From Crain's:

City bites off new river dining plans
Absent more funding, a vibrant promenade will take time to develop

June 20, 2005
By Shruti Daté Singh

Chef Didier Durand is interested in reopening a restaurant along the Chicago River. Photo: John R. Boehm

The city's far-reaching plan to develop a promenade of restaurants and shops along the Chicago River may turn into a piecemeal approach.

The city has struggled to secure federal funding, as well as private developers, to create a vibrant riverwalk along Lower Wacker Drive between Lake Street and Michigan Avenue.

Now the city is looking at other options to bring restaurants to the waterfront before the full project comes to fruition, says a spokesman for the Chicago Department of Transportation, which is overseeing the riverwalk project.



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The department expects to release a request for proposals in the next two months to attract a single restaurant to the Wabash Plaza Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Lower Wacker. However, it wants a temporary eatery, which could open by early 2006, in the spot between Wabash Avenue and State Street because it's not sure how the other parts of the riverwalk will take shape.

The $4.3-million Wabash Plaza site was financed through a mix of federal, state and local money.

A handful of seasonal cafes had successfully operated along the riverside until Wacker Drive reconstruction began in 2002, and the city wants to bring back that vibrancy, says the Transportation Department spokesman.

"Our goal is to secure the funding within the next few years (and) begin construction this decade. It could be done in pieces," the spokesman adds. "We are trying to get back restaurants even before the entire riverwalk is completed."

"I would love to be included," says chef Didier Durand, owner of Cyrano's Bistrot. He first opened up Cyrano's Café & Wine Bar on Lower Wacker between State and Dearborn Street in 2000. During the construction, he moved the seasonal cafe down the street between Michigan and Columbus Drive; he closed it in September 2003.

"I am waiting for them to approach me to do business," Mr. Durand says. "There is a demand. People want to eat outside."

Lalo's Riverwalk Café, which served margaritas and Mexican entrees on the river between 2000 and 2002, covered its costs within an hour or two each day, says Daniel Castaneda, vice-president of operations for North Riverside-based Lalo's Hospitality Group.

"(Riverside dining) is an option that a lot of people might be craving," Mr. Castaneda says. "If it's ever reintroduced, it will be an instant hit."

Of course, the riverbanks already boast some popular dining spots, such as Japonais and Smith & Wollensky, but these restaurants say they want more neighbors.

"There's more of a demand than a supply. I think that's one of the reasons for the popularity of our lounge," says Sandy Park, director of operations for Japonais, along the North Branch of the Chicago River at 600 W. Chicago Ave.

"The best thing that could happen to us is to have a really good restaurant open next to us," says Patrick Norton, general manager of Smith & Wollensky, along the north riverbank near State Street. "The area becomes a place to go. Look at what happened to River North."

Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, a Chicago-based tax policy group, says that compared with other cities, Chicago's downtown river doesn't seem to get as much as attention.

"The hope is they will return the cafes and other temporary dining opportunities that we enjoyed a few years ago," he says. Mr. Msall says the river has been overshadowed by development along the lakefront.

Dennis Lombardi, executive vice-president of food-service strategies for Columbus, Ohio-based restaurant design and development firm WD Partners, says the river certainly is an underused amenity, but he says infrastructure and accessibility issues have been challenges in the past.

The city says that as part of the Wacker Drive reconstruction, the city built in the infrastructure to open restaurants and shops by the riverside.

"It's a multiyear endeavor," the Transportation Department spokesman says of the riverwalk development. "It is moving as quickly as these types of projects can move."

You guys suck....

I'm taking this article over to SSP

You guys suck....


Yeah!! :gunz:

accualy what sucks is that a development like this is going to take way to long for it to come into fruition! i want my river walk now!!

plus once it realy starts becomming a cool place to walk , i want to start a gondola service whith the dude dressed up with the black and white striped shirt and the whole gettup , also with the music.basicly who whole package.i think i can make a fortune on that .

Until the gondola gets run over by the 10513241 tour boats on the river :)

link to wabash plaza info with a rendering. i wish there could be more nightlife involved with the riverwalk though.
http://www.nvvam.org/events/vote.htm

^OK they seem to be working with a rather limited palette there...

The rendering of Vietnam Veterans' memorials is.............bland.......... It kinda looks like the end of back alley.

Chicago should hire Mai Ling to do correction. That would be a great addition to our legacy of starchitects.

Whew! We Korean War vets just dodged another bullet.

Last night, James Ward, Ch 7's restaurant critic, reviewed Sorrioso's as the best place in the city for outdoor dining. Sorrios's is on the north banks of the main branch, I believe at Clark. I was there a couple of years ago and the food was mediocre although Ward said it was much better now, under new management.

My post is not about the quality of the food. It's about the views. A river deck with dazzling views day and night. The riverfront is an unbelievable asset for Chicago, an unmatched river anywhere in the world that flows throuh a man made canyon, a human version of what the Colorado is for nature through the GC.

Can you imagine when the amenity that is will be the River Walk is developed....and you can walk, uninterupted by streets to the core of the city with eye-popping up close skyline views you'd never get from Lake Michigan. We'll reach a point where the two best waterfronts in the nation....Lake Michigan and the Chicago River....will both be in Chicago.

Wouldn't you love to see an event like the Gold Coast Art Fair moved to the Riverwalk when it is completed?

Last night, James Ward, Ch 7's restaurant critic, reviewed Sorrioso's as the best place in the city for outdoor dining. Sorrios's is on the north banks of the main branch, I believe at Clark. I was there a couple of years ago and the food was mediocre although Ward said it was much better now, under new management.

My post is not about the quality of the food. It's about the views. A river deck with dazzling views day and night. The riverfront is an unbelievable asset for Chicago, an unmatched river anywhere in the world that flows throuh a man made canyon, a human version of what the Colorado is for nature through the GC.

Can you imagine when the amenity that is will be the River Walk is developed....and you can walk, uninterupted by streets to the core of the city with eye-popping up close skyline views you'd never get from Lake Michigan. We'll reach a point where the two best waterfronts in the nation....Lake Michigan and the Chicago River....will both be in Chicago.

Wouldn't you love to see an event like the Gold Coast Art Fair moved to the Riverwalk when it is completed?


^Good point, Edsg. The building of the Trump and Waterview Towers should help frame the Riverwalk better. Perhaps a bit more development along Wolf Point will help. Lets also not forget the framing of Wacker Drive along LakewhoreEast (I spelled it that way on purpose :) ). My guess is the grand Riverwalk we all drool about won't exist in its entirety for another 15 years. But I agree--it would be an amazing place to hold art fairs.

Just a throwaway comment -- I would rather wait 20 years to see Wolf Point get developed with a masterpiece than five years for a decent, but not spectacular building there. That site is too valuable to throw away on anything less than perfection.

i thought that it has already started? i could have sworn that i saw a sign for it on wacker when i took the bus yesterday

you thought what had already started? The riverwalk? If so, yes, it's been under construction (on and off) for a couple of years.

Mayor Daley Releases Chicago River Agenda
Mayor Richard M. Daley today released the Chicago River Agenda, which charts a course for continued efforts to improve what is becoming known as Chicago’s Second Shoreline.


The document reviews the City’s successes in recent years in cleaning the river and making it more accessible to the public, and it lays out specific steps to continue the improvements well into the future.


“We have rescued the Chicago River from decades of neglect and are well on the way toward turning it into Chicago’s Second Shoreline – where it’s contributing to our ever-improving quality of life,” Daley told an audience at Ping Tom Park, 300 W. 19th St., one of several new riverfront parks that have been created in recent years.


He added: “I want Chicago to be the most environmentally friendly city in America, and the Chicago River Agenda is an important part of that goal. A cleaner, greener, and more accessible Chicago River will help make Chicago an even better place to live, work and raise a family.”


The River Agenda calls for:


• Developing 46 more acres of river-edge parkland by 2010.


• Restoring three more miles of public riverbank by 2010.


• Continuing work toward completion of a multi-use trail along the entire 28-mile river system.


• Developing the Main Branch (downtown) Riverwalk as a unique urban destination with year-round concessions and amenities that highlight the river as an important natural and cultural resource.


• Eliminating three sewer outlets into the river by 2007 and six more by 2010.



• Implementing a screening program for sewer outlets and increasing the use of boats to remove debris from the river.


• Working with the federal government to fund the Deep Tunnel project to completion.


• Requiring developments near the river to separate their storm and sanitary sewers and filter their stormwater.


• Encouraging the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to come up with cost-effective techniques to disinfect water entering the river.


• Finding new ways to decontaminate river sediment.


• Starting at least two in-stream wetland projects to improve river habitat by 2010.


• Investigating ways of modifying the North Branch Dam so fish can pass through.


• Stepping up efforts to keep invasive species out of the river.


• Encouraging community stewardship efforts on the river.


• Creating a management entity for the riverfront trail and an improvement fund for drain maintenance and capital projects.


• Starting an education campaign on boating safety.


• Launching a public planning process for revitalization efforts along Bubbly Creek, the south fork of the river on the western edge of the Bridgeport community.


• Developing a dock policy and establishing zones to improve river traffic management.


• Promoting a strong, diversified industrial base in the industrial corridor of the river.


Among the accomplishments mentioned in the report:


• The City and Chicago Park District have added over 34 acres of new riverfront parkland and over 12 miles of public riverfront trail in the last decade, while improving the ecology of the river and its banks.


• The City has adopted a plan calling for a continuous trail system along at least one side of the entire river.


• City ordinances promote public access to the river and require at least 30 feet of open space between any new development and the riverbank.


• In the last 30 years, the number of species of fish in the river has increased from 10 to 68.


• The City and Chicago Park District have restored riverbanks in several riverfront parks and at City-owned facilities along the river.


• The first phase of the riverwalk along the Main Branch of the river, which includes a memorial plaza for Vietnam veterans, will be completed this November. The City is completing engineering work for the remainder of the project, which received $480,000 of funding from the transportation bill that is being approved by Congress this weekend.


Daley also announced a series of events designed to attract more people to the river.


• This Monday through Thursday, Loop workers can spend their lunch hour at the Chicago River Fishing Derby.


• On Friday, Olympic gold medalists will race through downtown in a rowing regatta.


• Next Sunday, August 7, the public is invited to enter the Flatwater Classic canoe and kayak race, which ends in Ping Tom Park.


The Mayor urged Chicagoans to do their part to improve the river, by working with groups like Friends of the Chicago River, and by disconnecting downspouts and using rain barrels to keep storm water out of the sewer system.

Wish I had brought out my new cellphone today, because I walked along Wacker Drive on the way to school and went past the corner of Wabash and Wacker. The Vietnam War Memorial construction is in full bloom, as the many forumers who frequent the Trump digsite can attest. Althouch completely overshadowed by its nearby collosus, this is a great first step towards the development of a full fledged Riverwalk, it fits well in the location, and its a vast improvement over the vacant lot that was there since the reopening of Wacker Drive.

Frankly, there's some HOT construction going on in that little triangle. Trump Tower to the Northeast, Museum of BroadCast Communications to the Northwest, and the Vietnam War Memorial to the South. All within three blocks of each other, none of which come at the expense of any existing pieces of (worthwhile) construction.

Of course, if Waterview and Kirkland's new palace get built, along with MoMo and Block 37, you'd be talking about a building boom unrivaled in the post WW-II era.

And here I thought the recent additions to Wacker Drive were impressive.

Just a throwaway comment -- I would rather wait 20 years to see Wolf Point get developed with a masterpiece than five years for a decent, but not spectacular building there. That site is too valuable to throw away on anything less than perfection.

I think a lot of people would agree with you about the quality of the site. I'm not sure I'm one.

Let me explain. The placement of the S-T/Appareal Mart bldg. is about right. The area to the south of it should be kept open. No structure (even a parking deck) belogns there. This should be open land to enjoy the views of the three branches of the river coming together. A building at this site cuts into the corridor view alignment of the main branch. In that sense, the Wolf Point location currently occuplied by the building is not that key.

To me, the far more dramatic location is where Riverbend is...as well as what will be built due south of it. What I would have loved to have seen would have been a building of the quality of the Board of Trade at the west end of the corridor created by the main branch of the river, the river serving the same role that LaSalle St does to the CBOT.

^ Hmmm... its hard for me to evaluate it as only my heart is in Chicago, as I am physically in central PA. I know you know Chicago a lot better than I do. Part of my concern relates to the Apparel Center. I don't know of an uglier building in Chicago. Its ugliness is pronounced in large part due to its prominent location on the river, next to one of the most magnificent buildings in the world, the Mart. I am dying to see something cover that up.

What about a low-rise structure that would not completely obscure the buildings across the river when looking west from down the main branch? I've had dreams about a startlingly scuptural building at that site that could house a jazz museum or an architecture museum.

I agree that the site of Riverbend is more dramatic in that it forms the end of the vista right now. I was surprised that Lynn Becker praised the design of that building. I think its a decent design, but I would agree that that location demands more.

Oh, it's ugly all right, but my point was it is far less promient than given credit.

The most important part of the Wolf Point setting is the section that juts southward, and I would love to see it as parkland.

Just a couple of thoughts:

I love RiverBend. I think it's an absolutely perfect shape and finish for the site, although I wouldn't have minded a bit more height.

As far as development on Wolf Point goes... I'm all for it. Something could be erected there in the manner that the Legacy at Millennium Park is being considered: tall and VERY thin from north to south. Basically, the building ends up being almost non-existent when being viewed from the east or west, yet, could do a magnificent job of hiding the atrocity that is the Apparel Center when being viewed from the south.

