Hayward

The historic Rees House stands directly in the way of the new stadium and will have to be moved to a new location. This includes relocating the coach house. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Harriet_F_Rees_House_Chicago_IL.jpg Notice of landmark building relocation here. I didn't google the new the site, but I'm certain it's still part of the historic prairie district http://www.illinoishistory.gov/PS/IHSAC/2013-10-25Meeting/Chicago%20-%20Rees%20House%20Relocation.pdf EDIT. Sorry that's big.

Recently took some pics from my apartment and deck. From Kemper building observation deck. Only open twice a year :-( Oct 19th though!!

Oh no, the Chicago bikes are just like the Citi bikes in NY. They are TANKS! When I'm on one, I feel like I'm driving a hummer and can ride through walls and up steps. Then there's the bikes at Navy Pier or McDonald's bike pavilion which are normal kinds, but they are pricey. BTW Sox-35th has been closed as the southside Red Line has been shut down for total rebuild. I know the Sox were discounting tickets to make up for the inconvenience. But I just usually take the Green Line down there. Jaybird, did you take a red line shuttle from Chinatown or transfer at Roosevelt? I've been curious what visitors have thought of the systems shut downs. Chicago typically doesn't keep trains running during large construction projects. They just cut service, dispatch more buses and hope for the best until the work is done.

Yes. The staggered windows trend is certainly "in " these days. Kind of wish our infill looked a bit more like Milwaukee's. We do a lot of glass boxes in Chicago which bores me

Nice! I don't think I've ever seen Navy Pier that dead. Good thing you got to check it out though before the massive renovations begin. And yay! You saw a Sox game at a modern stadium with a team that's won a world series, not that dumpy antique up in Wrigleyville! haha, jk BTW, next time you ride bikes, buy an annual membership from the Chicago Department of Transportation. You get unlimited use to a city bike for one year for only $70. That's like twice the price of a Navy Pier bike for a few hours. I've considered ditching my own bicycle for the membership because it's so ridiculously cheap and you can write off the membership in federal taxes....so basically a free bike.

Replacement for the suburban dunkin donuts. http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2013/10/01/developer-assembles-10story-proposal-for-clark-belmont.php Is it just me, or does this building look like something I'd find in some city in Ontario? New tower in Parkside / Cabrini-Green. Right across the street from the new 3-story target http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2013/09/30/18story-checkeredglass-apartment-tower-to-plant-opposite-target.php

Not mentioned here, but Detroit is building a 16-story office building near Campus Martius. http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2013/09/revealed-downtown-detroits-first-new-building-since-2005.php Wish it could fill the site a bit better, but I like the design. Especially that outdoor terrace facing the square is nice.

Uh oh....you took of picture of 333 N Michigan! Blackhawks ground zero

This is the proposal for 150 N. Riverside. Just across lake from the 50-story McDonald's pie container going up right now. I retrieved these images from my Alderman's website. Sorry they are small. This building is constructed overtop of Metra and Amtrak lines. Hard to believe how much rail infrastructure is going underground in Chicago!! For this and more development in the 42nd Ward, visit Brendan Reilly's development compilation http://www.ward42chicago.com/pending_development_proposals.html

Here is the proposal for 200 N. Michigan next to the historic Carbide and Carbon building. A 1930's 7-story art deco structure stands in the way with a bunch of tenants. Kind of sad unfortunately the building looks pretty raggedy and I really don't know if a restoration could help it. It wasn't deemed historical despite that it's surrounded by many neighbors with landmark status. Regardless this new tower looks like a proper replacement. The setbacks preserve viewsheds of prominent pre-war skyscrapers. I love the treatment of the ground floor. Looks very classy Michigan Ave to me. http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info/2013/09/09/bkl-answers-your-questions-about-200-north-michigan-avenue/

Renderings of the very controversial basketball arena going up in the South Loop just across from McCormick Place. The arena will be a new anchor for the convention hall and hopefully bring more life to the historic motor row district that the city hopes to turn into a mega entertainment destination. The controversy stems from the massive subsidies McPier will receive to build the stadium and fund the total overhaul of navy pier. Like it or not, the city had 47 million tourists last year, so investment in civic infrastructure is a big priority to keep that number going up. http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2013/09/23/pelli-clarke-pelli-serves-ravioli-as-likely-depaul-arena-design.php And of course, cannot forget the new Marriott across the street. http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=207501 I'm pretty happy with the designs. And they all replace crappy surface lots and a suburban style bank. Only one historic row house stands in the way and that structure will be saved and relocated nearby. Here's where they will go. Also, the city will be building a new green line L station there. http://goo.gl/maps/f7wDL

^ Id tend to disagree. Updating a phone every 20 months is a part of life. Who cares about the cost or plan when a younger generation is dumping pricier commodities. Car ownership is down. Home ownership is down. With most folks connected these days on tablets and phones I see no reason to go cheap on a phone, and the cheapest data plan is all you need. I had a friend who said a similar thing, and how he didn't need a fancy phone. But on a recent visit he brought a duffle bag that looked like a mini-radio shack. So much redundant technology. A point and shoot camera, an MP3 player, flip phone, a GPS... Why? Why spend all that money on various electronics and fill up my surge protector with a ton of chargers when that can all be merged into one simple, powerful, tiny little device? When you upgrade a phone, you upgrade all these other utilities. How you listen to music, communicate with friends and family and take photos. And I don't buy the "intentional crippling" argument. They can handle a few reasonable sidewalk landings. Throw any device on the sidewalk and report back. The flip phones of the 2000's broke more easily than smartphones. I also still see folks walking around with the first generation iPhones, which means the OS and software still work on older handsets.

