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

[Chitowner245]

I know it appears that it won't be, but I hope this thing will be taller and better than trump, given the site. This is the best site imaginable to build a legendary skyscraper- imo of course. Great shot, Retrograde, BTW.

[24gotham]

Originally Posted by Retrograde

May 16, 2008



No news, just a current picture of Wolf Point.

I am thinkin those folks in Riverbend having paid a fortune for their amazing river views aren't going to be so happy to see this happen... What a sucky way to loose property value.

[mgk920]

Hey, if you move into such a unit in such a densely developed area and it overlooks a parking lot, EXPECT that someday, that parking lot is going to become a nice tall building.

Oh well....



Mike

[ZZ-II]

great location for such a tall tower i think, can't wait to hear some news

[HD]

3 towers, including one with 89 storey, on this site? they will have to be very thin. I fear, it's going to look overdeveloped and ridiculous in front of the apparel center.

[Retrograde]

Originally Posted by HD

3 towers, including one with 89 storey, on this site? they will have to be very thin. I fear, it's going to look overdeveloped and ridiculous in front of the apparel center.

There's quite a bit of land there. Here's a shot from a different vantage point taken in April.

[fillbert]

From what I heard on the CAF's river cruise, they are waiting for the Trump tower to hit its max height so they can build something bigger here.

[Second City]

Hmm, well I would still like to see some designs.

[richardsonhomebuyers]

why would they wait till it is done to build bigger? They already know how tall it is going to be.

[Northsider]

That picture makes the parking lot look good! :-p But what a waste of valuable land... I think any building there would be an improvement...it doesn't have to be ridiculously tall.

[cheeps]

No... You're correct that it's a valuable waste of land. But, it's location demands a stunning project.

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by -Akira-

That picture makes the parking lot look good! :-p But what a waste of valuable land... I think any building there would be an improvement...it doesn't have to be ridiculously tall.

Yes it does....

Originally Posted by cheeps

No... You're correct that it's a valuable waste of land. But, it's location demands a stunning project.

Exactly.

Personally, I'd love to see and architectural competition for that sight. I know that Peilli is allegedly designing the towers, but I'd like to have more planning and something more stunning.

I'd like 2-towers instead of 3 to allow for more open space and to get much taller structures.

[Nat76]

I definitely think the developer needs to take their time on this site and come up with something exceptional here. Another component I would like to see added is some sort of footbridge stretching west across the north branch.

Nothing bulky. Something thin and twisting like a Calatrava-style bridge would be an interesting contrast to the freight rail just north of the site. The land west of the river is rather disjointed due to all of the rail running through it, but development is going up over there as well. The area is just too isolated from downtown right now. It would be nice to link that up a bit better.

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by cheeps

No... You're correct that it's a valuable waste of land. But, it's location demands a stunning project.

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I respectfully disagree. Personally I think the location demands a stunning park. This special location that give the Chicago River its famous "Y" is a civic treasure. Given a choice, I'd put a park in place that measures up to the stature of the location and would be a center point along an extended river walk. Such a park would have some wonderful company in its setting, places that also enhance the water in front and the skyline behind it: Pittsubrgh's Golden Triangle and Manhattan's Battery Park.

[Flubnut]

Never really thought of how it could integrate into the riverwalk. Interesting. OK then, just one (really tall, spectacularly designed) tower, with plenty of public park on the east and south sides. Just as long as it helps to hide the hideous Sun-Times building.

[cbotnyse]

Originally Posted by Flubnut

Never really thought of how it could integrate into the riverwalk. Interesting. OK then, just one (really tall, spectacularly designed) tower, with plenty of public park on the east and south sides. Just as long as it helps to hide the hideous Sun-Times building.

I'm all for that.

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by Flubnut

Never really thought of how it could integrate into the riverwalk. Interesting. OK then, just one (really tall, spectacularly designed) tower, with plenty of public park on the east and south sides. Just as long as it helps to hide the hideous Sun-Times building.

good one, Flub; that's one of those cases where you can have your cake and eat it. Height saves you room on the ground and gives you a magnificent backdrop.

Wolf Point is an iconic site for Chicago, not only because of its location where the three branches meet and the views that make that site so enticing, but due to its role in the early history of Chicago. It is a shame that the city did not have access to the waterfront portion of this real estate ages ago.

There is something that is very special that we could get from a park at Wolf Point that Chicago oddly does not have but other cities do: a small park of importance in the core of the city. In most cases (i.e. NY's Union Sq, SF's Union Sq, Boston Commons, etc.), it really is a space surrounded by the city's towers. In other cases, like I mentioned above, it is related to the adjoining waters as in Pgh's Golden Triangle and NY's Battery Park.

Chicago has no truly special small parks as such (and obviously I must be including Millennium Park as part of Grant Park in my argument). Such a park can be a gem in how it utilizes small space for great success and provides easy access to the high rises that surround it.

[cbotnyse]

edge, I completely agree with you, but I think there would be a problem with accessability. Unless a bridge or 2 is built connecting that spot with the loop and west side, I don't think it would work (although the Franklin bridge is there). The river walk is also key. I'd love to see some kind of design that pays respect to the history of that spot.

It was on that spot our city was founded (in the Fort Dearborn days). I say bring back the Sauganash Hotel!

[Frumie]

Originally Posted by edsg25

good one, Flub; that's one of those cases where you can have your cake and eat it. Height saves you room on the ground and gives you a magnificent backdrop.

Wolf Point is an iconic site for Chicago, not only because of its location where the three branches meet and the views that make that site so enticing, but due to its role in the early history of Chicago. It is a shame that the city did not have access to the waterfront portion of this real estate ages ago.

There is something that is very special that we could get from a park at Wolf Point that Chicago oddly does not have but other cities do: a small park of importance in the core of the city. In most cases (i.e. NY's Union Sq, SF's Union Sq, Boston Commons, etc.), it really is a space surrounded by the city's towers. In other cases, like I mentioned above, it is related to the adjoining waters as in Pgh's Golden Triangle and NY's Battery Park.

Chicago has no truly special small parks as such (and obviously I must be including Millennium Park as part of Grant Park in my argument). Such a park can be a gem in how it utilizes small space for great success and provides easy access to the high rises that surround it.

Tower plus park sounds like a winner. BTW does the park across from the Newberry Library qualify or is it too removed?

[cbotnyse]

Originally Posted by Frumie

BTW does the park across from the Newberry Library qualify or is it too removed?

From someone who lives in the area, I'd say its a good example, but a little far off than what I think edgs is talking about. I think its an excellent location to draw residents of the downtown area. We know we'll at least get some type of park/public space. that is a law on the river now correct?