Wacker Part II in works
Package includes riverwalk money

Jon Hilkevitch
Tribune staff reporter
Published September 19, 2005

The next phase of rebuilding Wacker Drive is only a few years away, and tagging along with it is a walk on the riverside.

Federal funding is falling into place to reconstruct the north-south section of Upper and Lower Wacker, from Randolph Street to Congress Parkway, probably in 2007 or 2008, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation. Washington is providing the first $25 million for the $280 million project. Increasing funding levels, still undetermined, are expected in subsequent years.

The new federal transportation bill Congress passed this summer also includes about a half-million dollars for the city to complete the design of a Chicago River walkway on the newly rebuilt east-west Wacker from Michigan Avenue to Lake Street.

The goal is drawing visitors to restaurants, shops and plazas on the water's edge. Floating parties made up of river barges featuring live music and other entertainment would pull up to dock walls under Mayor Richard M. Daley's plan to showcase the river as one of Chicago's greatest assets.

"We want to make the riverfront a destination," said Brian Steele, city transportation spokesman.

If funding is secured in the next year or two, construction of the riverwalk could start in 2008 or 2009, he said. The riverwalk is estimated to cost $40 million to $50 million.

City officials have visited several cities, including Pittsburgh, San Antonio and San Diego, to study how they developed their riverfronts, Steele said.

Although much work remains, the first section of what eventually will become Chicago's riverwalk will be ready by Veterans Day, officials said. Wabash Plaza, the river-level venue being completed between Wabash and State Streets, will be home to a new Vietnam veterans memorial. A "water wall" honoring the approximately 2,900 Chicago soldiers killed in action during the Vietnam War will be the memorial's centerpiece.

"The plaza will provide a good preview of what the rest of the riverwalk might look like," Steele said.

City procurement officials are set to issue a request for proposals this year from concessionaires interested in bidding to operate restaurants and retail stores on the riverwalk, Steele said. Officials haven't decided whether to go with a master concessionaire who would manage everything, or split the venture among several vendors.

The city previously had sought bidders for the riverwalk businesses in 2004. But only one company, Los Angeles-based Wilton Partners, responded. Wilton Partners, a developer with large donations to Gov. Rod Blagojevich's campaign fund, and Exxon Mobil are overhauling tollway oases for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

Wilton's proposal for the riverwalk "didn't meet the vision of what we wanted," Steele said.

Meanwhile, some commuters who walk the north sidewalk on upper Wacker between Franklin and Lake streets are wondering why the city put up bulky concrete barriers there that reduce pedestrian space on the sidewalk.

"This barrier wall is both significantly wider than the fancier ones east of Franklin and it rests farther onto the sidewalk," complained Mike Scilingo, who navigates the high-traffic area on his way from his Metra station to his office on Wells Street.

City officials responded that the wall is temporary, although it will remain in place until the riverwalk is developed. Ultimately, the area will tie into the riverwalk via staircases and elevators.

Here's the nice image that went along with it:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2005-09/19547847.jpg

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-river18.html

First step for city riverwalk
May 18, 2006
BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter

A five-block stretch of a Wacker Drive riverwalk that Mayor Daley hopes will someday rival San Antonio's will be open to the public next month, thanks to $800,000 worth of basic amenities now being installed.

"This stretch between State and Franklin -- there's no other space like it downtown. We really want to maximize public use of it," said Transportation Department spokesman Brian Steele.

With paving, fencing, railing, benches, and garbage and recycling bins going in along the stretch, Chicagoans will be able to enjoy the first major chunk of a riverwalk closed to the public since the $200 million reconstruction of Wacker Drive.

The work, expected to be completed in mid-June, is being done by F.H. Paschen, a construction giant the Daley administration once accused of minority contracting fraud and threatened to prohibit from doing business with the city.

The February 2005 "debarment" proposed by Interim Chief Procurement Officer Mary Dempsey was subsequently rescinded after investigators concluded that a Paschen employee who forged a signature did so to "expedite" paperwork -- not to mislead the city or inflate an invoice. The employee was fired. The proper signature was obtained.

Later this summer, City Hall also hopes to open a temporary urban market in an enclosed and finished, 10,000-square-foot space at Wacker and Wabash on the lower level of Chicago's new Vietnam War memorial.

The interim market is expected to open long before August, when boats participating in the Tall Ships Festival are displayed along the Chicago River's main branch. Last year the Tall Ships were at Navy Pier.

"It could be fruit or produce. It could be crafts or wares -- similar to some of the markets held on Daley Plaza. We just have to make sure it'll be of interest to the public and something we'll be able to manage throughout the summer," Steele said.

Daley's original plan for a riverwalk he calls Chicago's "second lakefront" called for the city to spend $40 million to $50 million in yet-to-be-secured federal transportation funds to build a river-level boardwalk from Michigan to Lake that would include 35,500 square feet of retail and restaurant space along with docks for tour boats and water taxis.

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/7269/river0518062851fc.gif

sweet, i hope this river walk consept realy comes out well, iv been looking forward to it

I was looking at the Cordogan, Clark and Assoc. web site and found these images of the Chi Riverwalk on there. I don't remember having seen these before has anyone else?

http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/municipal/chicago_riverfront/page.html

http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/municipal/chicago_riverfront/1.jpg
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/municipal/chicago_riverfront/2.jpg
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/municipal/chicago_riverfront/3.jpg
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/municipal/chicago_riverfront/4.jpg
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/municipal/chicago_riverfront/5.jpg

Nice:


http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/municipal/chicago_riverfront/3.jpg

^^ If you think the Cordogan, Clark and Assoc. concept for the riverfront is something, scroll down to Masterplanning and click on Chicago Development to view a Franklin Point concept of six towers. Granted, a little goes a long way and this kind of looks like a 21st century version of Carl Sandburg Village. But what a concept for outlining the east bank of the south branch of the Chicago River! I remember back in the 70's when there was talk of constucting 3 60-story towers there that looked an awful lot like Marina City, but they were all connected at higher floors. I think it might have been Harry Weese who designed that concept.

^^ If you think the Cordogan, Clark and Assoc. concept for the riverfront is something, scroll down to Masterplanning and click on Chicago Development to view a Franklin Point concept of six towers. Granted, a little goes a long way and this kind of looks like a 21st century version of Carl Sandburg Village. But what a concept for outlining the east bank of the south branch of the Chicago River! I remember back in the 70's when there was talk of constucting 3 60-story towers there that looked an awful lot like Marina City, but they were all connected at higher floors. I think it might have been Harry Weese who designed that concept.

Yea, I saw those as well, pretty amazing stuff. Though cool I am weary of such redundant mega-projects even as cool looking as those. I am guessing these renders/ideas are pretty old and am not sure how likely we are to see either the riverwalk/Franklin Point to come to fruition but they are intreasting indeed. Now that I think about it I do want to see I have seen these all before someplace else around here but its always intreasting to take another look...

Here are the Franklin Point renders......
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/page.html
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/1.jpg
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/2.jpg
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/3.jpg
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/4.jpg
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/5.jpg

Yea, I saw those as well, pretty amazing stuff. Though cool I am weary of such redundant mega-projects even as cool looking as those. I am guessing these renders/ideas are pretty old and am not sure how likely we are to see either the riverwalk/Franklin Point to come to fruition but they are intreasting indeed. Now that I think about it I do want to see I have seen these all before someplace else around here but its always intreasting to take another look...

Here are the Franklin Point renders......
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/page.html
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/1.jpg
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/2.jpg
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/3.jpg
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/4.jpg
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/5.jpg

Wow, Franklin Point looks amazing. I agree in that it may not be overly likely that this project comes to fruition...but I really hope that whatever does eventually get developed on this site is something special. It's too big a parcel of a land in a downtown location right on the river to be just an ordinary condo development.

OMG!!!!!

BUILD IT NOW!

:cheers:

Not the best design, especially the huge parking podiums, but certainly interesting to think about.

^^ I don't see any 'riverwalk'. and there looks to be very limited public access to the water. Best that this one got put on the back burner and reworked.

^^ I don't see any 'riverwalk'. and there looks to be very limited public access to the water. Best that this one got put on the back burner and reworked.

Did you look at the pictures????

Did you look at the pictures????

I did, and he looks to be right, the townhomes come right down to the rivers edge. There appears to be some public access, but no walk to speak of...

http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/5.jpg

I did, and he looks to be right, the townhomes come right down to the rivers edge. There appears to be some public access, but no walk to speak of...

http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/5.jpg

I think you two are mistaking the Riverwalk renderings with the Franklin Point renderings. The Riverwalk renderings are on post #25. Franklin Point is totally different - it's the large, undeveloped area on the Southwest corner of Wells and Harrison....directly north of River City. The Riverwalk would be further north - on the stretch of the river that goes East/West, between State and Franklin.

I think you two are mistaking the Riverwalk renderings with the Franklin Point renderings. The Riverwalk renderings are on post #25. Franklin Point is totally different - it's the large, undeveloped area on the Southwest corner of Wells and Harrison....directly north of River City. The Riverwalk would be further north - on the stretch of the river that goes East/West, between State and Franklin.

Actually the plan for the riverwalk does extend that far South.....

SSDD

I thought in the infamous Central Area Plan, the riverwalk was to extend all the way to Chinatown? Are they not going to retrofit this stretch of the river with a pedestrian riverwalk?

I thought in the infamous Central Area Plan, the riverwalk was to extend all the way to Chinatown? Are they not going to retrofit this stretch of the river with a pedestrian riverwalk?

According the the lecture on Thursday, it's still in the plans. In fact, I highly doubt those town homes would get approved as is. I believe DPD has a rule saying that any new development has to be set back 30' from the river.

SSDD

Fine - treat the tower bases differently (keep the massing, ditch the facade), and remove the townhouse component.

THEN BUILD IT NOW! :lol:

To be honest, I wouldn't mind these townhouses. The riverwalk would continue behind them as a pedestrian street. The stairs leading down to the water allow public access and views and things like canoe/kayak rentals, paddle boats, etc.

The Hyatt Regency renovation by Gensler (shown at Massive Change)

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/2062/hyatt1uc4.jpg
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7247/hyatt3mr8.jpg
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/4346/hyatt2yx5.jpg
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/8980/hyatt4bc4.jpg

I'll admit, I love the inovation of the design. But isn't there supposed to be a cohesive riverwalk plan with similar lighting and planters? I don't think it fits in well.

At first I thought to myself, "wow, how'd I miss incredible thread before?"
Now, I'm not really sure what I think of these plans.

Seems like everywhere you go in Chicago, you can look under a overlooked rock and discover a mine of glittering diamonds.

These two locations have a unique opportunity to make the riverwalk experience truly awe-inspiring. We can't get ahead of ourselves and build something just for the sake of building it. Whatever goes up in these locations, it's gotta be a home run/grand slam/Perfect 10. Not too flashy, keep it classy. I don't care if it doesn't get developed for another 10 years (so long as it's done right), because this could really be a defining development for the future of Chicago and it's gotta deliver the goods in a "Fordham inSpiring" kind of way.

Don't get too excited about this proposal. The last time I was at Gensler, I was told this one was on hold because of a pending ownership change in the Hyatt Regency. They weren't sure what was going to become of this project.

Don't get too excited about this proposal. The last time I was at Gensler, I was told this one was on hold because of a pending ownership change in the Hyatt Regency. They weren't sure what was going to become of this project.

Really? I can't imagine Hyatt Corp.(Chicago-based) giving up ownership of the Hyatt Regency? It's also the biggest hotel in the chain.

Isn't it a franchise already?

I know no details - only what I stated above. If that particular hotel was already a franchise though, that woudl begin to make it even more feasible that the franchisee is looking to sell (for whatever reason) to another party.

Some Hyatt hotels are owned by Hyatt and some are owned by other people but are managed under the Hyatt name. The Hyatt Regency Chicago is owned by Hyatt Corp.

So much for that theory then :)

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/295780,CST-NWS-river14.article

Plan looks to showcase river
Park board likely to allow cafes, galleries, etc.

March 14, 2007
BY ANDREW HERRMANN Staff Reporter

Chicago is aiming to redevelop its "second lakefront" by returning waterside restaurants and other tourist-friendly features to the downtown banks of the Chicago River.

Under the plan likely to be passed today by the Chicago Park District board, the south side of the river between Lake Street and Lake Shore Drive would be open to concessions that could include cafes, bicycle rental shops, museum space and galleries.

"The riverwalk is a unique and attractive public space, and we're seeking uses that would appeal to Chicago residents and visitors," said parks Supt. Timothy Mitchell.

The stretch, which Mayor Daley has called Chicago's "second lakefront," once offered some of those options. In 1998, four restaurants provided outdoor service between May 15 and Oct. 15, but none reached the benchmark $300,000 in sales required to trigger payments to Chicago taxpayers. Four more restaurants opened the next year.

Those options along the riverwalk all but disappeared after a Wacker Drive reconstruction project that began in 2001. Daley has envisioned a riverfront development similar to San Antonio's entertainment zone.

Under the current plan, the Chicago Park District would oversee the concessions, which would be awarded to contractors by bid.


Lining up concessionaires
Parks officials Tuesday were unable to provide revenue projections for the new effort. The aim is to open shops by this summer, a parks spokeswoman said.

Under the joint agreement with City Hall, maintenance, security and site preparation would be covered by the city, according to the plan.

Meanwhile, the city plans to open an emergency-only helicopter landing site on the northeast corner of DuSable Harbor where the river meets the lake. Neighbors had blocked city efforts to build a full-time helipad.
Contributing: Fran Spielman

The key in the river development is to complete the links under and around the bridges to create a complete walkable riverfront. Otherwise the riverwalk will be too segmented.

