Funny you mention the spire, there was an article on it this week suggesting that it might have a small chance at being revived, they were discussing it at SSC. Start reading at post 25 http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...1312113&page=2

oh that's kinda cool, that article was from 2 days ago, so very recent news. At least the project is not 100% dead even though I won't get my hopes up.

:previous: My guess is there won't be any movement on the Spire site for a while mostly due to legal issues. I don't even know if Kelleher still owns the land.

to get back on topic: According to that new video it doesn't look like the project has been scaled back. If anything it seems like it has gotten bigger. I could have sworn there were only five towers in the first proposal now there's seven. Anyway, like I said, until it's scaled back and all the other issue are addressed no one is really going to consider this a real proposal.

Btw, you think Chicago is all YIMBY? Tell that to Draper and Kraper who's been in a court battle for over a decade trying to get a highrise build on north lakeshore drive, or Fouth Presbyterian church on the Mag mile who tried selling air rights to a developer to build a 50 strorey highrise but had to settle for a nice 5 storey box instead b/c NIMBY's shot down the highrise. There are several other instances but I'm not going to go over all of them. Chicago isn't as bad as Boston or San Francisco when it comes to NIMBY but some places in this city are probably just as bad.

Maybe you need to do some better reading because I don't see anything in that article that says the Spire may have a small chance of being revived. Actually here is a direct quote: "The article quotes on McArdle about the improvements to the land. ” ‘It’s a hole in the ground,’ said David McArdle, an attorney for Lorig, which built exit and entrance ramps to the property. ‘It’s not moving forward.’ ”

No, read the thread I linked to where they discuss it. I haven't read the article, I was going off of what they said in the thread, starting at post 25, but mainly after that.

^^

The article has way more credibility than a former on SSC. Come to think of it, I actually can't think of a worse place to base ideas and opinions off of than SSC. There have been legitimate discussions about turning 2 and 3 WTC into residential buildings on that site, I don't know how much longer I can take it over there.

I finally snapped, gave some forumer hell over there, and now I'm just on SSP. I noticed how this thread on SSC is going strong with predictions and fantasy, but if the Spire couldn't get out of the ground, we aren't seeing anything pass the Sears until the height of the next boom, which could very well be 15 or 20 years from now. This sure isn't going anywhere.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/artic...itecture-firms

A new dawn for architecture firms
By: Robert Sharoff August 27, 2012

The opening of three design firms downtown is raising expectations that Chicago's architecture community may be starting to revive from the torpor of the last few years.

...It also acquired the services of Chicago architect Lucien Lagrange, who is working with British developer William Davies on the design of a mixed-use tower for a site adjacent to the old post office southwest of the Loop.

i thought this was dead lol

It was never really alive to begin with, just a pipe dream. Anyway, the article speaks of a mixed-use tower on a lot adjacent to the old post office, it didn't mention anything about the post office redevelopment, which consists of multiple towers and the rehabing of the old post office.

:brickwall:

I assume this is for the Central Carrier Annex site along the river, which means we could get a Lagrange tower at the visual terminus of the South Branch. Ritz-Carlton looked promising in the renderings and I held out hope, but the execution sucked. I expect the same thing with this.

So is this project dead in the water ?

Not according to the Chicago Architecture Blog:
Old Post Office Development Back On Track With Hotel, Residential, Retail, Office Space and a 100-Story Skyscraper

According to Bill Motchan's article posted on Tuesday:

Now the plan looks to be a 100fl supertall in phase 1, and another supertall and a 2000' megatall in phase 2.

http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info...ht-333x500.jpg
http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info...dle-and-right/

After seeing this discussed on Chicago Tonight with Phill Ponce. plus after reading articles on here about this proposal being presented to various city commisions, I think this thread should be put in the Highrise proposal thread. Even if it may only have a one percent chance of happening, and people have had thier hearts broken by failed supertalls, it is a proposal and not just somthing someone drew for fun.

That's kinda good news, so this project might be real after all? I can't even tell...

I still won't get my hopes up that high but whatever, better than it being cancelled.

Could this really happen? I don't want to see another chicago super tall be canceled.

Is there demand in Chicago for this?

I agree. I share the skepticism but the mere fact it has been discussed recently means something and besides NYC has a serious proposal for a 1,550 to the roof super tall at 225 West 57th Street (read: a building that would de-crown the Sears/Willis Tower as tallest building by roof and occupied floor in the United States!). I really want Chicago to start competing again with supertalls, at least with supertalls in NYC if nowhere else and a revived Chicago Spire and/or this would fit the bill.

