I have a hunch that this could be the case with a few companies, but not sure. Anybody know this more for certain that some companies get data on expansions, relocations, etc before it happens?

Chicago | Riverline & Rivercity by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

A few months back I saw an ad pop up for the tower directly west of the Cooper along the river, but then I never saw it again. I thought that was really curious. Hopefully there is an announcement on another tower within the next year.

Is this project still U/C or did covid postpone it?

Would be nice to see some new shots.

The next tower isn't starting until the Fall at the earliest from what we saw last time around.

For what it's worth, some work began on the plot by Harrison and the River yesterday. They cleared out a bunch of small trees, have removed a small granite maker containing information about the River Walk and threw it in the bushes (nice!). And were digging little holes today. (I think that might have been workers removing the sprinkling system.) The sidewalk (and I think the Bike path) are closed off. Things seem to be happening.

Nice to hear this things not dead.

That site that you said was being cleared is the site for the tallest tower of the development which is exciting :cheers:

Yes, exciting, except I can't find any recent renderings or other information. I hope the plan remains in place!

^Seems very unlikely that would be the next building to go up. More likely some infrastructure thing. It was Building E, further south, that was supposedly in for permits, but I've lost my inside source at Perkins+Will.

I walked past this morning and they've blocked off a smaller plot within the larger one, using concrete barriers - also erecting a fence with gate along Harrison, but again just for that smaller area. There was a permit sign up, but the dog was pulling so I couldn't stop.

You need to train your dog better ;-)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5744cf22_c.jpg
( not my photo - from dog sitter I found on Rover )

Dee used to love the Alta Grand Central site when it was all fenced off - her own private running area.

Just read an article that Lendlease has refinanced some of its recent developments, including its projects here, and it plans to use the capital towards new construction.

So I expect them to keep plodding along

The plot next to Harrison is the prestige site, though because of the visibility from Congress... they've talked about doing something very tall there, possibly even a mass timber skyscraper (although that seemed more like a thought exercise than a real proposal).

https://www.constructiondive.com/new...hicago/428350/

I doubt they would push a project forward on this site in the middle of a recession when they have several other parcels on which to build first. Wherever the next phase will go, I hope they start soon!

Bkl has also recently been working on a design for this 'tallest' site.

Got any info on this design?

Really interested.

South Bank Phase II won't break ground before spring, at the earliest, according to someone in the know.

This doesn't inspire confidence considering bkL's own designs are boring and derivative AF.

I see the little fenced-off area (purple square) lines up with Franklin Street, and I think it's most likely for access to grout the old freight tunnels running through where the Building E foundations will be sunk further south.

https://i.imgur.com/PU4r02C.png

Given the skepticism that a lot of industry leaders are showing for multifamily in the next year or so, this might be jumping the gun a bit ... but it's "news" nonetheless:

All About E: The New 34-Story Skyscraper Coming to the South Loop
Chicago Architecture Blog

“Skyscraper” is really stretching it!

Why? The original skyscrapers were only 100-200 feet tall. This will be over 400.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/real-...qxe-story.html

As some fear downturn in downtown real estate due to pandemic, Southbank developer doubles down with luxury condos at The Reed

By ARIEL CHEUNG
CHICAGO TRIBUNE |
DEC 15, 2020 AT 5:00 AM

"Word around Chicago real estate circles is that COVID-19 has slowed residential sales downtown, as more people work remotely and seek out larger homes with more elbow room and outdoor space in outer neighborhoods and suburbs.
Lendlease Chicago’s executive general manager of development Ted Weldon, however, sees nothing but promise for downtown home sales in the coming years — which is fortunate, as his company is readying for its next phase of the Southbank development on the edge of the Chicago River."

"Set to open in 2023, The Reed will be set on the South Branch of the river, with 216 condominiums and 224 apartments spread across 41 floors at 234 W. Polk St. in the South Loop."

One-, two- and three-bedroom condos will be sold starting at $390,000 and will range from 630 to 1,670 square feet. Located on floors 23 to 41, the condos will have views that can reach as far as Lake Michigan, Weldon said.


Apartments will be located on floors 9 to 22. Below them, a 12,000-square-foot outdoor deck is among building amenities that also include a demo kitchen and a private lounge exclusively for condo owners.


"The Reed"

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/ser...071815/enhance

Looks like the base got heavily VE'd. Not surprising

https://thereedsouthbank.com/

They have a website

At least there's still a riverwalk:
https://thereedsouthbank.com/imager/...6bc6b5f986.jpg
(Lendlease website)

.

https://thereedsouthbank.com/imager/...e42cba429c.jpg

https://thereedsouthbank.com/imager/...6bc6b5f986.jpg

https://thereedsouthbank.com/imager/...6bc6b5f986.jpg

The Reed
 

More like the Ugly. Lendlease, you guys really dropped the ball, mate! :runaway:

Promised:

https://www.chicagoarchitecture.org/...e-1024x713.jpg
_


Delivered:

https://thereedsouthbank.com/imager/...e42cba429c.jpg
_

I like the darker color and the SW corner shot of the podium looks decent. North side of the podium (facing the park) is a let down after seeing the old rendering but overall a slight improvement in my opinion... I feel like the old tower would've looked dated in a few years

I would say that it did not necessarily get VE'd (just going by the previous publicly released renderings - can't speak to any previous unreleased versions), as those renderings were very likely just placeholders. If they were just pretty drawings and not actually planned version of the tower, then there's nothing to really VE. Correct me if I'm wrong and they had started out working on blueprints corresponding to them.

