CHICAGO | General Developments

[the urban politician]

One more question:

Is Aldermanic privilege an actual LAW, or is it just a practice by tradition?

[EarlyBuyer]

Photo's taken 12/1/07 by EarlyBuyer

[Mr Downtown]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Is Aldermanic privilege an actual LAW

Longstanding tradition. Much harder to change than a mere law.

[EarlyBuyer]

Photo's taken by EarlyBuyer 12/1/07

[SkokieSwift]

Art Institute Modern Wing - 11/23/07



One Museum Park lurking in the background:

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

I disagree. If those suburbs had an aldermanic system with wards, thereby diffusing responsibility among many and creating a disconnect between those responsible for revenue/budget-making and those responsible for development, then they would be just as NIMBY as Chicago. The development decisions in the suburbs are made by the same people responsible for the budget, and they know not to frivolously throw away development investment and its resultant tax revenue (property and/or sales). If anything, popular opinion in the burbs is even more anti-development than Chicago (at least in the established burbs), but their power structure is such that one right-headed individual can overcome mob mentality (Crystal Lake, for example). Such accountability and responsibility is so far removed from the individual aldermen in Chicago that they can get away with not giving two shits about the city as a whole and just focus on their vocal NIMBY constituents.

Of course, reforming the aldermanic system would require approval from exactly the people who would have their power reduced by such reform, so it'll never happen. That's why, grudgingly, we pro-development folk need to support the corruption-prone programs such as TIFs, the Planned Development process, and asset privatization, because they at least provide a little power (money, jobs) to City Hall to wield against the Aldermanic tyrants; while the Aldercreatures still have a hand in those programs, of course, City Hall does too, which on the margin could be at least a modest improvement over the status quo.

very insightful analysis, cogent argument...

[Jaroslaw]

<< Perhaps the city-suburb contrast you refer to is due to:

1. real authority accruing to officials in the suburbs who are actually elected after a trial by competitive contest. Someone like Daley, who is the American equivalent of a banana republic president, can only get authority by "acting tough," as with Meigs Field.

2. a difference in correlation between revenue and outlays. For many reasons, some self-caused, Chicago's officials are not in a position to translate increased revenues into electoral competitiveness with uncommitted, middle-ground voters.

Also to keep in mind:

3. Voters are not interested exclusively in enabling government to increase revenue. They are also interested in, for example, increasing the value of their property. How is increased supply going to affect that? To ignore this issue is to overlook one of the driving forces of real politics.

This Sam post about Fioretti belongs here rather than in the boom rundown.

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

...I truly believe they're both big-time panderers, who will overwhelmingly side with the NIMBYs on developments with modest opposition levels and above. I don't see either one as being leaders with ability to take postions on issues based on merit and benefit for the city. Rather I see them both pretty much as hand-counters...

This is what representative government is. It is not the responsibility of Fioretti or any other alderman to care for "the city" as a whole, to fight against "urban sprawl" or whatnot. Daley is for that. They are responsible to their voters, who have expressed a reasonable preference against a continuing and apparently unlimited supply of new housing in their area. It is also not Chicago's responsibility to take a hit for "smart growth" or for some concept of "vibrant" downtowns, or for urbanism. We've been there before, taking responsibility for a broader issue; the dozens of high-rise public housing blocks that were a result of that are now finally almost gone. Fioretti is a good alderman because he reflects the opinions of his voters, who have actually put their money down on condos in the city, expecting to compete with the suburbs as far as investment value goes. But their concerns are the least thing most forumers here care about.

In the long run more democracy will be good for the city. Where is the infrastructure that goes with more density? Where does the property tax money collected from all the new high-rises go? Why is it that some developers can get anything approved, and others can't ever get out the gate? Why won't the city play hardball with the suburbs cannibalizing business and competing on tax rates? And so on...

[firstcranialnerve]

A while back I commented that Chicago (probably because of the EL) lacks a decent underground city like Sydney, Montreal, Tokyo and others throughout the world, despite being so cold during the winter. I'm hoping with this Block 37 project, that Chicago begins to improve its underground spaces. Has anyone put together any plans for the development of Chicago's underground?

Secondly, there is a distinct lack of boutique retail in the Loop. I was wondering if Macy's (who I have heard are struggling) Marshall Field building could be converted to Spaces for a variety of stores. A mix of stores as part of network of smaller shopping malls and arcades are an integral part of growing the foot traffic through an underground city.

Has anyone else thought about this?

[Alliance]

Originally Posted by SkokieSwift

now THAT'S glass.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ That's also reflecting the sky, not a lot to distort there. Look closer, where the trees and trucks are reflected, they are somewhat wavy as well. Its all in the reflectivity of the glass and the angle of viewing... Also, notice the fact that it is clearer like that of 600 fairbanks...

