CHICAGO | General Developments - Page 880

emathias · #**17581** Posted **Jan 23, 2013, 3:48 PM**

The 703 N Wells building is around the corner from me. It's very narrow, so either they also bought the 707 building directly north of 703, or they meant to say 10-12 units, not stories. I'm not sure student housing is my first choice on that block, but it's better than vacant storefronts.

Quote:

Student housing, apartments planned in city

By: Micah Maidenberg January 23, 2013

...

A Chicago-based student housing developer known for projects in college towns is taking aim at the student population in the Loop and jumping into the city's white-hot apartment market.

For its first student housing project in its hometown, Campus Acquisitions LLC plans to convert two adjacent vintage office buildings near the northwest corner of Wabash Avenue and Jackson Boulevard into 160 units with 341 beds, said J.J. Smith, the firm's executive vice president of development.

A Campus Acquisitions affiliate recently paid about $13 million for the 16-story Gibbons and 19-story Steger building and a small, pre-Chicago Fire building known as Pickwick Stable, property records show. In all, it expects to spend about $60 million on the redevelopment.

...

Campus Acquisitions also is on the move in River North, where it plans an 80-unit apartment tower that would rise about 20 stories, according to Mr. Smith. The firm would build the high-rise on an 8,500-square-foot property at 4 E. Huron St. and 8 E. Huron St. that it recently bought for $6.1 million. It plans to demolish a three-story building on the site to make way for the apartment project.

Another Campus Acquisitions venture paid $237,000 for a small commercial building at 703 N. Wells St., which the firm would replace with a new, 10- to 12-story rental building. And the company also spent an undisclosed sum for six units in a residential building at 1651 W. Chicago Ave., Mr. Smith said.

...

Campus Acquisition will restore the Steger Building according to historic guidelines and connect it with the Gibbons Building to the west via a bridge over the Pickwick Stable.

In the three-story stable building, Chicago-based Asado Coffee Co. is leasing two stories covering around 800 square feet for a roasting facility and coffee shop, said Jeff Liberman, a co-owner of the firm.

...

Via Chicago · #**17582** Posted **Jan 23, 2013, 4:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaSalle.St.Station

Chicago media blows in preservation efforts, they labeled this a warehouse fire, oh well.....

Well thats what it was, but really anytime you hear in the news that theres been a warehouse fire in Chicago proper theres a good chance its an old interesting building with some history behind it. It may not be a landmark in the technical sense, but these are the kinds of places that give the city character and a sense of place. And warehouses are easy to overlook until theyre gone.

I dont know what can be done, but at a minimum there need to be stronger regulations regarding securing the premises once a company vacates. Plywood on the windows simply isnt going to cut it...if you need to brick over the first floor, so be it.

J_M_Tungsten · #**17583** Posted **Jan 23, 2013, 5:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_M_Tungsten

Today
I just noticed that boarded up one story building is gone on the southwest corner of Lake and Halsted. Has this been mentioned before or am I just behind?

Anyone?

Rizzo · #**17584** Posted **Jan 23, 2013, 5:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWChicago

The warehouse building that burned was built in 1911 as the Pullman Couch Company, architect R.S. Lindstrom. This was the 38th st. section (photo at http://archive.org/stream/centralman...e/100/mode/2up). An additional story was added in 1913, and a partial additional story added in 1915 by S. Scott Joy, the primary architect of the Central Manufacturing District. In 1919 the building was doubled in size, with the north half added along with the facade section, architect S. Scott Joy (photo at http://umedia.lib.umn.edu/node/66801). An additional story was added, probably to the north half, in 1921. The building remained in furniture manufacturing, later the Western-Stickley Table Co, Howard Parlor Furniture, Harris Industries Lamps, and Westlake Furniture, before closing in about 2006. (urbex photoset here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/manicme...th/6232145267/)

No wonder this place went up fast. Garbage inside as far as the eye can see. Aside from timber framing which isn't always the culprit for fire spread, the floors have alot of wood blocking to dampen the vibration of equipment. This has always been a problem in old abandoned factories in Detroit where fires can really get out of control.

jc5680 · #**17585** Posted **Jan 23, 2013, 6:46 PM**

That empty lot right next to the Paulina Stop, looks like the developers wanted to put a walgreens with some apartments on top.

What do you know, the neighborhood group doesn't "feel residential is good for that location" The location, right next to the Paulina stop, not good for residential, insane…

http://lakeview.patch.com/articles/o...op-development

the urban politician · #**17586** Posted **Jan 23, 2013, 6:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc5680

That empty lot right next to the Paulina Stop, looks like the developers wanted to put a walgreens with some apartments on top.

