Construction of the Sheraton Hotel on the triangle shaped parcel next to Wrigley Field has begun.  Below is an older rendering of the hotel and a new building to be built on the McDonald's parcel across the street from Wrigley that was posted at

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2016/3/20/11272110/wrigley-field-construction-update-march-19#6385279.

 

Below are some photos from http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-wrigley-field-opening-day-cubs-20160315-story.html of the Sheraton Hotel under construction.  The first aerial aligned closely with the above rendering:

 

 

That new building planned for the McDonald's parcel across from Wrigley Field got some updated renderings in December 2015:  http://wgntv.com/2015/12/22/more-renderings-released-on-wrigleyville-development/

 

 

 

The updated renderings show an 8-story building that would contain 148 apartments, retail space and nearly 500 underground parking spaces, according to http://wgntv.com/2015/12/22/more-renderings-released-on-wrigleyville-development/.  That article did not have a construction starting date for the 'Addison Park on Clark' building.  But some photos dated 3/14/2016 at http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-wrigley-field-opening-day-cubs-20160315-story.html show the McDonald's signage being dismantled on the future building site:

 

Finally, here is a larger aerial photo from http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-wrigley-field-opening-day-cubs-20160315-story.html that shows an overview of Wrigley Field, the Sheraton Hotel under construction and the McDonald's parcel that will become the 'Addison Park on Clark' building site:

So long Red Ivy. It's been fun.

That aerial is awesome! Wrigley is really great since it's one of the last urban residential neighborhood stadiums in America. While the new downtown stadiums around the country are way better than the old suburban ones, urban neighborhood stadiums are much cooler.

The buyers of the advertising on the roofs behind those new scoreboards have to have been unthrilled.

I'm looking forward to the redevelopment of the lots/suburban style spots to the north of wrigley, but to the south is another story they are going to ruin the character of the neighborhood...

 

I wouldn't go that far, but it certainly doesn't fit in the area organically.

 

RIP little Starbucks as well. The new one on Sheffield just won't be the same.

Arguably the largest project in the country (really a combo of two adjacent, interconnected developments) began in Chicago yesterday. In total the two projects will include 76 acres of utterly unused land in the south loop (whereas New York's Hudson Yards project is 28 acres), and extends from Harrison all the way to 18th street, in between the river and Wells.

 

Groundbreaking of first phase of the project started yesterday (it'll encompass 14 acres) and will end with eight buildings, parks, retail, etc, from Harrison to Roosevelt). I don't know when/if groundbreaking has been scheduled for the 62 acres portion (Roosevelt to basically Chinatown), probably not, but it's all moving forward and will absolutely redefine the south loop and city as a whole.  Very exciting stuff.

What's it called? Any links? Renderings?

http://chicago.curbed.com/2016/9/13/12897772/chicago-construction-south-loop-riverline-development-groundbreaking

http://www.chicagoarchitecture.org/2016/09/13/riverline-chicagos-next-big-community-breaks-ground-in-the-south-loop/

 

http://chicago.curbed.com/2016/9/13/12897772/chicago-construction-south-loop-riverline-development-groundbreaking

 

That relates to the 14 acre project of which 8 buildings, a redone shoreline, parks and retail will arise. It's called Riverline.

 

 

http://chicago.curbed.com/2016/9/7/12830462/development-news-chicago-spire-south-loop-related-midwest

 

This relates to the larger, unnamed project.

Ah, this is the site of the former Grand Central Station where B&O trains from Washington, Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Akron and Fostoria called at Chicago until the station was demolished in 1969. Hard to believe this river-side land has sat vacant ever since. You would think this property would have been more highly sought after in the last 47 years...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think there were utility related issues there. Also until about 2007 that area was pretty sketchy

 

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I'm really glad to see construction starting on this huge site. I always felt it was so strange how Chicago goes from such incredible density of the Loop to literally a giant open field and a few big box stores in like 2 blocks. The whole South Loop area (or the parts I've seen of it) feels very....artificial, if that makes sense. This project will definitely help extend Chicago's core southward, though I do wish there could be a little more creativity in the architecture. It looks like there are some interesting features at ground level, but I hate the flat rooflines of all the buildings. Throw in some spires or crowns or something! The latest completed building at Hudson Yards could be an inspiration in this regard.

The larger plot still is a difficult-to-access tent city with lots of drug paraphernalia. Haven't heard about any violent incidents though.

At 76 stories and 829 feet, it will be Chicago's 13th tallest building....

