Greektown project gets downsized
By David Roeder and Fran Spielman
Feb 16, 2011 5:20AM

http://www.suntimes.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=AGM3IxzMTEYGslC9pDMR6s$daE2N3K4ZzOUsqbU5sYvryd3qGuPM4e15JBXcsxp6WCsjLu883Ygn4B49Lvm9bPe2QeMKQdVeZmXF$9l$4uCZ8QDXhaHEp3rvzXRJFdy0KqPHLoMevcTLo3h8xh70Y6N_U_CryOsw6FTOdKL_jpQ-&CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg

A development team has reduced the size of a planned commercial project in Greektown in hopes of getting support to rezone the property.

The venture still plans a building with a Mariano’s grocery store at the northwest corner of Halsted and Monroe. It has reduced the size of the building by about a third, to 87,000 square feet.

Also still on the drawing boards is a high-rise on Madison just west of Halsted. But it, too, has gone through downsizing to 22 stories in the current proposal, compared with an earlier push for 30 stories.

http://www.suntimes.com/business/3841437-417/greektown-projectgets-downsized.html

^22 stories doesn't sound to bad, especially combined with the 1 S Halsted project.

According to the Sun-Times (http://www.suntimes.com/business/3842036-420/aldi-shopping-plaza-for-other-michigan-avenue.html), 948 West Fulton was bought by the owner of 555, a company that specializes in designing the interiors of trendy restaurants and clubs. I'd assume that they're planning on converting this building and doing the same.

Also, I keep forgetting to post pictures of the new Threadless HQ (formerly FedEx).

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/6185/51989109084fa6f1a444b.jpg
Threadless 365/ flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threadless365/5198910908/)

I'm surprised that Crain's or someone else didn't make a big deal out of this yet:

It looks like Wal-Mart will [try to?] build a new "neighborhood market" store in Presidential Towers in the West Loop. According to BidClerk, the store will be about 26,000 sf. With that in mind, the likely location is on the corner of Monroe and Jefferson where the now closed Presidential Market once stood.

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/7156/p1010909k.jpg

Hello, there is a new commercial building going up at 901 W. Washington, formerly occupied by Tryad Automotive.

Project Details:
http://www.4240architecture.com/projects/view/7/8/60

"This 7,500 sf law office provides bankruptcy law services to the general public, helping those in need take the first steps towards rebuilding their lives.

The bold design is rich with sustainable design elements and presents a smart,modern aesthetic that is immediately impressive, but also friendly to staff and clients alike.

4240 has taken inspiration from the automotive repair shop that had previously occupied the site and related the treatment of bankruptcy to auto repair. The design of this law office focuses on the garage bay and spatial lanes as a means of organization.

Both client and attorney follow the 'lanes of service', coming together at the threshold between the public and semi-public zones where the attorneys diagnose debt related issues and implement preventative maintenance measures to help alleviate the realities of a problematic situation."

^ Nice design, and it sure beats a vacant lot.

But I don't like this trend of putting little green spaces between the building and the sidewalk. That's a very suburban touch that I really don't think belongs in the city. This building would have been perfectly fine flush with the sidewalk.

The screen in front of the parking on the side is a nice touch.

Not sure how much (if any) exterior work to be done, but a new restaurant is going to be occupying the Marche space:

http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/2011/03/old-town-social-team-sets-its-sights-on-randolph-street.html

New development... construction has already started from what I could tell

From www.facebook.com/westlooprealtor

ANNOUNCING 1300 W. MADISON - WEST LOOP!!! Phase 1 Construction at 6 N. Throop St. has begun: 1,700sf 3 Bed / 2 Bath Units from $460,000. 2,000 sf 3 Bed / 2 Bath Duplex-up Penthouse Units with Dramatic Skyline Views from $565,000. Intimate 6-Unit Elevator Building with Garage Parking Included. Premium Finishes, Prime West Loop Location, Late 2011 Delivery, 10% Pre-Construction Discount Pricing. CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR MORE PROJECT DETAILS AND UPDATES.

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/200210_203399363012882_191359107550241_733286_1628219_n.jpg

^Nice and pretty big

^ Nice design, and it sure beats a vacant lot.

But I don't like this trend of putting little green spaces between the building and the sidewalk. That's a very suburban touch that I really don't think belongs in the city. This building would have been perfectly fine flush with the sidewalk.

The screen in front of the parking on the side is a nice touch.

I'll get the concrete, you bring the shovels...

But I don't like this trend of putting little green spaces between the building and the sidewalk. That's a very suburban touch that I really don't think belongs in the city. This building would have been perfectly fine flush with the sidewalk.

I actually like it, and I think it's a good thing. Greenery doesn't necessarily equate to suburban, in my book. "Urbs in Horto," after all....

^it does if you already have a large quantity of it or its the only building on the block with an excess amount of it...

All for Urbs in Horto, but I'd rather see a little slice of green between street and sidewalk than sidewalk and building

According to the Chicago Architecture Blog, Old Saint Pat's is finally building its office tower: http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info/2011/05/24/old-saint-patricks-church-to-build-office-tower/

http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/OldSaintPatsTower1.jpg


http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Screen-shot-2011-05-24-at-Tuesday-24-May-2011-@-7.48.30-am-Central-Daylight-Time1.jpg

Looks like the design for the Old Saint Patrick's Tower is going to change, and they might build it where the park is now.

http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info/2011/05/26/west-loop-tower-opposition-could-change-design-landscape/

$7 million TIF goes to Greektown grocery

By: Frank Kalman July 12, 2011

The 95,125-square-foot project would be anchored by Mariano's, which is a new line of grocery stores by Milwaukee-based Roundy's Supermarkets Inc. Mariano's would take 75,595 square feet of space on the second level of the three-story structure.

Read more: http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20110712/CRED03/110719959/-7-million-tif-goes-to-greektown-grocery#ixzz1S0TVhNh6
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564 W Randolph
Vacant office building that Sterling Bay is renovating
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/2379/1612site3rdcam3.jpg
http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/2263/1612sitelobby3rd.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/6572/1612site3rdcam2.jpg

Was at a community meeting last night hosted by Alderman Burnett re: a proposed development for the NW corner of Madison / Racine.

It would be a 9 story, 250+ apartment building with retail on the first floor. Architect is Fitzgerald.

I can't post pics on this forum yet, but did find a rendering of the next-to-last iteration online - it is slide 36 of the slideshow below . . .

http://www.slideshare.net/randydeutsch/Deutsch-Portfolio-09

Looks like your typical big West Loop corner building. Was hoping for something a bit more interesting with different elevations / smaller individual buildings cluster instead of just another big box. Also, seems like a lot of apartment developments in the area at about the same time.

Some recent press:

http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2011/12/01/partners-in-the-redesign-of-1.php

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20111202/CRED03/111209941/luxury-apartments-planned-for-west-loop

Not a fan.

^^ I thought it was okay at first, but people posted some interesting POV's in that Curbed article. The one that suggested several buildings -rather than a single bulky one- was a POV I'd agree with.

I didn't know West Loop community folks were so anti-density. Kind of odd to be so anti-density in an area that's perfect for high density...even a requirement I would say for West Loop. It's a total waste of space to not densify West Loop. Opposing density here would make as much sense as people in Miami organizing an anti-tropical climate rally.