A big trump card it has is actually it's location, it is near Union Station and the Blue Line as well as reasonably close to La Salle Street station and the Loop elevated plus the expressways. In essence it has the same location advantages as the Sears Tower but yeah there are questions about there being demand for THAT MUCH space. It depends on how the economy picks up, if Chicago can get some of same positive indicators as NYC (relative to our size) then it could happen. It might be 2020 before it is up and NYC might have the US title for a few years but this would put us back in business.

I am no expert, but at the moment, most people would agree, there is not enough demand for this, but by the time all the steps and hurdles needed for such a plan to be built are cleared, the economics very well could justify such a project. I think if a plan this big is going to happen, it needs to already be in the works long before the obvious demand appears, or else we just end up with a hole in the ground or an unfinished 20 story parking garage. :(

Well if it was built they should rename it to World Trade Center Chicago to attract businesses. Chicago has been talking about building a World Trade Center for a long time. The last proposal for a World Trade Center in Chicago called for a building taller than 2,000 feet.

it also seems like they dropped the ridiculous bridge over the river.

well obviously there is no current demand for the whole project but that doesn't mean that someday there won't be at least some demand for part of it.

This should not be in the vision section, even if not super likely (I don't even know if that's true either)

^^^ So this might actually happen? Or is it still just a vision?

Still hard to say but that meeting next month will be key towards what will happen. I think another positive thing about the old post office is that it was one of many potential sites for entertainment complex which included a casino. Well, the state senate passed the casino bill recently so that's a positive thing if this site will indeed be used for that.

Frankly, I think something is going to come of the site, whether it's this redevelopment plan or another plan.

Another positive development over the last week was the court ruling that Davies was compelled to keep the exhaust fans running in the building 24/7. The more by legal order he has to spend on keeping an unused building's maintenance up and running the less likely he will want to sit on it just to turn it around/sell it at the most opportune time I would think.

Saw a 5min segment on the news last night on this project. It was the first time they mentioned a casino for an anchor.

Videos in the link.



Exclusive: What’s in the works for Chicago’s old post office?


9 hours ago
by Nancy Loo



Perhaps you’re among the thousands of Chicagoans who either drive under or pass by the old Chicago post office every day. It’s been vacant since 1996. WGN News has learned the old post office has become a potential leading location for a city casino. Nancy Loo reports on some fast-moving developments and takes us inside for an exclusive look.

Even after nearly two decades of vacancy, there’s no mistaking the grandeur that’s still alive in Chicago’s old main post office at West Van Buren and Congress Parkway. Time has literally stood still since the building was shut down in 1996.

“We just can’t let this project lie fallow any longer,” says architect Joe Antunovich. “It’s too great a building, too great a space. You just have to step foot in this grand lobby and see that it’s something that’s so wasted by not being used every day of its life.”

Antunovich is the latest Chicago architect to take over the redevelopment of this national landmark... Phase one would include a sweeping addition to the river, and a thousand foot tower for businesses and hotel rooms. Atriums would be cut into the upper floors of the main structure for unique residential units, with original parquet flooring salvaged from the site.

“The lower three levels for retail and entertainment uses; many kinds of entertainment could be possible.” We asked the architect, would a casino be a safe bet as that entertainment? “Entertainment stretches to a wide realm of definitions. But you could certainly fit a casino in the amount of space you’re gonna create? Given the 2.7 million square feet that exists here, a use like that could be accommodated, yes!”

“I think that would be a perfect site for that,” says Chicago Alderman Danny Solis who picked up the post office site in his ward through city re-districting. He says the city has moved beyond whether or not to have a casino; it’s a matter of where.

“We are in dire straits as far as revenue. We lose $20 million to outside states. Those people are going to gamble. They’re coming from Chicago. So, let’s make a nice place in the city of Chicago. I think the state legislature understands that.” The gaming bill passed the state Senate May first, soon after Mayor Emanuel took to YouTube to insist that all city casino revenues would go towards education. ”A Chicago casino is the only casino in this state that will be totally dedicated for our children.”