Riverfront to be redeveloped

Floating markets and restaurants, riverside museums, galleries, bike rental shops and concessionaires may all be coming soon to the south side of the Chicago Riverfront. The Park District Board has approved a plan and will go out for bids from companies that might make such businesses a possibility.

“We’re pretty open to ideas,” says Park District Spokeswoman Jessica Maxey-Falkner. “Restaurants, flower carts, bike shops, kayak rentals, or whatever else might come along. We’re interested in seeing what kinds of bids we get.”

The Park District is partnering with the city’s planning and development department to redevelop the newly renovated lower portion of Wacker Drive along the riverfront between Lake Street and Lake Shore Drive. The planning and development department discussed a number of ideas last spring, dividing the area into four sections to be developed in different ways.

“We’re really looking at ways to reactivate the riverfront, to bring people back down to the river,” says Michael Berkshire the green projects administrator in the city’s planning and development department. “We’re considering all kinds of ideas for unique and interesting public spaces.”

One of the original ideas discussed was a permanent public market along the river.

In a brain-storming session last spring, the planning and development department, along with VOA architects, decided that the best place for such a market would be between Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive, but they also considered having a floating market that would dock in a different location each day of the week.

The area between State Street and Michigan Avenue was designated as a civic and cultural area with space for monuments and art, the area between State and Franklin, which is the narrowest part of the river walk, would be the arcade district, and the area from Franklin to Lake would be the turning basin district.

The Park District will review the bids for vendors and decide what will fit best in each area.

“We’re looking to put in some short term stuff and hopefully it will turn into long term,” Berkshire says. “The Park District already has contracts with a lot of concessionaires, so they made a very good partnership.”

Berkshire says there should be some vendors in place by this summer. Some may even be businesses in two story boats in the Arcade District, where space is limited and some areas of lower Wacker are not completely accessible by existing bridges, he says.

“We’d like to see people actually using the river again,” Berkshire says. “I’m excited to hear what people are going to propose.”

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http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/334/city20rivergp1.jpg

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not an important issue, but i wonder why they chose to do a south/north orientation on the map.

To make it less obvious that they're not doing anything with the North Bank. As humans, our eyes naturally gravitate towards the top of pages, maps, charts, etc. and away from the bottom.

Also because the map shows the perspective one would see from the River.

To make it less obvious that they're not doing anything with the North Bank. As humans, our eyes naturally gravitate towards the top of pages, maps, charts, etc. and away from the bottom.

Also because the map shows the perspective one would see from the River.

i never would have thought of that; thanks

The proposed riverwalk area seems very narrow for full restaurants and shops. It would be OK for seasonal carts and such. Then again, San Antonio's riverwalk is pretty narrow, too. But if you fall into the water there, you're far less likely to drown.

I think the city should sell licenses for floating eateries and have a long row of illuminated floating restaurants. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky has something like this, though it's not as dense as it should be.

The proposed riverwalk area seems very narrow for full restaurants and shops. It would be OK for seasonal carts and such. Then again, San Antonio's riverwalk is pretty narrow, too. But if you fall into the water there, you're far less likely to drown.

this isn't some veiled reference to our ganster past, is it?:)

Yeah.. they'll start setting up stands for "concrete kickboards"! We can get corporate sponsorship on that (Quikrete).

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Has anyone heard any kind of timetables on when these aprons (wasn't familiar with the term until here) are supposed to be constructed?

It goes without saying they are needed to have any semblance of true integrated riverwalk

I also hope they eventually lay down some nice brick or stone instead of concrete. It should have the feeling of more then a glorified sidewalk under your feet.

I have a general aesthetics question here:

sometime in the future on either the north or south branches, what would you think of a project that included two high rises on both banks of the river that were connected on high with a skybridge to form a sort of arch effect?

Would that look good or would it detract?

I don't know... There are so many ways it could look bad, and for like the one way i could look good, IMO sort of an actual arch, not just a glassy tunnel, it may not be worth it to risk it. And of course it would all be ruined if just even one other person decided to do it, unless of course it was really far away.

We already have plenty of bridges that allow people to go from either side of the river's branches quite easily, but if done right it could look cool as long as it doesn't imitate a st.louis arch.

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^Hmm, I don't what the word for the build-out is, if there even is one.

Your picture reminded me that this is designed by Ross Barney and they have a few pics on their website.

http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/9797/riverwalkgh5.jpg

Right! Cus' the river needs to get even NARROWER! Forget the buildout - finish what we've got and build the damn aprons. Done and done.

The riverwalk expansion around Kingsbury Plaza is really spectacular. I saw renderings a while back but now I have no idea where to find them.

I'd rather nothing at all develop than the river be narrowed.

^Yeah, screw that. Why do we need to be like other cities all of a sudden (i.e. San Antonio?) If people can't appreciate the river for what it is and the amazing architecture encompassing it, then screw them too.

^Yeah, screw that. Why do we need to be like other cities all of a sudden (i.e. San Antonio?) If people can't appreciate the river for what it is and the amazing architecture encompassing it, then screw them too.

While we're at it, let's get rid of all of our sushi restaurants and Irish pubs....why do we need to be like cities in Japan and Ireland? :)

Why should we be against this development (or any other one) which would do great things for our city, just because it isn't 100% original?

And the fact that the architecture encompassing the river is amazing is a very strong argument FOR developing the river walk. The proposed river walk would serve as a great place for tons of people to hang out/walk around, and be able to check out and appreciate the great architecture surrounding them.

I'd rather nothing at all develop than the river be narrowed.

I disagree. It's not a commericial river anymore. I'd LOVE to be able to jog along the river on a continuous pedestrian path. Bridge aprons won't affect pleasure crafts enough to hinder development in my opinion.

Why are people so opposed to narrowing the river? Does any craft that travels through even come close to the width of the river? Besides, part of the stated goal here was to have people use the river more, like kayaks and that sort of thing. I imagine that a slightly narrower river at points would facilitate this. I can't see any practical reason to oppose this, and I imagine that, if done right, it would become a huge civic asset.

OK, it's not the Mississippi. But the Chicago River is still wide enough to highlight the skyscrapers that line its bank and to provide an incomparible type of open space in the heart of the city.

I would definitely oppose any plan to narrow its width!

I had this conversation over the weekend with a friend who is a captain of one of the tourist boats that use the River. Building the aprons that come out around the bridge and extend the existing walks on one side of the river isn't enough to cause any navigation issues.

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I think it would be best to keep the build outs as small as possible yet be functional. Not building them at all and missing the chance to connect the paths would be a big missed opportunity though.

http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/9797/riverwalkgh5.jpg

Looking closely at this rendering it seems to depict the built-out section as being planked like a boardwalk. That makes more sense to me now.
That rendering depicts build-out largely between the bridge pylons while the build-out around them is greatly reduced. Perhaps edsg's concern is for a sizeable reduction in the river's width large enough to rob it of its majestic presence as well its compatible scale with the looming towers. I know there is walkways on the north side, but do you know, Looper, if the build-out is largely confined to the south side?

OK, it's not the Mississippi. But the Chicago River is still wide enough to highlight the skyscrapers that line its bank and to provide an incomparible type of open space in the heart of the city.

I would definitely oppose any plan to narrow its width!

I agree. I wouldn't mind seeing them connect the two sides around the bridge with perhaps an 8 foot walkway that is cantilevered over the river.

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I had this conversation over the weekend with a friend who is a captain of one of the tourist boats that use the River. Building the aprons that come out around the bridge and extend the existing walks on one side of the river isn't enough to cause any navigation issues.

EOS.








I know this is apples and oranges but the highly succesful San Ann Texas river walk does well even being this narrow.

http://www.pcres.com/images/san-antonio-riverwalk-umbrellas-lg.jpg

http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/NationalSeminar/2007DataDriven/images/riverwalk5.jpg

I know this is apples and oranges but the highly succesful San Ann Texas river walk does well even being this narrow.

http://www.pcres.com/images/san-antonio-riverwalk-umbrellas-lg.jpg

http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/NationalSeminar/2007DataDriven/images/riverwalk5.jpg

That's exactly edsg's concern, it looks like a stream, even a lagoon, more than a proud river. Chicago's river has got muscle, just like the rest of its environs.

Yeah, it's just big enough to handle some serious traffic, and to require some muscular bridges.

It's nothing like the Hudson, Mississippi, or East Rivers, though....

^^ all good points, but is there something Chicago can learn from San Antonio's outstanding example...as long as it gives no sense of narrowing like what SA has.

^^ all good points, but is there something Chicago can learn from San Antonio's outstanding example...as long as it gives no sense of narrowing like what SA has.
I went back to review the two shots of the SA scene; I see nothing in its particular charm that would aid Chicago with its riverfront development. Perhaps like Navy Pier, several venues will be attempted, some failing, others taking their places 'til the scene gets settled over a span of perhaps a decade. I am confident, however, in time it will be viewed everywhere as Chicago's river scene.

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State Street and Dearborn Street bridges both have 200 foot horizontal clearances. So a 10-foot floating boardwalk reduces the river width by less than five percent.

I went back to review the two shots of the SA scene; I see nothing in its particular charm that would aid Chicago with its riverfront development. Perhaps like Navy Pier, several venues will be attempted, some failing, others taking their places 'til the scene gets settled over a span of perhaps a decade. I am confident, however, in time it will be viewed everywhere as Chicago's river scene.

Sorry, but you're dead wrong. San Antonio's famed river walk is the city's central entertainment area which is full of restaurants, pubs, hotel, and other attractions. Chicago should take note at how sucessfully SA has developed its river into a huge, money-making tourist attration.

I have no desire for the Chicago River to evolve into Bourbon St. but some entertainment venues would be great.

I don't see how this effectively narrows the river at all. The effect would be entirely different than San Antonio.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9379/image3bk7.png
If that's the actual design, then I'm down with it. :)

Sorry, but you're dead wrong. San Antonio's famed river walk is the city's central entertainment area which is full of restaurants, pubs, hotel, and other attractions. Chicago should take note at how sucessfully SA has developed its river into a huge, money-making tourist attration.
I have no desire for the Chicago River to evolve into Bourbon St. but some entertainment venues would be great.
I don't think we have anything to learn from the SA development. The suggested venues put forth so far will turn the river into a delightful summer rendevous. And that will peak only after many different types of venue have been tried. In time the Chicago river will have taken on its own character. SA is just too limited in scope. :)

Loopy,

Were did you get that rendering/photo. I like the perspective.

Additionally, there is no comparison between the San Antonio River and the Chicago River. SA looks like you can jump across it. It might be better described as a stream not a river.

..

I don't see how this effectively narrows the river at all. The effect would be entirely different than San Antonio.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9379/image3bk7.png
Dev,

Way to pick the WIDEST part of the river to try and illustrate your point! Naturally, I'm not dumb enough to think that a 10' encroachment on the waterway would cause navigation issues for river traffic in and of itself, but, what your captain friend seems to be forgetting is just how congested the river can get in the summer time.

Someone, earlier in the thread, made mention only to pleasure-craft and kayaks - everyone's got to keep in mind how important the many River Tours are to this City. This is one of the first thing that people do upon visiting Chicago - and anything that could disturb that isn't a great idea in my estimation.

Lastly, I am certainly NOT opposed to the idea of an integrated and connected riverwalk, the only thing that started this entire discussion was the suggestion that there be an additional "ring," for lack of a better term" that exists directly adjacent to spaces that are already more than sufficient for pedestrian and retail traffic.

In a nutshell - I'm saying: connect what we've got, and don't build any more.

^ At least, don't build anymore OUT into the river.

^-- that's exactly what I'm saying. You seem to have summed it up better in nine words though :)

Chicago's river is broad, like the shoulders of the people who built our fair city. It symbolizes the strength of our city. We should be extremely hesitant to forever mar the symbol of our strength.

San Antonio's riverwalk is outstanding. Chicago should look into ways to reinvigorate the banks of its river, without cutting into the waterway itself. Even if you aren't from Chicago, or don't buy into the symbolism of the river, you cannot deny that the river's breadth affords a unique skyscraper canyon.

Should we be so hesitant to destroy our heritage for the sake of some tiki-torches?

I have lived and worked within blocks of the river for over 10 years, and two close friends have docked their boats at Marina City during that time. I have been on the river almost every weekend of every summer since I can remember. It is never overcrowded with boat traffic, ever. It has an nice mix of pleasure and commercial vessels, and widening the riverwalk would have very little impact on boat traffic (and who cares anyway...so your boat slows down a little and you are stuck admiring the river canyon). Besides, it is my understanding that the river is much wider now than it was when Chicago's first settlers arrived, and has been dredged countless times over the years. Widening the riverwalk by 10 - 20 feet is the only way to make a river walk successful, and making a river walk successful would be an amazing thing for Chicago and downtown.

Exactly Budman. I feel missing the chance to connect the river would be a missed opportunity with comparative little to lose in contrast to the gain.

Do the barges like this travel up that section of the river? Or do they just come down the north branch and go straight out the south branch. I work across the river from Civic Opera, and I see them going by on the river all the time from my desk up on 19.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/Candrson/barge.jpg

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I just ran a lock and tonnage report on the Army's web site. It says in the two months there have been nine commercial barges through the main section of the river and the lock in the last month. They were carrying coal, machinery, and "crude materials."

There were 785 vessels through the lock.
276 commerical
249 recreation
9 light boat
251 other

I don't know what "other" is, maybe military and police and fire. I think "light boat" is canoeists and kayakers.

The place where I live right now overlooks the locks and I see barges through there all the time. Though the statistics above don't show much movement, those were for a cold period part of which was when the river was frozen. I bet traffic picks up in the summer.

