Lakeshore East | U/C - Page 3

Blackbelt Jones · September 14th, 2004, 04:09 AM

Awesome stealth pics, Geoff!!! Thanks for sharin'. It must have been a blast walking around that site... (with those empty dirt streets, it kind o' has an "Omega Man" quality to it.

)

Rivernorth · September 14th, 2004, 04:36 AM

Amazing pictures!

What is really begining to hit me is how DENSE and MASSIVE this project really is. Randolph street east of the Aon has always been bleak and dead. I wonder if, once LSE is complete, will become a busy downtown street? Same applies to the eastern tip of Wacker Dr. I hope that the entire LSE neighborhood will be vibrant and full of pedestrians and cars on the streets, instead of a quiet residential 'highrise suburb', so to speak. Im leaning on that it will. I got very high hopes for LSE.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJphx

great photos you got for us!

so what else is going to be open when residents start moving into the towers? I would have thought that it would be a good idea to have more than two towers ready in addition to the townhomes, the park, and the retail ready before _anyone_ moved in... so that it wouldn't seem so much like a construction site.

Harbor Park, as well as the new LSE school, will be already open and ready by the time the first residents begin moving in to the Lancaster and Shoreham. Im not sure about any retail will be available then. The townhomes will be well under construction by the time the Lancaster gets flooded with moving vans.

itsnotrequired · September 14th, 2004, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rivernorth

What is really begining to hit me is how DENSE and MASSIVE this project really is. Randolph street east of the Aon has always been bleak and dead. I wonder if, once LSE is complete, will become a busy downtown street? Same applies to the eastern tip of Wacker Dr. I hope that the entire LSE neighborhood will be vibrant and full of pedestrians and cars on the streets, instead of a quiet residential 'highrise suburb', so to speak. Im leaning on that it will. I got very high hopes for LSE.

Unless some significant changes happen, I doubt you will see a "busy downtown street" scenario on Randolph. The south side of the street east of Aon is all park or open space. There is the Richard J. Daley Bicentennial Plaza and to the east of that is the Richard & Annette Bloch Cancer Survivor Park. The north side of the street is either residential high-rises or soon to be high-rises (340 on the Park). The only spot I could see any real potential for some development is above lower Randolph. Upper Randolph "narrows" at the main enterance to LSE so lower Randolph is "exposed" east of there. The road could be decked and shops, restaurants, etc. placed over the top of it. This would only be a block long though. I suppose some development could happen at the intersection of Harbor Drive and upper Randolph but that property is part of the large condo complex there. Again, some changes would be required to get some stuff in there.

Don't get me wrong, I believe there will be plenty of pedestrian traffic in the area but I'm afraid there just won't be much retail.

geoff_diamond · September 14th, 2004, 04:44 PM

Actually, I wouldn't bank on the school being finished in time for first occupancy. LSE School is supposed to occupy the northeast corner of Harbor Park, which, as you can see from some of the pictures, has already been filled in with dirt and trees. It looks to me like they're going to build the park, and then come back a few years later and put the school in when the demand is there.

As far as people living in a perpetual construction site for the next 15 years, they should be well aware of what they're getting themselves into before they ever sign on the dotted line, so, I certainly don't blame the developer.

The Urban Politician · September 15th, 2004, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rivernorth

Amazing pictures!

What is really begining to hit me is how DENSE and MASSIVE this project really is. Randolph street east of the Aon has always been bleak and dead. I wonder if, once LSE is complete, will become a busy downtown street? Same applies to the eastern tip of Wacker Dr. I hope that the entire LSE neighborhood will be vibrant and full of pedestrians and autos on the streets, instead of a quiet residential 'highrise suburb', so to speak. Im leaning on that it will. I got very high hopes for LSE.

I agree. The neighborhood looks like it will be self-sufficient and walkable. I believe it will be full of pedestrians. Remember, approximately 10,000 people on about 30 acres of land, with a school! If LSE were built as just residential towers with no retail or a school, then I could expect highrise suburbia. But I think that will not be the case here.

