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I biked over there yesterday and took a look. They've driven two squares of sheet piling, each about 20x20 feet, about 100 feet apart. Looks like they'd be along the east curbline of Wells-Wentworth. I presume it's so they can excavate storm sewer drop shafts. I think the promise was that this parcel would handle all its own stormwater runoff, so presumably the new shafts will connect to some filtration basin prior to discharge into the South Branch.
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April 26, 2019
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The Spire hole is contagious! Everybody panic :0
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^hahah!
Interested to find out what this is really for, though. Would be cool if it is indeed a storm sewer drop shaft as Mr. Downtown guessed |
May be work on the Wells-Wentworth connector project.
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Yes, it's clearly part of Wells-Wentworth construction—but what, exactly? I'm thinking catch basins, maybe larger than usual or with sediment trapping capability.
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Snapped a couple shoddy pictures. A bit more equipment over there than I remembered
https://i.imgur.com/uBTwuaF.jpg?1 https://i.imgur.com/y093Qw2.jpg?1 https://i.imgur.com/Ky96Je0.jpg?1 https://i.imgur.com/3mRMSKH.jpg?1 |
Crains stating that the U of I system is getting $1.9 billion, and $500 MM is going towards the Discovery Partners Institute. Pritzker had a change of heart?
That article also stated that the DPI has raised $400 MM in private money, although no details were given. This thing looks like it might actually happen. Related Cos must be happy |
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Either way, given the money involved here I am expecting a top-flight architect and an award-worthy design. Too much to hope for Richard Rogers or SHoP? Maybe Norman Foster as a consolation prize after his excellent O’Hare design was not chosen? |
^ That article specifically mentions $500 million for the DPI
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Forgive me for probably missing it somewhere earlier in the thread - are there any reasonably detailed schematics of the planned rail re-alignments, new roadways, etc? Will the Rock Island re-alignment also include any improvements to the level crossing with the SCAL?
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I haven't yet seen anything at an engineering level of detail, but the most detailed site plans I've seen, in the PD, just show new diamonds at a different location. However, Related told me a few months ago that discussions with CN were ongoing, based on CN's subsequent announcement of single-tracking and realigning the SCAL. Because property—or at least easement—swaps are involved, it may be complicated by railroad lawyers.
https://i.imgur.com/CxiHCuu.jpg |
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I can't think how Grand Crossing would help anything regarding CN freight.
CN might be happy enough to give up the SCAL if they could ever get the EJE double-tracked. Right now it seems like they route important stuff on the J, and slow manifest freights of mostly empties on the Iowa Division/SCAL. |
I don't have pics since I was driving and am a good citizen...
...but my back route home when LDS is jammed take's me down 16th to the Mariano's corner and then N. on Roosevelt. There was a lot of construction equipment on site this week due West of that corner - where there's sort of a dirt ramp. They were all around the Metra tracks, but I couldn't tell if they were actually working on the tracks themselves or in the surrounding area. |
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June 25, 2019
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is that a sign on that bridge? Never noticed that before
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^on which bridge?
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Question about the Wells-Wentworth connector:
Other than the part that tunnels under Roosevelt Rd, why does it take so long to build a road? We are talking about a simple road here, right? Or is there a lot of buried utility work that's going along with it? Sorry if somebody already answered this before. |
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And I don't play SimCity Anyhow, yes work started in April but this is a 3 phase project that is supposed to take quite some time, I believe? Just wanted to know |
The first 2 phases are already done. They went through Chinatown. This is the last phase.
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Phase 1 put in curbs/gutters/new pavement from 16th to Cullerton and a signal at 18th. Phase 2, realignment next to the branch library to eliminate the offset at Cermak, is well under way. Phase 3, the new road through Related Midwest's property, had to be rebid I think, and work just began the last week of April. |
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^Not covered by my insurance.
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I think the bigger question is, why did the project need to be broken into three phases split up over multiple years, and why did it take so many years before CDOT even started the first phase?
The answer to the first question is probably that phases 1 and 2 could be sold as a boon to an existing community in Chinatown, and not a developer giveaway. And I suppose the answer to the second question is, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Rezko and Auchi weren't lobbying the mayor to get this road built through their site. Related was. And even after Related started pushing for the road to start, CDOT had to find money for it in a very tight budget and complete the Chinatown sections first. |
Connection completion in time for the holidays?
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Man, imagine a parallel reality (or a distant future) where Riverline, Southbank, the 78, Burnham Lakefront, AND One Central are ALL fully built. What a complete transformation that would be. It's like creating three new medium-sized cities.
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Illinois Tech joins in DPI, UIUC
IIT will be partners with U of I in the Discovery Partners.
Which is great news, I think IIT gets overlooked as a member of Chicago's tech scene. from IIT: Quote:
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Chicago's building industry creates 1st-ever loan fund to help minority biz
An interesting article in its own right, but it also includes an updated rendering of the 78 that I hadn't seen yet: https://cdn-vox--cdn-com.cdn.ampproj..._Midwest.0.jpg |
OMG, my jaw just dropped to the floor!! That looks incredible! It looks like a whole new city there, and I can't wait for the Riverwalk to extend from Harrison all the way to Chinatown!!!:notacrook::worship:
On Sunday, I walked along the new riverwalk section from Lake Shore Dr to Lake Street. It was packed. The Riverwalk now has to be one of the best urban locations in the world now! It's really amazing how well it turned out. I like that they have alot more restaurants and cafes, it really make it more lively with cafes, beer gardens ect. My favorite new part is the Northman beer garden. They made it look exactly like a Bavarian beer garden, even with umbrellas from Stiegl brewery in Salzburg. The Baron heartily approves! When the new sections opened it seemed like they didn't have very many cafes. It's turned into a linear version of a grand European plaza now. I love it!!! It's also very unique, I can't think of anywhere where you can walk at the bottom of a skyscraper canyon, a river with boats going by, and cafes like that. |
They included Riverline as well...
Please, please, please come to fruition in my lifetime!:slob: |
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http://78chicago.com/assets/img/caro...e-vision-1.jpg |
This is such a better megadevelopment than Lincoln Yards. Just far superior in almost every way I can contemplate.
Entirely better conceived......and I hope, executed. |
Wow! That looks amazing! I wish there was a way for the city as a whole to focus on developing this parcel to this scale before the other megaprojects receive attention.
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Looks like they are getting to the point of refining the tower designs... good. The first draft were obviously placeholders, but you can see a lot more effort being put into the the high rise designs there in the comparison. The low-mid rise structures are all about identical, so I guess we should assume they are being built first? Shot in the dark, I know. I forgot if they had released what stages would go first, been a while since seeing the big pdf for their presentation to the city
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https://i.imgur.com/B9KXHAB.jpg?1 https://cdn-vox--cdn-com.cdn.ampproj..._Midwest.0.jpg |
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