But on the north south part of the river near Civic Opera, washington, madison, monroe, adams, etc. - there are massive barges going back and forth quite often. I only see them when I happen to walk by our windows or am crossing the river, but it's at least multiple times a week.

they're normally pushing huge loads of sand or gravel in these large open container type things...

I'm not talking about the small barges they position to fix the bridges, I mean the big ships that are transporting raw materials.

You are correct, there are many more barges which ply the north and south branches of the Chicago River. They serve the industrial facilities along the waterway and its connected canals. They do not venture into the main branch of the river which is where the proposed Chicago River Walk would be located.

I guess this is the best thread for this article...

http://www.suntimes.com/classifieds/homes/homelife/359576,HOF-News-river27.article

River view revival
ROLLING, ROLLING | New neighborhoods pop up like mushrooms on banks of revitalized Chicago River

April 27, 2007
BY CRAIG BARNER Special to the Sun-Times

Jason Cione is experiencing the future of the Chicago River -- and a little bit of its past, too.

Two years ago, Cione, 37, a self-employed interior designer, purchased a condominium on the 31st floor of a 34-story tower in River West's Kinzie Park development on North Clinton Street. His building is only about 200 feet from the west bank of the North Branch.

"The new river walk they've been doing was key" in his purchase decision, he said. City plans call for public access to be developed paralleling the entire length of the river.
Like a lot of singles, Cione enjoys the urban lifestyle in the River West neighborhood. New eateries -- restaurants, delis and bakeries -- are opening on Grand Avenue, and a park is being developed on the river's east bank near Kingsbury and Erie streets.

"You get phenomenal views and you're very close to the Loop, but without having to fight the traffic," he added.

Fittingly, perhaps, given the river's industrial heritage, odors from the nearby Blommer's Chocolate factory occasionally drift through his neighborhood.

"The smell is terrible," he said. But other pleasures of river side life provide a more than adequate counterbalance.

Fur trappers to professionals

Think of denizens of the Chicago River, and fur trappers, canal diggers and stockyard workers come to mind. But look along the river banks these days and you'll see professionals, drivers of the city's current economy, seeking an urban lifestyle with a bit of nature.

Data confirm the large numbers of residences emerging along the river. The number of housing units one block from the Chicago River between 1200 south and 1200 north has risen 85 percent to 10,332 in 2006 from 5,576 in 1996, said Gail Lissner, vice president of Appraisal Research Counselors Ltd., Chicago.

New condominiums and apartments continue to be built, a prominent example being the Lakeshore East development, where 17 buildings -- including three completions -- holding 4,950 housing units are planned between the Main Branch on the north and Randolph Street on the south. Another major development north of the river in Streeterville is River East, where seven high-rises are complete and six are in planning.

Indeed, projections show the number of housing units is expected to increase 22 percent through 2009, to 12,653, Lissner said.

"The river has great attraction in the market," Lissner added. "I call it our new lake."

Rising on the South Branch are town houses and single-family homes; on the North Branch sprouts the Belmont River Club.

In May, Rohanna Mehta, 39, a fund-raising consultant, and her husband, Carl Ververs, bought a house on the 5700 block of North Jersey Avenue in the River Residences development in Hollywood Park. Their 5-bedroom house is only 200 feet from the river, which they think is ideal for raising their 4-year-old son, Luca Ververs.

"We wanted green space, and there's place for him to run," she said of her boy.


A cleaner river
More buildings are popping up along the river because the water quality is better.
Like many old cities, Chicago was built with a combined sewer system for rainwater and sewage. Effluent would discharge into the river after a rain.

"I would have to say property along the river at one time might not have been held in much higher value -- and maybe lower value -- than other areas of the city," said Joseph Sobanski, chief engineer with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. "I think now the reverse is true."

In 2006, the tunneling portion of the 109-mile-long Deep Tunnel project -- formally, the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan -- was completed after 30 years of construction.

This means that effluent is channeled via the Deep Tunnel to treatment plants unless a torrential downpour causes overflow.

Samples taken before the Deep Tunnel found only 10 species of fish in the river, said Cathy Hudzik, assistant to Mayor Daley. Recent samples have found 69 species, including sensitive game fish like largemouth bass and bluegill. "The Chicago River generally meets the standards that apply to it across the board," Hudzik added.

The exception at times is the standard for dissolved oxygen, especially around the Bubbly Creek area of the South Branch near Ashland Avenue between Pershing Road and 27th Street.

"Because the river flows backward, there is not much flow through there," she added. Aeration stations are on the river to pump oxygen into it.

Another major factor in the river's improvement was the Clean Water Act that Congress approved in 1972, said Margaret Frisbie, executive director of Friends of the Chicago River, an advocacy group. The ruling prohibited point-source pollutants, like industrial waste, from going into the river.

Finally, chlorine has not been used since the mid-1980s as a disinfectant for effluent, Frisbie said.

Friends of the River supports residential development along the river provided public access and wildlife are protected. The organization is developing conservation-based design guidelines to be published in early 2008.


Wildlife, other perks
You can see wildlife all along the river, Frisbie said, including beavers, minks, herons, muskrats and snapping turtles.
Other perks include private river access, trails and the view itself. Buyers on the river -- unlike many seeking a view of Lake Michigan -- are virtually guaranteed that no new building will rise to block their view.

Typically, low-floor condos have better river views than those on higher floors, Appraisal Research Counselors' Lissner says.

If you're thinking of buying, clarify which spaces of a condominium property are private and which are held in common. "You have to be careful how documents are written," said Beth Ryan of Ryan Realty & Associates Inc. , Chicago, who sells units along the river.


Despite the sometimes overpowering smell of chocolate. Jason Cione has no regrets and is enjoying life along the river. "It's nice when you have breakfast in the morning and see the tour boats going through," he said.

Craig Barner is a Chicago-based real estate writer.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070607riverwalkjul06,1,756694.story?coll=chi-news-hed

Chicago's Riverwalk gains food, services
Mayor Daley touts plans to extend pedestrian way around bridges

By Gary Washburn
Tribune staff reporter
Published July 6, 2007, 8:06 PM CDT

Seeking to steer the Chicago River toward a new era, Mayor Richard Daley on Friday welcomed seven summertime businesses to the river's banks and outlined plans for $50 million in downtown enhancements.

The businesses, including five cafes, will operate outdoors, but Daley ultimately hopes to line the river with permanent shops and restaurants and make the Riverwalk pedestrian-friendly for its full milelong stretch between Lake Shore Drive and Franklin Street.

"As far as I'm concerned, this is just the beginning," he said. "Over the next few years we intend to attract additional vendors and work with the private sector to build year-round concession facilities along the Riverwalk."

The city three years ago sought a master concessionaire to lease and manage riverfront retail spaces, but the effort proved unsuccessful.

Asked about the establishment of permanent shops and restaurants, Daley said, "You don't want to jeopardize the vendor bringing them down here if there is no business, so you really have to market this, and that is what we are trying to do."

Several restaurateurs operated on the river's south bank downtown during the warm months of 1998 and 1999, but the reconstruction of Wacker Drive, which runs along the river, put a temporary end to retail operations.

The new eateries will offer fare ranging from French cuisine to hot dogs. They will be joined by Bike Chicago, a bicycle rental; Women-Eye, which sell arts, crafts and souvenirs made by low-income businesswomen; and a water taxi service operated by Shoreline Sightseeing.

The Riverwalk now is broken up by bridge structures between Michigan Avenue and Franklin, but the city is planning to build eight permanent under-bridge pathways extending into the river by 15 or 20 feet to allow pedestrians to walk the full length. The Michigan Avenue pathway is in the design phase, but each structure will cost an estimated $5 million, and officials said the construction timetable will be dictated by their ability to obtain federal funds.
gwashburn@tribune.com



Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune

Tribune photos with above article..

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r77/tootshibbard/31011604.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r77/tootshibbard/31011617.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r77/tootshibbard/31011608.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r77/tootshibbard/31011620.jpg

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r77/tootshibbard/31011672.jpg

The Chicago River has so much potential. I would love to see it developed more....

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/459269,cst-nws-river07.article

Riverwalk is reborn
DOWNTOWN | City touts new restaurants, floats hopes for future

July 7, 2007
BY DAVE NEWBART Staff Reporter

Unveiling what they hope will someday become a new tourist destination on par with Millennium Park, city officials reopened the Chicago Riverwalk on Friday, showing off several new restaurants.

Officials expressed hope the walk could someday feature year-round businesses, floating eateries and an uninterrupted path from Lake Michigan to Franklin.

Mayor Daley was so excited about the refurbished venue that he even referenced his father’s famous declaration in 1970 — when the river was considered a “sewer” by many accounts — that people would someday fish and swim in it.

“Everybody laughed at him,” Daley said Friday. Now people can be seen fishing up and down the river.

The mayor even said he would eat fish caught from its banks.


“Sure, why not,” he said. “. . . Maybe I have. I don’t know.”


Despite the mayor’s optimism, however, an expert said eating the fish would still be at your own peril, even if the river is way cleaner than in 1970.

“We don’t really recommend it,” said Craig Coit, president of Friends of the Chicago River. “There is too many issues with the water quality.”

Still, Coit heartily endorsed the revamped Riverwalk, which cost the city just under $1 million to fix — including funds for fencing, railings, benches and concrete work.

Visitors won’t be able to truly walk from Lake Michigan to Franklin — without hiking up and down a lot of steps — for several years. The city estimates it will cost upward of $50 million to construct walkways around the eight bridges spanning the targeted area. Construction on the first project, around the Michigan Avenue bridge, could start sometime next year if the city can secure $5 million in funding, said Michelle Woods of the Department of Transportation.

Four restaurants — O’Brien’s, Robinson’s Ribs, Mustard and Onions Grill and Caffecafe — have set up shop within the last few weeks. Cyrano’s Cafe will open shortly.

Mustard and Onions Grill owner Scott Krause said he has averaged 30 to 40 additional customers daily since opening. His trailer sells polish sausage and pork chop sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs and the like.

Under their contracts with the Chicago Park District, the vendors pay 5 percent to 10 percent of their gross sales in fees. That’s different from restaurants that opened in 1998, when four riverside vendors didn’t reach a benchmark $300,000 in sales and thus didn’t have to make payments. Those eateries all but disappeared after the Wacker Drive reconstruction project.

The new walkway also includes bike rentals and Women’s Eye crafts shop.

Old man Daley’s called shot

When Mayor Richard J. Daley launched an effort to clean up the Chicago River in June 1970, his idea was viewed as “preposterous,” according to one news account.

The river at the time was a “giant sewer,” a headline read. But Daley stuck to his guns after declaring, “I hope to God all of us will live to see the day when we will be fishing in the Chicago River.

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t. It’s a beautiful body of water if we can purify it. We can stock it with perch and bluegills and bass and coho, and you’ll go off on your noon-time and it will be a wonderful thing.

“Maybe some day we can have a bicycle path down the river with connecting parks, and at lunchtime you can ride a bicycle and see ducks, or possibly swans.”

In some ways, the mayor was prophetic. The number of fish species in the river has grown from 10 to nearly 70, according to Friends of the Chicago River. Those include alewife, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brook trout, carp, channel catfish, chinook, coho salmon, creek chubb, largemouth bass and yellow perch.

Dave Newbart

The Chicago River has so much potential. I would love to see it developed more....

george, i'd go as far as saying that our riverfront is as unique as our lakefront. we have the only truly man made canyoned river in the entire world. it should be made to life up to that potential you describe.

I agree with its all potential. The one thing for me that is hard to grasp is when there is how small the spaces are. I really don't see much space have any real or dining space for anything other then some very cozy bars.

Has anyone eaten at any of the riverwalk restaurants yet? I walked by a couple places on my way back from lunch today....it definitely seems like a good place to eat lunch/dinner at on a nice day....

Has anyone eaten at any of the riverwalk restaurants yet? I walked by a couple places on my way back from lunch today....it definitely seems like a good place to eat lunch/dinner at on a nice day....
I have. At the trailer on the west side of the Dearborn Street bridge. I only had a root beer float, but it was very good.

The guys running the joint were very friendly and attentive. There was a huge line, even though it was a Wednesday. Most people were getting hot dogs and fries.

I want to go back and try something on the menu called a "horseshoe." It's a pork chop on top of a pile of fries covered in gravy and cheese.

It looks like the city has hired security to keep an eye on the area and keep the vagrants out. She had an orange vest on and was sitting away from the rest of the crowd half-watching a portable DVD player. Sounds like a good way to keep the place from smelling like urine while also giving jobs to a few people from the city's unskilled labor pool.

Speaking of urine -- they have port-o-johns there. I used one. It wasn't horrible. Not as good as at the Taste, but good enough to get by.

I've lived in San Antonio for the past 5 years before I moved away recently. First off don't worry about copying the SA river walk, all the chicago renderings look original and it would be hard to copy it anyway, don't think it's copying just due to the fact that you are building a river walk, WACO has a river walk to, although it sucks. I think that fact that chicago has beaches and will have a nice riverwalk, with a world class skyline and great new residential buildings in downtown including the spire is going and as long as you do the river walk right, it'll be an untouchable city. Look at the San Antonio river walk and learn from it, as you walk along you will find ice cream places, tourist shops, chocolate shops, a huge shopping mall that you can enter right off the riverwalk, convention center, many restaurants and some bars, when you're in San Antonio you feel like the city is completely alive with things to do, the only thing San Antonio lacks is a large down town population that lives there and anything close to a real sky-scraper. Also I think chicago should utilize all of it's river front in the river walk eventually. San Antonio is still extending theirs and a public riverwalk park extends into the neighborhoods along the river and it's continuous. Make the park along the chicago river continuous into the suburbs and it'll be world class.

