A Sunny Day At: Alta Roosevelt

Posted on February 14, 2017 by danieldschell

Disclaimer: This post is actually the culmination of more than one sunny day. Yes, the photos are a few days apart, and therefore may appear to show construction at different stages. This is not an attempt to mislead my dear rather; rather, it is a product of my inability to use all the photos I take in a timely manner.

Seriously though, I think these pictures are about a week apart. That’s not a big deal, right?

Alta Roosevelt, or 801 South Financial as it’s sometimes known (even by its own Twitter account) continues to grow up before our eyes, and the eyes of everyone in the South Loop. 33 stories, a whopping 496 apartments from Wood Partners, designed by Pappageorge Haymes, and built by Walsh Construction, conveniently located between the Roosevelt Collection and the LaSalle Street Metra station. You can grab a movie, rush home for a shower, and jump on the Rock Island train to Joliet without even needing a Lyft.

A Sunny Day At: 1035 West Van Buren

Posted on February 13, 2017 by danieldschell

Okay, this one isn’t from a sunny day. I just really like the way 1035 West Van Buren looks at night. I won’t try to fool you again.

Another segment in the A Sunny Day At series. This time, it’s 1035 West Van Buren. With its new rows of glass, yellow forms, and red wraps, it begs to be photographed when the sun is out.

1035 West Van Buren works its way into Chicago’s western skyline.

Linea is just about as glassy as it gets

Posted on February 10, 2017 by danieldschell

Linea, 215 West Lake Street in The Loop, is all glazed over. Yes, that’s a tree up there.

Save for one little corner that looks like it may not get windows at all, Linea is a glass that’s full. The 33-story apartment tower at 215 West Lake Street from Moceri + Roszak has been glazed over thoroughly, as work continues on the interior as well. A design by Thomas Roszak Architecture, Linea brings 265 apartments to the heart of Chicago’s Loop. Clark Construction has been on the build since breaking ground, a really old building, and a parking garage beginning late in 2015.

: A lone level of glass remains un-glazed.

: But it has to get windows eventually…right?

: More trees.

: Linea Chicago and 151 North Franklin have grown up together.

: Standing on tippy-toes, each trying to be taller than the other.

Return to New York City: 520 Park Avenue

Posted on February 9, 2017 by danieldschell

A rendering of 520 Park Avenue from 520parkavenue.com

520 Park Avenue, at 45 East 60th Street, is a 54-story, 33-unit condominium tower in New York City’s Upper East Side neighborhood. It’s another design from Robert A.M. Stern Architects, noted in Chicago for their work on One Bennett Park. Zeckendorf Development is the developer; Lendlease is the general contractor. Overlooking Central Park, it will, obviously, have glorious views and severe price tags. Filing this one under “If Only.”

For extensive coverage of 520 Park Avenue, please visit New York Yimby and the CTBUH.

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.

A sunny day at: The Gallery On Wells

Posted on February 8, 2017 by danieldschell

Today, I present another segment in the A Sunny Day At series. In what has been a relatively drab winter in Chicago, when you get a sunny day, you go outside and take pictures of everything under the sun. Literally. Doesn’t matter if a particular building has just been updated on the blog; if the next day is sunny, then you post more pictures. Period. And so, enjoy a few photos of The Gallery On Wells, at 637 North Wells Street in River North, in good lighting.

A Tuesday update at One South Halsted

Posted on February 7, 2017 by danieldschell

Both excavators have been busy Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza parking lot/One South Halsted construction site.

If you didn’t think they were serious about moving your car out of the Crowne Plaza parking lot, it’s too late now.

Asphalt continues getting torn up at the future One South Halsted, even in Tuesday’s rain and fog. One interesting change, aside from the digging: the sidewalk protection on Halsted Street has been removed. It remains on the Madison Street (north) side.

: Halsted Street sidewalk protection, gone.

: It remains in place on Madison.

: The Halsted Street sidewalk protection of days gone by.

: UPDATE: A mini-excavator — with jack hammer — showed up for work just after lunchtime.

Riverline’s Ancora tower ramps up construction progress

Posted on February 7, 2017 by danieldschell

A ramp takes shape and form on the Ancora tower site at Riverline in the South Loop.

Ancora, the first building of the Riverline development in the South Loop, continues to jut out of the ground like stalagmites in a cave. General contractor Lendlease‘s handiwork is starting to peek above the secretive fencing that lines South Wells Street, so those of us curious about construction progress don’t need to stand on the roof of our buddy’s van as he slowly drives by anymore. And you kids shouldn’t try that.

: Gratuitous tower crane shot.

Construction Progress: Centrum Hubbard and 412 North Wells

Posted on February 6, 2017 by danieldschell

Conveniently located right next door to 225 West Hubbard (foreground, with water tank), aka HQ for both Centrum Partners and Hirsch Associates, Centrum Hubbard is rising in River North.

There may not be a whole lot to report as far as progress goes on 412 North Wells, the 9-story office building from Centrum Partners and Hirsch Associates. But that’s because work efforts are being concentrated on the 23-story, 193-unit apartment tower Centrum Hubbard next door. These are the closest projects to downtown for the dynamic duo, which is also currently building Centrum Bucktown, Centrum Wicker Park, and the Wicker Park Connection, among others.