Hey Guys! I'm new to this forum, just registered today. I live in Chicago and love the buildings here. I was just wondering if anyone had any updates on the Elysian- like what the site looks like now, if it's approved, when construction will start, etc. Next time I go downtown I want to look at the site but I haven't seen it yet. Feel free to post pictures too. Thanks.

I know the building is approved but i don't know any other info. There is a rendering and maybe some info here:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=135402

I have a nice little update on The Elysian

-construction should hopefully begin sometime in mid-January

-out of the 93 hotel/condo suites, there are under 10 remaining

-out of about 50 regular condos, about half have been sold

I was able to capture some nice photos of the model. Now mind you this is the older version design, they are supposed to get an updated model. If and when they do so, I will try to get some photos of that one as well. The buildings height hasn't changed, it's still 60 stories and about 702'.

http://images.snapfish.com/342354%3A723232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E2323%3D774%3D%3C23%3D3232774%3B32%3A45nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/342354%3A723232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2323%3D774%3D%3C23%3D3232774%3B32%3A47nu0mrj

Close up of entrance
http://images.snapfish.com/342354%3A723232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2329%3D959%3D583%3DXROQDF%3E2323683%3C6%3B%3A8%3Aot1lsi

http://images.snapfish.com/342354%3A723232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2323%3D774%3D%3C23%3D3232774%3B32%3A49nu0mrj

Looking up at the main facade.
http://images.snapfish.com/342354%3A723232%7Ffp58%3Dot%3E2323%3D774%3D%3C23%3D3232774%3B32%3A4%3Bnu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/342354%3A723232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2323%3D774%3D%3C23%3D3232774%3B32%3A53nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/342354%3A723232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E2323%3D774%3D%3C23%3D3232774%3B32%3A55nu0mrj

Looking down at the rear facade
http://images.snapfish.com/342354%3A723232%7Ffp58%3Dot%3E2323%3D774%3D%3C23%3D3232774%3B32%3A59nu0mrj

ENJOY!!!!!

wonderful pictures. thanks.

an observation: i have no problem with using older, more traditonal forms of architecture on today's structure. but if you borrow from the past, make an effort to include the craftsmenship/details of an earlier time.

my impression: this building successfully does just that, in contrast to Park Tower or 900 N. Michigan which, I believe, considerably watered down the process.

any idea why the townhouses and courtyard were cut out of the model? It seems to me that they were an awfully impressive part of the entire project, creating a dramatic entry.

Great pictures. I live a few blocks away from the construction site, and I think this new building will fit in quite well with the other buildings nearby. From an architecture perspective, this reminds me a lot of The Fordham and the Chicagoan and some of the other newer high rises in and around East Superior, Chicago, and Huron. The great thing about this area is that it is already a high-density area, yet has room to continue growing with several new developments on the way. If you walk down State or Rush streets between Division and Chicago, you will see several sites where smaller condo buildings (in the 15-25 story range) are going up (Maple Tower to name one). Things are going quite well.

Great pictures. I live a few blocks away from the construction site, and I think this new building will fit in quite well with the other buildings nearby. From an architecture perspective, this reminds me a lot of The Fordham and the Chicagoan and some of the other newer high rises in and around East Superior, Chicago, and Huron. The great thing about this area is that it is already a high-density area, yet has room to continue growing with several new developments on the way. If you walk down State or Rush streets between Division and Chicago, you will see several sites where smaller condo buildings (in the 15-25 story range) are going up (Maple Tower to name one). Things are going quite well.

an observation here, JB; and I'm wondering if you agree or not:

when it comes to developments west of the Mag Mile, the ones north of Chicago Ave tend to be a lot better than those south. There is a stretch of Wabash south of Chgo that can look awfully brutal.

No question about it. I totally agree. My sister lives in 345 N. La Salle, and that is a nice building, as well as a couple others like 401 N. Wabash, etc, but when you get to the area bounded by La Salle and Michigan and Chicago and say Division or Goethe, the developments seem to be far better.

I don't have the slightest clue why that is, but I agree completely.

One other thing, edsg:

I feel like I like the area of River North / Gold Coast a little better north of Chicago because it is away from the touristy albatross that sits on Ohio and Ontario. I'm not ripping that area because it is a great area of our city that attracts tourism and that is important. But for people who live downtown, sometimes it gives you a body shiver when you walk by that area near Rainforest Cafe or Maggiano's and traffic is slowed down because a family of 6 in a mini-van with Iowa plates can't figure out how to use the valet parking and there are little rug rats running around and screaming (this is a reason I hate going to Navy Pier, because it is basically taking a slice of Woodfield and putting it on the lake).

