1723 South Michigan gets in on the tower crane fun

Posted on May 21, 2024 by danieldschell

The tower crane stub rises from the construction site at 1723 South Michigan in the South Loop

A tower crane base has been set at the 1723 South Michigan construction site. A long stroll down through the South Loop was timed perfectly, as it appeared the crane base was being planted in concrete Tuesday just before I got there.

Will this tower crane be erected in time to make it onto the June count? We started May with nine. The stub at 220 North Ada in the Fulton Market District and this one could get us to 11, sparing any others being taken down.

1723 South Michigan is a 12-story, 149-unit rental building being developed by CMK Companies. (They also have a couple sites a block west on South Wabash. Those should get going once the South Michigan property is well underway, if not completed.) Along with retail space on the ground floor, the first two levels will include 89 parking stalls.

Gensler is the design architect. Brandts Build is the general contractor, a company I’m adding to my tower crane count for the first time.

Permits received for 1723 South Michigan (they were issued some time ago) include:
Vertical pile — 150 of them — issued 07/11/2023
Foundation/partial superstructure — issued 08/14/2023
Full building — issued 09/05/2023

There is a permit pending for the tower crane; as of Tuesday May 21, that permit has not shown up on the City of Chicago’s issued permits page.

Cool look at demolition of the former 1723 South Michigan via Google.

Foundation/superstructure permit issued 08/14/2023

Demolitions near completion at 1960, 1962 North Fremont in Lincoln Park

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Demolition of 1962 North Fremont Street in Lincoln Park

The demolitions of two residential buildings in Lincoln Park, at 1960 and 1962 North Fremont Street, are all but complete. Both buildings were permitted for destruction by the City of Chicago on April 24, 2024.

1960 and 1962 North Fremont, fenced off for demolition.

A visit here the day after the permits were issued saw demo fencing already surrounding the two properties. I returned Wednesday the 15th to find 1960 completely gone, and 1962 torn open from the rear, with little remaining to be demolished toward the front of the house.

Demolition work moving toward the front of 1962 North Fremont.

Quality Excavation is doing the dirty work, while Power Construction’s Luxury Residence Group is the overall general contractor for the new building (mansion?) to come. Dennis Rodkin at Crain’s Chicago addressed these properties last year; whether the plan is the same, I can’t say. No new permit has been issued for these lots yet.

**Profile view of demolition, 1962 North Fremont**

1960 North Fremont before demolition began, April 25, 2024.

Hits to Chicago Water Tanks keep coming, as the Grim Reaper visits 2221 South Michigan Avenue

Posted on May 16, 2024 by danieldschell

A leaner, but still a beauty. The Chicago Water Tank at 2221 S Michigan Ave will be demolished.

Yesterday, the day we went to 3625 North Halsted in Lake View to find its Chicago Water Tank already taken down, the City of Chicago permitted another tank demolition, this one at 2221 South Michigan Avenue in Near South Side.

Master Guys Demolition, admittedly one of the best names if you’re going to tear stuff apart, is the demo contractor. The building itself at 2221 South Michigan, home of Windy City Furniture, will remain.

2221 S Michigan Ave Chicago Water Tank demolition permit — The Doom-O-Lition permit, issued May 15, 2024

2221 S Michigan Ave Chicago Water Tank demolition — Tagging, while stupid, added some personality to this one.

Demolition at 3625 North Halsted in Lake View vanishes another Chicago Water Tank

Posted on May 15, 2024 by danieldschell

Chicago water tank at 3625 North Halsted in Lake View, now gone. — The Chicago Water Tank that stood atop 3625 North Halsted Street is now gone.

A demolition permit was issued by the City of Chicago on April 18 of this year to remove the single-story commercial building at 3625 North Halsted Street in Lake View. The building is the former home of Phoenix Electric Manufacturing Company, and to be honest, it isn’t the type of building anyone is likely to miss. Except for one thing, it’s most outstanding feature.

Demolition permit for 3625 North Halsted Street — The Doom-O-Lition Permit

Atop the rear portion of the L-shaped building stood one of Chicago’s few remaining water tanks. A cool, long-legged blue one. So long are those legs that it might make you think it was a free-standing tank in the parking lot. But no, it’s a rooftop tank. Or was.

The entire front portion of the L of the building has been reduced to rubble. The rear portion will be gone soon as well, but the tank atop it is already history, the steel support structure a cruel reminder that I got here too late. Maybe someone disassembled it and put it back together piece-by-piece in their office. Maybe someone from National Wrecking Company. They’re the demolition contractor on this one. I’ve always wanted to do that, put a rooftop tank *in* my office. I’ve also always wanted a big office. But I digress.

All of this to say, we’ve lost one more Chicago Water Tank. Pour one out. Que sera sera. We’ll miss you, Blue Halsted Tank.

Flora, at 1114 West Carroll, blossoms into a stellar tower

Posted on May 6, 2024 by danieldschell

The last time I posted about 1114 West Carroll, it was 1114 West Carroll. Now, it has a new moniker: Flora. And a name change is enough of a reason (to me) to throw a few more pics out there. But more so because I just happen to really love the look of this tower.

