I know that the "holdout" building on the corner isnt pretty, but it does give the streetscape more retail and variety. Its too bad a lot of those beige bumbers from the 00s boom with the block-sized podiums didnt incorporate a holdout or two to break up their oppressive, retail-less streetface.
This development is so exciting. Its three blocks west, three blocks south, and eight blocks north of any other 200m+ towers,. That combined with the height of the building itself is going to make it very prominent and a true landmark.
The fact that its a beautiful design with a well designed, retail rich podium makes it all the better. Not to mention the fact that it will fill in one of the largest and ugliest parking lots left in River North. This will be an enormous asset to River North, State Street, and Chicago Avenue in more ways than one.
This is the most exciting single-block project currently going up in Chicago imo. Over 800 new residential units on one block! The transformation of River North west of State Street over the past 10-15 years is phenomenal.
Hopefully that four block area around Clark and Ontario starts seeing some big, well thought out developments in the near future. Thats the last big "hole" in the area's skyline. Once those blocks get developed then River North to the south and east of the Cabrini desert will look like one continuous extension of the skyline (the part north of the river) westwards.
We're so lucky to see such a massive expansion of the heart of Chicago in all directions. This current boom is more exciting than the 00s boom, at least imo.