Boards outnumber the bored at an underway Chestnut Row Homes

Posted on April 4, 2017 by danieldschell

Signs of life at 111 West Chestnut Street, the future Chestnut Row Homes.

There’s woodwork coming out of the woodwork at the long-delayed Chestnut Row Homes at 111 West Chestnut Street in Near North. Originally permitted for construction way back in October of 2015, the single-family rental homes from Tawani Enterprises has had trouble getting started. But there’s finally some action, and it looks like general contractor Berglund Construction has started filling in the excavated hole where the 7 (down from the initial 8) units by Booth Hansen will one day stand.

I mention this with each post about Chestnut Row Homes, but it’s worth repeating. The Chicago Plan Commission raved about this development when they approved it in February of 2015. So whatever has held up construction must have been a pretty big deal. Nice to see the ball rolling again here.

: Yes, it’s across the street from Aurelien.

: There was no life guard on duty when I stopped by.

: Rendering of Chestnut Row Homes from Booth Hansen.

: Rendering of Chestnut Row Homes from Booth Hansen.

As Atrium Village changes, some of it will remain the same

Posted on March 23, 2017 by danieldschell

Construction at Atrium Village way back in January. The now-safe midrise building at 300 West Hill Street is on the left.

As construction of the new 31-story, 400-unit apartment tower at Atrium Village continues, developer Onni Group sent a letter yesterday to residents of the complex, stating the mid-rise building at 300 West Hill Street will not be demolished, as was the original plan. That means 207 households will no longer be displaced by redevelopment.

Onni cited input and concern from current residents about finding new residences as the reason for the decision, and they have the backing of the city, the Near North Unity Program, and Alderman Walter Burnett.

More January progress photos:

: HI!

: 13

The Near North loses a tower crane

Posted on February 20, 2017 by danieldschell

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Meetinghouse

A street crane prepares to pluck the tower crane from atop 822 North Clark Street on Saturday morning.

It was Crexit (Tower Crane Exit, obvs) Weekend in the Near North, as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 822 North Clark Street dropped its tower crane. Remember, that’s only a seven-story building, so the crane got things done and got out of there in a hurry. Where could it be headed next? One Grant Park? The Hilton hotels at 123 East Cermak? Those are the two most recently-permitted tower cranes for Chicago.

Does a new permit mean there will finally be action at Chestnut Row Homes?

Posted on February 9, 2017 by danieldschell

Foundation work on Chestnut Row Homes began in earnest back in 2016. Then abruptly stopped.

Wednesday, the City of Chicago filed a revised foundation permit for the property at 111 West Chestnut Street in the Near North neighborhood. That’s the (future) home of Chestnut Row Homes, a development of luxury single-family rentals (Yes, rentals. To the tune of about $15,000/month, as of the last report) from Tawani Enterprises, designed by Booth Hansen. This new permit amends the original permit of 8 townhomes, filed way back in October of 2015, to 7 units.

The Chicago Plan Commission raved about this project as they approved its construction. But foundation work didn’t get very far, and the lot has been idle for a long while. In May of last year, the general contractor was changed to Berglund Construction, which remains in place as the GC. Hopefully, this signals a fresh start for a definite upgrade to this empty hole in the ground.

: The new Foundation Permit

: Rendering of Chestnut Row Homes from Booth Hansen.

: Rendering of Chestnut Row Homes from Booth Hansen.

: Rendering of Chestnut Row Homes from Booth Hansen.

: Rendering of Chestnut Row Homes from Booth Hansen.

: The Berglund Construction banner on site.

: This is from July 2016. Not much has changed since.

Top that glass off for ya? Aurélien nears full glazing

Posted on January 26, 2017 by danieldschell

Glass nears the top of Aurélien, 833 North Clark Street in Near North.

Aurélien, the 31-story, 368-unit apartment tower Ryan Companies is developing and building at 833 North Clark Street in Near North continues to move closer to moving in tenants. Window installations have reached within a couple floors of the top. Pretty soon, they’re be installing appliances, tiling back splashes, and hanging shower curtains. The Aurélien website promises an early-2017 opening for the Antunovich Associates-designed rental project.

Construction Progress: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Posted on January 18, 2017 by danieldschell

There are bricks in the wall at the new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Near North. The 7-story design by Dixon + Associates of Salt Lake City, Utah has already climbed to the sixth floor. McHugh Construction has been on the job since May of last year.

Before we head to the photos, here’s a reminder of what David Dixon of Dixon + Associates sent us last summer:

The new building in Chicago is unique for the Church. While they typically complete a new standard single-story meetinghouse every day somewhere in the world, this project is specifically designed for Chicago. Following the Neoclassical Romanesque Revival style of architecture, the building will incorporate the traditional red brick and limestone appearance that is prevalent in this area of Chicago. It will be six stories above grade (three meetinghouse and three parking levels) with a partial story of parking below grade. The building will open in about a year with a two-story chapel and associated classrooms. The top floor can accommodate another smaller chapel and classrooms in the future. Three or four congregations from the downtown area will utilize the building with staggered meeting schedules. A unique feature of this building is a landscaped courtyard on the fourth story. The courtyard provides semi-private outdoor space that could be used for receptions, mingling between meetings, or children’s activities. Plans were presented to the local neighborhood and were very well received.

: Render from Dixon + Associates.

Onni Group’s Christmas Crane returns to light up Chicago

Posted on December 5, 2016 by danieldschell

Onni Group, developer and general contractor on the Atrium Village redevelopment in the Near North, is lighting up the Christmastime skies over Chicago for the second year in a row. The shiny blue neon adorning the tower crane above Atrium Village is a dead ringer for the tower crane Onni lit up last Christmas at The Hudson.

The Christmas Crane, and a view of progress at Atrium Village, from Twitter user @joecarpita

In the meantime, the pretty crane still has a job to do, and that’s piling parts on top of pieces to bring this 31-story tower to fruition. Pictures of progress, and a few more angles of the neon crane, follow:

Atrium Village Christmas crane

: This was the Christmas Crane at The Hudson from Christmas 2015.

: Couple things: 1. The lights are impressive. 2. The crane extends across Wells Street. Also impressive.

Quick Look: An overview of Atrium Village construction

Posted on October 6, 2016 by danieldschell

This look at Atrium Village construction is courtesy of Joe Carpita.

Joe Carpita of Chicago (@joecarpita on Twitter) sent in this elevated view of Atrium Village construction Wednesday. Not only is it a great shot of those Fields of Gold from last week’s post, but it also provides a new perspective on just how high The Sinclair (in the background) has risen.

Thanks, Joe!

Construction Update: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Near North

Posted on October 3, 2016 by danieldschell

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Meetinghouse in Near North.

Construction is above street level at the new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Meetinghouse at 822 North Clark Street in Near North. The 7-story church, designed by Dixon + Associates of Utah, began construction back in May. The full building permit was filed on the first of August. McHugh Construction is the general contractor.

Atrium Village plants Fields of Gold, and it Stings so good

Posted on September 30, 2016 by danieldschell

There’s gold in them there excavations!

I don’t know quite what to make of the yellow field Onni Group has put down in its Atrium Village construction site, but I know I like it.

This is Phase One of the Atrium Village project, which will be a 31-story apartment tower designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architects. It will have 400 rental units, ground-floor retail, and some 300+ parking spaces.