 

Crescent Heights’ South Loop development named ‘One Grant Park,’ set to be completed 2019

http://www.rejournals.com/2017/01/04/crescent-heights-south-loop-development-named-one-grant-park-set-to-be-completed-2019/

Mapping the 44 high-rises under construction in Chicago right now

BY JAY KOZIARZ AND AJ LATRACE  JAN 12, 2017, 12:18PM CST

 

Developers are keeping Chicago architects and construction crews busy in the new year as the Windy City's building boom keeps on rolling. Since August, nine new developments have been added to the list of active projects. Nine previously featured towers—Next, Moment, Exhibit on Superior, Vue53, 1001 S. State, River Point, 108 North Jefferson, MiCa, and the University of Chicago Campus North Residential Commons—have officially opened for business and were removed. The additions include: One Grant Park, Solstice on the Park, 1136 S. Wabash, 1101 S. Wabash, 1411 S. Michigan, 123 E. Cermak, Elevate Lincoln Park, 110 N. Carpenter, and Riverline’s Ancora tower.

 

It's worth noting is that the current level of construction in Chicago rivals the peak levels experienced in the early recession years. This list represents thousands of new apartments and hotel rooms, and even some new downtown office space. The condo market is still thawing out from the deep freeze of the Great Recession, but we are seeing a gradual increase in new condo construction—most notably the supertall Vista Tower underway in Lakeshore East.

 

Note: Map points are listed by building height from the tallest to shortest.

 

MORE:

http://chicago.curbed.com/maps/chicago-tower-highrise-construction-map

 

 

 

 

This looks like a knock-off of the new Hilton Convention Hotel in Cleveland!

Yesterday the Amazon Bookstore opened in Southport (a half mile west of the Cubs). It was glorious. Good hours, a coffee shop, a large electronics and also children's section, and scanners that will give you multiple prices for books for Prime members and non.

 

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20170321/lakeview/amazon-books-inside-open-independent-kindle

 

What's interesting is the outcry by other independent bookstore proprietors, and I disagree with their vilifying Amazon.  You should see a few of the bookstores that are utterly falling apart, smelly, damp, dangerously narrow and small, and with exceptionally rude owner-clerks working -  The Gallery Bookstore Ltd (in Boystown) and Bookman's Corner (in Lincoln Park) come to mind.

 

Quite a few bookstores in Chicago are amazing, and it would be horrible if they closed. But to blame Amazon or promote a boycott - to hell with that nonsense. The ones listed below are awesome places.

 

https://chireviewofbooks.com/2017/03/21/12-chicago-bookstores-to-visit-instead-of-amazon-today/

 

 

Yesterday the Amazon Bookstore opened in Southport (a half mile west of the Cubs). It was glorious. Good hours, a coffee shop, a large electronics and also children's section, and scanners that will give you multiple prices for books for Prime members and non.

 

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20170321/lakeview/amazon-books-inside-open-independent-kindle

 

What's interesting is the outcry by other independent bookstore proprietors, and I disagree with their vilifying Amazon.  You should see a few of the bookstores that are utterly falling apart, smelly, damp, dangerously narrow and small, and with exceptionally rude owner-clerks working -  The Gallery Bookstore Ltd (in Boystown) and Bookman's Corner (in Lincoln Park) come to mind.

 

Quite a few bookstores in Chicago are amazing, and it would be horrible if they closed. But to blame Amazon or promote a boycott - to hell with that nonsense. The ones listed below are awesome places.

 

https://chireviewofbooks.com/2017/03/21/12-chicago-bookstores-to-visit-instead-of-amazon-today/

 

 

 

Does the coffee shop at the amazon store keep good hours?  Or do they do Chicago hours and close at like 2pm, like 90% of all cafes do here.

Very good hours. Opens at 6:30am, closes at 9pm I believe (maybe not on Sundays).

 

And if you want to go to the coolest coffee shop in the city, which ironically has the worst hours, check out Kittibtznest on Webster/Clybourn. I've never seen a cafe quite like it.

 

Tourists should make it a point to go there; it's that damn good.

I'll have to check it out.  I prefer open later instead of earlier (I was spoiled by the Highland in Cincinnati).

 

My fave that has bad hours is Sip, its such a cozy spot (though its closed by like 6pm :/).

France has attempted to boot Amazon completely out of the country to avoid losing its independent book stores.  The problem in the United States is that so many were already put out of business by Borders and Barnes & Noble before Amazon appeared.  In fact, Amazon launched by piggy-backing on the handful of regional warehousing suppliers to those giant chains. 

World’s largest Starbucks to replace Crate & Barrel on Mag Mile

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/worlds-largest-starbucks-to-replace-crate-barrel-on-mag-mile/

 

^ woah, now that is an interesting reset for that well known site. i've heard about these starbucks reserve shops.