Regarding transit, I think people will use CTA buses. Even people with money who own cars will probably use it to get their jobs in the loop. I mean seriously, who wants to spend 10-15$ or more per day to park in a garage? Besides, 2/3 of all transit users in the Chicago area own cars!

Wu-Gambino · September 15th, 2004, 03:30 AM

Let's give him a big round of applause

geoff_diamond · September 16th, 2004, 03:54 PM

Thank you thank you! *bows*

But seriously, no takers on another little excursion this weekend?

edsg25 · September 16th, 2004, 05:58 PM

geoff,

thanks for sharing these fantastic photos. What a development. I get a kick out of seeing the oldest building in the area (what once was Outer Drive East) interrelating to all the new around it. I remember when ODE was out there on the tip of Randolph Street, all by its lonesome. I'm afraid I'm showing my age.

Here's a question I asked before but nobody was able to answer (I'll try again): does anyone have any info. the marketplace at LSE? I've only scene the sketchiet and most incomplete pix on the net for it (through the developers website). ANyone know more about it?

edsg25 · September 16th, 2004, 06:01 PM

Geoff,

Here's a warning for you. We better not hear any stories of you being in the S-T building, taking pictures, when the building is imploded. Although I'm sure such pictures could easily Trump the ones you took of Lakeshore East!

edsg25 · September 16th, 2004, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rivernorth

This article is more about Millenium Park's influence on some Loop residential megaprojects, but still has some good info on LSE...

Chicago - It takes a park to raise a village

The Hillary Clinton Memorial Severed Penis Park

??????

geoff_diamond · September 17th, 2004, 06:02 PM

Rofl, I'll be sure to steer clear of the S-T during demo... but, rest assured if that shit happens during the week... I WILL be taking a day off of school for it!

Regarding the marketplace, I haven't seen any pictures either

So, I can't help ya!

The Urban Politician · September 18th, 2004, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geoff_diamond

The eastern-most portion of the site (where I assume Target will be):

Based on the site plan, it actually appears like the area you are talking about in this picture ^ will be the site of several highrises. I doubt that the Target will be there. Below is the site plan for Lakeshore East, I apologize it is difficult to read. But if you notice, the eastern-most portion is where a ring of highrises will be located.

According to the lady at the sales center, most of the retail will be located at the southwest portion of the site. Although, my understanding is that the Shoreham will have ground level retail

geoff_diamond · September 18th, 2004, 06:51 AM

Interesting. That's good to know and I appreciate the head's up

It was all speculation on my part anyway!

edsg25 · September 18th, 2004, 12:46 PM

There will be a retail component to LSE, but it will hardly go the direction of being a Target (and why would it...how far away is Roosevelt and Clark?).

There is supposed to be a marketplace setting with the type of upscale stores (gourmet market) that would be consistent with LSE. The website for the development has a sketches of what this complex could look like, as well as the company developing it (which also contains the same sketches...very sketchy sketches...as the LSE website does)

My guess: this complex will be a scaled down, neighborhood oriented development akin to River East Center (North Pier) with some competition for Fox & Obel.

geoff_diamond · September 18th, 2004, 04:36 PM

Well, last I heard... there was definately a Target coming to the development. Could just be rumor though.

edsg25 · September 18th, 2004, 11:21 PM

I went by Lk Sh E today. I don't know if Geoff's pix show this (took too long to load for me to find out), but trees are already going in to the park's NE corner (I don't believe I say them in his pix).

Also, it looks like grading work is being done for the townhouses that surround the park.

One thing that surprised me on this project: why is the park and some of the new high rises submerged to the lowest level of LSE/Ill Ctr? Is there a reason why the park, the town houses, and the new highrises weren't built up to the same level (upper Wacker, upper Randolph) as the rest of the area, instead of depressed in the middle with a hill?

geoff_diamond · September 19th, 2004, 06:21 AM

They are being built at what was the grade level after the golf-course was ousted. I can only imagine that the cost would have been prohibitive to fill the area to the level of Upper, or even Middle Wacker. I just hope that they put some sort of sidewalk system in for people to have direct access from the upper levels of Wacker Drive directly into the buildings (without having to go down a set of stairs)... but, this probably won't happen

simulcra · September 19th, 2004, 07:51 AM

Does this mean no frontage onto Wacker? Ich, I'm suddenly having scary thoughts of Corbusier-ian suburbs in the sky...

edsg25 · September 19th, 2004, 01:53 PM

the frontage on Wacker should actually be similiar to the frontage on Randolph; the intention is to create an E. Wacker streetwall. The depression is only in the middle of the development. As geoff said, the new park and surrounding land come off of the old golf course.

