CHICAGO | 108 North State (Block 37) - Page 70

spyguy · #**1381** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 2:03 AM**

honte · #**1382** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 2:16 AM**

Thanks for all the info, Spyguy.

I hate to sound negative in this thread all the time, but this looks really boring. And that last render? I think the interior of the Rock 'n' Roll McDonalds looks nicer.

It does not look like a project 30-years in the making. Nor does it look like the kind of grand gesture that could have been made with an entire empty block in the Loop. I am beyond disappointed.

Chicago Shawn · #**1383** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 3:01 AM**

What the fuck? Is that all space allocated for the "Grand Atrium"? I see some more value engineering went on with the podium to squeeze in more retail space. What a blown opportunity this project has been. This is what we get for bringing in a bullshit suburban mall developer.

nicopico · #**1384** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 3:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by honte

It does not look like a project 30-years in the making. Nor does it look like the kind of grand gesture that could have been made with an entire empty block in the Loop. I am beyond disappointed.

I agree wholeheartedly. Where is the vision? Where is the inspiration? Where's the height?

If I'm not mistaken, the block contained a mid-to-upscale hodge-podge of shops and retail when it was razed no? Isn't that just what we're replacing it with? Decades and the result mirrors the original.

spyguy · #**1385** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 3:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by honte

It does not look like a project 30-years in the making. Nor does it look like the kind of grand gesture that could have been made with an entire empty block in the Loop. I am beyond disappointed.

I agree. I think most of the blame falls squarely on Mills. It seems like Freed has very little opportunity to change the retail plans significantly, although only they will be to blame if the cafe looks like that 80's junk.

The exterior of the retail podium still bothers me. Is there a reason why they couldn't make it entirely (or mostly) with glass, instead of lots of concrete and flourishes like the ribbons?

Anyway, the only hope I see now for this project is if the station looks great, the retail is good and complements Carson's/State St., and they redesign the other towers.

Busy Bee · #**1386** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 3:20 AM**

Quote:

What the fuck? That's it for the "Grand Atrium"? I see some more value engineering went on with the podium. What a blown opportunity this was. This is what we get for bringing in a bullshit suburban mall developer.

I agree. They should just build the freakin CBS building and finish the CTA station and just start over with he rest. Rethink, redesign and rebid the whole goddamn thing. I'd rather wait another year and get something fantastic than get this shopping mall, Bethesda, Maryland food court on steroids. A few posts back said it all: Boring. We deserved much much better. Like a... ehmm, Helmut Jahn superproject, ehhmm, sound familiar???

I honestly got so fed up with B37 that I stopped checking this thread a while back, only occasionally reading the latest, but is there anything left of Ralph Johnson's design? It doesn't look like it, the facade at this point seems totally disjointed and drab. Where is the color, the bravado, the architectural greatness that the center of the Loop and one of the countries' greatest shopping thoroughfares warrants???

honte · #**1387** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 3:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicago Shawn

Is that all the space allocated for the "Grand Atrium"?

It's not even big enough to fit the Cad "tree" block!

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyguy

I agree. I think most of the blame falls squarely on Mills.

Yes, probably, but you have to factor the City into this debacle too. I think they had many, many opportunities to get this right, and they repeatedly botched the job, throwing in our TIF and tax dollars while they were at it. If they can pull off Millennium Park, why not something visionary here? Sure, MP is a kind of hodge-podge carnival of stuff, but at least it's got some kind of special character.

bnk · #**1388** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 3:36 AM**

Thanks for the other renders spyguy.

But WTF would even set foot in this mall cafeteria.

This ranks as one of the worst and most ill advised render that I have ever seen for in the city limits.
Send them interns, or who ever thought of this render and be gone with them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyguy

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SamInTheLoop · #**1389** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 3:38 AM**

It looks like Freed might be going with the single tower concept (spanning the entire North side of block along Randolph) for the residential or residential/hotel components. I assume they wouldn't have flexibility to change at this point?? Looking at the first floor plan, the elevator configuration definitely looks like they're going with the single tower...

Chicago2020 · #**1390** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 5:28 AM**

I could be A LOT WORSE than this. It looks alright but I doubt this will be Chicago's new attraction site.

Alliance · #**1391** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 5:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicopico

I agree wholeheartedly. Where is the vision? Where is the inspiration? Where's the height?

Yes. I also am unmoved.

Via Chicago · #**1392** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 5:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicago2020

It looks alright but I doubt this will be Chicago's new attraction site.

but thats the thing. it could have been.

i remember reading something about the outside walls being entirely covered in LEDs, and that they would constantly change and make some sort of light art display. im assuming thats long gone?

GregBear24 · #**1393** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 2:06 PM**

where the hell is daley on this one?

Steely Dan · #**1394** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 2:20 PM**

what a waste.

but unlike most people in this thread, i saw this coming years ago, and have long since stopped caring about block 37.

trvlr70 · #**1395** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 2:25 PM**

The retail portion is about as sexy as an airport mall.

museumparktom · #**1396** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 2:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trvlr70

The retail portion is about as sexy as an airport mall.

MMMMM another food court. What a complete waist of prime city land.

I officially hate it! No wonder there hasn't been much info on this.

trvlr70 · #**1397** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 3:05 PM**

The city could have at least insisted on something comparable to NYC's Time Warner Center.

budman · #**1398** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 5:23 PM**

Truly depressing. Do we know how recent these renderings are? I dont want to believe that this is the realistic end result.

Chicago3rd · #**1399** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 5:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyguy

Joseph Freed and Associates LLC Buys Block 37 Development
by Jayne Thompson
April 17, 2007

The CTA superstation is being built 60 feet below ground. It will connect the CTA's Red and Blue lines, linking O'Hare, Midway and downtown on one line.

I am confused...how does linking the Blue and Red line include Midway? Are they going to run the Orange line through the subway on the Red Lines tracks? I must have missed this.

Alliance · #**1400** Posted **Apr 17, 2007, 5:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trvlr70

The retail portion is about as sexy as an airport mall.

I actually did think of some of the new stuff at Ohare when I thought of this.

Honestly, its easy to change inside decor...not same with the outside.

These wave metallic panels? Interesting concept, but really, this is not the architectural advancement this site needed.

This is PRIME real estate...and has now become a disappointment. I don't even see one LED, even something as odd and out of place as the curvy thing over by ABC studios.