CHICAGO | General Developments

[Link N. Parker]

Originally Posted by wierdaaron

I've long been a fan of Method brand home cleaning products, so it was interesting to hear that the company will be building its first US manufacturing facility in the Pullman neighborhood of Chicago's south side.

Method is an earth-friendly company and their design for the $30m facility reflects this, with a green roof, solar panels, and a giant wind turbine. Similar to Apple's new Cupertino facility, the building itself will be surrounded in green space which they'll maintain. They're aiming for the facility to be rated LEED Platinum.

The facility is expected to create 100 local jobs and construction has already started. Rahm was there for the groundbreaking.

Renderings from Curbed article:






The company is SF-based, so I can only assume the reason for locating this plant here was tax incentives and lobbying. Either way, the fact that this is inside the city limits is pretty impressive.

This is pretty cool; its too bad they couldnt have made the front of the factory close to the street/sidewalk. Employees could have arrived by bus (or a future BRT line) and just walked to the front door. Meanwhile, loading/delivery trucks would pull to the rear via a wide access alley.

[Link N. Parker]

Originally Posted by wierdaaron

Someone recently dropped $6 million to spruce up the area around the John A. Logan statue. http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20131...nonymous-donor

I'd love for them to cover the tracks and "finish" the park but someone will have to come up with the money and the plan at the same time.

If I were a billionaire, I would pretty much do exactly the same thing. I would find a way to fund the infrastructure necessary to cover the tracks and create a seamless park. I would also find a way to enable walkability from the Loop, to Soldier Field.

I would also find a way to buy up contigous access rights to the banks of the North Branch, and build a public access park/bikeway/riverwalk that connects to the riverwalk they are putting in down in the Loop.

From there, I would also find a way to connect the new 606 bike path to the river path I built.

If I were only a billionaire...

[Skyguy_7]

Apologies for another garbage drive-by shot, though lots of activity to see here. This makes two large lots adjacent to the UC eaten up this year. Should change the area dramatically.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by Marcu

Agreed, though since all of the locations are still in the grocery business, I'm a bit concerned about how this will play out in the long run. Did Dominicks fail because of a flawed business model, or because the city was over-retailed? I'd be interested in seeing some data. What's generally regarded as a sustainable grocery store to resident ratio?

Yes, Safeway is now selling itself after closing down Dominick's. It's a failed company.

http://www.thestreet.com/story/12520...0-a-share.html

Funny thing is, the parent of Jewel is the buyer.

[MayorOfChicago]

Originally Posted by thewaterman11

Regarding the 62 acre lot, where would one plop the entry point? I'm assuming that Roosevelt would be the best bet without doing some sort of crazy flyover, but a single point of entry/exit is a kind of scary idea for a LSE-sized piece of property with thousands of people.
OR...
The only means of travel could be by rail; Metra makes a station with a connection to the red line at Chinatown and has a sort of shuttle service.
A little out there?

Yeah, that's kinda SimCity

The way I see it is you would have decent connections, but obviuosly lacking in auto access. This would be a great place for a casino though

1) Entrance off Roosevelt Road seems obvious, entrance across from the Roosevelt Collection.

2) Possible southbound entrance into the area from Clark Street directly south of the Roosevelt intersection. The road would have to continue past the metra tracks before it would depress into the parking garage that I assume would sit towards the north end of the land and be below Roosevelt grade.

3) Wells Street has a cutout under Roosevelt Road and it could fairly easily be improved and 4-land from the Congress directly south into this development. The only tight spot is a small area directly south of Polk. This would create fairly easy access from the expressways via Congress as well as the downtown area. Roosevelt would be an alternate entrance for east/west traffic or those coming from Lakeshore.

4) The only "easy" access from the south might be at the very southern edge near the metra tracks. They're already elevated into the land over Clark Street. Right near that point you might be able to burrow an auto entrance that creeps under the tracks directly north of that elevated bridge.

5) Or improve Wentworth from Cermak north and then flyover the tracks where Wentworth currently stops. Lots of room, just put in a bridge.

6) Water Taxi stop, especially if there was a casino there, this would be such an easy way for tourists or visitors downtown to jump the boat at Michigan Ave or the train stations and get to the site. During warm weather only, obviously.

7) Access from the Red Line is pretty easy at Roosevelt, along with the Orange and Green assuming the casino is towards the north end of the site with parking under. The southern stretches would be more residential I assume.

8) The parking structure would have to be complicated, but it would reasonably involve the lower Wells Street access, upper Roosevelt access and have entrance/exit points at those spots.

Or put the casino directly to the west of the Roosevelt Collection and north of Roosevelt along the River. Access from Roosevelt as well as Wells and a River Taxi stop.

[Chi-Sky21]

I think they should just move those tracks a little west to make it perfectly aligned with where it goes under roosevelt and sink the tracks from 15th on in then you could have access at 15th and the submerged tracks allow for the site to be more easily developed. I still think over by McCormick place makes the most sense for the casino.