With the "retail apocalypse" that's going on right now, it would make sense to purpose retail spaces into places for people to hang out like this Starbucks. After all, shopping malls used to fill that void before they died.

How the Obama Presidential Center could reshape Jackson Park

 

https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/5/3/15532042/obama-presidential-center-chicago-jackson-park

 

 

Amtrak will use federal Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing (which Congress just expanded to include station-area real estate development) to increase its real estate revenues to support improvements to Chicago Union Station and reduce its operating subsidy....

 

 

5/26/2017

Amtrak designates master developer for Chicago Union Station project

 

Amtrak and Chicago city officials yesterday announced a team led by Riverside Investment & Development Co. will be the master developer for the $1 billion project to redevelop Union Station and the surrounding area.

 

The proposed commercial development will total 3.1 million square feet at full buildout and include new office towers, a hotel and office and residential space.

 

Riverside proposed the initial conceptual design in conjunction with co-developer and co-venture partner Convexity Properties — a DRW Co., according to an Amtrak press release.

 

MORE:

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/amtrak/news/Amtrak-designates-master-developer-for-Chicago-Union-Station-project--51715

Amtrak will use federal Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing (which Congress just expanded to include station-area real estate development) to increase its real estate revenues to support improvements to Chicago Union Station and reduce its operating subsidy....

 

 

5/26/2017

Amtrak designates master developer for Chicago Union Station project

 

Amtrak and Chicago city officials yesterday announced a team led by Riverside Investment & Development Co. will be the master developer for the $1 billion project to redevelop Union Station and the surrounding area.

 

The proposed commercial development will total 3.1 million square feet at full buildout and include new office towers, a hotel and office and residential space.

 

Riverside proposed the initial conceptual design in conjunction with co-developer and co-venture partner Convexity Properties — a DRW Co., according to an Amtrak press release.

 

MORE:

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/amtrak/news/Amtrak-designates-master-developer-for-Chicago-Union-Station-project--51715

 

Value Capture is such a great idea.  Hope to see more of this in the US

That plus the Post Office redo will certainly change Canal

This is pretty damn exciting; I believe it will fill the last two major lots (save for one empty corner). That wasteland along LSD is such an eyesore.

 

https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/6/26/15866032/chicago-development-news-magellan-future-phase-lake-shore-east

 

More than 2,000 residential units and nearly 900 hotel rooms planned for Lake Shore East.

 

F yeah! It'll be good to get some new neighbors here (I work in the area).

This one is a bit of a reach...

 

 

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20170801/bush/us-steel-finds-buyer-for-440-acre-south-works-site

 

20,000 Homes Planned For Huge Vacant U.S. Steel Site As New Buyer Emerges

 

Hopefully smarter people than I are aware of the area's limitations, potential, and have good reason to believe this project, even in piecemeal, can be viable. Frankly I don't see it.

Just a few interesting projects and commentary:

 

https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/6/16435710/old-post-office-development-landmark-tax-incentive

 

In a perfect world, this would be a massive indoor amusement park, water park, or casino. That said, it's going to be one hell of a success story after the renovation, with or without Amazon. The location is incredible (right by the Metra and Amtrack at Union station, the expressway, the blue line and the brown line), and it has a very visible, dominating prescense.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-michael-reese-redevelopment-met-0603-20170602-story.html

 

This project, again whether it's for another Amazon headquarters or not, can both redefine the neighborhood. Bronzeville has unbelievable potential and could effectively connect downtown/south loop to Kenwood/Hyde Park. A fifty+ block "safe" stretch of the Loop going south to the southern edge of Hyde Park would really do much for the Southside's reputation as a whole. This one project could be a significant piece in changing the narrative.

 

http://skyrisecities.com/forum/threads/chicago-wolf-point-290m-66s-magellan-development-pelli-clarke-pelli.22087/page-4

 

The second of three glass towers (the first was already built) downtown where the river begins going north-south. Once all three buildings are complete, this area will be absolutely beautiful and the skyline will alter.

 

https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/3/13/14907004/merchandise-mart-chicago-lighting-public-art

 

I don't know how realistic this is, but my god would it be fun. I'm surprised more buildings haven't had those kinds of projections; it would make for a really fun evening and a huge draw for locals and tourists. Additionally, it would rejuvenate the last block of the recently rebuilt Riverwalk where the city ran out of money, and it looks like shit as a result. People would clamor all over that section to watch projections across the river at Merchandise Mart.