What do you know, the neighborhood group doesn't "feel residential is good for that location" The location, right next to the Paulina stop, not good for residential, insane…

http://lakeview.patch.com/articles/o...op-development

^ More NIMBY scum

sloop.chi · #**17587** Posted **Jan 23, 2013, 7:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc5680

That empty lot right next to the Paulina Stop, looks like the developers wanted to put a walgreens with some apartments on top.

What do you know, the neighborhood group doesn't "feel residential is good for that location" The location, right next to the Paulina stop, not good for residential, insane…

http://lakeview.patch.com/articles/o...op-development

Wow. Just wow.

All I know is this needs to be fought or that plot will become similar to the Walgreens development at the Sheridan red line stop. Which is an opportunity lost by the city and neighborhood. And one cannot argue against residential because traffic if you are implementing a store which encourages driving. Its hypocritical.

Vlajos · #**17588** Posted **Jan 23, 2013, 7:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc5680

That empty lot right next to the Paulina Stop, looks like the developers wanted to put a walgreens with some apartments on top.

What do you know, the neighborhood group doesn't "feel residential is good for that location" The location, right next to the Paulina stop, not good for residential, insane…

http://lakeview.patch.com/articles/o...op-development

Bunch of idiots. Why would the "neighborhood" group be against residential?

paytonc · #**17589** Posted **Jan 23, 2013, 8:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc5680

What do you know, the neighborhood group doesn't "feel residential is good for that location"

Yay, FINALLY a great place for my toxic waste rendering facility! Don't worry, we'll give out free "candy" to all the local kids. Urp.

Meanwhile, by depressing the fair market value that CTA can get for its land, these people are helping raise everyone's fares. Hooray for selfish NIMBYs!

ardecila · #**17590** Posted **Jan 23, 2013, 9:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_M_Tungsten

Anyone?

IIRC it will be a one-story retail building with parking in rear.

J_M_Tungsten · #**17591** Posted **Jan 23, 2013, 9:57 PM**

Jesus. Sorry I asked, but thanks.

the urban politician · #**17592** Posted **Jan 23, 2013, 10:21 PM**

^ So they are tearing down a one story building that has room for parking in the back, and replacing it with:

A one story building with parking out back.

Yeah, that sounds like a good business plan...

J_M_Tungsten · #**17593** Posted **Jan 23, 2013, 10:26 PM**

No, don't you get it? They'll lose money on it; it's genius!! It's like "The Producers"!

jc5680 · #**17594** Posted **Jan 23, 2013, 10:33 PM**

^ I wouldn't be surprised if what was there was just unusable. However I do vaguely recall them redoing the exterior brickwork on the north side very recently, like no more that 9-12 months ago...

wierdaaron · #**17595** Posted **Jan 24, 2013, 2:44 AM**

Speaking of warehouse fires...

http://blogs.wsj.com/photojournal/20...-ice/?mod=e2fb

Sure was cold today.

george · #**17596** Posted **Jan 24, 2013, 3:03 AM**

Awesome shots^. Mr Freeze had his way.

J_M_Tungsten · #**17597** Posted **Jan 24, 2013, 3:07 AM**

That is awesome! Well aside from the whole fire thing.

LouisVanDerWright · #**17598** Posted **Jan 24, 2013, 3:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc5680

^ I wouldn't be surprised if what was there was just unusable. However I do vaguely recall them redoing the exterior brickwork on the north side very recently, like no more that 9-12 months ago...

It's not necessarily that it is unusable, it is that it is obsolete. No tenant wants to lease a crappy old building with 8.5' clearances that they will have to pay out the ass to renovate. People often underestimate the differential between the cost of building new and demo/retrofit of older structures.

bradss · #**17599** Posted **Jan 24, 2013, 12:29 PM**

Hey Guys,

Longtime reader. I have rarely posted before but this warehouse fire in Bridgeport just made me sick. I couldn't agree more with UntitledReality and KingoftheHill about the importance of preserving these old Chicago Warehouse buildings. However, but the comment by Lasalle.St.Station just got me thinking about the Wrigley manufacturing plant up the street. Does everyone know that the plan for that site is a strip mall? The Alderman (Balcer) is very supportive of its demolition and is fed up with all the vacant warehouse property in his ward and wants to get rid of the PUD as soon as possible.

Here are the links to the development and site plan from the current owner Avgeris & Associates:

http://www.avgerisinc.com/details.php?id=67

http://www.avgerisinc.com/admin/ckfi...ite%20Plan.pdf

Does this make anyone else ill? With all the potential in that area why are we pushing for this suburban plan?

Skyguy_7 · #**17600** Posted **Jan 24, 2013, 1:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradss

Does this make anyone else ill? With all the potential in that area why are we pushing for this suburban plan?

Great architecture on the Big Box, and look at all those beautiful parking lots!