I didn't even think of that but that makes sense could very well be the case

I hope so, I was afraid it meant they were going to turn it into a park or something lame... I mean as great as parks are and all. :uhh:

Upon looking at pictures of the site again it doesn't seem like there would be room for such if they were to build elsewhere other than the current foundation (which if buried probably wouldn't be able to be built over for obvious reasons). I hope this is just temporary, it could be a metaphorical burying of any possibility of something rising here.

I am fairly certain Related is simply making it a little bit prettier for potential buyers over at their other property One Bennett Park. Developers don't generally engage in beautification efforts without a profit motivation. Also it doesn't hurt them politically the neighbors to the site might be more inclined to support any new proposal just based on the fact the Related did something to hide the spire hole. Also someone else probably knows better than I do but there could be a condition of site improvements within a certain time period to retain development rights here.

In the news.

http://gizmodo.com/landscaping-will-...hic-1766961861

Its strange that so much can be said for dirt. It is the one material that can be bought and resold if needed. Consider this earthwork as contractor grade window coverings in a new house. There is no news here to be worked up about. When they do develop the site they may reuse the soil to raise site grade, provide a cap over environmental issues or just sell it etc. It's an asset that won't lose value. The plants are most likely cheap filler. There is no news here, just someone being a responsible neighbor for a change.

So much this. This is barely going to cost them any money to do and scores them brownie points with the neighbors. Win win situation. I fail to see why some are looking at this as some sign that the lot will remain empty for many years to come.

This has nothing to do with One Bennett Park. It really only benefits the townhouses that have stared out at a vacant lot for years.

I'm sure someone at some level exerted pressure on Related to do this. Either SOAR or Ald. Reilly.

Related has an incentive to keep people happy, they want to get approval for whatever they decide to build eventually. The market still isn't quite there for condos yet where you'd have a significant number of buyers in the 0.1%.

I suppose the land is too valuable for the park to be permanent. When the Chicago boom picks up hopefully Related reconsiders and what they put there is worth the amazing lot.

They need to get Related to do the Spires contribution to DuSable Park. With the Flyover finishing I would think this should be priority.

Proposals should be submitted this month. :cheers:

^ tantalizing.

Excellent! I wonder how Related will time this project, and if we'll find out their plans for the site this summer. My only concern is that they won't want the Spire site proposal to overshadow their Bennett Park project, though it seems like they'll serve folks with very different tastes either way.

3/29/2016
 

My assumption this whole time has been that Related Midwest is doing the landscaping to prepare for some sort of event. I remember reading a while ago that proposals from architects would be due by April. I couldn't find the link or quote and didn't want to post without it. Anyway, that's my thought. This recent activity is about preparing for some event or revealing the potential designs.

Such an awesome/tantalizing/valuable/sexy piece of earth right there.

Hope the RFP is sent out to all the top dogs. This site is worthy of a Chicago icon if there ever was one.

If zaha hadid architects applied they probably will win.

Not if Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies Van Der Rohe apply as well!

You see what you did there...:tup:

bkl should design this tower