I have a sense that the building with the archway on Wacker will be the point of access from the park area to the river.

The only negatives I see with the sunken area is that it means some uphill walks. Also, in LSE's ad's which show the park, the walls of the higher portions that surround it like bare. Since the development is north of Madison, I'm hoping they borrow a page from the Cubs and have Wrigley style vines growing down them.

When completed, I wonder if they will make a more user friendly approach for pedestrians crossing the river on the Columbus Dr bridge. The current set-up, closely tied to the service-oriented lower level streets of Illinois Center, is a most unpleasant experience.

Wouldn't you love to see an upper level pedestrian bridge built connecting the development to River East, one that would be aligned in such a way to give a great view of the fountain shooting water across the river? A pipe dream, of course.

The Urban Politician · September 20th, 2004, 01:01 AM

Building frontage on Wacker will be for show, only. I think there will be both auto and pedestrian access to LSE from Wacker (through the arch), but most of the activity will be on the interior. I don't blame the architects for this--I mean, how do you provide pedestrian activity for a 3-level roadway?

I am, however, concerned about pedestrian access from Columbus. But I have faith that some sort of connections/staircases will be built. Not a big issue. Supposedly, LSE has won some big national awards for urban design, so surely it must have been well planned..

September 19th, 2004, 07:51 AM	#58
simulcra Cynical post-collegiate Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 937 Likes (Received): 0	Does this mean no frontage onto Wacker? Ich, I'm suddenly having scary thoughts of Corbusier-ian suburbs in the sky... __________________ Mmm... forbidden donut...

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September 14th, 2004, 04:09 AM	#41
Blackbelt Jones Minty Fresh Flavor! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: SheeCaaagOhhh Posts: 124 Likes (Received): 0	Awesome stealth pics, Geoff!!! Thanks for sharin'. It must have been a blast walking around that site... (with those empty dirt streets, it kind o' has an "Omega Man" quality to it. )

September 14th, 2004, 04:44 PM	#44
geoff_diamond Live from the Loop Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,578 Likes (Received): 0	Actually, I wouldn't bank on the school being finished in time for first occupancy. LSE School is supposed to occupy the northeast corner of Harbor Park, which, as you can see from some of the pictures, has already been filled in with dirt and trees. It looks to me like they're going to build the park, and then come back a few years later and put the school in when the demand is there. As far as people living in a perpetual construction site for the next 15 years, they should be well aware of what they're getting themselves into before they ever sign on the dotted line, so, I certainly don't blame the developer.

September 15th, 2004, 03:30 AM	#46
Wu-Gambino Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,679 Likes (Received): 2	Let's give him a big round of applause

September 16th, 2004, 03:54 PM	#47
geoff_diamond Live from the Loop Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,578 Likes (Received): 0	Thank you thank you! bows But seriously, no takers on another little excursion this weekend?

September 16th, 2004, 05:58 PM	#48
edsg25 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 9,399 Likes (Received): 0	geoff, thanks for sharing these fantastic photos. What a development. I get a kick out of seeing the oldest building in the area (what once was Outer Drive East) interrelating to all the new around it. I remember when ODE was out there on the tip of Randolph Street, all by its lonesome. I'm afraid I'm showing my age. Here's a question I asked before but nobody was able to answer (I'll try again): does anyone have any info. the marketplace at LSE? I've only scene the sketchiet and most incomplete pix on the net for it (through the developers website). ANyone know more about it?

September 16th, 2004, 06:01 PM	#49
edsg25 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 9,399 Likes (Received): 0	Geoff, Here's a warning for you. We better not hear any stories of you being in the S-T building, taking pictures, when the building is imploded. Although I'm sure such pictures could easily Trump the ones you took of Lakeshore East!