 

And last but not least, https://www.timeout.com/chicago/blog/the-312-riverrun-project-will-install-elevated-paths-along-the-chicago-river-100517

 

Good lord... I can't wait to check this out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is currently going up in my neighborhood:

 

https://chicago.curbed.com/2016/7/13/12174440/river-west-development-news-gonnella-construction-permit

 

 

I think the buildings look better than the renderings - the bricks even change shade in the Sun.  Not sure about the grocery store (if they have something lined up) but it would be very much welcomed around here.

 

 

https://buildingupchicagodotcom.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/img_1490.jpg

 

 

A few more developments have been spawned from this one.  The TOD ordinance combined with Rahm increasing the skyscraper zone to include this neighborhood I think is to blame:

 

 

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20171013/CRED03/171019925/another-226-apartments-planned-for-river-west

 

 

 

 

Including this one with a badly managed construction site (that's been blocking sidewalks for months) and a really ugly design:

https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/1/26/14357566/river-west-milwaukee-avenue-apartments

 

 

(When is that trendy staggered windows thing going to die the death it deserves).

^ haha yeah re the staggered window apts!

https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/12/13/16772656/lake-shore-east-tower-development-blocked#comments

 

Ugg!!! How do these aldermen have so much power? Someone give Reilly his kickback and let's get started!

 

Chicago's population loss is all about uneven development. Even as the city and surrounding county are losing people, the city has almost 50 high rises under construction, mostly downtown. There's demand in some places, complete lack of a market elsewhere. https://t.co/H1QfLefcEI

Chicago's population loss is all about uneven development. Even as the city and surrounding county are losing people, the city has almost 50 high rises under construction, mostly downtown. There's demand in some places, complete lack of a market elsewhere. https://t.co/H1QfLefcEI

 

Sounds like what's happening in Cleveland but on a different scale.

yep...the big cleveland...sorta!

Boom towns! The more Cleveland infills and densifies (re-densifies) the more it will be like the Chicago (obviously without the older classic Chicago style stuff). They have slight architectural differences but have the same layout. Main drag commercial/residential streets with detached single family, multi family mixed-in side streets.

Chicago is famous for the brick bungalows. Cleveland is known for its duckbill doubles.

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/commercial-real-estate/what-happens-willis-towers-name-after-aon-deal

 

Chicago's tallest tower - the 110-story Willis Tower - will no longer go by that name after London-based insurance broker, Aon, closes a $30 billion deal to acquire Willis Towers Watson, slated for the first quarter of 2021.

 

So the former Sears Tower will no longer be called the Willis Tower.  Assuming anyone started calling it that in the first place(!)

 

On 7/16/2009 at 9:21 AM, Ronnie said:

The change of name from "Sears Tower" to "Willis Tower" is an insult to the building and it's history. It's almost as taboo as changing the name of the Chrysler Building or Empire State Building.  While the company, Willis Holdings, is a great move for Chicago, there is no reason for a name change.

 

Please visit the following link and sign the petition to keep it Sears Tower if you support keeping it.

 

http://www.itsthesearstower.com/

 

They should probably just rename it something generic like 233 South Wacker knowing that people are just going to continue to call it Sears Tower. It's probably not a good idea to officially rename it Sears Tower unless they want a lawsuit from "Transformco", the LLC that owns the Sears brand and other remaining Sears/Kmart assets.

^Indeed.

 

Thus, this is officially 875 North Michigan Avenue.

 

The 820-foot-tall Salesforce Tower will be the third and final tower to be built on the Wolf Point site near the Merchandise Mart on the north banks of the Chicago River.

 

Salesforce Tower lands $500 million-plus loan; construction of 60-story office building kicks off along Chicago River despite coronavirus slowdown

 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/ryan-ori/ct-biz-salesforce-tower-construction-loan-ryan-ori-20200413-75kh4lqizzcyhas5tjxivq6ivq-story.html

 

nice new vista!

 

 

 

This project has a host of challenges, with the design (in particular the last minute blowthrough floor that scars the building) and financing/prospective tenants.  

 

And that all pails to 1000 S. Michigan. Now THAT is a whole other banana.

Edited May 27, 20205 yr by TBideon

^ the good news of the hold on 1000 s mich is that it gave them a chance to remake a much, much better design, even if it lost height.

 

if and when it gets built that is.

I just liked the idea of it being all condos; we don't get many opportunities like that.

 

Plus I live across the street and was getting hyped.

 

I'm trying to figure out what is the tower that's under construction to the left of Willis Tower. It's not the BMO Tower since that's already topped out and is "only" 700 feet tall. This appears to be twice as tall. And it's not the 1,400-foot-tall Tribune Tower East which isn't due to start construction until next year. Anyone know what it is?