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Roosevelt Collection Development News

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#1 · (Edited)
Height: Unknown
Floor count: 40, 45
Location:
Construction end:
Architect: Centrum Properties, Inc.
Developer: RTKL Associates Inc., Hirsch & Associates Inc.

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Rising up along Roosevelt
12-acre project will add high-rise and loft condos, smaller retail spaces in South Loop, where residential development is surging

By Susan Diesenhouse
Tribune staff reporter
Published November 4, 2006

A Chicago developer is set to kick off an approximately $900 million mixed-use project in the South Loop that should accelerate residential development and introduce a new type of retailing to an area where freight railroads and industry once thrived.

On Nov. 16, Centrum Properties Inc. will begin marketing the first phase of the project, called the Roosevelt Collection, which, when finished, will comprise as many as 1,000 condominiums, parking for 1,700 cars, a 2.5-acre park and about 400,000 square feet of retail space.

One industry observer says the development is a "big risk," but Centrum says the project will create a new 12-acre neighborhood of housing and small-shop retailing that will help tie together this submarket on the southern edge of downtown.

"We're going to build a town center for the South Loop," said Solomon Barket, a partner in Centrum. "The retail will be a lifestyle center that caters to families."

The condominiums will be priced from $290,000 to $600,000, and Barket expects the project to draw buyers mostly from other city locations. Shoppers likely will come from Centrum residences downtown and from the suburbs to the west and south.

Early in 2007, the three-year construction project will start on three levels of above-ground parking, topped by an 800-foot-long, 200-foot wide promenade. Some informal dining will run through the walkway's center.

Along the sides will sit two stories of retail filled with about 45 shops selling clothing, accessories and home goods, as well as restaurants and a 16-screen multiplex cinema featuring lounges with waiter service. Rising six stories above the shops will be 360 loft-style condominiums.

On the northern edge of this cluster of homes and shopping will be a 40-story condominium high-rise on a circular piazza that leads to the 2.5-acre park. Farther north will be a 45-story condominium high-rise.

In 1991, before the recent surge in residential development, downtown Chicago had about 48,000 housing units, including about 4,500 in the South Loop. Now, the downtown housing supply has more than doubled, to approximately 100,000, with about 13,500 units in the South Loop.

But by 2009, when construction on the entire Roosevelt Collection is scheduled to be completed, a surge of 6,500 new condominiums will have come onto the South Loop market, said Gail Lissner, a vice president of Appraisal Research Counselors, an appraisal and consulting firm.

While sales competition could be fierce, "Roosevelt should have a [marketing] edge with its lifestyle center," she said.

But by building the first retail center of small shops in a neighborhood blanketed more with so-called big-box stores, Centrum will be pioneering a new retail niche, a move that presents rewards as well as risks, said Dennis Shubert, a real estate economist for Boston-based Portfolio Property Research.

"This is a huge project, and these guys are willing to be aggressive because they probably got the land at a discount, which means significant margins," Shubert said.

Barket declined to say how much Centrum agreed to pay for the site. The company plans to close on the property in the first quarter of 2007.

Barket said Centrum plans to borrow about 80 percent of the total project cost and invest the remainder as equity.

Trying to establish a new retail destination is tricky, said Shubert. "The big risk is being the first kid on the block in an area that still has an element of dead after dark."

But Chicago-based retail broker Jacqueline Hayes is more optimistic. "The whole area is underserved and shoppers will come from farther afield," she said.

Hayes, owner of Jacqueline Hayes & Associates Ltd., added a caveat: "The mix of stores has to be right and the design first-class."

Shubert said another possible obstacle Centrum faces is selling condominiums with today's higher interest rates and Chicago apartment rents that are still relatively low.

"If rents don't pick up, there's no incentive to buy," he said.

Centrum might have room to maneuver. If it did acquire the land at a low price, Schubert said, it might be able to develop a unit for about $185,000 and sell it for perhaps $350,000.

But Barket and his partner, John McLinden, think their 767- to 1,432-square-foot condominiums, most of which are priced at less than $400,000, will sell well among young professionals who work downtown and a few somewhat older suburbanites who want a city hideaway.

Designed by architects RTKL Associates Inc. of Dallas and Hirsch & Associates Inc. of Chicago, the residences will feature 10-foot ceilings, balconies, hardwood floors and views of the city and Lake Michigan.

