Author Archives: danieldschell

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About danieldschell

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.

Union West sets its foundations on Chicago’s oddest lot

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Union West June 2018

I made this fancy drawing from Google Maps of the Union West site.

If it’s funny shapes you like, has Union West got the site for you!

Using a plot of land that will touch on all four street fronts of its block, Union West is in the foundation phase on the block bounded by Washington Blvd to the north, Sangamon Street to the east, Madison Street to the south, and Morgan Street to the west.

Last week, we saw some serious iron beams being delivered to Power Construction’s job site. So if you’re hearing loud noises in the West Loop, it’s likely those suckers being driven into the ground. They don’t sink themselves, you know.

Foundation and full-build permits were issued to Union West on April 12 and May 8, respectively, allowing for the bKL Architecture-designed apartment project to start heading skyward. ZOM Living is developing the two-towered complex, which will ultimately deliver 357 apartments, with 12,000+ square feet of ground-floor retail space, and parking spots for 255 cars.

Belmont Village Lincoln Park rises above street level

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Belmont Village Lincoln Park

A rendering from Antunovich Associates of Belmont Village Lincoln Park.

Lincoln Park as a whole might not be terribly busy with construction, but the couple blocks surrounding the old Children’s Memorial Hospital site sure is. And W.E. O’Neil is the driving force behind most of that work.

One project they’re working on is the Belmont Village Lincoln Park. On the site formerly occupied by the Nellie A. Black Memorial Pavilion, Belmont Village Lincoln Park, like the huge Lincoln Common development across Fullerton Parkway, is a design by Antunovich Associates.

Developed by Belmont Village, the Lincoln Park facility will rise eight stories high and contain studio and one-bedroom apartments, plus parking below grade. Opening is anticipated in Summer 2019.

 

18 stories and 80 units permitted for 450 West Belmont

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450 West Belmont

Demolition at 450 West Belmont at the end of May.

Developer CA Ventures received a permit yesterday for the start of construction on an 18-story residential tower at 450 West Belmont in the Lake View neighborhood. Demolition of a pair of three-story residential buildings 450 and 454 W Belmont) and a detached garage were permitted to clear the site, allowing for foundation work to begin.

Antunovich Associates designed the building for CA Ventures, whose Design Build arm will also act as general contractor; Pepper Construction looks to be the concrete contractor and will operate the tower crane.

There’s a plethora of information on 450 West Belmont here, at the 44th Ward website. It’s from back in 2016, so consider some of this out-of-date.

The two towers of The Lincoln Common continue their race to the top

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The Lincoln Common June 2018

The Lincoln Common’s two towers near topping out in Lincoln Park.

If my math is correct, I see towers of 18 and 19 stories at The Lincoln Common. Both those numbers are very close to 20, which is what we were expecting on the former Children’s Memorial Hospital site in Lincoln Park.

And it’s not just those two towers W.E. O’Neil is hard at work constructing. Belmont Village across Fullerton has started shooting upwards, 2380 North Lincoln (the old White Elephant shop) is getting some much-needed attention (finally!) and the six-story retail & office building at 2350 North Lincoln has risen fast. Heck, even the parking garage next to that is having work done. These are a busy couple of blocks in Lincoln Park.

I’ve seen it for myself: Alta Grand Central really is a thing

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Late last week, we learned from Instagram that Alta Grand Central was a real real estate developing about to begin in the South Loop.

Now, here’s the thing. Instagram is on the internet. And if something’s on the internet, it has to be true. So we had no reason to believe we were just seeing soil pushed around on a farm outside DeKalb. But there’s an old saying in news: “If your mother says she loves you, check the liquor cabinet.” Or something along those lines. What I’m saying is, we needed to see Alta Grand Central for ourselves.

And sure enough, there’s the site. A larger plot of land than we expected to see, at the southwest corner of Wells and Harrison Streets. Soon, all that dirt will be turned into two 14-story, Pappageorge Haymes Partners-designed apartment towers, boasting 346 units. Wood Partners is the developer and Walsh Construction the general contractor, just like they were around the corner at Alta Roosevelt.

With caisson work complete, it’s time for Toyoko Inn Chicago to begin construction

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Toyoko Inn Chicago June 2018

There’s a kind of hush over the Toyoko Inn Chicago site, now that caisson work has wrapped up.

Things have gone eerily silent at 320 South Clinton in the South Loop. But that’s a good thing. It means caissons are complete for the Toyoko Inn Chicago, and now we’re just waiting for the next wave of construction equipment to take over the lot.

We got a few more shots of Stalworth Underground’s caisson work at the end of May, before returning to the site this week to find the barren lot. Soon, the Toyoko Inn Chicago can start shooting up toward its 24-story goal.

Views of Vista Tower as it hits the 50% completion mark

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Vista Tower June 2018

Happy 50th to Vista Tower!

50 floors of concrete have been poured at Vista Tower. That’s the word we get from Agency H5, the PR firm handling announcements of such things for developer Magellan Development Group. They sent over a press release letting all of Chicago know of the big milestone.

You can read the entire press release after viewing the photo gallery below, which includes photos taken throughout the month of May. ***Caution: There are a lot of them. But you’re used to that by now. Highlights for me? A few shots taken in setting sunlight; anything from the Museum Campus; a puddlegram; and, as always, mooncranes.

Kudos to all involved, including McHugh Construction, Studio Gang, bKL Architecture, and of course, Magellan. Here’s to 50 floors more!