September 17th, 2004, 06:02 PM	#51
geoff_diamond Live from the Loop Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,578 Likes (Received): 0	Rofl, I'll be sure to steer clear of the S-T during demo... but, rest assured if that shit happens during the week... I WILL be taking a day off of school for it! Regarding the marketplace, I haven't seen any pictures either So, I can't help ya!

September 18th, 2004, 06:51 AM	#53
geoff_diamond Live from the Loop Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,578 Likes (Received): 0	Interesting. That's good to know and I appreciate the head's up It was all speculation on my part anyway!

September 18th, 2004, 12:46 PM	#54
edsg25 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 9,399 Likes (Received): 0	There will be a retail component to LSE, but it will hardly go the direction of being a Target (and why would it...how far away is Roosevelt and Clark?). There is supposed to be a marketplace setting with the type of upscale stores (gourmet market) that would be consistent with LSE. The website for the development has a sketches of what this complex could look like, as well as the company developing it (which also contains the same sketches...very sketchy sketches...as the LSE website does) My guess: this complex will be a scaled down, neighborhood oriented development akin to River East Center (North Pier) with some competition for Fox & Obel.

September 18th, 2004, 04:36 PM	#55
geoff_diamond Live from the Loop Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,578 Likes (Received): 0	Well, last I heard... there was definately a Target coming to the development. Could just be rumor though.

September 18th, 2004, 11:21 PM	#56
edsg25 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 9,399 Likes (Received): 0	I went by Lk Sh E today. I don't know if Geoff's pix show this (took too long to load for me to find out), but trees are already going in to the park's NE corner (I don't believe I say them in his pix). Also, it looks like grading work is being done for the townhouses that surround the park. One thing that surprised me on this project: why is the park and some of the new high rises submerged to the lowest level of LSE/Ill Ctr? Is there a reason why the park, the town houses, and the new highrises weren't built up to the same level (upper Wacker, upper Randolph) as the rest of the area, instead of depressed in the middle with a hill?

September 19th, 2004, 06:21 AM	#57
geoff_diamond Live from the Loop Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,578 Likes (Received): 0	They are being built at what was the grade level after the golf-course was ousted. I can only imagine that the cost would have been prohibitive to fill the area to the level of Upper, or even Middle Wacker. I just hope that they put some sort of sidewalk system in for people to have direct access from the upper levels of Wacker Drive directly into the buildings (without having to go down a set of stairs)... but, this probably won't happen

September 19th, 2004, 01:53 PM	#59
edsg25 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 9,399 Likes (Received): 0	the frontage on Wacker should actually be similiar to the frontage on Randolph; the intention is to create an E. Wacker streetwall. The depression is only in the middle of the development. As geoff said, the new park and surrounding land come off of the old golf course. I have a sense that the building with the archway on Wacker will be the point of access from the park area to the river. The only negatives I see with the sunken area is that it means some uphill walks. Also, in LSE's ad's which show the park, the walls of the higher portions that surround it like bare. Since the development is north of Madison, I'm hoping they borrow a page from the Cubs and have Wrigley style vines growing down them. When completed, I wonder if they will make a more user friendly approach for pedestrians crossing the river on the Columbus Dr bridge. The current set-up, closely tied to the service-oriented lower level streets of Illinois Center, is a most unpleasant experience. Wouldn't you love to see an upper level pedestrian bridge built connecting the development to River East, one that would be aligned in such a way to give a great view of the fountain shooting water across the river? A pipe dream, of course.

September 20th, 2004, 01:01 AM	#60
The Urban Politician The City Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,968 Likes (Received): 0	Building frontage on Wacker will be for show, only. I think there will be both auto and pedestrian access to LSE from Wacker (through the arch), but most of the activity will be on the interior. I don't blame the architects for this--I mean, how do you provide pedestrian activity for a 3-level roadway? I am, however, concerned about pedestrian access from Columbus. But I have faith that some sort of connections/staircases will be built. Not a big issue. Supposedly, LSE has won some big national awards for urban design, so surely it must have been well planned..