I'm Daniel Schell, Chicagoan, Twitter fiend, and picture taker. I like sunsets, travel, and long walks through construction sites. If you build it, I will come.
My quest for suburban tower cranes begins with…….failure. Although I can brag about my first-ever Yellow Line ride.
There aren’t many tower cranes in Chicago, right? So I figure I’ll start heading out to the suburbs for a look. You know, go to them instead of expecting them to come to me. And I’ll start in Skokie, because I know there’s one there. W.E. O’Neil is using that crane to build 8000 North.
Good in theory. But I got there too late. The tower crane has come down. But remember, the loss of a tower crane means progress has been made. So shout-out to the team up in Skokie that’s gotten 8000 North this far:
8000 North is a 12-story, 153-unit apartment development in the aforementioned Chicago suburb of Skokie. Murphy Development Group plans to welcome tenants to move in first quarter of 2022.
I may have missed the tower crane, but it looks like I got here before the first pane of glass has been installed.
The Rivere will replace the CFD firehouse at 450 North Dearborn.
That’s right, I hashtagged #firescraper. I want that to become a thing.
This post was started back in February 2020. We really want this one to get started. How many buildings can be referred to as mixed-use because they’ll contain office space, retail space, parking, and a freakin’ firehouse!?
When the firehouse is demolished, as with all demolitions, water will be sprayed on the crumbling structure to limit dust. Who’s better at spraying water than the Chicago Fire Department? A match made in heaven, I tell ya.
A couple more photos of the firehouse for you, plus renderings of The Rivere from Goettsch Partners:
A quick spin around 300 North Michigan as construction continues on the joint development effort from Sterling Bay and Magellan Development Group. Hotel rooms and apartments smack dab in the middle of the Cultural Mile and Magnificent Mile? Yes, please.
Below you’ll find photographic proof of progress. (The dude on the corner with the tape measure though? No, thanks. You’re job is safe from me.)
Checking in on the farther-west of two developments from Marquette Companies.
1454 West Randolph is also the shorter of the two projects (1400 West Randolph is the other), bringing 11 stories and 242 units to the triangular lot bounded by Randolph Street, Ogden Avenue, and Lake Street. Designed by Brininstool + Lynch; built by Power Construction.
Crews were able to remove one section of Tower Crane C at One Chicago Thursday.
Where there were three, there now is just one.
One Chicago once blessed the city with three tower cranes, but progress means we have to say goodbye to them one-by-one, and Tower Crane C has done all it can do to top out the west tower. So down it comes.
I wouldn’t normally post another update so soon, but since I got the name of this one wrong, I think I owe it to you.
Forget all those banners and whatnot all along the Irving Park road construction fence that say “Clarendale Six Corners.” I got one thing in my head, and it stuck. This is not “The Clarendale at Portage Park.” Though it was at one time. But no worries; my inaccurate information wasn’t going to slow progress.
Clarendale Six Corners continues to rise at the Six Corners intersection in Portage Park. That’s where Ryan Companies, along with LCS, is building 10-story, 258-unit Senior Living community. Below you’ll find the text from Ryan Companies’ announcement back in January:
Ryan Companies, LCS and Harrison Street announced today the closing of financing and start of construction for Clarendale Six Corners, a senior living community to be located at the corner of Irving Park Road and Milwaukee Avenue that will cover 1.25 acres of the 4-acre land parcel known as The Point at Six Corners. The approval and support from Alderman James Gardiner and the City of Chicago to move forward is a welcome change to the burgeoning neighborhood.
“As we continue to witness the resurgence of our Six Corners Business District, our community welcomes the addition of the Clarendale and Aldi. With collaboration and teamwork, our community will continue to reap the rewards of community-based developments that enhance our neighborhood,” said Alderman Gardiner.
Construction and new infrastructure will begin on the 10-story, $117 million mixed-use, retail and senior living property that will include 258 residential units made up of independent living, assisted living and memory care units, and 11 affordable independent living units. Located on a prominent, triangular corner, there will be a variety of dynamic public spaces around the site and an outdoor sky terrace on the fourth floor, as well as 18,000 square feet of street-level retail space.
“This was a long time coming, and we’re ready to be an important anchor in the redevelopment of this prominent intersection,” said Dan Walsh, senior vice president of development, Ryan Companies. “This property will give our residents and employees access to a wide range of amenities right outside their doorstep, all while helping the Six Corners shopping district continue its resurgence as a critical destination for the northwest neighborhoods and powerful engine for the local economy.”
Designed by Ryan A+E, Inc., Clarendale Six Corners will be highlighted by amenities and services including culinary excellence and nutrition-focused dining options with restaurants, bistro and bar options; private dining for events; a theatre; continuing education programs; fitness equipment and group fitness classes; salon and spa; arts programs; landscaped patios; transportation to local shopping, events and appointments; medical care; covered valet parking and more.
The surrounding community will have access to three distinct public areas, including a plaza with benches and bike racks, a pedestrian plaza with shade trees, additional bike racks, outdoor seating and a custom art display, and a mid-block pedestrian connection to increase convenience for pedestrians to walk around the Six Corners district. There will also be 215 off-street parking spaces. The south half of the site will be an Aldi grocery store and additional retail space.
“LCS is excited to further our relationship with Ryan Companies and Harrison Street at Clarendale Six Corners. We look forward to providing future residents with extraordinary experiences at this best-in-class senior living community for many years to come,” said Chris Bird, executive vice president, chief operating officer, LCS
With construction starting, the project will create approximately 650 union construction jobs and 200 permanent jobs over a 20-year period and will produce an expected $40 million in property taxes. The total economic impact from the project is anticipated to exceed $730 million.
About Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Founded in 1938, Ryan Companies offers comprehensive commercial real estate services as a national developer, architect, capital investment consultant, builder and real estate manager with a focus on bringing lasting value to its customers and the communities in which it works. Ryan market depth includes retail, industrial, healthcare and senior living. Ryan development and corporate build-to-suit work spans a wide range of product types including office, mixed-use, hospitality, multifamily housing and mission critical facilities. Ryan has nearly 1,500 employees in 15 offices and has completed projects in 39 states. For more information, visit ryancompanies.com.
About LCS
As a pioneer in the senior living industry since 1971, making a difference in the lives of seniors has been our sole focus since day one. The dedicated LCS Family of Companies is designed to help fulfill your community’s mission. This structure allows us to develop and share expertise across our company to deliver innovative solutions to partners, seniors and their communities. LCS has the experience, leadership, and integrity to meet unique needs of your community. When you partner with LCS, you receive more than just a single perspective; you get the experience of six senior-focused companies working together as one. In the field of senior living, Experience is Everything. For more information, visit LCSnet.com.
About Harrison Street
Harrison Street is one of the leading investment management firms exclusively focused on alternative real assets. Since inception in 2005, the firm has created a series of differentiated investment solutions focused on demographic-driven, needs-based assets. The firm has invested across senior housing, student housing, healthcare delivery, life sciences and storage real estate as well as social and utility infrastructure. Headquartered in Chicago with an office in London, the firm has more than 160-employees and approximately $27.3 billion in assets under management. Clients of the firm include a global institutional investor base domiciled in North America, Europe and Asia. Harrison Street has been awarded Best Places to Work by Pensions & Investments for the last six consecutive years and was named 2019 North American Alternatives Investor of the Year by PERE. For more information, please visit www.harrisonst.com.
Progress is beginning to show above the fence line at Gild in the Gold Coast neighborhood. There might not be much to see yet, but thanks to the power of a tower crane, soon there’ll be 12 stories to peruse, and rent, if you’d like.