This may or may not have any influence on the developments north of Chicago vs. those south of Chicago, but you never know...

I'm not familiar with 401 N. Wabash? Do you mean 405? If so...that is a pretty mediocre building. It's nothing that makes me want to vomit (although the cul-de-sac entrance is horrid) but, it's hardly architecture.

^ Right you are. My mistake. I guess I've been seeing so much in the news about Trump Tower/Sun-Times building that I just tossed out 401 N. Wabash.

At any rate, yes, I was talking about 405 N. Wabash, which is River Plaza. It is a decent looking building considering the time it was built (late 70s).

Whatever the case may be, I was just trying to toss out another example of a decent building in that area because I didn't want to trash the area my sister lives in.

I'll go ahead and stick up for her right now and say that I think The Sterling is a very nice looking building, and from her 46th floor condo, she has a remarkable view of the city. :)

No question about it. I totally agree. My sister lives in 345 N. La Salle, and that is a nice building, as well as a couple others like 401 N. Wabash, etc, but when you get to the area bounded by La Salle and Michigan and Chicago and say Division or Goethe, the developments seem to be far better.

I don't have the slightest clue why that is, but I agree completely.

Possible answer (subject to debate):

areas north of Chicago Avenue were traditionally nicer and were not in need of gentrification. another reason: when michigan avenue really took off in the 70's (I'll go with the construction of WTP that really started the change in the street, surprisingly more so than JHC), the Mag Mile was less of a mile and the really great parts were north of Chicago Avenue. The area thus developed with more slowly than south of Chgo Ave and with, perhaps, more quality.

if i had to pick the one event that pulled the mag mile down to its official wrigley/tribune gateway, i'd say it was northbridge. northbridge and nordstrom really made the mile a mile. with the development of the mall and adjacent property, the area acquired an unbeatable location with less of note on the ground than the Rush St/Gold Coast areas. The quality of construction may have suffered, as a result.

Probably this is far less true today. You won't see anything but quality design here anymore. Trump saw to that. Also, the area is in the process of finally filling its anticipated role: the missing link between the Mag Mile shopping strip north of the river and the State St one to the south.

any idea why the townhouses and courtyard were cut out of the model? It seems to me that they were an awfully impressive part of the entire project, creating a dramatic entry.

This is an older model. This was before the townhomes were introduced into the project. They are supposed to get an updated model, and when they do, I will try to supply those updated photos.

BVictor, will Elysian have retail on the ground floor? Okay, it's my favorite question, but I'm just as interested in what new buildings offer to pedestrian/public life as what they offer to the skyline

Correct me if I'm wrong... but, under the new zoning laws... wouldn't it have to?

BVictor, will Elysian have retail on the ground floor? Okay, it's my favorite question, but I'm just as interested in what new buildings offer to pedestrian/public life as what they offer to the skyline

Correct me if I'm wrong... but, under the new zoning laws... wouldn't it have to?

I just called the sales center, and they informed me that there will be ground floor retail. At this time none of the space has been leased, they said that they will deal with that once construction starts, so I have no idea what type of retail space it will be.

I don't think that the new zoning laws would have any effect on this building. Remember that it has been approved for over a year now. They aren't going to modify all of these approved towers because of the newly enacted zoning laws.

Here are a couple of renderings of the Elysian that I scanned from their sales packet.

http://images.snapfish.com/3423766723232%7Ffp64%3Dot%3E2329%3D959%3D583%3DXROQDF%3E232359454%3A552ot1lsi

http://images.snapfish.com/3423766723232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2323%3D685%3D58%3C%3D323268549%3B397nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/3423766723232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2329%3D959%3D583%3DXROQDF%3E2323594549738ot1lsi

^can't see the renderings



...edit...nevermind

Good point bvic.

I agree with the point made by edsg25, about sticking to the detail of a period if u are going to replicate it, this building in my opinion is the most exciting in Chicago for some time. adding the townhouses was a good idea as well. Lets hope the architects are kept busy in the future designing similar buildings, because lets face it, if u are going to live in a high-rise u want it to look as classy as u can.