 

CHICAGO – June 7, 2018 – Concrete has been poured to the 50th floor for Vista Tower, marking a significant construction milestone. The sky’s the limit for one of the city’s most exclusive residences which continues to soar toward new heights (101 floors to be exact), with only a year and a half left until move-in.

“What makes Vista Tower so special is the brilliant minds collaborating on the construction and design of this world-class project,” said David Carlins, president, Magellan Development Group. “Globally-renowned architect Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang set a high standard with her remarkable vision, and all other participating firms, including Hirsch Bedner Associates and McHugh Construction Company, followed suit to exceed expectations.”

One of the most anticipated architectural projects within the United States, Vista Tower will be synonymous with ultimate luxury living in Chicago. While the exterior glass façade reflects the blue-green hue of the tower’s watery neighbors, Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, the interiors of each unit provide residents the choice between four specially-curated gem tone finishes: fluorite, amethyst, topaz and sapphire. Providing the most innovative touches for elite real estate buyers, purchasers can now schedule an appointment at the Vista Sales Gallery to be assisted through the finish selection process.

“Our future residents are captivated by the offerings at the 10,000 sq. ft. Vista Sales Gallery, which allows them to experience the extraordinary Vista Tower lifestyle and imagine the look and feel of their future home,” says Leila Zammatta, senior vice president of sales, Magellan Development Group. “I’m not surprised that the units are selling rapidly and we’re currently more than 40% sold because what we’ve created is quite exceptional in this market. We design aspirational, breathtaking spaces, so when a potential buyer fully appreciates what we’re offering at Vista Tower, he or she wants to call it home.”

Located on Upper Wacker Drive at the intersection of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, Vista Tower will be the crown jewel of the Lakeshore East neighborhood. Magellan Development Group built the award-winning, master-planned community to serve as an oasis from the bustle of downtown Chicago and a tranquil escape within the nation’s third-largest urban city.

Chicagoans and potential homeowners can watch the vision come to life as construction rapidly continues past the halfway point. For more information on Vista Tower or to inquire about the property, contact senior vice president of sales, Magellan Development Group, Leila Zammatta at (312) 493-8200 or visit the Vista Sales Gallery at 345 E. Wacker Drive in Chicago by appointment. Learn more by visiting www.vistachicago.com.

ABOUT MAGELLAN DEVELOPMENT GROUP

Magellan Development Group is a family-owned company that was founded in 1996. To date, Magellan is the premier developer of mixed-use properties in Chicago and extending its footprint to other major U.S. cities, including Minneapolis, Miami, Nashville, and Somerville, MA.

From conception to completion, Magellan looks after all aspects of the development process and has unique experience in interrelated fields of real estate design, construction management, development, development consultation, architecture, leasing, sales and marketing.

Magellan is responsible for the Lakeshore East masterplan and development, which is regarded as one of the most vibrant communities in the city of Chicago. The Lakeshore East community is an example of Magellan’s commitment to environmentally-sensitive urban communities, innovative design and high-quality construction. Since its founding, Magellan Development has completed over 25 large-scale, residential and mixed-use projects.

For more information on Magellan Development Group, please visit: www.magellandevelopment.com

Milieu plants a tower crane stub amidst caisson work

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Milieu June 2018

That’s a fresh tower crane stub at Milieu in the West Loop.

Even as Stalworth Underground continues caisson work at Milieu (205 South Peoria) in the West Loop, something even more exciting has taken over the lot: Power Construction has evened out their tower-crane count after taking down the rig at the Hoxton Chicago by planting a stub on this site.

The Power Crane permit was issued Tuesday the 5th; they wasted no time getting that stub in place. Now, progress on the FitzGerald-designed 19-story, 275-unit apartment building can start going vertical immediately after caisson works wraps up. Yes, the West Loop is going to remain a very busy construction hub for quite some time.

145 South Wells digs in for the long haul

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Caissons are as done as caissons get at 145 South Wells, and now it’s time to start getting foundation work started. Which is exactly what’s going on this very minute in The Loop at Wells and Adams. Soon, this former parking garage site will start going vertical with Moceri + Roszak’s 20-story office tower.

We’re eagerly anticipating The Loop’s next tower crane, as it’s been a while since we’ve seen one in the heart of downtown. Then Clark Construction can start sending this tower skyward.

Speaking of not having tower cranes in The Loop, it’s been some time since we’ve seen Clark Construction with one of their own in the air. But suddenly, they’re about to have a glut of them. 145 South Wells got a permit for one on May 11, 110 North Wacker will require one, and the two buildings just getting started at 1415 South Wabash will be in need as well. Congrats, Clark! You’re about to have 3 cranes in the skyline!

Here are a few more caisson photos from Case Foundation’s work at the end of May, and a couple showing work on once-again-barren lot, as digging commenceth.

 

 

900 West is approaching the finish line

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900 West

900 West, in between bouts of Wednesday’s sunshine, will open late this summer.

As I wandered past 900 West (900 West Washington) in the West Loop Wednesday, I couldn’t help but wonder how soon its opening would arrive. And then I got my answer.

The PR firm of Murphy Knott sent over a couple new renderings, along with word that residents would move into the new 10-story condominium tower from Taris Real Estate in a mere 90 days. That’s plenty of time to head out to IKEA and pick out your bookcases, sofas, and computer desks.

900 West

900 West, designed by Northworks. Rendering provided by Murphy Knott PR.

900 West

900 West, designed by Northworks. Rendering provided by Murphy Knott PR.