The city planning commission is expected to consider the first phase of the post office redevelopment plan on June 20th, after completion of a traffic study. Alderman Solis predicts this; “I think it will be approved.” So, with city approval looking likely for phase one of the post office proposal, the possibility of a Chicago casino license approved by state lawmakers in the next few weeks, and political support for the site to be anchored by a casino, architect Antunovich says it may be a winning timeline for developers. “We would start construction here almost immediately.” And with or without a casino, the renewed post office site could be open for business by mid 2015. The nearby Holiday Inn would become a parking facility. And Chicago would have over five- million square feet of new businesses and homes to explore.

If successful, phase two could someday bring a two-thousand square foot high rise that would dwarf the Willis Tower- a building that architect Antunovich says would make a true statement about Chicago: “At the gateway to our city, we should do something extraordinary. And this is an opportunity to do something extraordinary, a real game changer here in the Southwest loop.”

...Read more: http://wgntv.com/2013/05/08/exclusiv...#ixzz2SnOu7Mus

I agree. ...or is there a reason this project is being hidden in the vision section? Also. wondering what Tom's likelyhood percentage of this one? Phase one? Phase two? :haha:

The next two months will really tell if this project is going anywhere, at least for Phase One. I think it's fine in the vision section till then.

.

This could actually happen. I can't believe it. :omg:

Can you imagine Chicago after Wolf Point, this, and the 75 story proposed building ? Of course that is looking way into an uncertain future, but still.

I think a casino might actually make everything else viable. There may not be enough demand for another retail hub here just yet, but the right casino operator might see a demand for a shopping and dining complex to complement his casino and hotel.

There's a lot of interesting theming possibilities, too. A mix of modern and Art Deco (think Gatsby) would be perfect for the casino interiors and shopping areas, if it's done tastefully.

I still think the Chelsea Market-esque idea produces a better outcome for the city, but it'll be great to get this building up and running again, regardless of its use. $20 million for CPS is a drop in the bucket, so it's not like the casino's gonna solve any big problems.

Ok, so time to move this to the proposals section...

;)

Someone just made a new model for this in the diagrams section. Looks sick :cool::D

Phase One:
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1051/iqh1.jpg

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/4282/vrov.jpg

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1402/81zo.jpg

http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/4817/ozc2.jpg

http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/1020/l8tm.jpg

I can't believe that the news has been out of this project for the last few days and no one posted anything about it..........

Work to redevelop old Chicago Post Office could start in September
By David Roeder July 18, 2013 2:46PM

Can this be moved to proposal finally? It was outlandish in the beginning, but at this point seems very real.

I couldn't agree more.

I just moved it back to the active side of the development news forum.

Not at all. Doesn't look any more real from the first proposal a couple years ago. This would have gargantuan odds against it even if it were proposed by a developer that actually had a half-decent or better track record with major real estate developments (in the hundreds of millions or higher), which Bill Davies, absolutely, positively does not, as you will read about in the linked to article below (this is an easily falsifiable statement, so anybody who disagrees with it should be able to readily provide contrary evidence, of which there is none!)

http://arcchicago.blogspot.com/2013/...-old-post.html

All this is is a land/development rights play. It's blatantly obvious, and nobody should allow their brain to be eaten by goofy boisterous boosterish salesmen trying to convince them otherwise....

I don't know what the odds are, but its phased over a number of years. So if something comes out of it, its a good thing.

This would be really nice. Lets hope it happens. That area is somewhat empty this would definitely help bring balance to it.

Phases One (center), Two (right), and Three (left):
http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/8626/78zz.jpg

All you are doing is citing from an opinionated source. We will see if anything happens in two months as most newspapers suggest. Until then there is enough newspaper articles to prove that this project is real..........

Love those huge twin antennas. So Chi Town Right there. Intimidating they are. :tup:

Why is it that whenever there's a proposal of exceptional height, all the most sophisticated analytical thinkers surface?

You banging your head against the wall saying it's not real is just as absurd as people saying it will happen. No one knows, let's just sit back and watch. If they are putting out renderings, we'll post them and see if it ever comes to fruition. If the project never happens and a bunch of skyscraper lovers had their hopes up, then.... so what?

Many people in the United States have been let down before by nice skyscraper proposals that failed. I can name several. The Chicago Spire, the Chicago World Trade Center, the NYSE Tower, the Signature Tower, the Miglin Beitler Skyneedle, 7 South Dearborn, and etc. Meanwhile China and Dubai build 2,000+ footers like nothing. This is why so many Americans have lost hope. You can't blame them..........