Make the park along the chicago river continuous into the suburbs and it'll be world class.

Great idea in theory, but very unlikely given that large portions of the riverfront are heavily industrialized.

A down-the-road, visionary goal would be to extend it north to goose island, and south to roosevelt, maybe as far as cermak on the east bank of the south branch. Going further than that is unnecessary, and not even all that desirable. It'd be cool if in some areas the riverwalk is only on one side, forcing people to cross the river on existing bridges, or even building one ped only bridge somewhere along the river- preferably north branch just two or three blocks north of wolf point.

The Chicago River is the best urban waterway in the world. :cheers:

Michigan Avenue Bridge and Riverwalk (Michigan Avenue Bridge and
Wacker Drive Esplanade)
Applicant: City of Chicago, owner
John Fried, Ross Barney Architects

Proposal: Proposed construction of an under-bridge walkway connecting south-end riverwalk
levels, and related landscaping and lighting improvements; and replacement of
upper-level bridge railing and flag poles with a more historically-appropriate railing.

Staff recommendation: Staff recommends that the Committee find that project, with the
following conditions, will not have an adverse effect on the
significant historical and architectural features of the landmark
district and approve the project, subject to these conditions and
Landmarks staff review and approval:

1. As proposed, the new railing design for the upper-level bridge
railing will match the historic railing design as closely as possible
while meeting code requirements. The railing handrail may
incorporate built-in lighting. Railing and lighting details shall be
submitted for Landmarks staff for review and approval prior to
permit approval;
2. As proposed, the flag poles on the bridge may be retained and
may incorporate lighting. Flag pole attachment details and
lighting details shall be submitted for Landmarks staff review and
approval prior to permit approval; and,
3. Other bridge and river walk lighting details shall be submitted for
Landmarks staff for review and approval prior to permit approval.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/695324,CST-NWS-riverwalk13.article

Riverwalk cafes to sell booze, Daley proposes
December 13, 2007
BY FRAN SPIELMAN

Chicagoans would be able to stroll along the city's emerging riverwalk with a beer or a glass of wine when the weather turns warm, thanks to a new liquor license proposed by Mayor Daley Wednesday that would allow riverwalk cafes to sell booze.

"Development of the Chicago Riverwalk as a hospitality venue will enhance the image of the Chicago River as an attractive waterfront destination for residents and tourists," the mayor said in a news release.

To qualify for the new license, businesses would have to be licensed to sell food and liquor at another location in Chicago. Booze could be served at cafes along the south bank of the Chicago River between Lake Street, Lake Shore Drive and Wacker Drive between the hours of 11 a.m. and 11 p.m.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/695324,CST-NWS-riverwalk13.article

Booze could be served at cafes along the south bank of the Chicago River between Lake Street, Lake Shore Drive and Wacker Drive between the hours of 11 a.m. and 11 p.m.

^^Awesome! I love booze! :cheers:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/695324,CST-NWS-riverwalk13.article

Riverwalk cafes to sell booze, Daley proposes
December 13, 2007
BY FRAN SPIELMAN

Chicagoans would be able to stroll along the city's emerging riverwalk with a beer or a glass of wine when the weather turns warm, thanks to a new liquor license proposed by Mayor Daley Wednesday that would allow riverwalk cafes to sell booze.

"Development of the Chicago Riverwalk as a hospitality venue will enhance the image of the Chicago River as an attractive waterfront destination for residents and tourists," the mayor said in a news release.

To qualify for the new license, businesses would have to be licensed to sell food and liquor at another location in Chicago. Booze could be served at cafes along the south bank of the Chicago River between Lake Street, Lake Shore Drive and Wacker Drive between the hours of 11 a.m. and 11 p.m.

That's a really good idea. By the way I love how they keep calling it BOOZE instead of just alcohol.

I think this would sit very well with both tourists as well as all the office workers. You can get a lot more money and keep people at your cafe's much longer if it's possible to just sit and sip on some cocktails or have beers. This will be especially huge with the office crowd after work on nice days...

Seems odd to remember that sidewalk cafes were illegal in Chicago when I moved here. One of my buddies in Friends of Downtown more or less singlehandedly pushed until that changed.

That is great news, although I thought O'Brien's already served booze. I would imagine that next year's vendors will be jumping on this. Slowly but surely the river is going to come alive.

One of my buddies in Friends of Downtown more or less singlehandedly pushed until that changed.

There are members in FoD with that much clout? Or was it just a minor issue to begin with, and his support was the finger that felled the rotten tree?

Any chance that this guy has a passion for sidewalk vendors, too? Those would be great, so long as the garbage/litter issue is also addressed.

Tribune photos with above article..

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r77/tootshibbard/31011608.jpg

is there something wrong in this photograph? would it have been too much to ask the genius who designed this river front setting to have turned those f***ing benches around and had them face the f***ing river...or did he feel there really wasn't much of a view?

^ I can't tell for sure from the picture, but I don't think the benches "face" either direction. They don't appear to have back supports

^ I can't tell for sure from the picture, but I don't think the benches "face" either direction. They don't appear to have back supports

your eyes are younger than mind and look to be on track there. there is no contrast in color between bench and ground which made it virtually impossible for me to even see that until you mentioned it. honestly it looked to me as the bench almost backed up to the rail making sitting and seeing the river impossible.

I guess I have to give up any chance of 20/20 vision...even with glasses!

No, Edsg25 is correct. The backerst of the benches face the river. But you can also see that further down the walkway, there's lawn furniture for the outdoor cafes, so it's really not that big of a deal.

No, Edsg25 is correct. The backerst of the benches face the river. But you can also see that further down the walkway, there's lawn furniture for the outdoor cafes, so it's really not that big of a deal.

i can't believe i got one right. lately i've been batting 1 out of 50. maybe i should consider steroids!

Sorry to burst your bubble, but those benches face lower Wacker Drive and not the river. That stretch of riverwalk, between Dearborn and Clark, includes the remnants of an unsuccessful minimalist Asian inspired river walk garden developed in conjunction with the original Hotel Nikko across the river(now a Westin hotel). The intent was that visitors to hotel could look across the river to a complementary river garden. It never truly had the support and/or maintenance from the hotel or the city. It was also ahead of it's time as a river ammenity. (We're talking late '80's here!)

]Sorry to burst your bubble, but those benches face lower Wacker Drive and not the river. [/B]That stretch of riverwalk, between Dearborn and Clark, includes the remnants of an unsuccessful minimalist Asian inspired river walk garden developed in conjunction with the original Hotel Nikko across the river(now a Westin hotel). The intent was that visitors to hotel could look across the river to a complementary river garden. It never truly had the support and/or maintenance from the hotel or the city. It was also ahead of it's time as a river ammenity. (We're talking late '80's here!)

oh, great, Ritchie, you are about to send me spiraling into a deep depression from which I will not be able to climb out. It's on your conscience, fellow, unless you can find a way of reversing those darned benches and finally giving me the validation I need.:)

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/917058,CST-NWS-BRIDGE26.article

Bridging riverwalk gaps
WACKER DRIVE |
City to spend $10 mil. on walkways beneath Michigan and Wabash, connect path for 'second lakefront'

April 26, 2008

BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter fspielman@suntimes.com

Mayor Daley's ambitious but stalled plan to create a San Antonio-style riverwalk along Wacker Drive will take two giant steps forward this summer.

The city plans to build walkways beneath bridges at Michigan and Wabash avenues that will connect paths already built along the Chicago River. The new connections will allow pedestrians to stroll along Chicago's "second lakefront" -- as Daley calls it -- without running up a set of stairs, crossing the street and going back downstairs.

The "underbridge'' beneath the south end of the Michigan Avenue bridge will extend 17 feet from the bank into the river at a cost of up to $4 million. A bid opening is scheduled for next week.

Construction is expected to begin in July and continue through December. Landscaping touches will be added next spring.

The price tag for the Wabash underbridge is pegged at $6 million.

That walkway will extend 20 feet into the river and also extend an additional block between Wabash and State. It will run adjacent to Wabash Plaza and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Work on that piece of the project is expected to begin in July and end next spring...............................

More info in link

^^always great to hear good news about the river walk.

life really is unfair, isn't it? chicago's lakefront is arguably the best waterfront of any American city. it is an integral part of our downtown area as it is on the North and South sides. To realize that the Chicago River riverfront is well on the way to being as spectacular a riverfront as any US city has is an embarassment of riches for Chicago.

The width of the Chicago River is an incomparble asset. San Antonio's river is little more than a creek, beautiful and delightful, but very localized to the Rive Walk in what its narrowness allows it to offer. For St. Louis, Cincinnati, and even Pittsburgh, the river width is large enough to discourage any true connection between the two banks.

In a kind of Mama Bear and Papa Bear scenerio, the Chicago River takes Baby (Chicago?) Bear's middle ground of being "just right": wide enough to make its presence quite noticeable and very navigable, but narrow enough to bring both banks into close contact with each other in a unified zone with easy access to both sides.

^^^^

Now if only we can do something about those floating piles of trash in the river.

I've notices that they have been putting up concrete block between lower Wacker and the Riverwalk. Paired with this news it looks as if this may be completed in the next decade or so.

I didn't realize they could create the walkways under the bridges as quickly as they intend to do. So by the time the warm weather arrives next year, we'll be able to enjoy a more continous path. Nice! :)

(now since we're working on creating a continous pathway along the riverfront, how about a more focused effort on creating a continuous pathway along the lakefront where it flows into the Chicago River???) :D

I didn't realize they could create the walkways under the bridges as quickly as they intend to do. So by the time the warm weather arrives next year, we'll be able to enjoy a more continous path. Nice! :)

If I'm not mistaken, I thought I had read that the construction of the State St subway under the river wasn't that difficult because they were cutting basically through sand. Does anyone know if that is true?

Doesn't surprise me, since the river is (was) a prairie river, carrying large quantities of silt lakeward from eroding riverbanks further inland. Over time, this silt accumulated on the bottom of the river, too.

From SSP via BVictor


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-gettingaround-28-apr28,0,4558993.column

GETTING AROUND WITH JON HILKEVITCH

Chicago Riverwalk extension to begin in July

Path involving 'under-bridges' will eventually extend to Lake Street
Jon Hilkevitch | Getting Around
7:29 PM CDT, April 27, 2008

Chicagoans have a vital connection to the waterfront, whether it is the shoreline of Lake Michigan or the banks of the Chicago River.

That link will become stronger—and longer—by the end of the year when the riverwalk trail downtown is extended.

Construction is scheduled to begin in July to literally bridge the riverwalk beyond the Wabash Avenue bridge to State Street.

It's an intermediary step toward eventually extending the riverwalk promenade west to Lake Street along the south bank of the river, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/alternatethumbnails/storylink/2008-04/38244379-27173513.jpg

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/graphic/2008-04/38244719.png

Something mentioned in the Trib article and not in the Times that I was wondering about. I imagine if they put some nice lighting reflecting of the steel canopies it could give a kinda cool effect. It may not be bad to have the steel mirror the same kind that will be used at the Spire site along LSD if possible......

The under-bridges will be covered by stainless steel canopies to prevent trash, dirt or anything else from raining down on the people below street level.

Also they mention that will jut out seventeen feet, I thought they were originally planning to make it a ten foot walkway. Maybe I misunderstood or the plans changed.

Here are this summer's river activites:

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0822600942.1211927062@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccceadeeemdgffgcefecelldffhdfgk.0&contentOID=536990661&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&displayBack=null&topChannelName=HomePage&blockName=Content&context=Recent+News

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1030608,CST-NWS-river29.article


From Cajun to sushi, Riverwalk fills out its menu

June 29, 2008Recommend

BY MARY WISNIEWSKIStaff Reporter/mwisniewski@suntimes.com

A Cajun restaurant, a sushi grill and a French wine bar are among the new cafes open along the Chicago River downtown this summer.

The Riverwalk area between Lake Shore Drive and Franklin now has eight cafes, along with boat tours, water taxis, bike rentals, souvenirs, a river museum and a three-block display of public art. New vendors this year also include a coffee and bubble tea cafe and one that sells Hawaiian shaved ice.

"Most cities just have a river, and are lucky to have a river," Mayor Daley said Saturday at a ceremony marking the expansion of the city's summer Riverwalk Concession program. "We have two great things, Lake Michigan and the Chicago River."

Daley said the Chicago River, once stinking with pollution and blocked to visitors by fences, is becoming a recreational attraction equal to the lake.

Plans are going forward this summer to connect the walkways from the lakefront to State Street, so pedestrians can walk under the Michigan and Wabash bridges.

The Michigan bridge project may start in the next six weeks, and the Wabash project will start in the summer or fall, according to Chicago Department of Transportation spokesman Brian Steele. The promenade should be done by the end of the year.

..

^^ Nice.

these are posted all along the river, they appear to be permanent.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f21/cbotnyse/my%20photos/DSC_0043-1.jpg

I should get a photo of the benches facing the wrong way.

Seriously, who wants to sit down there and eat lunch while looking at either a wall, or traffic barreling by on lower wacker? The benches should all face the river, dummies...

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1055845,CST-NWS-river15.article

Mich. Ave. riverwalk to cost city $8.1 mil.
WALSH CONSTRUCTION | Clout-heavy firm gets pact, earlier estimated at $4 mil.

July 15, 2008Recommend (2)

BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter

A clout-heavy company with two generations of ties to the Daley family has been chosen to fill in a "missing link" in Chicago's riverwalk at a cost of $8.1 million, double the city's original estimate.

