CHICAGO | Highrise Projects & Construction, v7

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by Near North Resident

give me a break, there are hundreds and thousands of identical homes all over town, why does that one need to stay in one of the densest parts of the city? Its clearly not being used in its "best use". Yeah it sucks that its not the hideous parking garage across the street but come on these homes are nothing special, go past them sometime, they look all run down and nasty.

im not really sure how to respond to this. they are special. and they are not "dime a dozen", esp. not in this neighborhood, and esp. since they are being torn down in all sorts of other neighborhoods too, not just the gold coast (everyone seems to be totally cool with all the teardowns in Lincoln Park too). and they are certainly special on a national scale, where many cities do not have any buildings of this quality, much less from the era. its death by 1000 cuts. its also a matter of where does the line get drawn, but if you consider these not worthy of saving thats scary to me.

using the "they look run down and nasty" argument is a cop out and you know it. we are capable of restoring things.

[J_M_Tungsten]

Tower crane up at Chicago and Kingsbury
Today

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by maru2501

^for some reason the were re-blacktopping the lot that's under the L the last two days

I noticed that as well. Seems really goofy.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by J_M_Tungsten

Tower crane up at Chicago and Kingsbury
Today

Wait - Hudson or Kingsbury? As far as I know, only Hudson had a building permit right now to build.

[chrisvfr800i]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Wait - Hudson or Kingsbury? As far as I know, only Hudson had a building permit right now to build.

750 N. Hudson.

[Jibba]

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

im not really sure how to respond to this. they are special. and they are not "dime a dozen", esp. not in this neighborhood, and esp. since they are being torn down in all sorts of other neighborhoods too, not just the gold coast (everyone seems to be totally cool with all the teardowns in Lincoln Park too). and they are certainly special on a national scale, where many cities do not have any buildings of this quality, much less from the era. its death by 1000 cuts. its also a matter of where does the line get drawn, but if you consider these not worthy of saving thats scary to me.

using the "they look run down and nasty" argument is a cop out and you know it. we are capable of restoring things.

While I don't like to see these go, and they're certainly historic (so far as they're old), there is not much in the way of loss of heritage (to paraphrase Vince Michael) with these. They are vaguely Italianate, but certainly not exemplars of the style (especially since the facade of the western-most building has been completely replaced). The eastern-most building is possibly staying (per the rendering), and that structure has the most style and gravitas of the three. The only value I see in the rowhouses is that they're evocative of the era from which they're from, but that alone isn't enough to have me value them over a sizable, handsome mid-rise that will generate a lot more activity and activate the corner better (that empty side lot isn't adding any value).

[CastleScott]

^ Is that pic of the tall tower in the back ground the old Montgomery Wards HQ? I hope that tower remains.

Scott

[ChickeNES]

I must have woken up in bizarro world today, the South Loop Neighbors Facebook page shared this article:

Planned Giants in Chicago’s South Loop: Build Them All – As Designed
By Joey Korom, November 3, 2015 - Chicago Now
Needless to say, I am very encouraged with the recent announcements concerning the new towers planned for the South Loop—five in all. I wish that the images displayed so far were to come to fruition, and those structures portrayed be built as shown and not dumbed-down by external forces. But then I know changes are inevitable. There are architectural designs classified as “as drawns,” and there are those “as builts.” The models and renderings of this handful of towers are potent in themselves, and these suggest that some real excitement can be expected in a part of town that really needs some new architectural expression. The South Loop deserves better design recognition, and these landmark towers can help propel it out of the architectural doldrums that have marked this patch-quilt neighborhood for the last thirty years.

http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-ar...l-as-designed/

[J_M_Tungsten]

Originally Posted by CastleScott

^ Is that pic of the tall tower in the back ground the old Montgomery Wards HQ? I hope that tower remains.

Scott

The Montogomery isn't going anywhere. A very cool building, IMO.

This lot is between Hudson and Kingsbury on Chicago.

Pics of the development here: http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140...nt-river-north

[Chi-Sky21]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

I'm as much of a preservationist as anyone, but I think it's a wee bit of hyperbole to claim that the demolition of a couple of nice three flats means "Chicago is losing it's soul". We have literally tens and tens of thousands of these things. Yes, I'm sad to see it go, but I'm equally as happy to see investment that will also pay taxes and help mend our fiscal nightmare. Chicago is going to lose a whole lot more of these buildings elsewhere in the city if we can't keep the pace of economic growth in our central city hot enough to continue revitalizing the neighborhoods one at a time.

Sure we could slam the breaks on for any historic building downtown and hope the demand would be satisfied elsewhere, but I think that kind of action should be reserved for truly unique, outstanding, structures.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

[harryc]

Nov 3

[VKChaz]

Two hotels proposed:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/reale...wellness-trend

[munchymunch]

Originally Posted by VKChaz

Two hotels proposed:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/reale...wellness-trend

These are highrises, mods can you move the post?

Surprised to see destefano back in the game, glad he's back.

[ithakas]

Originally Posted by VKChaz

Two hotels proposed:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/reale...wellness-trend

Not sure about the hideous parking podium or the teardown of the Jos. Cacciatore building for his South Loop project.

Would prefer to see the multi-level garage at 181. N Clark demolished and fully turned into a building rather than plopping a glass box on top even though I'm generally into the 'put a building on top' school of adaptive reuse.

[VKChaz]

Originally Posted by ithakas

Not sure about the hideous parking podium or the teardown of the Jos. Cacciatore building for his South Loop project.

Would prefer to see the multi-level garage at 181. N Clark demolished and fully turned into a building rather than plopping a glass box on top even though I'm generally into the 'put a building on top' school of adaptive reuse.

Neither seemed very inspiring or like a real positive step for the City to me.
I had always viewed that garage as temporary - I believe the original plan for the site was a twin of the southern office tower. Though I like the creativity of building atop an existing building, that should be reserved for buildings that deserve to be preserved. This design appears to be a roundabout way of constructing a hotel with a massive podium.

Would love to see the Hunter building incorporated into a development as there is plenty of space to work with. And with all the development expected immediately south, I hoped for something more on that site than a 27 story hotel.

[intrepidDesign]

Originally Posted by ithakas

Not sure about the hideous parking podium or the teardown of the Jos. Cacciatore building for his South Loop project.

Would prefer to see the multi-level garage at 181. N Clark demolished and fully turned into a building rather than plopping a glass box on top even though I'm generally into the 'put a building on top' school of adaptive reuse.

I think the Clark proposal is quite nice. I love it when they do this, add to the layer cake effect that I love so much about Chicago.

[marothisu]

Hotel proposed for 181 N Clark:


Hotel proposed for Wells & Congress Parkway:

[sentinel]

Updated State & Huron and 215 W. Hubbard renderings for pg 1.

Edit: marothisu beat me to it for the new hotels Added hotels to pg 1.

[marothisu]

Losing the building to the hotel sucks but those 2 big parking lots on both sides would not be missed. This is shaping up nicely along with River South....

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Hotel proposed for 181 N Clark:

We are fitness hotel.
You will attend 6:30 AM spin class.
You will order gluten-free potstickers from room service.
Resistance is futile.