Centrum has a long track record of residential and mixed-use projects in Chicago, Florida, San Francisco, St. Louis, Boston and Washington, D.C. In Chicago, it is building CityFront Plaza, a $700 million luxury project with 1,000 residential condominiums and a hotel in three towers just east of Michigan Avenue.

Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune
 
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#247 ·
Another H&M? Really? I suppose it makes sense with all of the college students around, but given the H&M on State and Mich Ave, coupled with the (2) Forever 21s and new Charlotte Russe, it'd be nice to put a minor halt on these types of shops.

Heck, I like to save a dollar or two, but at the same time, can't we get more unique retailers aside from the same discount chain? I know Zara is coming to Mich Ave, but I'd love to see them close by. Zara's received rave reviews for its phenom quick turnaround when it comes to trends and even had a Harvard business case written up about them.

Last tidbit: given the amount of families and new couples moving in to the area, I'd hope to see stores like Ann Taylor, GAP, etc.
 
#253 ·
We are not starting anything soon on that land. We moved Financial, Taylor and 9th to allow for the park and for CDOT to install the street and utilities. Specifically, I moved Financial to the west b/ CDOT requested it due to certain underground utility issues. They are bringing an 8' main down new financial.
 
#267 ·
Well, there is a webcam (link at the top of the page) that gives a really nice overview of what's going on.

The Roosevelt Collection site is outside the normal "beat" for the regular photographers, and the Roosevelt overpass is BRUTALLY cold and windy at this time of year, since it's so barren.
 
#269 ·
Roosevelt Collection will have an intersection with Roosevelt at 150W, or approximately LaSalle Street. This will be from the Roosevelt Road level, and will be the main retailing level.

The parking garage will also have entries from Wells Street, down on ground level.

Construction is up to the second retail level, but it's snowing too much to get a good picture right now:

 
#273 ·
CDOT has on their website a page for Wells Street reconstruction. It rebuilds 9th Street up to the Metra viaduct on both the east and west sides. This is planned to be finished by late summer. Once it's done, then CDOT will probably begin to plan for underpass construction.
 
#278 ·
I visited the sales center last week and was very impressed. I was told the high rise section is currently being considered rental given the mortgage environment. The scale model is really well done. I did not have my camera with me unfortunately.
So, to the best of your knowledge, the highrise portion is moving forward and will be a part of this phase?
 
#279 ·
A few clarifications if anyone knows the answers...

1. CDOT says they are adding a left turn lane for southbound traffic onto Taylor from Wells... where does this go to? The parking garage at the RC? It almost looks like it will line up with the south end of the park, but I expect it to go right into the parking garage.

2. CDOT shows some work along Clark including widening the street and the sidewalk for a small section near AMLI's project. Does anyone know the details of the AMLI project? Do they plan to extend this from PL to PL or do they plan to keep the 6' walk at their property lines.

3. Does anyone know any plans for CTA lines along Clark now that 1,000s of units (triple towers at Clark/Polk, Amli, Burnham Pointe, dorms, D3's project) will be added there plus the added population along Wells (RC)?

4. When discussing high rises for RC, are we discussing the high rise at the NW corner of the RC (SW corner of the park) or the stand-alone tower at Financial and Polk? I really like that tower and how it does a great job hiding the parking podium, maintaining views/sunlight for the neighbors, and a lot of open space.

5. Anyone know what the story is with the property south of the Paper building? It looks like with the relocation of Financial, the lot has only about 100' from public way to public way. That is not enough to get two bays of parking (very ineifficent for parking garage/podium) and likely will result in lack of interest for the property (it has been for sale for a long time). It seems inevitable that it will now be a surface lot for a very long time.
 
#281 · (Edited)
5. Anyone know what the story is with the property south of the Paper building? It looks like with the relocation of Financial, the lot has only about 100' from public way to public way. That is not enough to get two bays of parking (very ineifficent for parking garage/podium) and likely will result in lack of interest for the property (it has been for sale for a long time). It seems inevitable that it will now be a surface lot for a very long time.
^ Well, a building without a podium could be built, with either below grade parking or (gasp!) no parking. I'm sure the latter is not fathomable given the prevailing assumption that cars absolutely must be accommodated everywhere, but it's indeed very possible, desirable, and should be encouraged (although it obviously won't be).
 
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