Nope. Clark and Division Red Line. New entrance at Lasalle. I also keep heading rumors of a Division St Brown Line Station.

Oh yes the porn and chicken place. As for the prices, they aren't too far off the mark. It's an ammenity building so everything is included. Not everyone is paying that much though. There was a 2 BR that rented for $2000. That's a steal for central Chicago in a new building. Rents should ease their climb in the next year with downtown hanging around the $2.50 - 3.00 per sqft range. Right now I'm at about $3 per square foot a month. Pizza Hut tower may not be so bad to check out come to think of it. I think you're going to see alot more apartment buildings going up in the outer nabes. Pretty much everything is over $1000 in any decent place. Btw I noticed Tower of Pizza Hut's location is "Division Triangle of Shadyness" on social networks...oh my. Speaking of Division St, the new Lasalle auxiliary subway station is very far along. Structure is done and granite floors and tile ceilings installed. Finishes to the mezzanine should begin soon. Also heard the Regina court building on state near Division is toast. It just leased a bunch of spaces to new retail tenants but if the project passes there will be a new tower there.

Wednesday fireworks

With my rent skyrocketing $200 + more a month, i had to draw a line. My landlord agreed to give me a cheaper mid-building unit instead of the end-wing unit which had views on 3 sides. Now it's just windows along 1 side. The views are still good but no more view to the west of sunsets or a slice of the lake. View from the toilet. It's a full height clear window too, so lights off until I can find some film to cover it. A little higher up, the Elysian / Astoria tower across the way Old view:

In Chicago they have pretty strict laws against vacant property. Plywood is banned from being placed over windows. Vacant property must have all openings plated over with VPS or similar product. Long time vacant property can use CMU or brick to cover over windows. Buildings with loose tiles or bricks must have a scaffold out front over the sidewalk and must pay the city rent to keep it there. In addition the owner will pay rent for the scaffold equipment. Any property that has a dangerous condition inside will be sealed by the city and marked by a 2'x2' "X" on the front of the property. This X declares the building is believed to be sealed and empty and there is no need for emergency personnel to enter the building. When there is a red "X" on the building, owners may not enter their property without contacting the city first. Most owners in Chicago keep their buildings in good condition. Banks are the worst offenders and don't always follow the rules. The city now has a land bank that can help move vacant building inventory into the hands of people with money to get them renovated.

Excellent photos! That one of Portland with the sign is a winner. I really need to do one of these cross country trips.

Too bad innovation is limited by scale. We are perfectly good at making spaceships and tiny phones, but horrible at large infrastructure projects as they are often plagued with major cost overruns, construction defects, and even accidents. Our interstate freeway system was certainly a major accomplishment, but it's far from anything overly technical. While building a rail gun system is theoretically possible, the construction tolerances would have to be super low and endure subsidence or water infiltration into tunnels. Just imagine if even a small section of the tube was just millimeters off. It would create such violent turbulence the vehicle may totally break apart. It would be better to build faster and super fuel efficient planes rather than a single system that would be impractical to maintain.

The building in the post above is now coming down. The facade is being dismantled. Often times the details will (lake those bay windows) will end up having a second life on new structures.

^ If you use chrome at work (Chrome Usually installs without Administrator privileges) you can load a previously cached copy typically. But that's all lost now. But strangely the site is working for me more often.

Too bad the crash didn't solve the logging in problem. Though I'm on right now obviously.

625 W. Monroe Revision. 40 Stories. Although if markets permit, 35 additional stories may be added. http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20130215/CRED03/130219807/fifield-plans-taller-building-in-west-loop Currently, the site is surface parking. With all West Loop Proposals, the proposed clinton street subway would seem more urgent than ever. http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/CUS-Public-Meeting-Presentation-2011-1212-FINAL-dragged-4.jpg

It's practical if you are a developer in that area and building a park over the freeway will increase the value of your future developed property. Especially since they are suggesting additional towers.

This is completely hypocritical. God forbid government tell you where to live, work, or design your house. No it only makes sense when a single group of elites pre-design a huge packaged development and oversee all that goes on. I almost get the sense this whole thing is constructed to spite America because the way of the people doesn't match his selfish ideals. The mission seems great and all, but the achievements would go further building more incubators for learning and skills development in cities. Same with the wind power and farming technology.