[ChiPhi]

I was laughing as I watched this. Where does he think the tourists will come from to fill 7500 rooms? And 2 million sq ft of office? 3.8 million of residential? The market simply doesn't exist in Chicago right now. Of course, this is not directly comparable to the WTC as Lawfin pointed out because it is mixed use, but many said that that project could never happen because it would flood the market and never find tenants. It is (very slightly) possible that, if done right, the complex could create the demand by becoming the biggest mall in America (Mall of America is 4.2 million sq ft. with 2.5 mil as retail space; this proposes 6.2 million sq ft. as "entertainment including retail and restaurants") with a supertall, maybe a casino et al.

Even given the slight chance Davies is able to pull this off and isn't just trying to flip it as he always does and this becomes the next Mall of America, do we really want that in the middle of our city? If it gets built (Bill Davies claims he is proffering the opportunity to middle eastern investors - sounds like The Spire and that turned out so well) I would still be unhappy. The design is a little better than the previous: the towers are more well articulated though not spectacular and the curtain wall facing east is nice, but blocks a landmark building. Moreover, a city within a city is an awful idea. What we need is not a giant enclosed, car-centric complex at the edge of the loop. Is this 1975? I hope Davies sells this off already so we can see some good (and realistic) proposals already.