CHICAGO | Highrise Projects & Construction, v7 - Page 296

emathias · #**5901** Posted **Nov 22, 2016, 12:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

...
The podium of Grand Plaza is pretty ugly, but the park could include a pavilion on the east end to camouflage the ugly podium. The south and west sides of the Post Office site are actually pretty nice with several vintage buildings.

Grand Plaza isn't going to win any architecture awards for beauty, but unlike many other parking podiums built in the same era, at least it has a second floor built to accommodate active space. Small comfort, perhaps, but better than only the first floor.

spyguy · #**5902** Posted **Nov 22, 2016, 3:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by marothisu

Let me take your attention for two seconds - 1411 S Michigan Ave was issued a building permit yesterday. That's the 199 unit, 15 story building --> http://chicago.curbed.com/2016/7/11/...partment-tower

"Updated" rendering - really just Rush branding added to it

spyguy · #**5903** Posted **Nov 22, 2016, 3:51 PM**

Aloft Mag Mile (on Ontario) - looks like it's been revised

r18tdi · #**5904** Posted **Nov 22, 2016, 4:30 PM**

^ yuck!

James_Mac · #**5905** Posted **Nov 22, 2016, 5:53 PM**

Crane on crane at 215 W. Lake. Photo taken around 11:45 today (11/22):

SamInTheLoop · #**5906** Posted **Nov 22, 2016, 6:10 PM**

You've got to be kidding me!

Is this for real? If so, then that is what you call bait and switch!

This has got to be one of the worst wholesale changes to a design this cycle........

I mean, couldn't they do the standard corner-cutting VE strokes? Always disappointing, but usually still
ends up much better than whatever the hell happened to the design of this project.....

Also, is this still even VDT??

SamInTheLoop · #**5907** Posted **Nov 22, 2016, 6:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyguy

"Updated" rendering - really just Rush branding added to it

And, Crain's has just reported that the developer (same group behind those fugly PH "Michigan Ave Towers" on the west side of the street) closed on a $53 million loan. Lender is not a traditional bank, it's an investment firm....we'll continue to see more construction financing from non-bank lenders as banks have really tightened up standards (not closed-off financing, to be sure - so some developers will still land traditional bank loans) this year......article also mentioned general contractor is LendLease (a lot of folks still get confused by Lendlease - they are both a developer and a contractor - most projects they are involved with in Chicago they are just the GC......they are however also getting more involved with developing their own projects in the US, and locally, the premier example in the Chicago market of course being Riverline)...

i_am_hydrogen · #**5908** Posted **Nov 23, 2016, 1:18 AM**

The McDonald's site would make for a terrible park. It's surrounded by surface lots, lame tourist traps, and a lot of generally unattractive buildings. Makes zero sense to me. The Post Office has more potential.

chicubs111 · #**5909** Posted **Nov 23, 2016, 1:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_am_hydrogen

The McDonald's site would make for a terrible park. It's surrounded by surface lots, lame tourist traps, and a lot of generally unattractive buildings. Makes zero sense to me. The Post Office has more potential.

So you don't think if a substantial park is built at the McDonald site that all those surface Parking lots surrounding wont be developed?... I mean if anything that will only increase the value and attractiveness for development of those surface lots and give us something possible more architectural significant ala what Millennium park did to its surroundings. The reason there is not many attractive buildings there is there is nothing special in river north...its generic..it needs something architectural significant to anchor that area either a park or large building.

i_am_hydrogen · #**5910** Posted **Nov 23, 2016, 2:26 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicubs111

So you don't think if a substantial park is built at the MacDonald site that all those surface Parking lots surrounding wont be developed?... I mean if anything that will only increase the value and attractiveness for development of those surface lots and give us something possible more architectural significant ala what Millennium park did to its surroundings. The reason there is not many attractive buildings there is there is nothing special in river north...its generic..it needs something architectural significant to anchor that area either a park or large building.

Millennium Park is lightning in a bottle. It's very tough to duplicate, especially with a site this small and the challenges I mentioned above. It would have to be one hell of a goddamn park to have that kind of impact. I just don't see it happening.