And I’m not going to be neutral when it comes to the West Loop/Fulton Market District. It’s my favorite neighborhood in Chicago. And while Flora feels like it’s situated a little too far west for my liking, this portion of Fulton Market is going to become very dense very soon, putting Flora right in the middle of everything. Yep, I’d live here.

The 34-story, 368-unit apartment tower should be welcoming its first residents this summer. Won’t be surprised if it fills up quickly.

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.

6 Things you may not know about Building Up Chicago

Posted on May 3, 2024 by danieldschell

We’re approaching the 8-year anniversary of Building Up Chicago, so let’s talk about a few things you may not have already known about us:

We keep using “we” and “us” but it’s really just “me.” I am the sole contributor, writer, photographer, editor, and coffee brewer. This is just a hobby. not a job. No one is paying me to do this, no one is expecting x-number of posts per week, no one is telling me what to post and what not to post. You’ll see me taking a sabbatical now and then. When it’s not fun (especially when it’s cold) I take a break. ***It’s a LOT more fun to keep up with Chicago construction when there are 30-something tower cranes in the air.***

I focus mainly on projects utilizing tower cranes. Yes, there are dozens of mobile cranes on construction sites all over Chicago at any given time. I’ll cover a small project like that every now and then, especially if it’s close to home or along my commute. But for the most part, they’re too many of them and too spread out to try to keep up with.

You can contribute to Building Up Chicago. Yes, my blog is about my photos. But there are photos I can’t take, particularly those from within a construction site, and *especially* from up in a tower crane. Feel free to send those shots to me if you’d like to see them on the blog. I’ll credit you however you like, or you can remain anonymous. (Obviously, if I post your photos from a construction site, someone might figure out who you are, so don’t send me anything that’ll get you into trouble.) I can say “Joe Smith sent me these” or I can say “a little birdie” dropped them into my inbox. Your call. But I would LOVE to see what you see, and share your scenery with others.

I don’t just post photos of Chicago construction. I’ve taken construction photos in Australia, England, Hawaii, New York City (I am OBSESSED with New York City), Milwaukee, and a few Chicago suburbs, and more. I don’t travel much, and I don’t own a car, so even getting to the ‘burbs now is a challenge, but tell me where there are tower cranes, and I’ll get out there if I can.

There is a Building Up Chicago Manual of Style. You don’t get to see it, but imagine all my personal pet peeves about grammar and writing all rolled into an elaborate Code of Conduct. Here’s a glimpse: Stop Using “Chicagoland Area”

I was on television. You can still see the CBS2 Chicago piece here.

It’s no whopper, so this 256-unit development on Motor Row would fit in nicely

Posted on May 3, 2024 by danieldschell

I made a Burger King joke. Sue me. Besides, 256 units is no small-fry development.

That’s the plan at 2328 South Michigan Avenue in the Near South Community Area. 256 apartments across two buildings in the Motor Row neighborhood. As per the development’s introduction on design architect Eckenhoff Saunders’ website, the would be 98 units in a seven-story building, and 158 units in an 18-story tower. 64 of those units would be affordable. The shorter building would front Michigan Avenue, with the tower standing tall behind it.

A three-headed development team is included in the proposed project: Fern Hill, Decennial Group, and Rebel Hospitality. The usual City hurdles still need to be cleared, so until approval is given, there’s no timeline for when work would start and when residents could begin moving in.

Crain’s Chicago and Urbanize are already all over this one.

Eckenhoff Saunders rendering of the seven-story portion of 2328 South Michigan.

A pair of tower cranes goes to work on the UChicago Cancer Care Center

Posted on May 3, 2024 by danieldschell

Two Potain MR 608 free-standing tower cranes at work at the UChicago Cancer Care Center in Hyde Park

Both tower cranes are up and running and construction progress has gone 3-D at 5644 South Drexel Avenue in Hyde Park. That’s where the University of Chicago Medicine is building its new Cancer Care Center. The eight-story, 875,000-square-foot facility, designed by CannonDesign, broke ground in September of last year and is scheduled to open in 2027. It’s up to Turner Construction and Adjustable Concrete Construction, the General Contractor and Concrete Contractor, respectively, to make that happen.

To date, UChicago Medicine has received permits for:
South tower crane — issued 12/28/23 (addressed as 5644 S. Drexel Ave)
North tower crane — issued 12/12/23
Foundation — issued 12/12/23
Groundbreaking ceremony tent — issued 09/08/23
We’re waiting on the full-build permit. Judging by the looks of the core, that could be arriving any day now.

Photos taken May 1, 2024:

A day in May from the Obama Presidential Center

Posted on May 3, 2024 by danieldschell

The Obama Presidential Center peeks out over the Museum of Science and Industry

The most noticeable change in construction progress at The Obama Presidential Center is the addition of granite panels on the exterior of the Museum Tower. It’s also gotten a little taller (more vertical photo opps) since I was here last, so the view from farther away is changing. A lot of what you’ll see in this gallery are new angles from distance, plus familiar vantage points from near and far.

Photos taken May 1, 2024: