First set of photos are the more recent, from March 29. Second set was taken February 26.
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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.
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):
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I took these photos on Wednesday last week. At the rate it’s going, 920 North Wells might be done by now. AT the very least, there’s likely another full floor done.
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Here are the pics from last week (they could well be on the sixth floor by now):
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The North Union megadevelopment from JDL Development is now evidenced in two locations. 920 North Wells, the first building to get started, has risen above street level. At 868 North Wells one block to the south, demolition is underway to clear space for another residential tower. 868 will be a 25-story building with 428 units and 12,000 square feet of retail space.
The most fun thing about this is you get two galleries; one for 920 construction by Power Construction, and one for 868 demolition by Atlas Industries. It’s like getting extra free stuff with the free stuff you already got.
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Not only is the tower crane up at 920 North Wells, but there’s construction fencing up in the next block south on Wells Street. Call it 868 North Wells or 210 West Chestnut, but you better call it soon, because that fence means demolition is imminent for the former Irwin A Moon building on the Moody Bible Institute campus. Demolishing it will make room for 878 North Wells, the 25-story, 428-unit second tower on JDL Development’s North Union agenda. All we need do now is watch for the demo permit.
Tower crane enthusiasts are salivating.
Today’s gallery is a two-fer. You get to see 920’s brand-spankin’-new tower crane, and you get a few shots thrown in of 868 before its demise. Sorry I wasn’t patient enough to wait for the sun to show up. Enjoy.
From the LFrom the L (return trip)
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The way 920 North Wells keeps crashing through milestones, I’m worried if I blink, it’ll be done. Its latest trick is planting the tower crane stub, which was permitted May 17. Keep an eye out, as it’s likely, the way things are going, for the tower crane to be completely erected by the end of this week.
In the meantime, have a whole mess o’ photos of a tower crane base at a construction site. (iPhones come in handy for peeking over fences)
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It took <check’s sun dial> less than two weeks for Power Construction and Stalworth Underground to get caissons drilled at 920 North Wells. I’ve left dirty dishes in the sink for longer than that. Regularly. But there’s no time to be wasted on JDL Development’s latest endeavor, the North Union mega project, so it’s out with caisson equipment, and in with the earth movers. They’ve got a foundation to dig out, not just for the building, but also for the tower crane, and Manitowoc MD485 to be precise, which received a foundation permit of its own on Tuesday, May 17.
Since I once again fell asleep on the job, the following gallery includes photos of caisson work taken May 12, and post-caisson work taken May 19.
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JDL announced via Instagram Stories Wednesday evening that a caisson permit had been issued that day (along with word that One Chicago had reached full occupancy, so big CONGRATS on that) and here we are Thursday morning, with the city’s permit site showing the permit for caissons under a 21-story tower, and the first two caissons being bored.
We’re going to enjoy 920 North Wells for now, but North Union will be overstimulating construction nerds for a long, long time. So get the lawn chair and cooler out of the garage, pack some snacks, and let’s go!
Oh, I almost forgot….I took pictures!
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