CHICAGOLAND | Urban Development in the Burbs

[r18tdi]

Very cool to see finished product. I believe at lot of the archives are located in vaults underground, similar to the Jahn designed library at U of C.

[Busy Bee]

Very nice.

[sentinel]

I have not seen anything posted before about this building in Oak Park, which is currently under construction:




(Booth Hansen)

It's called 'Porter' and located across the street (south) from the Carleton Hotel on Marion St.

[r18tdi]

^ Giving me some 1400 W Monroe vibes, also by BH.

[ardecila]

That's a handsome building with great massing, references traditional Chicago courtyards etc. Major props to BH for making something elegant out of the extremely clunky, 5+1 building type. I didn't think it was possible.

Unfortunately the whole thing is dragged down by that awful fiber cement panel siding. It just feels very cheap. Even an EIFS system would look more elegant at a low cost (if properly detailed) but it's probably prohibited by law...

[r18tdi]

I don't believe this has been posted here yet.

Optima is planning a second downtown Wilmette apartment building next to their existing one, contingent on village approval. The site is currently a vacant Jaguar dealership:

https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/o...optima-verdana

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

I didn't snap a pic, but there's a smallish mixed-use development going up across from the Braeside Metra station in Highland Park with 13 apartments above retail. It's only three stories tall and too over-parked to be considered a TOD, but it's pretty "urban" for this area.

Level Architecture did the design, which is contemporary and relatively daring for what is otherwise a single-family enclave packed with NIMBYs. If they were smart the retail would be a sandwich/wine/coffee shop that can cater to MTA commuters and the Ravinia festival crowd.

This one turned out better than I expected, given the tight site and relatively high parking ratio. Also nice that they preserved some of the older trees and created a little pocket park.

https://www.trulia.com/building/brae...035-2057010689






Source: Trulia

[Randomguy34]

Ground broken on massive mixed-use development in Michigan City

The site will contain 130 condominiums and 230 hotel rooms along with 25,000 square feet of ground level retail space and a parking garage with room for close to 400 vehicles.

Alan Schachtman, a partner in the development firm, said 60 of the condominiums will be strictly for short-term rental use to meet demand for such housing locally.

https://www.southbendtribune.com/sto...y/70863305007/

[r18tdi]

Holy crap, there's a full-on tower crane along Sheridan Road south of Centennial Park in Winnetka.
I assume it's for Justin Ishbia's massive SFH?

[r18tdi]

Double post.

[ChiND]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Holy crap, there's a full-on tower crane along Sheridan Road south of Centennial Park in Winnetka.
I assume it's for Justin Ishbia's massive SFH?

That’s the huge planned mansion that has been discussed in the news. It’s going to be 65,000 s.f. I wonder if it will be a classical or modern design.

[Jibba]

Originally Posted by ChiND

That’s the huge planned mansion that has been discussed in the news. It’s going to be 65,000 s.f. I wonder if it will be a classical or modern design.

Architect is Ferguson Shamamian. Should be beautiful regardless of period of influence.

[Jibba]

Optima Verdana has its verdant pieces installed:

[kolchak]

Vogue Fabrics site Main Street Evanston

[kolchak]

etta Evanston. Hard to believe it's the same corner. This one has a huge impact.

[Steely Dan]

Awesome!

Thanks for the E-town updates.

It was part of my daily life for decades, and now I hardly ever get back up there.


That last project sure is a MAJOR upgrade from that shitty old suburban style burger king that used to be there.

Kinda interesting that downtown Evanston no longer has any of the big 3 fast food burger chains.

College students have definitely changed since I was one 25 years.

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by kolchak

etta Evanston. Hard to believe it's the same corner. This one has a huge impact.

FWIW, the development is called Evanston Labs. Etta is the restaurant tenant (they have locations in River North and Bucktown, too).

[kolchak]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

FWIW, the development is called Evanston Labs. Etta is the restaurant tenant (they have locations in River North and Bucktown, too).

I had no idea. I thought it was some weird new acronym for the building.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

Kinda interesting that downtown Evanston no longer has any of the big 3 fast food burger chains.

College students have definitely changed since I was one 25 years.

How long until they come back with an urban format / walkup location?

It looks like Taco Bell had one (not the Cantina format, but the traditional Taco Bell without liquor) but they closed it in early 2019 before Covid.

I’m surprised fast food chains haven’t been able to thrive, but I guess Northwestern students these days are wealthier / have more disposable income and can afford a higher tab at independents or at least fast casual chains like Chipotle.

[Steely Dan]

^ downtown Evanston used to have a two floor urban format McD's years ago in the base of the Orrington hotel.

When Hilton took over the operations of the hotel, they wanted a more upscale tenant than a fast food burger joint, so they booted them. And McD's never returned.


But downtown Evanston is not national chain averse, there's a potbelly, jimmy johns, papa johns, chipotle, Einstein bagel, noodles & company, Chili's, blaze pizza, etc.

It seems more specific to the burger chains. Perhaps the big three are just too damn chained to their parking lot/drive-thru suburban format?