A pair of visits to 868 North Wells as North Union brings more apartments to the Near North Side

Posted on March 30, 2023 by danieldschell

Moon and tower crane over 868 North Wells, 2/26/2023.

Know what’s great about procrastination? It means you get two updates within a single space.

868 North Wells is the second phase of JDL Development’s sprawling North Union project on the Near North Side. I stopped by here in September when caissons got started, then didn’t come back until February 26. And even then, I took a bunch of photos, yet posted nothing. But today, I shall make up for that, as you not only get to see those February photos, but also a new set of pictures taken March 29. The added benefit, of course, is getting to see and compare progress without leaving this page. Because I like you. Stay awhile.

General contractor Power Construction, with an assist from concrete contractor McHugh Concrete, has elevated all of 868 above street level, rising to the second floor overall. I’m going to guess the concrete core is about about the fifth floor. They’ll eventually rise to 27 stories containing 411 units. Around the back, there’s another project going up to five stories, but I couldn’t begin to tell you where one ends and the other begins.

Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture designed this one, just as they did Phase One of North Union, 920 North Wells.

All the big permits are official for 868 North Wells, including:

foundations permitted 9/6/22
tower crane permitted 10/12/22
full building permitted 1/4/23
hoist permitted 3/3/23

Below, you’ll find both sets of photos, with the more recent edition first (920 North Wells makes several cameos):

Enjoying the photos? Metra and CTA rides (and Amtrak trains to Milwaukee), Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, domain fees, snacks & energy drinks, and comfortable walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

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Another apartment tower rises in Fulton Market, as 225 North Elizabeth climbs

Posted on March 29, 2023 by danieldschell

Sterling Bay’s 28-story, 350-unit apartment development at 225 North Elizabeth.

More two-week old photos today, this time spotlighting progress at 225 North Elizabeth. I haven’t been here since dirt was being moved, so it was a surprise to see this apartment building from Sterling Bay already up to the underside of the ninth floor. And since it’s been two weeks since this visit, it’s a safe bet McHugh & McHugh have reached 11 or 12 by now.

Designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, 225 North Elizabeth will deliver 350 new units across 28 stories, with 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and room to park 90-some cars.

225 has all the big permits lined up, including:

caissons permitted 9/17/22
tower crane permitted 10/17/22
superstructure permitted 11/8/22
full building permitted 1/5/23
hoist permitted 1/6/23

Sterling Bay plans to open the tower to residents in 2024.

Here are some photos taken March 15:

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Glazing Gets Going at Arthur on Aberdeen

Posted on March 24, 2023 by danieldschell

Arthur on Aberdeen, the residential project at 210 North Aberdeen in the West Loop from LG Group, has grown by leaps and bounds since I last stopped by in August. I went by last week and found the first level of curtain wall almost complete. And you know how much I enjoy seeing the early signs of glass on a building. I figure it’s about time I posted some of those photos, eh?

Power Construction is on duty here as the general contractor. McHugh Concrete is handling masonry duties.

The NORR-designed apartment tower will boast 363 units across 19 stories.

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Apartments at 4600 North Marine on the rise in Uptown

Posted on March 6, 2023 by danieldschell

4600 North Marine in the Uptown neighborhood.

4600 North Marine, a 12-story, 303-unit apartment building under construction in Uptown, is a design by Valerio Dewalt Train Associates. Lincoln Property Company is the developer. Gilbane Building Company the general contractor, with Adjustable Concrete Construction as the concrete contractor.

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Sun’s out, One’s out

Posted on March 5, 2023 by danieldschell

That’s “One” as in “One Thousand M,” though most folks ’round these parts refer to it as 1000M.

I know I was just here, but it wasn’t sunny that day. So I came back. Nuff said. Here are the pics:

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The Row Fulton Market picks up where 900 Randolph left off

Posted on February 2, 2023 by danieldschell

Latest rendering of The Row Fulton Market courtesy of Related Midwest.

New name, same tall slim apartment tower in the West Loop, as what used to be known during construction as 900 Randolph, at 164 North Peoria, is now The Row Fulton Market, though the North Peoria address remains.

I saw the topped out tower for the first time since late summer this past weekend. As you know, Sunday wasn’t a very pleasant day. Thankfully, there’s a new batch of renderings available, courtesy of Related Midwest, that depict the new tower on warm sunny days. Which I think we’re all looking forward to.

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In today’s edition of They Grow Up So Fast, it’s Sterling Bay’s 160 North Morgan

Posted on February 1, 2023 by danieldschell

160 North Morgan in the Fulton Market District.

Turn your back on these kids for two seconds, and I’m telling you, they grow out of control.

160 North Morgan is a development from Sterling Bay
A creation by bKL Architecture.
A project for The Big Green W.

It will be 30 stories tall.
It will have 282 apartments.
It will contain parking for 89 cars.
It will have 2,657 square feet of retail space.
It will sit right in the middle of my favorite neighborhood.
It still has a tower crane.
It has a lot of curtain wall installed.
It looks like it’s reached the 23rd or 24th floor.

Progress photos, taken January 29, 2023:

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Catching up on 1000M, the sky-high apartments coming to the South Loop

Posted on February 1, 2023 by danieldschell

1000M construction progress, taken from Grant Park, looking west.

1000M got started, then it stopped. And we had to wait a long time for it to getting revved up again. Sort of like when the sequel to your favorite movie is announced, but then the release is delayed. Once it comes out, you’re the first in line to see it. Then you see it 17 more times over the nest week and a half. That’s what II was going to do; watch progress at the rejuvenated 1000M. But, well, I didn’t.

But I did take a look this past Sunday, in the cold of late January. The JAHN-designed tower bringing apartments in the sky to the South Loop looks to have reached the high 30s in floor count, with glazing covering about 20 0f those. And here are some photos to prove I was there:

Is that light? Is that blue sky? This was taken the same day as all the others.

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Cloudy-day construction update: Cassidy on Canal

Posted on January 31, 2023 by danieldschell

It’s pretty easy to remember when I was last at Cassidy on Canal; just scroll back a couple pages. In mid-September, caisson work had just begun on The Habitat Company’s 33-story, 343-unit, SCB-designed apartment tower where Cassidy Tire once stood in the Fulton River District.

Now, McHugh & McHugh have reached the underside of the fifth floor. Have a look at their progress on a cold, cloudy January ’23 Sunday (I love having the Fulton House condo building as a backdrop):

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Cassidy on Canal has begun construction at 350 North Canal

Posted on September 17, 2022 by danieldschell

The first permit has been issued for Cassidy on Canal, the 33-story apartment tower from The Habitat Company, and crews are on site ready to drill into the earth. I’m told caissons aren’t quite ready to go into the ground just yet, but you can see rebar cages being prepped, so they’ll be ready when shafts start drilling. That process is expected to begin Monday.

I learned some fascinating things this week about those old freight tunnels running under the city, including this site. Caissons can be drilled through the tunnels, but not until the tunnels themselves are filled. Bulkheads are framed and filled at each end of the tunnel, and then the entire tunnel is filled with grout. (It’s a lot of grout.) Once the grout sets, then the caissons can be drilled & filled.

Anyway, that’s what Stalworth Underground is up to. I guess when you put the word “Underground” in your name, you’re prepared for anything and everything that pops up beneath the surface.