CHICAGO | The 78 Site - Page 53

chicagodeckerdude · #**1041** Posted **Jun 7, 2022, 6:11 PM**

I liked the design where the open/park space followed the old path the river used to flow. Am I the only one?

ardecila · #**1042** Posted **Jun 7, 2022, 6:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagodeckerdude

I liked the design where the open/park space followed the old path the river used to flow. Am I the only one?

I assume they will go back to that plan now that they don't have a casino that needs huge floorplates.

I don't love the idea of the city borrowing hundreds of millions to fund The 78 infrastructure - even if Related swears they're gonna pay it back. The original plan put all the risk of infrastructure costs on Related if they couldn't make the development succeed. Now the risk is all on the city. The city has too many other infrastructure needs in other parts of downtown and the rest of the city to waste scarce resources here.

Wells-Wentworth was already built on the public dime and that should be enough to kickstart some kind of development at The 78 site, even if it's just a placeholder for a more intense new neighborhood in the future. CTA can reroute 1 or 2 bus routes to this area for almost nothing to provide transit access. Etc.

chicagodeckerdude · #**1043** Posted **Jun 7, 2022, 9:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

I assume they will go back to that plan now that they don't have a casino that needs huge floorplates.

I don't love the idea of the city borrowing hundreds of millions to fund The 78 infrastructure - even if Related swears they're gonna pay it back. The original plan put all the risk of infrastructure costs on Related if they couldn't make the development succeed. Now the risk is all on the city. The city has too many other infrastructure needs in other parts of downtown and the rest of the city to waste scarce resources here.

Wells-Wentworth was already built on the public dime and that should be enough to kickstart some kind of development at The 78 site, even if it's just a placeholder for a more intense new neighborhood in the future. CTA can reroute 1 or 2 bus routes to this area for almost nothing to provide transit access. Etc.

The Wells Wentworth connector isnt cutting right thru the area where the old river path open space would be? that road looks so close to the chicago river.

jchase79 · #**1044** Posted **Jun 8, 2022, 1:11 AM**

delete

SamInTheLoop · #**1045** Posted **Jun 10, 2022, 9:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

I assume they will go back to that plan now that they don't have a casino that needs huge floorplates.

I don't love the idea of the city borrowing hundreds of millions to fund The 78 infrastructure - even if Related swears they're gonna pay it back. The original plan put all the risk of infrastructure costs on Related if they couldn't make the development succeed. Now the risk is all on the city. The city has too many other infrastructure needs in other parts of downtown and the rest of the city to waste scarce resources here.

Wells-Wentworth was already built on the public dime and that should be enough to kickstart some kind of development at The 78 site, even if it's just a placeholder for a more intense new neighborhood in the future. CTA can reroute 1 or 2 bus routes to this area for almost nothing to provide transit access. Etc.

Completely agree. What is the rationale for this switcheroo by Related? That they didn't get the casino? LOL. A casino wasn't part of the plan as approved 38 months ago. So because they can't build a poorly conceived casino as an anchor, which wasn't the intention anyway, now they can't finance the infrastructure. Huh?

galleyfox · #**1046** Posted **Jun 10, 2022, 10:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Completely agree. What is the rationale for this switcheroo by Related? That they didn't get the casino? LOL. A casino wasn't part of the plan as approved 38 months ago. So because they can't build a poorly conceived casino as an anchor, which wasn't the intention anyway, now they can't finance the infrastructure. Huh?

As far as I can tell, it’s the infrastructure specifically for the DPI site and not the entire development. A TIF doesn’t work for a non-profit institution.

The past few years have probably delayed the overall timeline, but DPI is committed for the near future no matter what.

ardecila · #**1047** Posted **Jun 11, 2022, 6:44 PM**

The specific thing they want to fund is:
A) relocating the Rock Island tracks to open up sites along Clark for private development
B) extending 15th St into the site from the east, giving an east access point.

This work would occur near the DPI site, but it's not strictly required for DPI to move ahead. Related is intentionally muddling the two things.

There is an argument that broader changes in the city's rail system (see Amtrak's recent MEGA grant request in the Chicago Transit thread) will require the Rock Island tracks to be relocated now, not in 10-15 years. CN already canceled their privately-funded replacement of the Clark St overpass, because it had to be done in conjunction with the Rock Island work. Now the city will likely need to pay for that as well, due to the delay.

