1,500 Rentals, New Tower Addition Proposed for Old Main Post Office
[Renders: Antunovich Associates]
After months of silence, British developer Bill Davies has come forward with a new plan for Chicago's Old Main Post Office — rental units. The behemoth Art Deco building has been the focus of numerous plans, partnerships and potential sales since it was purchased by Davies in 2009 for $24 million. However, this week, a new plan for 1,500 apartments and a new tower addition have emerged for the Chicago landmark. According to Ellen Phillips, managing broker of Loop Apartments, Davies' International Property Developers North America Inc. is currently looking to gauge interest in the plan for new apartments at the site. If there is enough demand and interest in the proposal, Davies could start building rental units in the old post office building as early as this coming March. IPDNA is also seeking large-scale rental anchors for the major redevelopment, simply titled Olde Chicago Post Office. One suggestion would be a retailer like IKEA, which the post office building could certainly accommodate.
Mapping the 34 Highrises Under Construction in Chicago Right Now
When following development in a major city it can be hard to keep track of construction and visualize what projects are going where, especially during periods of rapid growth like Chicago is experiencing at the moment. To help approach construction from a wider perspective, we created our first highrise tracking map in October of 2014, which at the time, showed 14 towers under constructionthroughout the greater downtown area. That number rose to 18 towers in early 2015, then climbed even further to 21 highrise projects by last autumn. Today, the number has more than doubled from 14 to 34 active highrise construction sites in Chicago in just 15 months. With no less than six of the original 14 projects completed and removed from the list, the 34 building figure is all the more impressive.
Since the last update four months ago, Wolf Point West, Xavier and the apartment tower at New City have opened and welcomed their first residents. A quick scan of the projects currently under construction reveal that rentals are still dominating the city's construction boom. Other major construction projects that aren't included on the list but are worth mentioning are the new Ferris wheel at Navy Pier, the ongoing construction of the Chicago Riverwalk extension, Wrigley Field's renewal, and the new Fullerton revetment. In addition, the city's North Side neighborhoods are witnessing a flurry of new construction in the form of smaller transit-oriented projects.
25-Year-Old Architect Wins Contest to Design WWI Memorial in D.C.
A rendering of "The Weight of Sacrifice" by Chicago architect Joseph Weishaar and New York sculptor Sabin Howard, the winning entry in an international contest to design a World War I memorial in Washington, D.C.
Talk about a nice line on your resume. The United States World War One Centennial Commission just announced that 25-year-old Chicago architect Joseph Weishaar and New York sculptor Sabin Howard have been selected to design a monument that will be built in a park in the nation's capital. Their entry,"The Weight of Sacrifice," one of 360 entered in an international design competition, was selected from a group of five other finalists. Weishaar, who works as a project architect with Brininstool+Lynch in Chicago and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 2013, told the Chicago Tribunethat "It's overwhelming, entirely. Just even making it to the second round of the competition was entirely overwhelming. It's the greatest opportunity I've ever had in my life, and I'm enthralled to see where it goes."
Here's a Quick Trip Down the New Section of Lakefront Trail
The once winding, damaged, and often times crowded stretch of the Chicago Lakefront Trail that passes by the Theatre on the Lake in Lincoln Park has been smoothed out and is now being enjoyed by bicyclists and runners. The new stretch of path is a part of a larger the new Fullerton Revetment project, a $31.5 million undertaking that will create 5.8 acres of new park space along the lake. The new section of path was completed late last year, but one cyclist has offered a view of what it looks like to ride on it. Using a GoPro camera attached to his helmet, cyclist Evan Miller created this short hyperlapse video of the new stretch of Lakefront Trail over the weekend. While the path seems fairly barren in the video, more bicyclists and runners will be spotted using the trail as the city thaws out.
