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

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by Frumie

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

oh, I thought about it (and Water Tower Sq, too), but as nice as both are, they don't have blockbuster written all over them. Water Tower is too small and Newberry is too residential.

cbotnyse, I would think that the Franklin-Orleans bridge would work well for Loop access.

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by 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.

there's no place to connect it to tje other side. it would have to do diagonally southwest-northeast. you have Fulton House and Riverbend directly across the way. Also, it would have to have the same clearance as all the other bridges to allow clearance of barges, commercial and private boats.

Just have them restore/reactivate the railroad bridge utilizing light rail as well as a pedestrain corssing. That bridge would also have to be raised because of it's lack of clearance.

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by edsg25

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.

You're right.

You're in the minority.

I'd only go along with a park covering the entire site if the Apparel Mart were demolished and a mega-tall tower were built in its place.

[Nat76]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

there's no place to connect it to tje other side. it would have to do diagonally southwest-northeast. you have Fulton House and Riverbend directly across the way. Also, it would have to have the same clearance as all the other bridges to allow clearance of barges, commercial and private boats.

Just have them restore/reactivate the railroad bridge utilizing light rail as well as a pedestrain corssing. That bridge would also have to be raised because of it's lack of clearance.

I disagree here. There are two options for pedestrian bridges:

1) extend w. mart drive west over the river on the north side of the Wolf Pt. site
2) run a bridge diagonally southwest from the point.

The reason I cited Calatrava was that he is known for two things when it comes to bridges. The first being thin, graceful curving lines that don't obstruct views of the skyline. The second is his incredible appreciation for bridges including complex physics, cantilevered sections, etc. Realistically, either of those two routes would work, and someone could easily engineer a boat-friendly solution. This could include a center span that actually restracts toward land on either side. It could also include a two spans that meet in the middle with the ability to both turn 90 degrees clock or counter clock when something of significant height needs to come through.

The only remaining requirement is that the bridge span would need to be a good 15-20 feet above the water to eliminate the need to raise for barges. That's not a problem.

[Badgers77]

Is this project still alive at all? I'd love to have at last two more supertalls up for the 2016 olympics. There couldn't be a better place in downtown to put one, either.

[i_am_hydrogen]

It's very much alive.

[Sandeman]

[Dr. Frankenstien] "IT'S ALIVE!!!" [Dr. Frankenstien]

nothing going on here with this... it must be a zombie

[StevenW]

What is the status of this project now?

[ChicagoismynewBlog]

I'm sure the status for Wolf Point is non-existent right about now...too bad.

http://chicagoismynewblog.wordpress.com

[Tylow]

[Jim856796]

I'm not sure that a supertall skyscraper should be put on the site of Wolf Point. Maybe if the Merchandise Mart buildings weren't so short. There can be pros and cons to any proposal on Wolf Point. If I had a plan for Wolf Point, I would put a 100-150 m tower with a floor area of no less than a million square feet on that site.

[ChitownCity]

^ I'll have it match the LaSelle building's height or mare slightly taller. they can go for a supertall when the west loop finally decides to expand....

Since you bumped this do u know anything new about it? still proposed? on hold? anything?...

[secondcity1]

Kennedys envision 3-tower development along Chicago River

http://www.suntimes.com/business/102...ago-river.html

[desertpunk]

3 60 story towers? I'm down with that!

[Reinsdorf Sucks]

Taller!

[Jay]

No supertalls are planned at the site? Cmon this is Chicago!

[iloveclassicrock7]

I heard somewhere that they are announcing plans in april, or they are proposing it basically.

[iloveclassicrock7]

Here we go, this is about get real.

From Ald. Reilly

I am writing to invite you to join me at a public presentation regarding a proposed development for the site located at 350 N. Orleans Street, commonly referred to as "Wolf Point."

Given the prominence of this property and the number of inquiries my office has received about the future development of this site, I have directed Hines Development Corporation and their team to start our community review process early, even before they take the initial step of filing a formal application with the City of Chicago. At this first community meeting, the Hines Development Team will present their proposed plan for the site; discuss their Traffic Study (commissioned at my request); and answer your questions about the Proposal.

The Applicant (Hines) has submitted a proposal for the development of three towers at this site, with Site "A" (West Tower) proposed as a residential, 525 foot tall structure containing 510 units and 200 parking stalls; Site "B" (South Tower) proposed as a 900 foot tall, mixed use structure containing 600 units and 885 parking stalls; and Site "C" (East Tower) proposed as a 750 foot tall, mixed use structure containing 200 parking stalls.

WHAT: 350 North Orleans (former Wolf Point site) Development Project

WHO: Hosted by Alderman Brendan Reilly, the River North Residents

Association (RNRA) and the Fulton River District Association (FRDA)

WHEN: Tuesday, May 29th at 5:30 P.M.

WHERE: Holiday Inn, 350 West Mart Center Drive - Wolf Point Ballroom

As you know, I make it a top priority to provide an open and transparent community review of all local development proposals. I hope you can join the RNRA, FRDA and me to engage in a direct dialogue with the Development Team to gain a better understanding of this proposal, share comments or concerns and receive answers to any questions you may have.

That is right, a 900 footer, a 750 footer, and 525 footer, and a meeting on the 29th of May, and the Kennedy's are behind this, time to get excited!

[desertpunk]

Great news! Let's hope this one gets approved soon!

[ChiSkyline]

Originally Posted by iloveclassicrock7

Here we go, this is about get real.

From Ald. Reilly



That is right, a 900 footer, a 750 footer, and 525 footer, and a meeting on the 29th of May, and the Kennedy's are behind this, time to get excited!

Amazing find! Great news, I feel this seems more likely to happen.