Randomguy34 · #**1048** Posted **Jun 12, 2022, 2:24 AM**

Relatedly, the one benefit of the new RID tracks becoming open-trench instead of elevated is it might allow room for a new station in the future.

Busy Bee · #**1049** Posted **Jun 12, 2022, 3:21 AM**

I have sincere doubts that a station that close to the terminus would ever be considered. Maybe...MAYBE...if RID is ever electrified and operated more like an S-Bahn, a station here would be feasible but in the RIDs current form and operation I really dont think so.

SIGSEGV · #**1050** Posted **Jun 12, 2022, 4:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

I have sincere doubts that a station that close to the terminus would ever be considered. Maybe...MAYBE...if RID is ever electrified and operated more like an S-Bahn, a station here would be feasible but in the RIDs current form and operation I really dont think so.

I mean the Metra Electric has 3 stations in its last ~mile, but... it's electrified.

SolarWind · #**1051** Posted **Jul 18, 2022, 2:01 AM**

July 12, 2022

rivernorthlurker · #**1052** Posted **Jul 22, 2022, 3:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drone22

• Video Link

Welcome to the forum Drone! Great vid!

Suburban Shadow · #**1053** Posted **Jul 22, 2022, 3:08 PM**

Does anybody know if the Wells-Wentworth connector still on track to open this year?

Or was it pushed back to 2023?

ardecila · #**1054** Posted **Jul 22, 2022, 4:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suburban Shadow

Does anybody know if the Wells-Wentworth connector still on track to open this year?

Or was it pushed back to 2023?

Haven't heard anything official, but I'm assuming they are delayed by the quarry workers strike that is affecting every road project in Chicagoland.

Still, it looks like they are wrapping up the utility work on the south section and they are starting to pour the small retaining walls between the roadway and sidewalks (example). If the strike ends and the concrete starts flowing again, I don't know why they can't finish the paving and sidewalks before winter and get final landscaping in.

Of course, just because it's finished doesn't mean it will open. Having an open road through the site is an invitation for drag racing and illegal dumping. They may not fully open the road until after DPI is completed and public access is needed.

SIGSEGV · #**1055** Posted **Jul 22, 2022, 5:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

Haven't heard anything official, but I'm assuming they are delayed by the quarry workers strike that is affecting every road project in Chicagoland.

Still, it looks like they are wrapping up the utility work on the south section and they are starting to pour the small retaining walls between the roadway and sidewalks (example). If the strike ends and the concrete starts flowing again, I don't know why they can't finish the paving and sidewalks before winter and get final landscaping in.

Of course, just because it's finished doesn't mean it will open. Having an open road through the site is an invitation for drag racing and illegal dumping. They may not fully open the road until after DPI is completed and public access is needed.

It would be the perfect drag racing honeypot too...

rivernorthlurker · #**1056** Posted **Jul 22, 2022, 5:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIGSEGV

It would be the perfect drag racing honeypot too...

Maybe you should suggest it to Lightfoot...

https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/...ke-shore-drive

r18tdi · #**1057** Posted **Jul 22, 2022, 6:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rivernorthlurker

Maybe you should suggest it to Lightfoot...

Don't you mean Leadfoot? *Ba dum tiss*

rivernorthlurker · #**1058** Posted **Jul 22, 2022, 6:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Don't you mean Leadfoot? *Ba dum tiss*

Nice one.

ardecila · #**1059** Posted **Jul 25, 2022, 3:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIGSEGV

It would be the perfect drag racing honeypot too...

Maybe, if CPD actually cared about the issue. I'm not sure what crimes they're actually solving these days.

If the drag racers wanted to set up on Wells/Wentworth, the cops would probably just give them a pass.

SIGSEGV · #**1060** Posted **Jul 25, 2022, 6:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila

Maybe, if CPD actually cared about the issue. I'm not sure what crimes they're actually solving these days.

If the drag racers wanted to set up on Wells/Wentworth, the cops would probably just give them a pass.

we could all drop nails from Roosevelt Ave though.