[Kenmore]

nothing concrete but the big picture thinking seems to be in the right place

The plan included several proposed multi-story buildings along Broadway and by the Uptown entertainment district at Lawrence Ave. and Broadway, near the Riviera Theatre, Aragon Ballroom and vacant Uptown Theatre.

....

At Lawrence, near the heart of the Uptown entertainment district that officials are attempting to revive, the planners posed the idea of using the parking lot across from the Aragon Ballroom to build a "mixed-use development" and three-story parking garage.

They said the lot was useful during concert nights but otherwise an underutilized "eyesore."

North of Lawrence to Ainsle Avenue on the east side of Broadway, the planners proposed park space, a three-to-five story parking structure, a boutique hotel and other mixed-use development.

The planners also suggested residential development at the former Aon Building parking structure and further use of the parking for entertainment events.

lots of parking in the plans but it's probably neccesary and isn't of the surface variety so, i'll take it.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140...-broadway-plan

[Mr Downtown]

A Wells-Wentworth connector has been planned for decades. I'm pretty sure CDOT has a study under way right now to tell them the geometric characteristics. One of the consultants told me he'd been thinking "what would Olmsted do?" and pondering the possibility of a permeable network rather than a single heavy-traffic arterial. I've tried to get people to call it "Riverside Boulevard" because of the different picture that puts in their mind. "Wells-Wentworth connector" is too much like "Franklin Street connector," the 1970s plan for an expressway-style extension of the Dan Ryan Chinatown spur.

When Rezmar bought the property a decade ago, the Metra tracks were on an easement that could have been relocated to the center of the property. But a fee-simple arrangement has now been concluded with Metra, and they're notoriously difficult to move or even deal with.

Wells offers access at the north, Wentworth at the south (though everyone insists on using the poorly aligned existing century-old C&WI subway under the St. Charles Air Line rather than a properly located new underpass). A stub at 13th would go over the tracks from Clark. There's the opportunity to get 15th St. under the tracks at Clark, but it will take some political courage and a little money. Access from Roosevelt Road could be allowed to percolate down to ground level through shopping centers or similar large developments, or even just ramp down between parking podiums, as Field Blvd does entering Lake Shore East from Randolph.

I think offering the parcel to a single developer is a terrible idea. Instead, the city should build a network of streets dividing the site into small blocks, and parcel the land out a few acres at a time. Call it the Battery Park City model if you wish, but it's also how great cities have developed for 2500 years.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

I think offering the parcel to a single developer is a terrible idea. Instead, the city should build a network of streets dividing the site into small blocks, and parcel the land out a few acres at a time. Call it the Battery Park City model if you wish, but it's also how great cities have developed for 2500 years.

correct.

[marothisu]

This is bound to piss off most people in here. Remember that proposal right next to the Sheridan Red Line stop? There was a meeting last night and residents wanted more parking and less units. Furthermore, one resident went as far as saying TOD is basically a fad and a stupid law. What the fuck is wrong with people? This is right next to a transit stop and they want less density? You have to be kidding me - get the hell out of the city if you don't like it. I hope to god the developers don't listen to these idiots. I do agree that preserving the original building would be cool, but as the developer notes it costs more to do that than they want to spend. Still a cool building though and at least the design of the proposal doesn't suck.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140...arking-density

[wierdaaron]

Adding to MrD, given that seems like it would take pretty considerable political will in order to spruce up that parcel and make it accessible (connector streets, relaying Metra tracks, under/overpasses), and the fact that the mayor himself is putting pressure on it, it's getting harder and harder to not think casino. Or at least something else with a civic bent to it. The only other things I can think of that would warrant eminent domain and relaying train tracks are Obama library, some kind of museum or park, maybe a university campus or stadium. I just cant see all that government energy being spent on an ikea with some apartments on top. Naturally they don't want to say what it's for until they've secured it, otherwise the landowners might start paying attention.

And if moving train tracks was an option, imagine how much easier developing the SL/PR area would have been if the tracks were buried until north of 9th street.

[Mr Downtown]

Originally Posted by wierdaaron

pretty considerable political will in order to spruce up that parcel . . . it's getting harder and harder to not think casino.

I'm not so sure. I think every mayor wants to be seen as a builder, and it's a really prominent parcel to have lying fallow.

And no one is talking about moving railroad tracks, unfortunately.

With its usual proactive planning process, the city will put it out for proposals and see what comes in and how much TIF they want. It would be nice for a big chunk of River South TIF money to go to building the Clinton subway, with a stop in the middle of this property.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

I think offering the parcel to a single developer is a terrible idea. Instead, the city should build a network of streets dividing the site into small blocks, and parcel the land out a few acres at a time. Call it the Battery Park City model if you wish, but it's also how great cities have developed for 2500 years.

^ YES, YES, YES!

Not only in regards to this project, but to many projects I have grown weary of the whole "sell off a 40 acre site to a single developer who will come up with a master plan after 140 community meetings" process that has taken over this town.

For multiple reasons that I won't go into here, I would like to see the city go back to breaking up large parcels into individual prezoned lots and selling them off individually. I would love to see more of a push to return to that.

[Chi-Sky21]

I must be a complete idealist but i always envisioned 1 large project for the entire site focused on a large public square along the river. Tall and high density along roosevelt, multi layers of about 5 story buildings along clark, an L stop (screwed by the nearby chinatown stop). To the south, some park along with docking for wendella/water taxi. Somehow something European / st marks square came to mind. You need some other draw to the site though....not sure what that is, and of course you need to somehow hide the tracks across the river. To NOT do something EPIC with the only HUGE piece of land near downtown along the river seems like a missed opportunity. Of course all of this would take someone who doesn't really care about profits and wants to do something for the overall benefit of the city...not likely. Where have all the altruistic billionaires gone?

[wierdaaron]

The only way commercial developers know how to do anything close to that is lifestyle centers like CityPlace in Palm Beach or the ones popping up like daisies in suburban DC, all car-centric areas dominated by lowrise homes and where land is cheap in bulk. I really don't know if someone could pull it off in a downtown area, in one swoop.

If it's just a mixed use development project run by one company it would fare no better than Roosevelt Collection which is just across the street and had the same goals, yet only languishes on fumes today.

And not to start rumors or nuthin', but if Rahm was so interested in finding ways to add enough seats to Soldier Field to qualify for a superbowl, I wonder if he's noticed that you can fit 3 Soldier Fields on that lot...

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by DonMendigo

Sooo... What does this mean for the Jewel at Clark/Division which was to be Jewel under Tower of Jewel? Really too bad as I was fantasizing about the demise of that horrific strip mall complex at Division/Clybourn

I would assume it means it gets a fortunately-timed temporary new location while 1210 Clark is constructed. After construction, the New City Mariano's should be complete, so one really wonders whether Jewel will try to continue at Division/Clybourn.

Originally Posted by Kenmore

nothing concrete but the big picture thinking seems to be in the right place



lots of parking in the plans but it's probably neccesary and isn't of the surface variety so, i'll take it.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140...-broadway-plan

In other Uptown news, the first Sonic in the city limits is about to open on Wilson between Sheridan and Kenmore. I think that's the site of a former McDonald's where shootings were not unheard of ... hopefully things turn the corner in this neighborhood.

[J_M_Tungsten]

Yesterday
Soho House


That coffee shop/minor retail development on Chicago in front of The Montgomery


Jesse White Community Center (also on Chicago)

[Buckman821]

Originally Posted by denizen467

In other Uptown news, the first Sonic in the city limits is about to open on Wilson between Sheridan and Kenmore. I think that's the site of a former McDonald's where shootings were not unheard of ... hopefully things turn the corner in this neighborhood.

I believe it is next door to that McDonalds. So we're now going to have not one but two drive thrus within spitting distance of the upcoming $200+ Million new Wilson station. Granted you are correct about this being the worst pocket of Uptown, but I have to say, that given the context of the new station, I really think Cappleman dropped the ball on this one. I would have rather seen the site sit vacant for a while and hold out for mixed use.

[ardecila]

Interesting that Osterman now refers to a "mega" CTA station at Bryn Mawr. Is CTA considering an express/local station there? It would fill the gap between Loyola and Wilson nicely. I'm not sure there's enough activity there to warrant an express train stop, though. It's not exactly a city-wide hub of hustle/bustle, and the very things that make it nice (great low-scaled architecture, easy access to the lake, etc) would be jeopardized by densifying.

[LouisVanDerWright]

FYI, there is a big ass derrick set up on the roof of the Chicago Athletic Club. Looks like that renovation is getting really serious. Someone should get a shot of it, I tried with my cellphone but it was super grainy.

Originally Posted by ardecila

Interesting that Osterman now refers to a "mega" CTA station at Bryn Mawr. Is CTA considering an express/local station there? It would fill the gap between Loyola and Wilson nicely. I'm not sure there's enough activity there to warrant an express train stop, though. It's not exactly a city-wide hub of hustle/bustle, and the very things that make it nice (great low-scaled architecture, easy access to the lake, etc) would be jeopardized by densifying.

I don't know, I might disagree with you about Bryn Mawr. I think Bryn Mawr is possibly the nicest, most urban, stop on the Red Line between Loyola and Addison. It seems to be one of the few stops north of Addison where the station spills out into a truly urban, walkable, retail strip. The other nice thing about Bryn Mawr is that I think there is a lot of potential for TOD along Broadway up there which hopefully will start being realized if a "mega station" is constructed. They really need to put Hollywood and Broadway on a road diet in conjunction with that project though.