CHICAGO | Wolf Point | 950ft | 80 fl | 750ft | 60 fl | 525ft | 50 fl | Pro

[iloveclassicrock7]

Originally Posted by netgeek77

Is a new wave of building boom going on in Chicago?

I would say it's a mini boom. Tons of buildings between 100-200m, several between 200-300, and a possible 300m+

It would be considered a big boom in any city but NY or Chicago though. There are some incredible developments going on though like Wolf Point. They are finally filling in the midpoint of the river, so Wolf Point and River point are huge for Chi town.

[netgeek77]

Here's what I am aware of so far.

-Wolf points (3 towers)
-River point (444 W Lake)
-111 W Wacker (former Waterview)
-The Coast
-One South Halsted (50+ stories??)
-500 N LSD
-there's a construction behind ronald mcdonald's house, not sure what it is??

[iloveclassicrock7]

Originally Posted by netgeek77

Here's what I am aware of so far.

-Wolf points (3 towers)
-River point (444 W Lake)
-111 W Wacker (former Waterview)
-The Coast
-One South Halsted (50+ stories??)
-500 N LSD
-there's a construction behind ronald mcdonald's house, not sure what it is??

There are a lot more buildings then that. Look here - http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1512283

[jamichelson]

I think Chicago is the city with the best (most beautiful, interesting, well designed) skyscrapers. I wonder how long the boom will last, when the city is actually getting smaller (in terms of number of inhabitants)?

[iloveclassicrock7]

Originally Posted by jamichelson

I think Chicago is the city with the best (most beautiful, interesting, well designed) skyscrapers. I wonder how long the boom will last, when the city is actually getting smaller (in terms of number of inhabitants)?

Although Chicago is getting smaller, the loop/ downtown area population is getting bigger, and has gotten bigger.

[ParadiseLost]

Do we know yet what caused the pretty big reduction over the past 10 years? I can't just be the tearing down of public housing can it?

[iloveclassicrock7]

Originally Posted by ParadiseLost

Do we know yet what caused the pretty big reduction over the past 10 years? I can't just be the tearing down of public housing can it?

Things will turn around, I wouldn't be too worried. Also, what caused the reduction is mostly the economy. A lot of people couldn't afford to live in the city, so they moved to the suburbs. Crime and living conditions also ruined some neighborhoods.

But Chicago's metro area continues to grow, and the loop area and its near surroundings continue to grow.

If you want a more detailed explanation, I would send Chicago George a pm. He seems to know a lot about this particular area.

[zaphod]

maybe shrinking household sizes too?

I dunno, as long as the metro keeps in the black then the region will be OK. In a place that sort of walks the tightrope maybe one shouldn't necessarily hate the suburbs either, if they can continue to attract business, etc(from other places not cannibalizing the core city)

[asauterChicago]

The basic and most simply way to think about it this: Chicago is huge, land area wise. Even though the neighborhoods surrounding the downtown core (the loop) are booming (some experiencing upwards of 900% growth) the further you go out from the loop, the more abandoned it becomes.

The far neighborhoods (far south side, far west side in particular) used to be some of the densest areas of Chicago. There has been in recent years a mass exodus from those farther flung, almost suburban areas. The exodus happened for a number of different reasons, but mainly crime, poverty, lack of jobs, closings of local businesses and schools that serviced the area.

So, even though the downtown and northern neighborhoods are booming right now, the west side and far southside have lost massive populations of people. Hell, you go 3 miles straight west down Grand Avenue and it's almost a Ghost town. Whole city blocks torn down with empty fields. This is what causes a net lost in Chicago population.

Revitalization is happening to the city, but it's going inward first, then expanding outward. In 2001 the near west side (Greek Town area) was practically a ghost town. Nothing but Abandoned factories and warehouses. Fast forward 10 years and I don't even recognize it anymore. All those abandoned factories have been turned into luxury lofts. Old meatpackers are now high-end clubs. So, it will eventually start expanding out to those further far flung neighborhoods, but it's not going to be quick. I assume the population will continue to stabilize overall the next few years, then it's likely we'll see growth once those neighborhoods start to see some infill and new businesses to the area.

[skyduster]

Originally Posted by jamichelson

I wonder how long the boom will last, when the city is actually getting smaller (in terms of number of inhabitants)?

Depends what you mean by "city".