Also, is this still Perkins and Will? I like it (judged on its own). Nice tower.

Nah for the lack of active use on the park side of the podium alone this is trash.

Disappointing. I really liked the V columns along the river, the similar base to The Cooper, and the unsymmetrical, serrated facade. I also liked how the whole development was supposed to be a small white city within the city (World's Fair reference?)

On the positive side, was there a height increase?

Isnt this area called Lincoln Park?

Underwhelming.

Annnnnnnndddddd, we're back in Chicago. The original placeholder was more like Miami.

I'm guessing the inclusion of condos caused the parking need to get bigger, so the garage "ate up" the liner units on the podium and the upper reaches of the loggia along the river.

Unfortunately I don't think it's possible to sell condos for the foreseeable future without parking - it seemed for a little while that this truism of the Chicago market would die off with the growth of TOD, but Covid has dealt a serious setback to this progress. It does seem like the rentals will largely be free of parking, however.

Doesn't look to be that much different from the original massing and design to me. The part jutting out over the riverwalk has been reworked.

EDIT: I'm noticing more changes, like a reduction in balconies and flattening of the serrations. Whatever, just happy this development is progressing more or less as planned. If they are going to invest in one building, I would prefer it to be the tallest one along Harrison. That one is going to make or brake the design of the whole plot. As it is, the extension of the riverwalk south of Congress and renovations to River City are huge wins. The design of this new tower is ok. If the facade is good, it'll be a fine addition. In the renders, I can't quite tell but it looks like painted concrete.

That sucks. Losing the v columns and flattening the base really cheapen the look of this thing. And isn't Lendlease responsible for the VE monstrosity at 855 W Madison?

I actually think the modified tower doesn't look too bad.

I always hate podia, but even this podium isn't too horrible.

The revised tower would be fine elsewhere, but it's directly fronting the river, and an increasingly trafficked stretch of river...this plot of land deserves better imo.

I generally prefer darker towers over lighter ones, but this redesign is pretty underwhelming. The podium treatment is awkward and I miss the angles of the previous design. I think the facade comparisons to 845 Madison are fair -- and not flattering (same architect maybe?).

What happened to the requirement that the riverwalk had to be "open to the air above?" I believe that influenced the taller height of the previous loggia (and 110 wacker).

On the plus side, there's no way they're going to sell enough condos to make this happen any time soon. :haha:

I think this requirement was only formalized in 2019, the 30' requirement has been around forever but it was vaguely defined. The Riverline PD was approved before 2019 so they can encroach into the setback to the extent that the PD allows them to.

I'm not sure how a site like 110 Wacker would be handled under the current guidelines. It may not be developable.

I'm not sure that greater parking was really driving this. The prior garage was 5 floors behind the liner units. Now there are only 2 or 3 floors.

The PD only called for 3 floors open over the riverwalk. It looks like they are still providing that minimum. Even so I wonder if this requires a PD amendment since things like the liner units are written into the PD.

Edit: nevermind on the first part, looking at the renderings again now I can see all 5 levels of the garage.

Really disappointing. I assume the rest will undergo a similar change. The original plan was very river oriented, made to look like it organically grew from the river. This almost turns its back from the river and treats it like an inconvenience. Park for residents and obligatory riverwalk? - check
Thing is, there is a disconnect. Many would like a grand and public riverfront. But we rely on developers with no such incentive. Whatever is enough to get renters or buyers is enough. If this development had included office components, there might be incentive to do something more interesting to meet the needs of workers and create a statement that would lure companies that want to be part of that image and appeal to new employees.

It will be extra awful if they do this to the rest of the development. I would think that making the park more attractive would actually make this development more attractive to residents. A park surrounded by the blank walls of parking podiums during the day and constantly bathed in harsh light from parking garages at night isn't attracting anyone. I get that condos might require more parking but there are other solutions to getting more parking.

I'm so tired of seeing the grandeur of an original development proposal followed by the actual proposal. I personally loved the Miamiesque design of this building along with the V supports at the river. This version, if it is the final version, is basically a yawn that protrudes over a river walk. No one will point at this building and say "Wow, look at that. What a cool building. I'd love to live there." Sure, once it's built people may say "I'd love to live there" but it won't happen because of how the building looks but rather where the building is located. Such a shame.

The Reed is now selling units and the website got an Update

https://thereedsouthbank.com/
https://www.chicagoarchitecture.org/...chicago-river/

Also if you click the link below and scroll to the bottom you'll see a new site plan

https://thereedsouthbank.com/southbank/

and a nice drawing
https://thereed-prod.imgix.net/asset...step=100&w=600

Seems like we lost the nice original design of the tallest tower, not loving how this is going.