections whatsoever.

[george]

Read on @ http://www.archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=6214

[the urban politician]

Right now the "Tower of Pizza Hut" is my favorite single proposed project in Chicago.

That is right. More than any fancy tower downtown, this individual project represents everything that I believe in, which consists of:

1. Good design, not a stunner by any means, but that's not always necessary
2. Density at a prominent intersection right next to transit
3. The fact that it is #2 and it is occurring outside of downtown
4. A private development by a private developer, that is market rate
5. Lack of parking
6. It serves a community that understands good urban planning, rejects auto-oriented development, wants density, and thus DESERVES this project.

For how many other projects can you say these 6 things?

[spyguy]

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/artic...r-rush-st-site

Highlights:

-Owner of Carmine's restaurant is looking to buy the building for $18 million and team up with the owners of the adjacent building to the north to redevelop both parcels into something "much taller."

-The article also mentions that Don Wilson/Hunt/Latsko are "expected to propose a large hotel development" on the Cedar Hotel site. So the Mondrian Hotel, or some variation of it, is likely back.

[Hayward]

The facade of the Cedar should be saved if there's to be any larger replacement. As far as Carmine's, taller can be better as long as its not bigger. Mariano park's strength's are human scale. Just look at the failures of Connor Park. But most of the buildings around Rush and State are pretty drab stucco buildings like the subway, hunt, and proof. Barney's, stores on rush, Lou Malnatis, were all necessary additions / improvements that helped refresh the appearance of that area.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by Hayward

The facade of the Cedar should be saved if there's to be any larger replacement. As far as Carmine's, taller can be better as long as its not bigger. Mariano park's strength's are human scale. Just look at the failures of Connor Park. But most of the buildings around Rush and State are pretty drab stucco buildings like the subway, hunt, and proof. Barney's, stores on rush, Lou Malnatis, were all necessary additions / improvements that helped refresh the appearance of that area.

^ Plus, in Chicago taller means parking podium.

I'd hate to see podia facing the park

[Mr Downtown]

A hotel probably wouldn't have a parking podium. Why should the Cedar Hotel façade be preserved?

[ardecila]

I don't see the value in preserving the facade, especially for a podium-less hotel. I do think they should preserve the existing setback. That added spaciousness in the street is important.

[Ectocooler]

From SCB's website:

Mondrian Hotel
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago’s new Mondrian Hotel will be located at the corner of Cedar and State Streets. This sophisticated, modern urban resort will have 216 hotel rooms and feature a restaurant and night club.



Image and info source: http://www.scb.com/?mainpage=2&paget...l=6&seclevel=4

[Hayward]

Originally Posted by Ectocooler

From SCB's website:

Mondrian Hotel
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago’s new Mondrian Hotel will be located at the corner of Cedar and State Streets. This sophisticated, modern urban resort will have 216 hotel rooms and feature a restaurant and night club.



Image and info source: http://www.scb.com/?mainpage=2&paget...l=6&seclevel=4

This is nice. Again, the facade is probably one of the best in the neighborhood. It must be saved. I think the neighborhood will like this.

[Hayward]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

A hotel probably wouldn't have a parking podium. Why should the Cedar Hotel façade be preserved?

Because I can see it out my window and I like it. I want it saved and I also want a tower. The SCB proposal appears to satisfy both. Therefore I approve. Seems like the preservation spirit is lacking around here.

....and practically all the residential buildings and hotels over here have podiums. They are just masked to look like occupied floors.

[the pope]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Right now the "Tower of Pizza Hut" is my favorite single proposed project in Chicago.

That is right. More than any fancy tower downtown, this individual project represents everything that I believe in, which consists of:

1. Good design, not a stunner by any means, but that's not always necessary
2. Density at a prominent intersection right next to transit
3. The fact that it is #2 and it is occurring outside of downtown
4. A private development by a private developer, that is market rate
5. Lack of parking
6. It serves a community that understands good urban planning, rejects auto-oriented development, wants density, and thus DESERVES this project.

For how many other projects can you say these 6 things?

I really enjoyed the narrative of "reverse-nimbyism". Or Yimbyism? We saw the low density bank branch as a tumor and demanded better, higher and denser.

[spyguy]

Cedar Hotel by Eridony, on Flickr

I don't think it's really worth debating. The facade should and probably will be saved in some way. I don't think a facadectomy is terrible in this case because the interiors are not worth saving (based on the building's past use), there's already a substantial setback, and this is not a corner building. The buildings on either side are all likely candidates for future development anyway.

Originally Posted by Hayward

This is nice... I think the neighborhood will like this.

Don't bet on it. Remember, Ald. Reilly downzoned this site a couple of years ago because he and the neighborhood NIMBYs thought the density/height and lack of parking were inappropriate.

[Hayward]

Well, I'll write my support for higher density if helps. Along with my approval of preserving the facade. That parcel has sat underutilized for too long. The bar is only open when the weather is nice...which is maybe half the year.

[denizen467]

^ The Cedar Hotel facade looks like the side, or rear, of a very nice building - those middle windows aren't suggestive of a front face or main entrance really. So it could even be a facadectomy that reengineers the middle section on the third and fourth floors somehow if that were necessary or useful (e.g. if they wanted to do a terrace or glassed area to overlook the square or something) and done tastefully and consistently.

[sentinel]

Burberry flagship on Boul Mich, taken today

[untitledreality]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Right now the "Tower of Pizza Hut" is my favorite single proposed project in Chicago.

That is right. More than any fancy tower downtown, this individual project represents everything that I believe in, which consists of:

1. Good design, not a stunner by any means, but that's not always necessary
2. Density at a prominent intersection right next to transit
3. The fact that it is #2 and it is occurring outside of downtown
4. A private development by a private developer, that is market rate
5. Lack of parking
6. It serves a community that understands good urban planning, rejects auto-oriented development, wants density, and thus DESERVES this project.

For how many other projects can you say these 6 things?

I'll jump on this as well... easily my favorite proposed project in the city right now.

The transit-oriented development ordinance is limited by both zoning and distance. It applies only to B or C district developments with dash 5 density that are located within 250 feet of a CTA or RTA station, and that have at least one bike parking space for each car that would otherwise be required. But Rappe, Buono, and Raymond Valadez, chief of staff for alderman Moreno, all say they hope it serves as a precedent for transit-oriented development elsewhere.

I think this paragraph alone shows the potential for this project to effect the patterns of neighborhood development in the city. While 250 feet is quite tight (imo it should be in the 660' range) it is at least a good start that offers a ton of opportunities along the non expressway lines. Hopefully we see it start to spread and eventually have its limits (distance and zoning) expanded in the near future.

[the urban politician]

^ Moreno's stance on density partially makes up for his stupidity in the Chick-fil-A comments.

Also, looks like Burberry's black facade will consist of reflective glass, instead of some non reflective opaque dark material. I am pleasantly surprised

[george]

8-19

Burberry





This corner framework detail is a nice touch

[george]

The Cedar facade is worthy of preservation with redeeming qualities of Chicago's past, IMO. Love the old classic signs.