[Marcu]

Originally Posted by firstcranialnerve

...there is a distinct lack of boutique retail in the Loop. I was wondering if Macy's (who I have heard are struggling) Marshall Field building could be converted to Spaces for a variety of stores. A mix of stores as part of network of smaller shopping malls and arcades are an integral part of growing the foot traffic through an underground city.

Has anyone else thought about this?

The Carson Pirie Scott building is being redeveloped into more of a boutique retail mall.

[pottebaum]

^Any word on tenants?

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by firstcranialnerve

A while back I commented that Chicago (probably because of the EL) lacks a decent underground city like Sydney, Montreal, Tokyo and others throughout the world, despite being so cold during the winter. I'm hoping with this Block 37 project, that Chicago begins to improve its underground spaces. Has anyone put together any plans for the development of Chicago's underground?

Secondly, there is a distinct lack of boutique retail in the Loop. I was wondering if Macy's (who I have heard are struggling) Marshall Field building could be converted to Spaces for a variety of stores. A mix of stores as part of network of smaller shopping malls and arcades are an integral part of growing the foot traffic through an underground city.

Has anyone else thought about this?

In the late 80s and early 90s, the Pedway was actually a pretty well-functioning system, even if it was a bit seedy in spots. I used it alot as I lived in Hyde Park and took the ME to downtown. It connected Randolph Station with the Cultural Center, Marshall Fields, Daley Plaza, City Hall, and Thompson Center, and it had several stores and had decent pedestrian traffic. The constant construction since then has basically destroyed it's usability.....CTA Station Mezanine construction, the Heritage, Block 37, to name a few. It's been closed in pieces for so long that most people's routines have simply readjusted to avoid it. But once everything is finished and open I suspect it will get decent usage, as it will connect several major transport routes (ME, SS, Red Line, Blue Line, and Clark/Lake) with several major activity generators in the government centers and the shopping at B37.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Personally I'd prefer to have people stay on the surface and deal with the weather. I like to see a busy street on a snowy day!

[Alliance]

Originally Posted by pottebaum

^Any word on tenants?

No, they're still working on/just finishing hacking out the asbestos. My family is working on that aspect of the project. The inside of the building is a complete mess.

[Jaroslaw]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

^That is great news all around. I hadn't even considered the possibility of Metra simply moving some of the yard facilities north a bit, but it could work (I never thought the idea of closing the yard completely made any sense, I mean it's a commuter railroad, you have to have an in-city yard to hold trains during the day).

Also, that is VERY soon for the SCAL to cease operations...is the flyover down at 79th already under construction, or will CN be re-routing the trains even further south than that?

I'd like to see those top three designs. Hope there's nothing too weird. Maybe now we can wish that they'll cover a portion of LSD as well, because otherwise it'll be hard to get to that section S of 12th.

Too bad no more Amtrak night train to New Orleans whizzing by Hyde Park at 8:20pm... now I guess we'll hear about extending the busway to the Museum of Science.

[bnk]

Originally Posted by Alliance

No, they're still working on/just finishing hacking out the asbestos. My family is working on that aspect of the project. The inside of the building is a complete mess.

What is the name of that company? I know people in the asbestos removal business.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by Jaroslaw

now I guess we'll hear about extending the busway to the Museum of Science.

^ I would really love to hear that.

When my wife and her cousins came to Chicago about 7 years ago, they had to take the L (from their downtown hotel) to 55th street and then a bus just to get to the MS&I. What a hassle. Having more direct transit service there would be a huge boost to tourists' attendance, IMO.

Also, could such a route also serve as a direct non-stop connection between Hyde Park and downtown?

[2PRUROCKS!]

Speaking of the pedway, there is an article about it in the December issue of Chicago Magazine.

[Mr Downtown]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

When my wife and her cousins came to Chicago about 7 years ago, they had to take the L (from their downtown hotel) to 55th street and then a bus just to get to the MS&I. What a hassle. Having more direct transit service there would be a huge boost to tourists' attendance, IMO.

Also, could such a route also serve as a direct non-stop connection between Hyde Park and downtown?

Let's see. The #10 Museum of Science and Industry bus picks up people along Michigan Avenue and State Street every half hour, then runs nonstop to the museum entrance. The #6 express bus picks up people along State Street, then runs express to 47th, making local stops for one mile before stopping at the museum. It runs every 5-8 minutes most of the day. The Metra Electric trains run three times an hour all day (more during rush hours) from 57th Street to two downtown terminals in 14 minutes.

And you feel the need for yet another way to get to MSI????