CHICAGO | Highrise Projects & Construction, v7

[Mr Downtown]

It's seldom outside forces making these decisions. Going taller doesn't always make financial sense.

You need more elevator shafts (costing you floorplate), you need stronger concrete, you have a longer construction period, you might need a tuned mass damper or additional frame stiffening. On most Chicago sites, the sweet spot seems to be between 40 and 50 stories.

Developers want to build and sell a project quickly and move on to another site, not see if they can squeeze in a few more floors for bragging rights before the next recession catches them out.

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

It's seldom outside forces making these decisions. Going taller doesn't always make financial sense.

You need more elevator shafts (costing you floorplate), you need stronger concrete, you have a longer construction period, you might need a tuned mass damper or additional frame stiffening. On most Chicago sites, the sweet spot seems to be between 40 and 50 stories.

Developers want to build and sell a project quickly and move on to another site, not see if they can squeeze in a few more floors for bragging rights before the next recession catches them out.

It's often that outside forces, like NIMBY's and alderman help to make and or force these decisions.

If more density and salable square footage were allowed, perhaps more financial sense could be made.

Developers may want to sell quickly, but the most time seems to be spent going the the bureaucracies of the approval process.

A number of developers have wanted to go taller than 40-50 floors, like the recent proposal for River North.

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by BrandonJXN

a tall, thin tower on Michigan and Randolph abutting Millennium Park Plaza.

There even was a render for this before the crash, as a small (2 units per floor?) addition just a tiny bit taller than Mill Pk Plaza. Not sure if it was going to operate separately (with an address of 151 N Michigan or 151 E Randolph) from MPP, or whether the south-facing units of MPP would become uber deluxe suites with additional bedrooms (because otherwise, they would lose all those windows). In any event it's ridiculously underutilized space right now, even as just one or two levels of retail.

[ithakas]

Someone posted this at SSC, a nice look at River North's boom:


Source: HB Chicago, Flickr

[maru2501]

cool

great density. height still needed to NW someplace to drag the bulk outward

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by ithakas

Someone posted this at SSC, a nice look at River North's boom:

From Riverbend, I'd guess? Jarta?

[Notyrview]

Wow beautiful shot

[HomrQT]

Originally Posted by harryc

well poorly executed function of deceiving the masses

Yikes

[chicubs111]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

It's often that outside forces, like NIMBY's and alderman help to make and or force these decisions.

If more density and salable square footage were allowed, perhaps more financial sense could be made.

Developers may want to sell quickly, but the most time seems to be spent going the the bureaucracies of the approval process.

A number of developers have wanted to go taller than 40-50 floors, like the recent proposal for River North.

Exactly!...and how much longer would a taller thin building take to build versus a shorter squat building with the same number units?..I remember when Daley was pushing taller and thinner buildings in this city..oh well...dont want to get too OT here

[left of center]

Great shot, ithakas!

Originally Posted by maru2501

cool

great density. height still needed to NW someplace to drag the bulk outward

Agreed. My fear is when River North is out of empty lots and demand forces developers to build taller, its not going to be the newish midrises from the past several boom cycles that are going to be demolished. Its going to be the historic lowrises. That part of town needs all the brick and stone it has to counter all the precast concrete and parking podiums.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by left of center

Great shot, ithakas!



Agreed. My fear is when River North is out of empty lots and demand forces developers to build taller, its not going to be the newish midrises from the past several boom cycles that are going to be demolished. Its going to be the historic lowrises. That part of town needs all the brick and stone it has to counter all the precast concrete and parking podiums.

I'll bet that some are demolished, but my hope is that they will build elsewhere. I think they've already stated that a little. Maybe not for the reason stated, but it's happening at least

[The Best Forumer]

Originally Posted by ithakas

Someone posted this at SSC, a nice look at River North's boom:


Source: HB Chicago, Flickr

Wow. Nice shot. Mad props to Chicago. What's that building towards the right of center with the 4 cones at the top? It looks residential. Wish Houston had something like that. We mostly have boxes. Keep up the good work!

[JK47]

Originally Posted by The Best Forumer

Wow. Nice shot. Mad props to Chicago. What's that building towards the right of center with the 4 cones at the top? It looks residential. Wish Houston had something like that. We mostly have boxes. Keep up the good work!

That's 900 North Michigan. Combination of Residential (Condos) on the upper floors with Commercial Retail (a mall leaning more high-end) on the lower 6-7 floors on the east end and a Surgical Outpatient facility on the west end.

[kolchak]

Originally Posted by JK47

That's 900 North Michigan. Combination of Residential (Condos) on the upper floors with Commercial Retail (a mall leaning more high-end) on the lower 6-7 floors on the east end and a Surgical Outpatient facility on the west end.

Also the Four Seasons and a dozen floors of other office space.

[Pilton]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

From Riverbend, I'd guess? Jarta?

Do you look under your bed for Jarta at nght? He sold at the wrong time. lol!

No, my it's my 3-br unit. Here's the full set of photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hbchic...57683347849225

[jpIllInoIs]

Originally Posted by Pilton

Do you look under your bed for Jarta at nght? He sold at the wrong time. lol!

No, my it's my 3-br unit. Here's the full set of photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hbchic...57683347849225

Looks like a very nice place.. The riverwalk view is an improvement.
And I agree..its time to put that tired jarta trope to bed on this forum.

[Le Baron]

[spyguy]

Originally Posted by i_am_hydrogen

Big apartment tower planned south of the Chicago River on Michigan Avenue

43 stories...

----
360 W Erie - looks like they made some improvements to the ground floor (although still parking, so not sure how much it will really help versus brick, but it does look less bunker-like)

Before/After

[spyguy]

Lake and Ada - Brininstool & Lynch
264 apartments, 97 parking spots, ground floor retail

The shorter building will apparently use brick and cor-ten (I know certain people will love that)

[the urban politician]

^ Awesome, but it being that tall in the west Loop it will be a child death machine.

Not a fan of the top one in Erie. What is up with that district? Absolutely no ground floor activity with nearly all of the developments.