CHICAGO | General Developments - Page 2345

marothisu · #**46881** Posted **Feb 20, 2020, 8:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

So if recent experience of other substantial Chinatown developments are a guide, this may be due to open in.....2037? 2045?? That might be optimistic.....probably looking at well into the second half of the 21st century....

I think it's likely that we're looking at some overbuilding of retail and restaurant space in and around Chinatown.....based on what's been built recently/under construction now/and in the pipeline - in light of macro retail trends - that's the key.

Don't get me wrong - I'm certainly pro-retail development. It's just that the demand likely won't be there for as much space as is in the works.

Not so sure about it. Keep in mind that the Chicago MSA has added almost 20K people born in China between 2010 and 2018. There is a demand for new retail and restaurants. Additionally, with the 78 phase 1 happening, it should add some more demand.

I think also that many people who dont know how China is underestimate this stuff. I cant stress enough how much demand there is for restaurants even in truly small towns in China or little areas. Idk if we'll see all of this but won't be surprised if it all does happen sometime. There's much more demand per person than people might realize in this community. There is also a bit of interest from chains from China in Chicago opening up. Multiple in the pipeline for this year.

Speaking of Chinatown, anyone have a report on how the new hotel on Wentworth is going and the warehouse on Cermak converting to a new hotel, restaurants, etc?

harryc · #**46882** Posted **Feb 20, 2020, 8:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by marothisu

Not so sure about it. Keep in mind that the Chicago MSA has added almost 20K people born in China between 2010 and 2018. There is a demand for new retail and restaurants. Additionally, with the 78 phase 1 happening, it should add some more demand.

I think also that many people who dont know how China is underestimate this stuff. I cant stress enough how much demand there is for restaurants even in truly small towns in China or little areas. Idk if we'll see all of this but won't be surprised if it all does happen sometime. There's much more demand per person than people might realize in this community. There is also a bit of interest from chains from China in Chicago opening up. Multiple in the pipeline for this year.

Speaking of Chinatown, anyone have a report on how the new hotel on Wentworth is going and the warehouse on Cermak converting to a new hotel, restaurants, etc?

Feb 1

Chicago | Chinatown by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

marothisu · #**46883** Posted **Feb 20, 2020, 11:26 PM**

^ Thanks!

It looks like the Chinese mall at 2105 S Jefferson St with the upcoming Chongqing Hot Pot place has a name. Jefferson Square but the Chinese name ("天一广场") is Tianyi Square which also happens to be an area in Ningbo. Could also be translated as "Sky One Plaza". Besides that hot pot place, it looks like at least a cafe and possibly a supermarket are being built out in there.

I also want to remind some people that this is almost right behind the new big music venue opening next weeekend in Chicago (Radius) with a capacity of 3800 people

Handro · #**46884** Posted **Feb 21, 2020, 4:10 PM**

This historic school (built 1894) got a conversion permit yesterday to turn into residential: https://www.google.com/maps/place/14...xB0wAHoECAsQAg

Great to see, it's a pretty hulking building and sitting empty adds some eeriness to the block (I used to live at Augusta/Ashland). GREAT to see it isn't being torn down, either! The plan to convert is originally from 2014 (according to a cursory google search) without many updates since then, so it sort of flew under the radar as far as I can tell.

Steely Dan · #**46885** Posted **Feb 21, 2020, 4:16 PM**

^ NICE!

such a handsome building, love the brick detailing. glad to hear it won't be thrown away like so many other hundreds of wonderful buildings our city has tossed aside.

ardecila · #**46886** Posted **Feb 21, 2020, 4:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handro

This historic school (built 1894) got a conversion permit yesterday to turn into residential: https://www.google.com/maps/place/14...xB0wAHoECAsQAg

Great to see, it's a pretty hulking building and sitting empty adds some eeriness to the block (I used to live at Augusta/Ashland). GREAT to see it isn't being torn down, either! The plan to convert is originally from 2014 (according to a cursory google search) without many updates since then, so it sort of flew under the radar as far as I can tell.

My company tried to bid on this school for a residential conversion back in 2013, but Ald. Burnett wanted to give it to Northwestern Settlement. They focused on the low-rise annex first for an expansion of their community/educational programming. I think they are also doing the residential portion as affordable housing.

Handro · #**46887** Posted **Feb 21, 2020, 9:38 PM**

777 N Franklin was approved. This is a pivotal project to me--extension of the burgeoning Chicago ave canyon from State St. to the river, and exclaimation point to the transformation of the Franklin canyon from Chicago to the river. Riding the brown north-south through this section has changed dramatically in the past 10 years.

