CHICAGO | General Developments

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ It's probably related to that parking/retail building that's been planned for the past few years

The last few reports have had the idea of an above ground parking structure kicked to the curb. It was going to go to retail and now they are just talking about offices and amentities for the Cubs. I am thinking they don't want to deal with the NIMBY's like the Hyatt people have had to do since the stadium itself will likely be a much bigger and important battle.

I think they should build the lots across the street and build some underground parking if need be. Maybe tear up a piece of Clark St. and connect an underground garage between the triangle parcel and those lots. Parking is going to have to be a part of a future deal somewhere around there and may as well put it underground.

[spyguy]

Originally Posted by nomarandlee

I am thinking they don't want to deal with the NIMBY's like the Hyatt people have had to do since the stadium itself will likely be a much bigger and important battle.

Speaking of which, did anyone post this projects website yet?

http://www.addisonparkonclark.com/

[cbotnyse]

^^ cool renderings. The development looks rather average, but great for the neighborhood. That is some prime real estate right there, damn.

[the urban politician]

^ That McDonald's needs to go

I'm really beginning to resent how McDonald's develops land. Here are the worst land developers in America:

1) McDonalds
2) Walmart
3) Chain pharmacies (ie Walgreens)
4) Hospitals

For crying out loud, even grocery stores are beginning to catch on that you can build urban and still have parking. Either grow up or get the hell out of my prime real estate, McD's!

[Dr. Taco]

^ does anyone here remember when they put that mcdonalds and parking lot in initially? its been there as long as i can remember

also, I don't like the parking structure there at all, but I guess whats there isn't much better. But I just don't like the idea of a parking structure for wrigley. The way it is now is just way too classic!

[mcfinley]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ That McDonald's needs to go

Seriously! But, it's only a matter of time. The questions is whether a private developer will build mixed use condos there like those planned for the southeast corner or whether the current or next owner of the Cubs will put up a family-friendly tourist trap. I can just see it now, Mark Cuban's Fun Zone.

[VivaLFuego]

I wouldn't mind the McDonalds getting replaced with some parking.

There's a serious road capacity issue, though. Hopefully someone with even rudimentary experience in transportation planning will explain to the bozos like Thompson what will happen if you try sending thousands (or even merely hundreds) more vehicles to/from that location, at the same time, on existing city streets. It's not like there's any excess capacity as-is. It would snarl the entire frickin' north side.

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by Jibba

I know this is sort of anecdotal and could be seen by many as hearsay, but my sister who is employed at NMH has heard more than once from her superior (head of the dental department) that the plot of land where the VA hospital is currently occupied is set to become a parking structure. Probably no surprise there, but I thought I would just set out what I know for anyone interested.

For once, being right doesn't give me a smug sense of self-satisfaction. Sigh.

[Taft]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

I'm really beginning to resent how McDonald's develops land. Here are the worst land developers in America:

1) McDonalds
2) Walmart
3) Chain pharmacies (ie Walgreens)
4) Hospitals

How about banks? Seems like a new chase is going up every day in this city, complete with parking and a drive through. Puke.

Taft

[cbotnyse]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

I wouldn't mind the McDonalds getting replaced with some parking.

say what? I agree with the idea/theory that more parking here would just encourge more people to drive to the area, when there is no need for them to. A parking garage here makes no sense. Any sort of commercial or residential development would thrive at at that location. A parking garage of what, 1000 cars? maybe? I am really shocked to hear you say that actually.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Yeah, people all ready take the train and bus as their primary mode of transit to Wrigley, there just is no capacity whatsoever for anything but a handful of cars.




LOOK AT THAT SEXY DENSITY!!!

[cbotnyse]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

LOOK AT THAT SEXY DENSITY!!!

that is sexy, and pretty sad for me being a Sox fan. Will someone please build a development in Bridgeport near the cell!!! please!

[shaberko]

LOOK AT THAT SEXY DENSITY!!!

That view is going to look much cooler once the Spire goes up.

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by cbotnyse

say what? I agree with the idea/theory that more parking here would just encourge more people to drive to the area, when there is no need for them to. A parking garage here makes no sense. Any sort of commercial or residential development would thrive at at that location. A parking garage of what, 1000 cars? maybe? I am really shocked to hear you say that actually.

Well, the statement immediately following that one was pointing that the street network is physically incapable of handling significantly more cars; adding more would gridlock a several mile radius because the road capacity just aint there for thousands of cars heading to/from the ballpark at the same time. And McDonald's is already a surface parking lot, so even just bulldozing the ugly sprawlburban McDonald's and landscaping the surface alot would just improve the aesthetics. I guess I'm saying, if they gotta try to slip in a few hundred parking spaces somewhere, then a redeveloped McDonald's with some ground floor retail and a couple floors of parking above, and some decent accompanying streetscaping, would be an improvement over existing conditions.

Either that, or the similarly laughably awful Taco Bell on the other side of Addison.

[cbotnyse]

^^ if the street network is physically incapable of handling significantly more cars, then why build a parking garage to encourage more cars to the area?

[Chicago3rd]

Really like it. Man we need to ban those humongus billboards we have around there. And hopefully a new tourist trap for the cubs will be build in the retail space below the awful parking "triangle" garage and drive the bastard at the corner of Clark and Addison out of business so a nice fountain and plaza can be built there when they tear down his 1 story cinderblock chain window building down.

[honte]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

For once, being right doesn't give me a smug sense of self-satisfaction. Sigh.

For once, I am extra, extra pissed about being wrong.

[BWChicago]

As a reminder, here are the renders of that garage expansion from http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/ballpark/expansion.jsp . The garage proposal was only like 400 spots, and it may or may not be built with office and training facilities instead of parking. And it does include proposals for a memorabilia store at Clark and Newport.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Chicago3rd

Man we need to ban those humongus billboards we have around there.

I love the billboards outside the park, so long as they don't encroach into the stadium. It's a really cool experience to walk out of Wrigley and see several 50-foot billboards staring you down - like Times Square, but a bit smaller and less neon.

[Saber925]

Originally Posted by jstush04

^ does anyone here remember when they put that mcdonalds and parking lot in initially? its been there as long as i can remember

In the 60s, it was the site of a "Franksville" - 10 or 11 diifferent types of hot dogs!