only partially - sadly they seem to have no interest at all in the 70' wall sunk around the perimeter in preparation for all parking to be underground.

Ha, I had to do some reading on that. Wasn't aware.

Besides construction risks, has this been a complicated matter when the projects are complete? Perhaps way over simplified but I think of it like radon in a basement. You patch some holes and open a couple of windows once and awhile and your risk drops. Except in this case, remove toxic dirt, replace with new dirt over top, pave walkways and plant vegetation, any gamma particles that manage to stir up through the earthen buffer will release into the open air and be a minimal health risk comparatively to all the vehicle exhaust in the area.

Once the nimbys get used to 875 ft, they're not going to care if the next one is 750 or 1000, I hope you are right about the height revision, although I bet they'd just add more units, that is still a weird spot for a hotel IMO.

Isn't the plan to build both simultaneously? Has that changed?

Nice press release. I’m slightly optimistic but will believe it when drilling begins

I think it will. Rental market so hot even Related Midwest is building things again.

I'm so pumped. A bit sad about the terracotta but I'm sure the metal/glass will still look great, especially around those massings.

I think the recent ambition by developers such as Related and Sterling Bay is a really positive sign, and may point to even more wild proposals down the line, provided that the demand of the current market stays intact.

^From the article:

"The development will be built in two phases with the taller north tower going first, followed by the shorter south tower. It is possible with a rebound in the market that the eventual southern tower could become taller before its groundbreaking, much like the original plan."

"Having already been approved by the city, Related is planning to break ground on the north tower towards the end of 2022 with an anticipated completion date in 2024, as announced on the updated project website."

I was curious about the 'updated project website' when the video was posted the other day.

But apparently the website hasn't changed (regarding the completion date) according to the archive.org waybackmachine since like last April or so. It has said 'in development' and with the 2024 anticipated completion since then. I guess people didn't actually expect the website was going to be accurate? (and just assumed that it must have changed recently)

Current https://www.relatedmidwest.com/our-c...ke-shore-drive

From last April https://web.archive.org/web/20210411...ke-shore-drive

Oh damn, nice! If all goes well with the leasing of the first tower and they want to increase the height of the second tower, I would imagine they wouldn't make them twins in height. If they keep the existing differential in height (110'), then that south tower could potentially reach supertall status, or pretty damn close to it (875' + 110' = 985'). Would they be able to do this as of right under the existing zoning? I believe they were approved for more units than they are currently going for, with them having reduced the height and density themselves based what they at that time assumed to be much lower demand as a result of the pandemic.

Since this is Related...the affordable minivan of developers...there's zero chance any of this happens. Far more likely that they'll make it even more boring than the current proposal.

^ Right, not worried about the lack of height on this one. Just hope the design doesn't lose any more of its quality. The loss of terra cotta was a big hit but it could still turn out nice if they keep the details of vertical metal elements.

A bit scary to see the status of the project listed as "design in progress" on the SOM site, especially with rumors of groundbreaking in the near future. Could just be an outdated page though.

It could also be an oversimplification. I manage the database for active projects in my office and they fall into 3 basic categories: design, construction, and complete. Projects are listed as being in the design phase until they break ground. Plus it implies more action on the part of the architect to say "design in progress" rather than "design complete and on hold awaiting construction."

Thank you for the insight! That all makes plenty of sense

Though I wonder given their project page on the Related site https://www.relatedmidwest.com/our-c...ke-shore-drive and SOM https://www.som.com/projects/400-lake-shore-drive/

Both primarily only show renders of the overall form - and then of just the lake path... Previously there were many more close up renders of the building and the entrance. I wonder if this is because some of the design is being reworked/finalized. It's been 4 (*edited) years since the initial design and almost 2 years since the redesign.

^I had to double check your facts b/c 6.5 years seems forever ago and though time flies, I didn't think it was that long ago. It looks like the design was initially revealed in May 2018 so, almost 4 years ago. But yea, it's been about 2 years since the redesign. I hope any further tweaks is for the better of the overall design. Both Related and SOM's websites have been in their current states for a while now which is typical until projects move into the construction stage.

Er thanks for correction (changed), but yeah 4 years is still a pretty long time.

I thought there were a lot more photos of the current design released 2 years ago but those aren't being shown on either of their sites. Maybe they never were. But I'm almost 100% sure the redesign entrance/courtyard was shown on Related's site but it's not there now.

The Spire was cancelled, and the hole is still there.

There is a new proposal from Related Midwest and SOM, but who knows when or if it will happen.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H96J...__Merrill_.jpg

https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/5/24...velopment-news