CHICAGO | Post Office Redevelopment - Page 29

BVictor1 · #**561** Posted **Oct 28, 2015, 6:32 PM**

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...028-story.html

Quote:

Minor progress at old main post office? Sugar House could be razed

Kim JanssenContact Reporter
Chicago Tribune

October 28, 2015

Under pressure to show signs of progress at Chicago's vacant old main post office, British developer Bill Davies plans to demolish an adjacent five-story building before Thanksgiving, his business associates say.

But the arrival of workers in hard hats won't necessarily mean that major construction is finally about to begin.

Sugar House, at 358 W. Harrison, would simply be razed. For now, the space would be used as a riverfront staging area for maintenance and potential future construction projects at the hulking 2.7 million-square-foot art deco post office building, according to Davies' advisers.

The long-stalled redevelopment of the post office, which looms over the western entrance to the city, straddling the Eisenhower Expressway, has become a source of civic exasperation. Davies' demolition plans come as the city's patience appears to be wearing thin.

Last month, Zoning Committee Chairman Ald. Daniel Solis, 25th, threatened to strip the 12.6-acre site's valuable mixed-use residential and business zoning if something doesn't happen soon. Davies had secured that zoning change with an ambitious $3.5 billion plan to build 16 million square feet of office, retail, residential, entertainment, parking and hotel space after buying the property for $24 million in 2009.

Mikemak27 · #**562** Posted **Jan 27, 2016, 7:10 PM**

New plans by Bill Davies for the Post office include 1500 apartments.

http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2...pdate.php#more

rlw777 · #**563** Posted **Jan 27, 2016, 7:12 PM**

Old Main Post Office Update from Curbed

Quote:

After months of silence, British developer Bill Davies has come forward with a new plan for Chicago's Old Main Post Office — rental units. The behemoth Art Deco building has been the focus of numerous plans, partnerships and potential sales since it was purchased by Davies in 2009 for $24 million. However, this week, a new plan for 1,500 apartments and a new tower addition have emerged for the Chicago landmark.

emathias · #**564** Posted **Jan 27, 2016, 7:23 PM**

That would certainly enliven the southwest part of the greater Loop area, but who is going to pay $4 per square foot for a tiny 2-bedroom astride an expressway not particularly near anything else people usually want to be close to?

Via Chicago · #**565** Posted **Jan 27, 2016, 7:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by emathias

That would certainly enliven the southwest part of the greater Loop area, but who is going to pay $4 per square foot for a tiny 2-bedroom astride an expressway not particularly near anything else people usually want to be close to?

not many i reckon

woodrow · #**566** Posted **Jan 27, 2016, 8:06 PM**

Look at the floor plans provided! Unit 12 would be especially attractive at "roughly $1,100 per month." HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

k1052 · #**567** Posted **Jan 27, 2016, 8:08 PM**

Only marginally less unbelievable than his previous proposals. The city should give him an ultimatum of getting something actually underway this year or yank the PD.

Jim in Chicago · #**568** Posted **Jan 27, 2016, 8:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikemak27

New plans by Bill Davies for the Post office include 1500 apartments.

http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2...pdate.php#more

The post office's redevelopment will be built in phases, with the first phase expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Yeah, right. What are they smoking.

rlw777 · #**569** Posted **Jan 27, 2016, 9:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by emathias

That would certainly enliven the southwest part of the greater Loop area, but who is going to pay $4 per square foot for a tiny 2-bedroom astride an expressway not particularly near anything else people usually want to be close to?

Yeah this proposal isn't gonna fly. Too many units in a poor location too late in an apartment boom.

If I were Davies I would see if I could connect the building underground to the Clinton Blue stop and make the first few floors a mall and above that maybe office or residential.

Steely Dan · #**570** Posted **Jan 27, 2016, 10:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodrow

Look at the floor plans provided! Unit 12 would be especially attractive at "roughly $1,100 per month." HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Yeah, those look like some egregiously miserable unit plans.

$4/SF? for that?

I don't know what Mr. Bill is smoking, but it's clearly some pretty strong stuff.

emathias · #**571** Posted **Jan 27, 2016, 10:36 PM**

He probably forgot the building is in Chicago and not in London ...

I mean that 707 N Wells building is in a great location and you can get a 1,000 square foot 2-bedroom with an enormous terrace for $3.35 per square foot.

Tom Servo · #**572** Posted **Jan 27, 2016, 10:39 PM**

"Antunovich Associates to lead design duties for the new plan"

Oh gee... but of course...

Via Chicago · #**573** Posted **Jan 27, 2016, 11:42 PM**

hes just throwing shit against a wall at this point

Busy Bee · #**574** Posted **Jan 27, 2016, 11:54 PM**

What difference does it make who the architect is, nothing is going to be built anyways. Why pay a top notch world class firm to play make believe when you can pay a hack much less to do the same?

LouisVanDerWright · #**575** Posted **Jan 28, 2016, 1:04 AM**

Apartments are literally the least efficient use for this building. The only logical use is office. Now if he was proposing residential in the tower and office in the post office, well, that would just make too much sense wouldn't it. We can't have that.

Also it's called:

"Olde Chicago Post Office"

Lololololol. He doesn't even get that calling something "ye olde" is like a joke nowadays in the US.

Via Chicago · #**576** Posted **Jan 28, 2016, 2:26 AM**

i thought office space wasnt preferable due to the big floorplates and most people then being away from light/windows?

ardecila · #**577** Posted **Jan 28, 2016, 3:22 AM**

LaSalle.St.Station · #**578** Posted **Jan 28, 2016, 7:45 AM**

I was wondering if the original post office building on the east side of the adjacent larger main building was torn down, would the newly exposed facade of the main building exist, or would it have to be recreated ?

Kumdogmillionaire · #**579** Posted **Jan 28, 2016, 10:50 AM**

Should just turn the Post Office into a Casino. Only way I see that floorplate being used efficiently

DonMendigo · #**580** Posted **Jan 28, 2016, 12:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kumdogmillionaire

Should just turn the Post Office into a Casino. Only way I see that floorplate being used efficiently

This X 1,000,000. Especially now that Davies has proven incapable of making anything viable happen here and let's the mofo burn once in a while. The city should just claim imminent domain and make a 1920's/Chicago gangster/prohibition themed casino