The city proper of Chicago lost population, but the city proper encompasses both dense urban areas, low-density suburban areas, and even industrial and depopulated areas. The urban, centrally-located denser areas gained population substantially. Low-density areas (primarily low-income low-density areas) on the south and west sides, lost. This would be the equivalent of, say, NYC's Staten Island, Queens, and eastern Brooklyn losing people, while Manhattan and western Brooklyn are gaining substantially (this hasn't happened...I'm just making a hypothetical comparison)

The Chicago metropolitan area as a whole also gained population. Even from a commercial, non-residential standpoint: the city center is centrally located, and accessible (via commuter rail) to millions of suburbanites. So demand for office space hasn't waned either, relative to the economic crisis. Chicago-area firms like United and Motorola are moving their operations back into the city, from the suburbs.

So, no, the city isn't shrinking.

Municipal boundaries are VERY arbitrary and misleading.

[McDude]

Is this thing still alive? I am getting married at the Holiday Inn (above the Sun Times) next year. Is this going to ruin all the parking for my guest? As much as I would love this project to happen it has me a bit worried!

[QuantumX]

Originally Posted by McDude

Is this thing still alive? I am getting married at the Holiday Inn (above the Sun Times) next year. Is this going to ruin all the parking for my guest? As much as I would love this project to happen it has me a bit worried!

If you are only going to have one guest, then you shouldn't have much of a problem.

[McDude]

Originally Posted by QuantumX

If you are only going to have one guest, then you shouldn't have much of a problem.

Seriously though, this is no time for grammar Natzi's...

[desertpunk]

Originally Posted by McDude

Is this thing still alive? I am getting married at the Holiday Inn (above the Sun Times) next year. Is this going to ruin all the parking for my guest? As much as I would love this project to happen it has me a bit worried!

It's reached the approval stage quite intact. How the project is staged and when construction starts are still up in the air.

[QuantumX]

Originally Posted by desertpunk

It's reached the approval stage quite intact. How the project is staged and when construction starts are still up in the air.

When was it approved? Is this article from the 16th of November wrong or does it simply not differentiate between proposed and approved?

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...r-architecture

[stevevance]

I don't believe the project's been approved. I think it will be considered at the December 11th, 2012, board meeting of the Public Building Commission of Chicago (PBC). That meeting's agenda hasn't been set but you'll find it here when it has.

You can also find a lot of summary information about the project (and fairly frequent updates) from 42nd Ward Alderman Reilly's email newsletter and on his website.

[QuantumX]

I pulled this excerpt out of the article.

"Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd, has signed off on the billion-dollar project, which developers expect to present to the Chicago Plan Commission at its Nov. 27 meeting. City Council approval is also needed before construction can begin."

[stevevance]

Originally Posted by QuantumX

I pulled this excerpt out of the article.

"Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd, has signed off on the billion-dollar project, which developers expect to present to the Chicago Plan Commission at its Nov. 27 meeting. City Council approval is also needed before construction can begin."

I was totally mistaken. It's the Chicago Plan Commission, not the Public Building Commission, that needs to sign off on the project. I was reminded about this today when I received another e-newsletter from Alderman Reilly, which you can read here.

[desertpunk]

Originally Posted by QuantumX

When was it approved? Is this article from the 16th of November wrong or does it simply not differentiate between proposed and approved?

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...r-architecture

It's nearing approval (see "approval stage" in my post, vs approved). A major stumbling block, Alderman Reilly's blessing, has been surmounted:

Next stop: Full Approval

Reilly Rules Wolf Point Won’t Be Spayed By Howling Neighbors

The three skyscrapered mega-project due to sprout along the Chicago River late this year has been officially given the nod of approval from 42nd ward alderman Brendan Reilly.

Some think replacing the surface parking lot at Wolf Point (350 North Orleans Street) with two office one residential tower is just too much for the neighborhood, the traffic grid, and their views. But in an e-mail sent to his constituents, Reilly let it be known that the plan has his blessing.

In the grand tradition of Chicago politics, his is the only voice that matters. For decades it has been virtually unheard of for any alderman to vote against a project that has the backing of its local representative. That means, for all intents and purposes, Wolf Point is a go. And considering the words we’ve heard from the developer recently, we could see dirt turned before the end of the year.

...

In all likelihood, the project will gain full approval.

[HomrQT]

Originally Posted by desertpunk

It's nearing approval (see "approval stage" in my post, vs approved). A major stumbling block, Alderman Reilly's blessing, has been surmounted:

Next stop: Full Approval

Reilly Rules Wolf Point Won’t Be Spayed By Howling Neighbors



In all likelihood, the project will gain full approval.

I hope not until some design revisions are made. We can do better than what's currently on the table.