The contract awarded last month calls for Walsh Construction to build a walkway on landfill beneath the Michigan Avenue bridge so pedestrians can stroll along the Chicago River without running upstairs, crossing the street and going back downstairs.


The walkway was supposed to cost $4 million and be financed through the Central Loop tax increment financing district. Instead, Walsh will be paid $8.1 million. Walsh was the "lowest qualified bidder" after a seemingly lower bid was ultimately deemed to be higher.

"An estimate is just that. We never know what the market is going to bear until we actually bid a contract," said Transportation Department spokesman Brian Steele.

"Factors that have led to this being higher than anticipated include increased fuel costs, significant increases in the cost of steel and just a general increase in construction costs."

City Hall has pegged the cost of a second "underbridge" beneath Wabash at $6 million because it's a longer walkway that includes the Wabash Plaza adjacent to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. That contract has not yet been bid. If the cost of that project also doubles, the amount siphoned from the Central Loop TIF could top $20 million...............
..

^ Sigh... this kind of shit reflects so poorly on Chicago

^ Sigh... this kind of shit reflects so poorly on Chicago

not really, it's a way of life here

^ I liked the corruption better when it involved Daley tearing up airports for rich people and shutting up NIMBY-pandering Alderhacks.

But this kind of corruption, well....sort of sucks.

I may be naive, or just unique, but I see the Riverwalk as becoming an extremely important element of Chicago. This is precisely the sort of thing that I, as a taxpayer, am willing to spend money on... The more reasons for people to come, walk, and enjoy downtown Chicago, the better.

I may be naive, or just unique, but I see the Riverwalk as becoming an extremely important element of Chicago. This is precisely the sort of thing that I, as a taxpayer, am willing to spend money on... The more reasons for people to come, walk, and enjoy downtown Chicago, the better.
I heartily agree. The newspaper, as always, gives anything and everything even remotely related to the Mayor as tainted by corruption. It would be a better public service if they would dig deep and gives us the exact design, engineering and construction costs item by item. :cheers:

I may be naive, or just unique, but I see the Riverwalk as becoming an extremely important element of Chicago. This is precisely the sort of thing that I, as a taxpayer, am willing to spend money on... The more reasons for people to come, walk, and enjoy downtown Chicago, the better.

I heartily agree. The newspaper, as always, gives anything and everything even remotely related to the Mayor as tainted by corruption. It would be a better public service if they would dig deep and gives us the exact design, engineering and construction costs item by item. :cheers:^^ exactly. what exactly is so corrupt about this? becuase the press likes to call Walsh construction "clout heavy"? GMAFB. If you want to be a good journalist, give me details of the riverwalk and end your witch hunt. It makes me sick.

^^ exactly. what exactly is so corrupt about this? becuase the press likes to call Walsh construction "clout heavy"? GMAFB. If you want to be a good journalist, give me details of the riverwalk and end your witch hunt. It makes me sick.


You missed the answer! It was written by the "suntimes"......enough said.
That paper has absolutely "NO" credibilty for anything any more.

Am I the only one who thinks that this is a perfect use of TIF funds, unlike corporate incentive packages?

Am I the only one who thinks that this is a perfect use of TIF funds, unlike corporate incentive packages?

I think you are spot on. This helps out with infrastructure which can attract tourists and businesses. I'd say that's a text book use of TIF funds.

^ I agree as well. A great use of TIF funds indeed. This will certainly become a draw for tourists and residents alike.

It is a little aggravating that the Sun-Times chooses to pick out one project that actually resembles the intended use of TIF funds. There would have been plenty of reporting to be done on, say, the TIF money for Union Station, or any number of projects that were more expensive and of more dubious benefit than this one.

I think folks are missing the point here. The lowest bid was double the estimate. Instead of rebidding or modifying the project, CDOT awarded the contract anyway, to the mayor's buddies. The Sun-Times is not questioning the value of the project nor the use of TIF money.

..

Still, I can't imagine a project of this scope coming in anywhere near 4 million.

The City lowballed their estimate, as usual, to gain approval for the project.exactly. the sun-times is just witch hunting as usual. worthless journalism.

^I'm curious what purpose you think newspapers serve in a free society, if not to point out the shortcomings of public figures. The Sun-Times story does not place the blame, it merely points out that the lowest bid was twice the estimate, yet a contract was awarded anyway. Blame could lie with those who lowballed the estimate, those who submitted the bid, or those who awarded the contract. In any case, we taxpayers have a right to know that this happened. Where is there a "witch hunt?"

^I'm curious what purpose you think newspapers serve in a free society, if not to point out the shortcomings of public figures.
I'd like to see Chicago with at least one newspaper of the calibre of The Wall Street Journal or the Manchester Guardian or several European presses; someone willing to give me the complete details of the bidding process; cite all the details contained in the project being bid on; what was the thinking and who were the principles in the decision process; what are the construction bid histories of the firms who participated; how much, if any contributions were made to the Mayor's and aldermen's campaign coffers; who are the legal firms involved and what were their fees and political ties, etc. etc. Boring stuff, I admit, especially compared to a free societies lust for scandal. I'm certain we could be far better served than we are by the Chicago press; a situation grown considerably worse with declining subscriptions.

^^ Could it be that people are turning to other sources of news in order to get the balanced perspective you described? Obviously Joe Blogger doesn't have the resources of the Chicago Tribune to obtain all that information, so he would have to be an insider... but there are such people out there. "Second City Cop" strikes me as such a person.

^I'm curious what purpose you think newspapers serve in a free society, if not to point out the shortcomings of public figures. The Sun-Times story does not place the blame, it merely points out that the lowest bid was twice the estimate, yet a contract was awarded anyway. Blame could lie with those who lowballed the estimate, those who submitted the bid, or those who awarded the contract. In any case, we taxpayers have a right to know that this happened. Where is there a "witch hunt?"The newspapers' purpose is to provide the public with information. In this case, I'd like to hear details of the project. I'd like to hear if something illegal happened in the bid process, not speculation. I'd also like to hear details of the bid process in an unbias manner.

And you think the Sun-Times doesnt place blame? :| That hilarious. Is that why they called Walsh a "clout-heavy firm"? GMAFB They are trying to sell newspapers by crying corruption and if you dont see it then you are blind.

^^ Could it be that people are turning to other sources of news in order to get the balanced perspective you described? Obviously Joe Blogger doesn't have the resources of the Chicago Tribune to obtain all that information, so he would have to be an insider... but there are such people out there. "Second City Cop" strikes me as such a person.

Second City Cop has no budget, no pretense to present issues fairly, and certainly no journalistic ethic, just like other bloggers. They're no substitute for decent journalism at all. Frumie and Mr. Downtown are right about our need for newspapers to give us serious information. Unfortunately, Chicago is obviously headed in the opposite direction at breakneck speed. In a few months we'll be lucky to have even a Red Eye-caliber paper around.

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?blockName=Transportation%2fCurrent+Construction+Projects%2fI+Want+To&deptMainCategoryOID=-536883911&channelId=0&programId=0&entityName=Transportation&topChannelName=Dept&contentOID=537001216&Failed_Reason=Invalid+timestamp,+engine+has+been+restarted&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&com.broadvision.session.new=Yes&Failed_Page=%2fwebportal%2fportalContentItemAction.do&context=dept

Michigan Avenue bridge Riverwalk project

Crews have begun work on a river-level walkway beneath the Michigan Avenue bridge--the first such connection for the Chicago River Riverwalk.

The walkway will extend about 17 feet out into the Chicago River, providing a continuous path beneath the bridge. Once complete, users will be able to walk alongside the river from Lake Michigan all the way to Wabash Avenue.

A second underbridge walkway is planned for beneath the Wabash bridge. That work is tentatively scheduled to begin this fall.

Construction impacts

During construction, both the east and west sides of the Michigan bridge at the river level will have restricted access. Visitors to the McCormick Tribune Bridgehouse Museum will be able to enter the facility from Michigan Avenue; access to the west of the museum will be closed.

In August, the Michigan Avenue bridge will be closed temporarily during the overnight hours for several days. More information will be distributed and posted here once details are finalized.

The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2008.
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1008/rwlookingsouthwestyp7.jpg
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/2749/rwlookingeastta5.jpg

There is a construction barge parked on the river between Michigan and Wabash, presumably for start of the riverwalk. I dont have my damn camera unfortunately, but believe me its there!

Great news on the Riverwalk expansion. Yet another layer added to the downtown Chicago pedestrian experience

There's also quite a bit of construction activity at lower LOWER Wacker and Columbus. People, trucks and trailers.

There is a construction barge parked on the river between Michigan and Wabash, presumably for start of the riverwalk. I dont have my damn camera unfortunately, but believe me its there!

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f21/cbotnyse/trump/DSC_0065.jpg

Upgraded Riverwalk awash in beauty

September 1, 2008
BY CELESTE BUSK, Sun-times News Group

If you haven't been to the Chicago Riverwalk lately, it's time head to the Loop to enjoy the new and venerable attractions waiting for you along the river's edge.

To make Chicago's "second lakefront" - as Mayor Richard Daley calls it - more enjoyable, the city has been progressively working on a plan that envisions creating a continuous riverwalk on the south bank from Michigan Avenue to Lake Street. Already, you can start at Lake Shore Drive and head west to just about Wacker Drive. But you get stuck at the bridges.

To make the Chicago Riverwalk easier to navigate, the city is building walkways beneath the north side of the bridges to link existing riverwalk paths. The new connections will eliminate the pedestrian headache of running up a set of bridge-tower stairs, crossing the street and going back downstairs...

http://www.southtownstar.com/lifestyles/1132874,090108riverwalk.article

^^ The north bank is privately owned, but the public still is invited to walk along or sit and enjoy many private riverbank patios such as at the IBM Building, between State and Wabash.

But several of the north bank restaurants and cafes will not allow you entry unless you stop to dine or have a drink. But some of that will change in the future.

That's awesome. I have wondering if in the future there would be any cordinated efforts to better the north side of the river as well.

In particular I have been thinking about the ivy covered IBM plaza. Is the plaza itself under landmark restrictions? I think it could potentially make a great little niche space with retail built into the plaza instead of a now ivy wall and it would haven't to take up the whole plaza space.

Update by harryc:

Chicago Riverwalk work.

Jan 22
NOT an Ice Breaker. They were doing repeated runs at the ice, backing up, getting a running start, then buting in another 20ft or so, backing up, repeat .....
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SXxw05WBQmI/AAAAAAABECE/4nR2S0uCVxU/s800/P1210530.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SXxw2awILoI/AAAAAAABECQ/S1rltEEQulI/s800/P1210535.JPG

Jan 23
Michigan Ave.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SXxw4APhYjI/AAAAAAABECc/OwpL5ZghJ5g/s800/P1210637.JPG

Breaking and removing ice - a nice tool to have.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SXxw52TFKvI/AAAAAAABECo/oAl3aujdTVY/s800/P1210643.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SXxw72y2dOI/AAAAAAABEC0/mO17PFEl-f8/s800/P1210644.JPG

Footing being built on site (on barge)
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SXxw9PKzUMI/AAAAAAABEDA/YWXp1Grl5mE/s800/P1210675.JPG

Serious pumps - it appears that they will pump out the space between the sheet piles and the old wall at some point.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SXxw_DcjDFI/AAAAAAABEDM/JS1HVSV387Q/s800/P1210676.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SXxxBIehClI/AAAAAAABEDY/GhqnSzlMpyc/s800/P1210674.JPG

Old piles for old wall
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SXxxDfbZ41I/AAAAAAABEDk/OVk7KIUXAaM/s800/P1210673.JPG

Not so old piles (?)
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SXxxFZZ2XDI/AAAAAAABEDw/wwsolEShh-8/s800/P1210680.JPG

River bank is on the left
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SXxxHn47ypI/AAAAAAABED8/BRB0zAnzbI8/s800/P1210682.JPG

Michigan Ave bridge railing work.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SXxxJFOde6I/AAAAAAABEEM/YqUj79OAL7Y/s800/P1210678.JPG

Wabash, looking under state.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SXxxKkggIyI/AAAAAAABEEY/oH91QZlQ1Kg/s800/P1210772_0_1.jpg

Extending a drain pipe
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SXxxLhbjoyI/AAAAAAABEEk/vJKLgoqaQ_Y/s800/2009_01_23r.JPG

Feb 6
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SY9ekfGKDJI/AAAAAAABFuo/UkgXaX78Zu0/s800/P1240188.JPG

Feb 5 - forms in the water...
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SY9el9GoaOI/AAAAAAABFu0/mh2v2RN3a0U/s800/P1240136.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SY9enZzx7sI/AAAAAAABFvA/v32MQ4_zbO8/s800/P1240139.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SY9eo-bvYHI/AAAAAAABFvM/lG4z36-EWNI/s800/P1240140.JPG

.. ice on the side.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SY9er_EnhAI/AAAAAAABFvY/rRXbdIhEf_M/s800/P1240261_2_3.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SY9etV3ouWI/AAAAAAABFvk/Wsqz1sOKzZo/s800/P1240265.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SY9eupYJ-CI/AAAAAAABFvw/rfj7eyvfbm0/s800/P1240273.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SY9ev7RYegI/AAAAAAABFv8/qjgrrfx3eSU/s800/P1240275.JPG

SpyGuy posted this in SSC
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/9797/riverwalkgh5.jpg

A very busy site with multiple crews
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SZc-nyzFpdI/AAAAAAABGNk/aczsX-oVNBg/s800/P1250224.JPG

Tied into the bank.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SZc-b4L2SFI/AAAAAAABGMQ/m-npvWzObc4/s800/P1240746.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SZc-dY5zJLI/AAAAAAABGMc/pV_lTNGcVe4/s800/P1240750.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SZc-e2q5nNI/AAAAAAABGMo/6-eO0OjNdW4/s800/P1240836.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SZc-kMDpvpI/AAAAAAABGNM/e1XLCplrSN0/s800/P1240857.JPG

A well used barge
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SZc-gonSEJI/AAAAAAABGM0/hJxnw7QpIl4/s800/P1240838.JPG

Sfety - Safety - safety
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SZc-iskqp4I/AAAAAAABGNA/lkA44N_OTVw/s800/P1240851.JPG

Standing on fill - this was river just days ago.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SZc-l7EpK3I/AAAAAAABGNY/eodP2ZQqVAY/s800/P1250221.JPG

The old riverwall, 2 rows of pilings with a 3 deep set of planks inbetween.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SZc-pqrdpSI/AAAAAAABGNw/GE3qovbji4M/s800/P1250225.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SZc-rRHfYRI/AAAAAAABGN8/SZbLLVdNXCo/s800/P1250330.JPG

Pilings galore.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SZc-tAwwgDI/AAAAAAABGOI/HgKhoB8dhfY/s800/P1250247.JPG

Great update Harryc, thanks.