·Chicago - Riding the Lake Front Trail [Youtube]
·New Path Opens as Fullerton Revetment Work Continues [Curbed Chicago]
·Chicago - Riding the Lake Front Trail [Youtube]
·New Path Opens as Fullerton Revetment Work Continues [Curbed Chicago]
Work Continues on Downtown Hotel's Riverfront Rooftop
[Curbed Chicago/Jay Koziarz]
The Chicago Riverwalk expansion isn't the only construction project taking place along Wacker Drive this winter as work continues on the Renaissance hotel's new third-floor rooftop bar. Joining the ranks of other popular rooftop destinations such as Cerise at the Virgin Hotel, Roof on theWit, and Cindy's at the Chicago Athletic Association, the yet-to-be-named bar and eatery at the Renaissance will offer patrons a direct line of sight to the river below. The indoor/outdoor space is expected to accommodate 160 guests.
Rent in Dallas, Baltimore, Des Moines: What $1,200/Month Can Get You Right Now
Welcome to Curbed Comparisons, a column that explores what one can rent for a set dollar amount in various cities across the U.S. Is one man's studio another man's townhouse? Let's find out! Today's price: $1,200/month.
↑ Des Moines, IA (2 beds, 2 bath)—Converted loft mania is a live in Des Moines! This 1000-square-foot pad comes with soaring ceilings, exposed ducts, and windows with skyline views. It's located in a historic building in the Court Avenue cultural district, which is close to attractions like the Science Center of Iowa and the Des Moines Farmers' Market.
$3.6M Mag Mile Duplex Unit Offers Views from Every Room
[Photos: VHT Studios]
When you're dropping a few million bucks on a downtown condo, you're going to expect to have some pretty tremendous views of the city. For $3.6 million, you can get views from every room in this duplex corner unit just off the Magnificent Mile. And with four bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms spread over a 4,350-square-foot space, this condo is as spacious as a large single family home. The price tag is tall one when it comes to Chicago real estate, but the listing has taken several price chops since it listed for $4.6 million in November 2012. Designed by architect Linda Searl, the unit features light-colored wood tones and a floating staircase, and a marble-laden master bathroom. The monthly assessment on a place like this? You'll be looking at nearly $2,500 per month in taxes and maintenance.
Shortened Hotel Proposal Reintroduced to Old Town Residents
On Monday night Old Town residents were presented with an updated proposal for a boutique-style hotel concept slated to replace O'Brien's Restaurant & Bar and its accompanying parking lot located at 1528 N. Wells St. The 140,000-square-foot proposal is a collaboration between Chicago-based Condor Partners and Chicago Development Partnersand calls for between 175 and 200 hotel rooms averaging approximately 350-square-feet in size and will include multiple food and beverage offerings. Design duties are being handled by Chicago's Pappageorge Haymes Partners. At 12 stories plus a rooftop penthouse, the height of the proposal has been considerably reduced since the developers last presented an 18-story plan to the community in early December.
Lathrop Homes Redevelopment Plan to Be Revealed Next Week
After months of planning and behind the scenes meetings with community groups, the Lathrop Community Partners and Chicago Housing Authority are ready to unveil their proposed master plan for the redevelopment of the Julia C. Lathrop Homes housing project that lines the North Branch of the Chicago River. According to an announcement from Ald. Joe Moreno's (1st) office, the proposal will be revealed at a meeting next Wednesday, February 3 at Alcott College Prep High School starting at 6 p.m. The redevelopment of the sprawling housing project has proved to be slower than initially expected, as the proposal has drawn criticism from affordable housing advocates, preservationists, and Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd).
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Spacious Brick and Timber Loft in Fulton Market Asks $560K
Buyers looking for space to spread out in the heart of the Fulton Market neighborhood and its burgeoning restaurant and tech scene may need to look no further than this handsome, freshly listed two-bedroom, two-bathroom industrial loft at 312 N. May Street. While the unit naturally ticks the standard list of timber loft features such as hardwood floors, high ceilings, exposed brick, and an open floor plan, the white painted overhead support beams are a nice touch and offer a crisp, complimentary contrast between new and old. An abundance of large windows and upgraded track lighting gives this 2,400-square-foot space and open and airy atmosphere.
