CHICAGO | General Developments

[sammyg]

Originally Posted by a chicago bearcat

you'd think that demolishing a non blighted structure without building new immediately would negatively impact surrounding property values.

Could this be used as a reasoning to impose fines to property owners that dismantle the city rather than develop it? Since their property rights are trumped by their effect on others property rights. Although this would be a slippery slope into leading neighbors to use the same reasoning in the courts to block developments that they think will hurt their property value.

It already happens with all the NIMBYs blocking anything remotely resembling low-income housing. But they don't get as angry about empty lots.

[Mr Downtown]

A lot depends on the neighborhood. Yes, a vacant lot might be seen as a negative on a side street in Old Irving Park, but in the West Loop it could raise the value of the building next door because a developer could now more easily assemble a larger site.

The problem with punishing owners for demolition is that, in most cases, you're simply piling on to their misfortune; punishing them for not having perfect foresight. In most hot neighborhoods, by the time demolition occurs the owner is a new LLC created just to do the new development, so there are no assets to pursue in any case. And there's the irony that by far the largest villain in demolishing Chicago's neighborhood building fabric has been the city itself, which has demolished huge swaths of the West and South Sides on rather flimsy pretexts.

[sentinel]

I just noticed that on Google Earth/maps, there is a new aerial photo of Chicago(land), dated "July 1, 2010" - some cool new projects are visible (Rush hospital, Mansueto library, the Aqua, etc), but what I noticed most is the fact that there are so many green roofs now, primarily from new construction.

[Mr Downtown]

Yes, I was checking something on Google Maps this morning and was astonished to see the Eyeball in Pritzker Park.

[denizen467]

And then there was 1: In a matter of days, the only Cabrini-Green white remaining will be the one on Halsted.

[spyguy]

They've been renovating the Monroe Building for quite some time now. You can kind of see the green Spanish tile they're using on the roof to restore the building to its original look.

More interesting is the fact that the Pritzker Military Library is moving from Streeterville to this building and expanding, taking the 2nd-4th floors. The move will hopefully bring attention to this relatively unknown organization (they produce a TV program from their studio) and add another cultural destination to Michigan Avenue.

[spyguy]

Renovation of the Bond Building/Benson & Rixon

Quincy entrance

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Its a pretty heavy modification, but frankly it preserves the original style very well.

[BWChicago]

Definitely more appropriate than the current curtain wall. Does anything happen to the Jackson side?

Historic image, as a refresher

[denizen467]

Does the GSA own the Bond Building (yet)?

Isn't it slated for demo when they expand the federal complex? Guess that project must be sufficiently far down the road.

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by spyguy

. . . the Pritzker Military Library is moving from Streeterville to this building and expanding, taking the 2nd-4th floors. The move will hopefully bring attention to this relatively unknown organization (they produce a TV program from their studio) and add another cultural destination to Michigan Avenue.

Great point - another great addition to the Cultural Mile, and probably of interest to a good number of tourists already visiting the other main attractions in the area.

Who owns this building (the Pritzkers?), and is it generally Class C offices and/or dentists & the like, or is it mainly some other use currently?

[BWChicago]

Originally Posted by denizen467

Does the GSA own the Bond Building (yet)?

Isn't it slated for demo when they expand the federal complex? Guess that project must be sufficiently far down the road.

www.gsa.gov/chicagofedcntrexpansion

[denizen467]

^ Thanks, just excerpting some relevant paragraphs (I know this stuff has been discussed here in previous months but the page date is 8/11/10) from there:

This . . . was acquired by GSA in 2005 . . .

. . .

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), funding has been set aside for the modernization of the 10 W. Jackson Federal Building to house a designated federal tenant and provide a warm lit shell for future tenant build-outs. The project is located in the Loop Retail Historic District at the northwest corner of West Jackson Boulevard and South State Street.

. . .

The primary goal of the project is to make the 10 W. Jackson Federal Building as high performing as possible . . . .

The Recovery Act Chicago State Street South project will set a new standard for adaptive re-use. Added window glazing will provide the occupants an exceptional work environment. The re-designed east curtain wall will add a significant street presence on both State Street and Jackson Boulevard, exemplifying the federal government’s commitment to urban cores. A new employee entrance and the new receiving room and trash room service areas will provide functionality required by the building’s tenants while reducing vehicular traffic and increasing pedestrian use of Quincy Court.

The current design concepts investigate curtain wall replacement at the east side of the building to improve the building’s thermal performance while contributing to the revitalization of the Loop Retail Historic District. Though the south site's project design will have no adverse effect on historic properties, GSA has initiated the process regarding Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act with the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office for the project.

Wonder what they are saying in the last sentence about Section 106...

[left of center]

^ I know this has been discussed before, but regarding the expansion of the Federal Center, what is the fate of the two terracotta towers at 202 S State (Century Building) and 230 S State? Last i heard, they were planning to rehab one and demo the other. Is that still the case? Anyone have any idea?

[Rizzo]

After the feasibility studies, it was decided the century and the building next door would be demolished and replaced. The building with fancy scaffolding will be restored.

[BWChicago]

the century is the one on the corner. the consumers is the one that's doomed

[ChicagoHiRiser]

Originally Posted by denizen467

And then there was 1: In a matter of days, the only Cabrini-Green white remaining will be the one on Halsted.

The demolition of the 'Himalaya' is already underway. From what I've read in the news the residents of the remaining white tower, 1230 Burling St (AKA Scamplife) received their 180 day eviction notices on or around July 19th.

The article does not make it clear whether the residents of the two remaining mid-rises at 364 & 365 Oak Street also received their 180 day notices or not. The way it is worded seems ambiguous to me.

[wrab]

Good to read that the GSA will restore the Benson & Rixon Building at 230 S State - this is the Art Moderne corner building that now houses a McDonald's. Rumors had been flying that it would come down.

Originally Posted by left of center

I know this has been discussed before, but regarding the expansion of the Federal Center, what is the fate of.....230 S State?.....

(See above)

[Loopy]

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[Loopy]

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