From last September
The smell of a wood fire is nice, but not downtown.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SO9RfUEmBTI/AAAAAAAA0hE/Lw3rkHFOOyg/s720/P1090199.JPG

This is from 6:50am, would appear that the pilings lit while the cap was being cut off/maintained.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SO9Rf79ZftI/AAAAAAAA0hQ/CvOqQ9bkP2E/s800/P1090200.JPG

Dried over the span of many many years, periodically soaked in creasote, capped with an impervious metal cover.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SO9RgGxSoGI/AAAAAAAA0hc/DVlZkBzeVtc/s800/P1090210.JPG

Still going an hour later
http://lh3.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SO9RgcKeyBI/AAAAAAAA0ho/2oJ003Ss5mk/s800/P1090310.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SO9Rgfk5ASI/AAAAAAAA0h0/vgPcbNodvyc/s800/P1090320.JPG

6:54am - note the oil sheen spreading out already.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SPDVgUPsi4I/AAAAAAAA0os/-w5X3LnC8mI/s800/P1090186.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SPDVWEVttpI/AAAAAAAA0nk/hWeoMUm6C5Y/s800/P1090338.JPG



http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SPDVcQpI8jI/AAAAAAAA0oU/LOu6UzcDBMY/s800/P1090358.JPG

The old casing
http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SPDVXp1TiGI/AAAAAAAA0nw/EQtOdctJJ4g/s800/P1090345.JPG


There was an asphalt cap.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SPDWk2xmaQI/AAAAAAAA0pM/esZ-creRnlI/s800/P1090350.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SPDVZJHFrlI/AAAAAAAA0n8/3FPcDu0up7k/s800/P1090369.JPG


Piling pulling stuff - this was on site before the fire.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SPDVezDjzpI/AAAAAAAA0og/tQZ8IGUX-Rw/s800/P1090361.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/harry.r.carmichael/SPDVa6y4kVI/AAAAAAAA0oI/yNlmb6Tg09k/s800/P1090395.JPG

Riverwalk floods after this weekends rains.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f21/cbotnyse/trump/DSC_0005edited.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f21/cbotnyse/trump/DSC_0004edited.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f21/cbotnyse/trump/DSC_0006edited.jpg

^^ That can't be a good sign.

^ But you'll notice that only the portion without a wall abutting the river is flooded. I'm assuming the entire riverwalk will be walled?

CBOT that is unreal

Feb 19
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9a3-gpKI/AAAAAAABH2g/duYfDkQpm6A/s800/P1260173.JPG

Feb 20
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9dZEnQZI/AAAAAAABH2w/bZenHcpQ2-E/s800/P1260387.JPG

Tote that barge
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9fHdWC2I/AAAAAAABH28/JnGoLYfY91E/s800/P1260400.JPG

Feb 23
Pumping E of Mich ave.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9hNLjroI/AAAAAAABH3I/5PV0JphE1zo/s800/P1260554.JPG

Old reating wall, and ice showing the river height before the pumping started.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9i8q09BI/AAAAAAABH3U/82Nt77NIR08/s800/P1260557.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9kq9qmwI/AAAAAAABH3g/87cAQhLWYY8/s800/P1260565_6_7.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9mdAncZI/AAAAAAABH3s/crS_Jj9DllU/s800/P1260570.JPG

Feb 25
Michigan Ave bridge
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9ogKzaLI/AAAAAAABH34/W7gR3hZw-i8/s800/P1270125.JPG

Wabash Bridge
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbQ9q_GSwfI/AAAAAAABH4E/azsOX4-2HcM/s800/P1270131_29_30.jpg

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Mar 5
A finished section of retaining wall
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZlfL2YwI/AAAAAAABH5k/Ajv_RCcmEr0/s800/P1270731.JPG

Forms and rebar in place
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZnP2rIyI/AAAAAAABH5w/GxY97fMYrDQ/s800/P1270740.JPG

Putting the forms in place
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZokXGkgI/AAAAAAABH58/KShTQZP8tPc/s800/P1270756.JPG

Old piles and wall being capped.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZtJd0PpI/AAAAAAABH6Y/grppaNu8G5c/s800/P1270815_3_4.jpg

Bricks used to space the rebar above the old piles
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZquOYkiI/AAAAAAABH6I/rXgnBy9NsmU/s800/P1270840.JPG

Detail of the old wall
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZvVOY9vI/AAAAAAABH6k/r6pJl3eJPuk/s800/P1270774_5_6.jpg

Fixing a hole where the river gets in.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZw6WdtVI/AAAAAAABH6w/pGmvyxc4DVI/s800/P1270781.JPG

The vault that was built on the barge in January ?
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZyvz3NyI/AAAAAAABH68/-3a2X7JNZ_0/s800/P1270786.JPG

E end pumped out showing old piles
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SbRZ04zibkI/AAAAAAABH7I/vaO35PuWCDs/s800/P1270825_6_7.jpg

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A good report on the process.

..http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-riverwalk-city-zonemar12,0,764986.story

Chicago river walk extension keeps rolling along
The latest phase of work to connect existing sections of riverfront pathways is expected to be done in June.
By Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah | Tribune staff reporter
March 12, 2009

Tourists crossing the Michigan Avenue bridge often find it a perfect spot to snap pictures or to marvel at how blue, not so blue or even green the water is below. But for some weeks now, pedestrians have been stopping in mid-stroll to stare at the commotion below.

The towering cranes on anchored barges, giant tubs of broken concrete, hoses pumping out cordoned sections of the Chicago River and thunderous hammering of steel piles being pounded 50 feet below the surface of the water are part of a project to complete a continuous river walk from Lake Michigan to State Street.

City officials expect the project to be completed by June.

"You can really see the progress of what's going on," said Todd Brown, 30, who was fascinated by the scene on a recent afternoon. "Rather than seeing a skyscraper being built, you have several platforms to watch."

Phillip Dixon said he had been noticing the progress but had no idea the work was to expand the river walk.

"I never thought to use the river walk," said Dixon, 34, a salesman. "I might use it now once the expansion is done."

The project involves filling in the pieces to create a seamless walk along the river downtown. Gaps in the existing river walk between State Street and Michigan Avenue will be filled with 17-foot-wide "under-bridges," said Michelle Woods, project manager for the Chicago Department of Transportation.

"What we have currently is more of a river climb than a river walk," Woods said. The walkway currently ends abruptly at various junctures, forcing people to take the stairs. "This will allow you to have a continuous path from State Street to the lakefront."

Officials hope the river walk will incorporate more retail, entertainment, restaurants and recreational activities, such as bike rentals and public art displays.

The current walkway boasts a handful of restaurants and the Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum at the southwest tower of the Michigan Avenue bridge. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, on the river walk between Wabash Avenue and State Street, was completed in 2005 and has become a popular lunchtime destination during the summer.

Members of the Chicago Riverwalk Development Committee, made up of business and civic leaders, are waiting to see what the river walk extension will look like before suggesting the amenities they'd like to see, said committee member Holly Agra, president of Chicago's First Lady Cruises.

"We've sort of been the lone rangers down there on the river for many years along with Wendella ," Agra said. "It's just exciting to see the progress of the construction and see the city planning to make the Chicago River a destination within a destination."

The $22 million price tag for this phase of the project, financed through the Central Loop tax increment financing district, increased by several hundred thousand dollars from the contract bid because of unanticipated construction costs, said CDOT spokesman Brian Steele. The bid itself was roughly double the city's original estimate of $10 million to $12 million in 2002.

Steele said early estimates had tagged the cost of the entire project at $50 million, but increases in fuel, steel and construction costs will put it higher. [B]He said he could not estimate how much higher, however, until after designs for the next phase of the project—extending the river walk to Lake Street—get under way later this year.......
More in Link.....

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/Sb1i-ASjmAI/AAAAAAABIZY/oFqeBE06Bm8/s800/P1280456.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/Sb1i_QFCUnI/AAAAAAABIZk/ykPicNGccHY/s800/P1280464.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/Sb1jBeHuh7I/AAAAAAABIZw/8Ne0Y5NZX90/s720/P1280467.JPG

March 11
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/Sdkm5TtB-3I/AAAAAAABJuo/27aejLEns8U/s800/P1280515.JPG

March 17
Plates the rc will lock into.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SdknC11RXzI/AAAAAAABJu0/Qg-VFFaxioc/s800/P1290194.JPG

March 27
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SdknS-r6RQI/AAAAAAABJvA/XmQgy7SzWx4/s720/P1310054.JPG

March 30
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SdknUeIUisI/AAAAAAABJxo/3787BFSPJlk/s800/P1310397.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/Sdkn_bsKX3I/AAAAAAABJvs/hZ6dqb3UU78/s800/P1310400.JPG

April 02
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SdkoBlDyIkI/AAAAAAABJv4/hMro2zKy6dw/s720/P1310704.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SdkoDEWhcaI/AAAAAAABJwE/TztFzQ_LjG0/s800/P1310705.JPG

An Ironworker test the wall for proper leaning height.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SdkoEgfYi_I/AAAAAAABJwQ/WbliWDOjGBg/s720/P1310707.JPG

Well protected cable run.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SdkoGl7X_AI/AAAAAAABJwc/wVZVw-1H7xQ/s720/P1310710.JPG

Screen to protect the walkway from debris coming through the bridge deck above.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SdkoJDqqDgI/AAAAAAABJw4/lcFnqzm_7N4/s800/P1310725_6_7.jpg

Seems a bit of overkill. this would hold a small car.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SdkoH8awo6I/AAAAAAABJws/MV7eWms4kF0/s720/P1310712.JPG

riverwalk dips to go under Michigan Ave.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SdkoLDxaNzI/AAAAAAABJxE/6VxEh0fp5KM/s800/P1310728_29_30.jpg

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Yea, I saw those as well, pretty amazing stuff. Though cool I am weary of such redundant mega-projects even as cool looking as those. I am guessing these renders/ideas are pretty old and am not sure how likely we are to see either the riverwalk/Franklin Point to come to fruition but they are intreasting indeed. Now that I think about it I do want to see I have seen these all before someplace else around here but its always intreasting to take another look...

Here are the Franklin Point renders......
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/page.html
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/4.jpg
http://www.cordoganclark.com/projects/master_planning/chicago_development/5.jpg

Is this north or south of River City?

I'm guessing just to the north, since that's where Franklin dead ends, at Harrison. To the south of River City is predominately the Roosevelt Collection.

I'm guessing just to the north, since that's where Franklin dead ends, at Harrison. To the south of River City is predominately the Roosevelt Collection.

Yes, that was intended for the area bordered by Wells, the River, Harrison, and River City. It was a conceptual plan done by Cordogan, Clark that I dont even think was commissioned to do the work. It is dead.

Some good progress. Looks like the concrete is done.

East of MI Ave bridge:
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/9190/riverwalk1.jpg
West of MI Ave bridge:
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/2497/riverwalk2.jpg
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/4926/riverwalk3.jpg

Are there plans for some planters/trees when the main construction is done? Because right now it seems kinda harshly concrete.

Yes. You can actually figure out the planting areas in the pics above.

A small rendering from cityofchicago.org:
http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_EDITORIAL/riverwalkplan2_2.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SgTlKPKj2zI/AAAAAAABLfA/Z0_xUFZuIXM/s800/P1360518.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SgTlM5Qil5I/AAAAAAABLfQ/yFs3dXV2QSE/s800/P1360492.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SgTmCu4G8oI/AAAAAAABLf4/_lmjaEuBZbs/s800/P1360492-1.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SgTlLaDXPzI/AAAAAAABLfI/-SCz3jhuAiU/s800/P1360522.JPG

The pipe being attached, as I was leaving they were rigging up a rope so the guy on the barge could hold it suspended for the diver.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SgTlNeheKjI/AAAAAAABLfY/Rpy4sThkBO8/P1360499.JPG

Lighting ( May 8 )
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/ShBR8krUeXI/AAAAAAABMGw/LNpgTFPWjKE/s800/P1360699.JPG

Big flower pot ( May 14 )
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/ShBR97vavrI/AAAAAAABMG4/BnV2WXhoD88/s720/P1370133.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/ShBR_7UvcLI/AAAAAAABMHA/bU6ykouDYsg/s800/P1370137.JPG

Just east of MI Ave bridge about done:
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1689/riverwalk0529091.jpg

An O'Brien's opening soon, in the shadow of Trump (assume it's the same owners as the one on Wells in Old Town):
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/8140/riverwalk0529092.jpg

An O'Brien's opening soon, in the shadow of Trump (assume it's the same owners as the one on Wells in Old Town):
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/8140/riverwalk0529092.jpg

That would be them... a very politically connected family.