The Gilded Age Gems of the Dean of American Architecture, Richard Morris Hunt
Clockwise from top left: The Biltmore Estate, theColumbian Exposition Administration Building, the Stuyvesant Apartments, The New York Tribune Building.
"The first thing you've got to remember is that it's your client's money you're spending. Your goal is to achieve the best results by following their wishes. If they want you to built a house upside down standing on its chimney, it's up to you to do it."
Not surprisingly, one of the men most associated with Gilded Age mansions and design, Richard Morris Hunt, made that observation about the role of an architect. And while that quote may be interpreted as deference to the whims of wealthy clients, Hunt, and his very eclectic body of work, was about much, much more than ostentatious displays of wealth. And while mansions and homes for the wealthy remain his best-known works, his breadth of styles, as well as range of projects, make him an important contributor to urban design as well as some of the country's best-loved landmarks.
Developer Cashes in on New Downtown Apartment Tower
Another newly built downtown apartment property has changed hands at a near-record per-unit price as Convexity Properties has sold the 398 apartments within its Streeterville tower for $240.4 million. According to Crain's, the Chicago development firm unloaded its North Water Apartments to Atlanta-based investment management giant Ivesco earlier this month. The glassy 49-story, Solomon Cordwell Buenz-designed tower at 340 E. North Water Street is also home to a 400-room hotel that was sold to New York's Loews Hotel Group for $171.7 million in February of 2015, bringing the total gross sale price of the building to $412 million. The high sale price of $604,000 per unitis not far off the $661,000 rate that Related Midwest fetched for its record-shattering sale of OneEleven in 2014. Monthly rents at the amenity-rich North Water Apartments range from $1,799 for the lowest priced studio up to $14,899 for highest priced three-bedroom unit.
Funky, Colorful '70s Time Capsule in West Ridge Seeks $158K
There are some couples that are so enamored with the style and flair of previous decades that many have become dedicated to living like they belong in the Victorian era or the 1950s. If you've always loved the freewheeling and fun music, culture and style of the '70s, then this far North Side three bedroom has your name written all over it. Located on the edge of the city's north border, this 1,877-square-foot condo is spacious, colorful, and very far out. It's Bootsy Collins meets Dr. John, Teddy Pendergrass meets Michael McDonald, the Commodores meet Steely Dan. Basically, this place is super funky. And the best part? It can be had for just over $150,000. If you've been looking for a place to relive your '70s glory days, then bust out your bell bottoms, hop in the Cadillac, and head on over towards North Kedzie Avenue.
Glassy Addition Planned for River North Apartment Proposal
Cedar Street Companies, one of the city's busiest developers, is looking to add a glassy new addition to a River North office building that it acquired last year. This week, a rendering of what appears to be a seven-story addition planned for the vintage building at 676 N. LaSalle surfaced on the development-watching forum skyscraperpage.com. The rendering reveals an addition that will replace a parking lot as well as the Blue Frog Bar and Grill, the area's most infamous dive karaoke joint, which closed its doors for good on January 16th. Chicago-based Cedar Street Co. purchased the property in July of 2015 for $12 million and plans to turn the site into 149 apartments under the company's FLATS Chicago brand.
Historic Bush Temple of Music to Get 15-Story Tower Addition
[Renderings: HPA]
This week's Chicago Plan Commission was an important one as several major proposals were presented, including the redevelopment of the historic Bush Temple of Music and a 15-story tower that would be attached to it. Developer Cedar St. Cos. acquired the building in 2014 and announced last year that it would be transforming the former piano factory into a mixed-use residential and retail project. The company, known for its FLATS micro-apartments, wanted to bring roughly 100 studio and one-bedroom apartments and 8,500-square-feet of commercial space to the building. However, the plan has since been bolstered with the addition of a 129-unit building that will fill in the space between the Bush Temple and the upcoming Mormon templeon Clark Street. And because the development qualifies as a transit-oriented development, the plan will include just 15 parking spaces for its 230 apartments.
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