BVictor1 · #**46888** Posted **Feb 21, 2020, 10:09 PM**

For those interested a public meeting about the possible redevelopment of Prizker Park at State & Van Buren.

Chicago Loop Site Community Meeting (RSVP)

6 to 7:30 p.m.,
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Harold Washington Library Center, Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, 400 S. State St

Barrelfish · #**46889** Posted **Feb 21, 2020, 11:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

My company tried to bid on this school for a residential conversion back in 2013, but Ald. Burnett wanted to give it to Northwestern Settlement. They focused on the low-rise annex first for an expansion of their community/educational programming. I think they are also doing the residential portion as affordable housing.

Yep, the building's immediate neighbor is Rowe Middle School, which is a program of Northwestern Settlement. The school opened in 2014 (Rowe Elementary opened in 2009 at another location), so presumably Burnett put this project on hold in case Rowe needed the building. The middle school has been fully open for a few years now and there doesn't seem to be an imminent plan for expansion, so it seems that is no longer necessary (and Northwestern Settlement doesn't have any other immediate needs for it).

west-town-brad · #**46890** Posted **Feb 22, 2020, 5:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handro

777 N Franklin was approved. This is a pivotal project to me--extension of the burgeoning Chicago ave canyon from State St. to the river, and exclaimation point to the transformation of the Franklin canyon from Chicago to the river. Riding the brown north-south through this section has changed dramatically in the past 10 years.

I wonder if there is any proactive effort to protect those old and/or "historic" buildings on Chicago Ave. We'll probably wait until it's too late.

Sarcasm aside many of those buildings have been rehabbed and well maintained without historic protections.

ardecila · #**46891** Posted **Feb 22, 2020, 7:23 PM**

Within the downtown zoning districts, small buildings have some protections built in because small lots are bad candidates for high rise redevelopment. If you’re a developer, you really want a larger site to work with. And assembling large sites from several smaller ones is extraordinarily difficult, it can take years.

New York, Hong Kong, and a few other cities can make “sliver towers” work on small sites but certainly not Chicago.

mark0 · #**46892** Posted **Feb 22, 2020, 8:22 PM**

"I wonder if there is any proactive effort to protect those old and/or "historic" buildings on Chicago Ave. We'll probably wait until it's too late."

None that Im aware of and I agree. The mix of new and old is interesting. To many bland podium towers would kill the urbanity on the street. The corner of Chicago and Wells had a great cluster of vintage 1890s Chicago buildings and should never have been demolished. The dwindling river north vintage stock needs to be protected better and towers forced to work in parking lots and or save facades or street / corner facing buildings that contribute to the character. The old walmart I dont think anyone could argue contributes to the character

Mr Downtown · #**46893** Posted **Feb 23, 2020, 1:12 AM**

Guys, it's important to remember that, to be legally defensible, landmark protection ordinances must have justifiable criteria for designating buildings. The Chicago ordinance says proposed landmarks must meet at least two of the following seven criteria: value as an example of City, State or National heritage; location of a site of a significant historic event, identification with a significant person, exemplary architecture, work of a significant architect or designer, representation of a significant theme, and a unique or distinctive visual feature. Property owners have not been shy about suing the city over any designations that might smack of vagueness.

"They add character" and "the replacement might be ugly" are not criteria that can survive a lawsuit.

harryc · #**46894** Posted **Feb 23, 2020, 10:13 AM**

Feb 22

Chicago | Realtors by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

harryc · #**46895** Posted **Feb 23, 2020, 10:31 AM**

Feb 14

Chicago | Tribune Tower Rehab by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Feb 22

Chicago | Tribune Tower Rehab by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

harryc · #**46896** Posted **Feb 23, 2020, 11:19 AM**

Feb 14

Chicago | Bikeway at LSD by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | Bikeway at LSD by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Feb 22

Chicago | Bikeway at LSD by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Temporary pedway

Chicago | Bikeway at LSD by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Old deck being removed

Chicago | Bikeway at LSD by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

harryc · #**46897** Posted **Feb 23, 2020, 11:39 AM**

Feb 14

Chicago | Navy Pier Hotel by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

harryc · #**46898** Posted **Feb 23, 2020, 12:09 PM**

Feb 22

Chicago | 50 E Randloph by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

harryc · #**46899** Posted **Feb 23, 2020, 12:39 PM**

Chicago | Randolph / Michigan by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Handro · #**46900** Posted **Feb 23, 2020, 1:18 PM**

This is pretty cool! Been wondering if this was going to push ahead, hadn’t heard anything about it in what feels like years: corner at 800 N Milwaukee (Chicago/Milwaukee, opposite the CVS) issued demo permit.

https://mobile.twitter.com/ChiBuildi...58113203953664