I'm sure it was a completely fair and open process for them to get that location...

It doesn't actually sound like that great a location.

I guess time will tell, but I'm still in the Jane Jacobs-school of this riverwalk being aesthetically nice, but potentially out of the realm of everyday foot traffic, which is essential for any businesses there.

I agree with you. Walking along Wacker, you hardly notice there's another level along the river. The tourists, of course, will seek it out, and anyone who takes an architecture boat tour will be exposed to it. But it's going to take some time for people to learn that there's something down there besides empty concrete and and great views of Lower Wacker traffic. Hopefully, the businesses will be able to advertise at street level, but not be tacky about it.

It doesn't look like boats will be able to tie up in front of O'Brian's, but that could certainly bring more life to the river. Who wouldn't want to cruise down the river in the evening and grab a few drinks? Works in Florida.

It doesn't actually sound like that great a location.

I guess time will tell, but I'm still in the Jane Jacobs-school of this riverwalk being aesthetically nice, but potentially out of the realm of everyday foot traffic, which is essential for any businesses there.

where have you been? o'brien's has been in that location along the river for at least a couple summers now and doing well from the times i've been down there. it's a great place to enjoy a beer and a burger on a nice summer evening. and the increased traffic from a better connected riverwalk will only make business better for them i'm sure.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SjQ8VN9KdeI/AAAAAAABNWA/95gAAyqxg3A/s800/P1400790.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SjQ8XK9BlkI/AAAAAAABNWI/vcGJAouEoEU/s800/P1400798.JPG

..http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-riverwalk-kamin-28-jun28,0,2655020.story

City's second waterfront
Riverwalk improved, but hurdles remain
Blair Kamin Cityscapes
June 28, 2009

It was lunchtime downtown and Justin Grant felt like sunning himself. But instead of heading to a tanning spa, the 23-year-old sales manager left his office building and strolled to the newest stretch of Chicago's riverwalk, where he stripped off his blue shirt and stretched out on a concrete bench.

"This is a great place to come," Grant said. "You can watch the boats go by."

In recent weeks, scores of walkers, joggers, bicyclists and others have discovered the riverwalk that just opened on the Chicago River's south bank. Stretching from east of the Michigan Avenue Bridge to Wabash Avenue, with an extension to State Street due to wrap up in early July, the handsome, people-friendly public space marks the latest step in Mayor Richard Daley's ambitious drive to make the riverfront a prime public space downtown and in the city's outlying neighborhoods.

Think of it as a new lakefront. A completed riverwalk would offer much-needed open space for tens of thousands of office workers and downtown apartment dwellers. And it would let you do along the riverfront what you can do along most of the lakefront: walk, bike or jog without interruption, enjoying the water along the way.

Yet there are obstacles, including the need to obtain millions of dollars in federal funds to bankroll city-controlled portions of the project. An equally daunting hurdle: the city's reliance on real estate developers to deliver improvements on the vast majority of riverfront land, which is privately owned.
While the three-tiered riverwalk at the base of Donald Trump's 92-story hotel and condominium tower is heading for completion in late summer or early fall, the recession has put other notable riverfront projects -- and their amenities -- on hold. Among them: the 150-story Chicago Spire, which was tied to the construction of a riverfront plaza and a new Du Sable Park at the river's mouth.

Still, the overall course that planners are taking seems right. They wisely are not aiming to create a Frost Belt version of San Antonio's famous yet heavily commercialized River Walk, which is lined by shops, bars and restaurants. They seek, instead, to complement Chicago's vibrant downtown with a riverwalk where you can find food and drink, but also "go down and touch nature," said Richard Wilson of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the Chicago firm that is preparing a long-range plan for the river.

Chicago was born by the river and named for the wild onion plants that once thrived on its banks. But in the boom years of the 19th Century, businessmen turned the river into an artery of commerce and a sewer for dumping industrial waste. The river became a forbidding trench, an "On the Waterfront" landscape of piers, bulkheads and bollards for tying up ships. Buildings turned their backs to it

"That was a tough place," said Tim Samuelson, the City of Chicago's cultural historian. "It was all about business."

The new riverwalk, on the other hand, is all about pleasure, even if it has not come cheap. Funded through the Central Loop tax-increment financing district, the Michigan-to-State stretch is expected to cost about $22 million, which works out to roughly $16,755 per foot of waterfront. That's roughly double the original estimate, an increase that the project's sponsor, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), attributes to soaring costs for fuel, steel and construction.

Still, as designed by Chicago architect Carol Ross Barney and her associate John Fried, the riverwalk combines engineering muscle and architectural elan to make a more welcoming waterfront.

Built atop steel piles and concrete landfill, the project plugs gaps in the existing riverwalk with new pathways, 17 feet wide, that slide beneath the Michigan Avenue and Wabash Avenue Bridges. Pedestrians no longer have to climb stairs to street level to get from one section of the river walk to another. Once the Wabash-to-State section opens, there will be a continuous waterfront pathway from "That Great Street" to Lake Michigan.

The architects have nicely outfitted the riverwalk with simple concrete benches and see-through stainless steel railings that let you lean out over the water, even if you can't quite touch it. East of Michigan Avenue, there are boulders to sit on, and west of Michigan, the riverwalk gracefully loops around a waterfront restaurant that has the de rigueur umbrella-topped tables.

The best stroke, however, comes in the spectacular canopies that protect riverwalk pedestrians from trash falling from the bridges above. As you pass beneath them, the canopies' stainless steel shingles create a mirror effect, brilliantly reflecting the waters of the river, the people beneath it, even boats going by. Instead of under-bridge fear, you get under-bridge delight.

"It's like a linear Bean," said Andrew Gleeson, a senior architect at the Chicago firm of Murphy/Jahn as he ate lunch along the new riverwalk. He was referring, of course, to the " Cloud Gate" sculpture, also known as the Bean, in Millennium Park.

While this stretch of river walk has faults, including some areas with too much concrete, it nonetheless sets a high standard for future riverwalk development. In the next couple of weeks, the city hopes to advertise a request for proposals for the State-to-Lake Street portion of the riverwalk, according to Michelle Woods, the CDOT project manager who oversaw the new riverwalk.

And during the summer, the architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill will present to the Chicago Plan Commission a long-range "framework plan" for the 1.3-mile-long trunk of the river between Lake Street and Lake Michigan.

The plan, still in draft form, calls for creating four "identity districts" along the river, according to Wilson, who is urban planning practice leader for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Among them would be a new chunk of green space at the confluence of the river's North and South Branches that would extend 50 feet into the water and feature a restaurant or some other "destination amenity."

That vision, perhaps too commercial, is a vast leap from what you see now if you peer down from the bend in Wacker Drive toward the river's edge: a lifeless dock, strewn with trash, where a homeless man rested on a sleeping bag one recent morning.

The city is smartly concentrating on the south bank of the river because it controls the land there. The north bank, in contrast, is primarily in the hands of private owners, as is most of Chicago's other riverfront land. Because of the recession, that land is unlikely to be developed for years, meaning that architects' visions of fishermen and strollers on riverwalks along the North and South Branches also won't be realized anytime soon.

Still, a pause offers time to think and plan. And as the lakefront reveals, it can take decades, if not generations, to transform a city's mind-set and map.......................

http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/1676100,CST-NWS-riverwalk21.article

City solicits designs for riverwalk, lacks money to build
July 21, 2009

BY FRAN SPIELMAN

Now that Chicago has filled in the "missing links" in the Wacker Drive riverwalk, it's time to design the rest -- even though the city still doesn't have the money to build it.

The Daley administration has issued a "request for proposals" from firms interested in designing the final phase of the San Antonio-style riverwalk -- the six-block stretch between State and Lake streets.

Short youtube video on the River Walk. No new info though.


Chicago Riverwalk

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Chicago_Riverwalk

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^ Thanks for finding those

Does anybody know if more of those open arches will be turned into storefronts? Some look pretty shallow for that purpose, but it looks like the ones on that ramp above the restaurant might be put to some purpose.

^^ You are right. Some look like they would be a very tight squeeze for any kind of restaurant or store. Still I hope they find some excuse to enclose any that don't have the room and put some lightening or display in them because an empty hole looking out in on Lower Wacker doesn't exactly project tranquillity.

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=12265

SOM's designs for a revamped public space in the Windy City

This plan also includes conceptual designs for a new focal point feature, activity space and green amenity at the river confluence, a new public market under Wacker Drive and new pedestrian bridge to link both sides of the river east of Columbus Drive.
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/8910/12265chicagoriverwalk38.jpg
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/4935/122651chicago20riverwal.jpg
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/78/122652chicago20riverwal.jpg
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/1552/122653chicago20riverwal.jpg

One word - 'Wow'

It is so desperately needed and anything is an improvement. The pubic market sounds intriguing...

Spyguy- thanks for the the info.

Is this anything for real? Or is SOM just flexing its urban design muscles for its own sake?

Even if they're just flexing their design muscles, I still say thank you for doing it...haha. This looks awesome!

http://chicagoismynewblog.wordpress.com

One word - 'Wow'

It is so desperately needed and anything is an improvement. The pubic market sounds intriguing...

Spyguy- thanks for the the info.

Lol do you mean public haha

Chicago Riverwalk Main Branch Framework Plan - SOM (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CAYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fegov.cityofchicago.org%2Fwebportal%2FCOCWebPortal%2FCOC_EDITORIAL%2Fmainbranchframeworkplan.pdf&rct=j&q=%22mainbranchframeworkplan%22&ei=VXeqS66bL5TUNPuEgfEC&usg=AFQjCNFQOSHtGiDLXix4Rjh6YHLeBQ9XEA) (***PDF***)

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/994/mainbranchframeworkplan.jpg
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/994/mainbranchframeworkplan.jpg

Market District
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/994/mainbranchframeworkplan.jpg
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/994/mainbranchframeworkplan.jpg

New pedestrian bridge
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/994/mainbranchframeworkplan.jpg
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/994/mainbranchframeworkplan.jpg

I know they're redoing Wacker right now, are these plans going to be implemented along with that?

is that SOM plan a vision or is that actually what they're using going forward for the river walk work?

Mere ideas.

ardecila on SSP posted this image of a bike station next to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/2237/riverwalkbs.jpg

North Loop riverwalk plan moves ahead (http://mayor.cityofchicago.org/etc/medialib/mayor/press_room1/press_releases/press_release_pdfs/2010_city_council0.Par.21098.File.dat/1103DZPRiverwalkPass.pdf) (***PDF***)

Mayor Richard M. Daley's vision for a continuous walkway along the Chicago River took a step forward today with the City Council's approval to finance its design and engineering along the Main Branch.

The $3.2 million measure will create a plan for new open spaces, overlooks, underbridge connections and walkways along the river's south bank between State and Lake streets.

"The Chicago River is a natural extension of the city's lakefront and the riverwalk will enable more residents, workers and visitors to enjoy it as a natural resource," Mayor Daley said.

Last year, the first phase of the riverwalk opened below the Michigan Avenue and State Street bridges. Its extension to Lake Street will run below five additional bridges, making it possible to walk from Lake Michigan to the western edge of Chicago's Loop without interruption.

Design work will be paid with Open Space Impact Fees. Total construction cost is estimated at $55 million. Expected to include state and federal sources, the construction funds could be fully identified by the time design work is completed, possibly next year. Development would start some time after that.
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So if this is being extended all the way to Lake Street they'll have to address the issue of what to do in front of 333 W Wacker. All of the previous concepts envisioned some kind of signature building at that intersection.

^^ Awesome news. Sometimes I worry that in an economy like this that this type of project may get pushed to the side.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-chicago-river-boathouses-20110920,0,602610.story

City to build 4 boathouses on Chicago River

Emanuel announces plans for facilities on north and south branches

By Michael Hawthorne, Tribune reporter

September 20, 2011

For the last 11 years, Ryan Chew has been one of a handful of entrepreneurs and enthusiasts who set up kayak liveries along the Chicago River — a business once unthinkable for a waterway turned into a sewage canal.

Chew's Chicago River Canoe and Kayak has drawn thousands of people willing to dip a paddle into an urban waterway that was reversed away from Lake Michigan more than a century ago to separate the city's waste from its source of drinking water. Today it's not uncommon to see clusters of kayaks meandering past downtown skyscrapers and navigating through tree-lined stretches on the North Side...........

Now the city of Chicago is getting into the act, joining a slow-but-steady movement to increase access to the river and build support to improve water quality. Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Monday that four new boathouses will be built along the waterway that will feature kayak rentals and storage as well as concessions, similar to gathering spots along Lake Michigan.

In a sign of how attitudes about the river have changed, one of the structures will be located at a new park along Bubbly Creek, a particularly nasty stretch on the western edge of Bridgeport where offal and carcasses from the Union Stockyards were dumped for more than a century.

Bubbles still rise up from benthic gunk caked on the bottom, but the mostly straight channel has become a popular practice spot for high school and college rowing teams.

The other boathouses — built for an estimated $4 million each with equal shares of city funds and private donations — will go up in Ping Tom Park in Chinatown, Clark Park in North Center and River Park in Ravenswood.........MORE
...


http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/graphic/2011-09/64873720.jpg

Any updates on the public market under Wacker, or has that been scrapped?

Nice to read that there are developments like this..Hope those areas would keep having a progress..