The New Homewood Suites/Hampton Inn Has Your Room Almost Ready [updated]

Posted on July 11, 2016 by danieldschell

The back of the Homewood Suites-Hampton Inn in the West Loop.

It may not exactly be the kind of room service you’re expecting, but Power Construction is busy getting a new Homewood Suites-Hampton Inn ready for you in Chicago.

At 118 North Jefferson Street in the West Loop, the new combination hotel from developer Jupiter Realty will pack 336 rooms into the 24-story tower that, from the outside, looks close to being done. Designed by architect *Mike Siegel of VOA Associates, Homewood/Hampton will include about 8,000 square feet of retail space, while providing 117 indoor parking spots. The building permit also mentions a restaurant on the 24th floor.

Ready to make a reservation? Jupiter hopes to have the hotels ready for guests in September of this year.

7/25/2016 This story has been updated to show Mike Siegel as the correct designer of the Homewood Suites/ Hampton Inn.

: Power Construction began foundation work got in April of 2015.

: The tower crane came down in May.

: The front of the hotels, along North Jefferson Street.

: Still work to do on the exterior, but not much.

: This is the north wall, from Randolph Street.

: This is the south wall, from Washington.

: Front (east) and south facings.

: The back of the hotel from the alley, straight up. (Thanks to the airliner for the fly-by)

: The parking podium, seen from the alley.

: If your hotel reflects River Point, yours is a good hotel.

Townhomes of Prairie Court Pushing Dirt

Posted on July 11, 2016 by danieldschell

Prairie Court is underway.

If progress is a thing you’re into, construction in Chicago is a nice hobby to have. When obsolete buildings and parking lots become empty lots, and those lots turn into something brand new, few things in life are more enjoyable than pulling up a lawn char and note pad and watching contractors go to work.

But that process takes time. Case in point: Prairie Court.

Prairie Court is a joint project in the South Loop from Golub and Company and Sandz Development bringing 55 townhomes to the Prairie Avenue, between 16th Street and 18th Street. The seven-story building previously occupying this long lot was permitted for demolition back in march of 2015. A year later, on March 31, 2016, nine new construction permits were filed by the City of Chicago to begin building the townhomes. And now, large amounts of dirt are moving around as foundation work gets underway.

The nine different addresses, from 1626 South Prairie Avenue north through 1736 SOuth Prairie, with 220 east 18th Street thrown in for good measure, will have between five and nine units per structure, all with their own private parking garages.

Sullivan Goulette & Wilson provided the designs for Prairie Court. Richard Builders in Lincoln Park were hired to be the general contractor.

: Permits are nice. But once a project has a billboard, you know it’s Go Time.

Double-Duty Tower Crane Gone From 1333 South Wabash Avenue

Posted on July 10, 2016 by danieldschell

Noticeable for its absence: the tower crane that used to stand between 1345 South Wabash (left) and 1333 South Wabash (right)

The tower crane that schooled us all in stamina and stick-to-itiveness is now gone from the side-by-side towers at 1333 and 1345 South Wabash Avenue in the South Loop.

Planted smack dab in the middle of the double site, the crane built the south tower, 1345 Wabash first, then turned its attention — and boom — north to work on 1333 Wabash.

CMK Companies is the developer of both residential towers. 1345 is a 15-story condominium tower with 144 units (the website says only 2 are left!) while 1333 will feature 28 stories and 307 rental apartments. Both were designed by Chicago architecture firm Brininstool + Lynch, and both are being built by general contractor Lendlease.

: The double-duty tower crane, seen here working on 1345 Wabash in June 2015.

: The tower crane and its two creations.

: The top of 1333 Wabash.

: 1333 Wabash, looking south down Wabash Avenue.

: Work continues on the podium along Wabash Avenue.

: 1333 and 1345, looking north up Wabash Avenue.

: The back of 1333 Wabash, from Michigan Avenue.

New Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Begins in Near North

Posted on July 10, 2016 by danieldschell

A render from Dixon + Associates of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 822 North Clark Street.

At 822 North Clark Street in the Near North neighborhood, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is building a new 7-story church. Designed by architect David Dixon of Dixon + Associates in Salt Lake City, the new project started stirring up dust back in May, when the City of Chicago filed a foundation permit. (A tower crane permit was also filed in May, more than two weeks before the foundation permit.)

Rendering courtesy of Dixon + Associates.

Mr. Dixon sent the following about the new church development:

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.

McHugh Construction will handle the general contractor duties. As you’ll see in the photos below, piles have been driven, and a tower crane has been planted.

: Another rendering, courtesy Dixon + Associates.

: A tower crane will soon grow here.

: Piles are driven in the shadow of 833 North Clark across the street.

: Come on, man! I’m trying to show the people the tower crane!

: That’s better. Thank you.

: Pile driving.

: The Tower Crane Permit.

: The Foundation Permit

412 North Wells Joins 221 West Hubbard on the Permit List

Posted on July 9, 2016 by danieldschell

In this rendering from Hirsch Associates, 412 North Wells stands front and center; 221 West Hubbard is to the right.

Last week, the residential tower from Centrum Partners at 221 West Hubbard Street in River North got a permit from the City of Chicago to begin foundation work. And now, officially, that lot at Hubbard and Wells is twice as busy.

Yesterday, a permit was filed for caisson work to get started for the other half of this couple, the 9-story office building at 412 North Wells Street. The two towers, both designs from Howard Hirsch of Hirsch Associates Architecture, were delayed slightly by negative results from soil sampling on the site. But the delay is no more. With permits in hand, general contractor Linn-Mathes can flood that lot with caisson equipment, and get to drilling.

412 North Wells will curve with the L tracks that pass by.

The (Caisson) Permit.

625 West Adams Pours Foundation Equipment Into 465 North Park

Video

Case Foundation made quick work of the caissons for the new office tower at 625 West Adams Street in the West Loop. So what does one do with all that equipment? Well, this is Chicago, and all those tools and toys are in high demand.

Which is why most of it poured into the construction site at 465 North Park Drive in Streeterville. That’s where Power Construction (625’s general contractor as well) has begun foundation work on the 47-story, 444-apartment tower designed by Pappageorge Haymes Partners. There, it will all be reassembled so holes can be dug and caissons can be sunk and a tower can be built.

: These lonely excavators from last week have some company.

: Reassembling the caisson driller.

: A clandestine view from the back of the lot. (I stayed behind the protective fencing like a good stalker.)

Demolition Permit Signals End and Beginning for 1411 South Michigan

Posted on July 8, 2016 by danieldschell

1411 South Michigan will soon be no more, replaced by a new, improved, taller 1411 South Michigan.

A demolition permit filed by the City of Chicago on Thursday will bring down the former home of the Chicago Department of Children and Family Services at 1411 South Michigan Avenue in the South Loop, making way for new rental tower. (1411 South Michigan also previously housed the National Association of Letter Carriers.)

1411 South Michigan will be a 15-story apartment tower from Chicago developer Russland Capital Group. Designed by the architecture firm of Boarman Kroos Vogel Group, 1411 South Michigan will have 199 rental units ranging from studios to 3-bedroom apartments. 40,000 square feet of commercial space is included in the plans as well. Lendlease will serve as the general contractor.

Alliance Demolition is ready to get to the demolishing part.

A rendering of 1411 South Michigan from Russland Capital Group.

Unless used at the new 1411 South Michigan, this would make for a great souvenir piece.

The Demo Permit.

The Benchmark, A Half-Victory For Preservation in Lincoln Park

Posted on July 8, 2016 by danieldschell

The unmistakable gap-toothed smile of a building that knows it’s escaped the wrecking ball. 2746 North Magnolia will be the centerpiece of The Benchmark.

A church at 2750 North Magnolia Avenue that stood since 1884, deemed “not worth saving,” was demolished in March. As with any demolition of a church, that didn’t sit well with many folks. But a small victory was won with the preservation of the parish house next door, at 2746 North Magnolia, which was released from the City of Chicago Demolition Delay Hold List on Wednesday, as it’s in the midst of a complete overhaul into a single-family home.

A joint effort from Noah Properties and Sergio & Banks Real Estate is erecting The Benchmark, a 5-building development that will see single family homes constructed on either side of the existing former parish house. At 2742 and 2744 North Magnolia will be two single-family homes, while to the north at 2752 and 2756 North Magnolia will rise two 5-unit condo structures.

All five projects are designs from architect Bill Kokalias at Axios Architects & Consultants, in The Loop. ALL Builders of Chicago is the general contractor.

: A rendering of the 5-building The Benchmark, from Sergio & Banks.

: The church at 2750 North Magnolia. Now gone.

: The church, from Diversey Parkway.

: DEMOLISHED 2016

: The parish house pre-renovation.

: The parish house, with the church lot next door now empty.

: The Benchmark.

: Peeking inside the parish house, 2746 North Magnolia Avenue.

: The rear of the parish house.

: On the left, 2742 North Magnolia will be one of the 6-bedroom single-family homes.

: From the alley, looking at construction on 2742 North Magnolia.

: ALL Builders working on 2756 North Magnolia, one of the 5-unit condo buildings.

: This will be 2752 North Magnolia.

: Church tower demolition in April.

The Day The Tower Cranes Took Over

Posted on July 7, 2016 by danieldschell

For many, the appeal of living in Chicago is the change of seasons. But what we should be promoting is the change of tower cranes. For just when one comes down, another (or three) goes up.

With lots of new construction comes lots of tower cranes. There isn’t much that can be built around town without the use of one (or two – looking at you, Sinclair.) A long walk on my regular rounds turned up no fewer than three seedlings being planted for future tower cranes.

Up in Lincoln Park, DePaul is building a new facility for music education. The DePaul School of Music won’t be a very tall structure, but it will be spread out over a large lot. Bulley & Andrews is erecting its tower crane near the middle of the lot, so it’ll reach 360 degrees around the site.

At 822 North Clark Street in the Near North neighborhood, McHugh Construction is setting up a tower crane to erect a 7-story Mormon church. I’ll have more about this project once I know for sure what I’m talking about.

Finally, at 8 East Huron in River North, Clark Construction has begun putting up a tower crane for the 26-story residential tower from CA Ventures. Designed by Valerio Dewalt Train Associates, 8 East Huron has been sitting on its tower crane permit since May 24. I was getting a little antsy waiting for this one.

: Way over there is the tower crane seedling for the DePaul School of Music.

: Another shot of the starter kit for the tower crane at the new Mormon church at 822 North Clark Street.

: A profile photo of the tower crane at 8 East Huron.

As Atrium Village Foundation Work Continues…A Tower Crane

Posted on July 6, 2016 by danieldschell

Onni Group works on the foundation for Atrium Village.

Ready for another tower crane in Chicago?

Onni Group sure is. Onni is up at 1140 North Wells Street in the Near North neighborhood, working on the redevelopment of Atrium Village. It’s a huge, multi-phase plan to transform the entire development. And Phase One is in full effect.

Onni has been digging through the dirt since February, when the City of Chicago filed a foundation permit for Phase One, 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.

And since it’s a high-rise, it’ll need a tower crane, which was permitted by the City of Chicago yesterday. If you’re familiar at all with Onni Group, then you probably already figured it’s the general contractor on this development as well.