no.

the original scheme from Davies with those super-tall skyscrapers was always an extremely pie-in-the-sky fever-dream.

those towers have't been a thing since Davies sold the property over 3.5 years ago, just before he passed away.

despite what various corners of the internet erroneously believe, they were never actual, serious proposals.

Here is a recent update on renovations (as of October). I think work on the rooftop, river walk, and tenant-specific build-outs remain:

http://www.chicagomag.com/real-estat...ost-Office/#/0

Right. I am curious if the entitlements for those towers are still in place. Does anyone know?

The entitlements still exist, but are somewhat diminished as Davies plan called for a large chunk of the post office to be removed. Since that didn't end up happening probably 1 million SF of the FAR previously shown as other towers is now used up by the post office itself.

It's still very possible we see a supertall here eventually as the developer is unlikely to forget they have a huge entitlement for more towers here.

Via the BMO webcam: After several months of nothing they seem to be resuming work on the OPO roof again - at least in the tiny section that is visible via the webcam.

https://app.oxblue.com/open/clarkcon...erconstruction

https://i.imgur.com/D6MRv1w.png

Just about to say, Longest. Drilling. Ever. Hope there's no financial issues.

Post and images about Walgreens build-out:

http://www.sloopin.com/2020/02/a-loo...ns-office.html

Per the BMO Tower OxBlue cam, the visible portion of OPOs rooftop terrace is just about complete. Looks very nice :slob:


https://app.oxblue.com/open/clarkconstruction/underconstruction

I was on a CRE webinar with some of the project team today... really incredible stories like you often get in these big historic projects.

-Building is 80% leased up
-Rooftop is substantially complete and will open to the building tenants next week (7/1)
-No public access to the rooftop at first but a restaurant of some kind is planned - yet to start concept phase, probably 2022 opening at the earliest
-Ground-level food court by 16" On Center should be starting build-out this summer, including an outdoor plaza overlooking the river
-No firm plans to build a riverwalk at this time
-Work continues at the track level to reinforce and shore up the concrete structure
-Work on the 290/Congress tunnel should also start this summer

I meant to ask about the plaza areas along Canal, but I forgot... I assume these are on hold until the city rebuilds the Canal St viaduct.

Ok OPO i see you, you go girl!

https://www.chicagoarchitecture.org/...tic-green-lid/

Randomly saw that earlier on ChiArch and it looks incredible! I wonder if the beige areas on the roof are intended as later phases, or if that'll just be green roof...hard to tell in the image if it's been planted already or not :shrug:

Yes, the eventual goal is to build a rooftop pavilion with some kind of restaurant... not sure who the operator will be, but it would make sense for 16" On Center since they are operating the food hall on Level 1. The beige areas appear to be gravel ballast. Supposedly the landscape also includes a lot of geofoam and topography, but you coulda fooled me seeing that aerial image.

Also forgot to mention, they bored a pair of tunnels under the river to get chilled water from the EnWave plant on Wacker. Pretty nuts.

Any timeline when their supposed to work on the riverwalk and is there a final design?

Re: the Tunnel, that is indeed nuts! Are you sure it's an actual tunnel that was built, or do you suppose they just used a horizontal drilling machine for the piping?

This would be the first new tunnel under the river that I've heard of in my lifetime. :shrug:

No and no. No discussion of a riverwalk at this time.

I believe the vehicle ramp from Van Buren down to track level is still needed, either by USPS or Amtrak... so any riverwalk would have to be built out into the river, and under the Congress bridge, at a pretty steep cost.

I'm guessing we'll have to wait until 601W decides what they want to do on the Sugar House parcel (the red brick building east of the OPO).

Probably the horizontal drilling machine, I'm guessing.

What exactly is this tunnel for? I must have missed this one...

Good omen or bad omen? (maybe tomorrow night I'll bring my tripod out there so I can do a better image stack...)

https://i.imgur.com/Po1xTdfh.jpg

full size: https://i.imgur.com/Po1xTdf.jpg

Had to squint a bit, but I can see the comet. Nice shot.

yeah not visible to the naked eye due to the light pollution, but I was able to find it by taking a few pictures until I saw it.

Are we admiring the dim comet or how lit up the Old Post Office is! It's come a long way. What a sight to behold :cheers: