171 Aberdeen appeases whining blogger, plants tower crane

Posted on September 28, 2016 by danieldschell

IT’S HERE!

Apparently I am a man who can get things done. My squeaky wheels attract much grease. Something along those lines.

It was only Monday that I lamented a second tower crane permit for 171 Aberdeen, the mixed-use project in the West Loop from MCZ Development, yet still there was no tower crane to be seen. Then Tuesday, for no better reason but to appease my insatiable curiosity, I wandered by the site again, despite having been there just two days earlier. And lo and behold, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a brand-spankin’-new stub sticking up out of the ground.

I also found the reason for the delay. That permit I told you about Monday for “RELOCATION OF CAISSONS AND GRADE BEAMS” was necessitated by a bit of miscommunication, and the new caissons were required directly underneath the new tower crane, as the original caissons were insufficient for supporting the weight of the crane. That means there are four additional caissons planted under what is now a slightly smaller crane pad than was initially planned.

A quick reminder about 171 Aberdeen before I let you enjoy a few pics of that glorious crane stub: it will have 75 luxury apartments, 15,000 square feet of retail, and 40,000 square feet of office space, and about 130 parking spots.

: Cement will be poured into the foundation Wednesday.

: See? I TOLD you that looked like a good spot for a tower crane!

171 Aberdeen: Now two tower crane permits, but still no tower crane

Posted on September 26, 2016 by danieldschell

This permit supersedes the first permit, both of which are superseded by NOT HAVING A TOWER CRANE YET

It’s been since May 10 that we’ve been waiting for a tower crane at 171 Aberdeen in the West Loop. That was the day the City of Chicago filed a permit, allowing the general contractor on the MCZ Development project, Novak Construction, to start building the foundation for a Peiner SK415 temporary tower crane (that’s industry talk.)

Now, there’s a second tower crane permit. I have no idea why. Do tower crane permits expire? Whatever the case may be, they’re still getting things done at Lake and Aberdeen, though progress does appear to have slowed. It’s just that all the work is being done by a yellow street crane, and those simply aren’t as cool to look at. Nor probably as efficient.

Filed September 14, this permit called for “caisson relocation” among other changes.

Curiously, there was another permit issued for 171 Aberdeen back on September 14 that may denote a change on the fly in the program. This being well after caisson work had been finished, that permit called for “RELOCATION OF CAISSONS AND GRADE BEAMS.” Now, I don’t know much about how construction works, but I *do* know that it sounds like a major hassle to relocate a caisson. It makes me wonder if some were added, and it might be the logical explanation for why Revcon equipment was seen on-site within the past few weeks.

: Looks suspiciously like a tower crane foundation, doesn’t it?

: This hole right here looks pretty much the same…

: …as it did on August 28.

Construction Update: No. 9 Walton rises (now even higher) in the Gold Coast

Posted on September 21, 2016 by danieldschell

No. 9 Walton, 9 West Walton Street in the Gold Coast.

Over at 9 West Walton Street in the Gold Coast, JDL Development is erecting what may turn out to be one of the crown jewels in an already rather jewel-encrusted neighborhood. No. 9 Walton, a design from Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, originally set out to be a 35-story residential tower comprised of 67 ultra-luxury condominiums. But then, after beginning construction last summer, JDL asked the City of Chicago to go higher:

A proposal for the amendment of residential business planned development #1043, submitted by West Walton Chicago Investors LLC, for the property generally located at 9 W. Walton Street. The Applicant is proposing to increase the maximum allowable height permitted for tower 2 from the previously approved 430’ to 456’ to allow for the construction of 2 additional floors. The increase would allow for the construction of a total of 5 additional dwelling units. The applicant would be using the Neighborhood Opportunity Bonus to allow for an additional 0.29 FAR within the planned development. The Applicant is requesting to rezone the properties from Residential Business Planned Development #1043 to Residential Business Planned Development #1043, as amended. (2 nd Ward)

And sure enough, the Chicago Plan Commission said yes:

https://twitter.com/ChicagoDPD/status/766314903208591361

So now, No. 9 Walton will rise to 37 stories and a height of 456 feet. And if all goes according to plan, Lendlease, the general contractor on the project, will have condos ready for habitation by Summer 2017. Seem optimistic? We’ll just have to sit back and watch them work.

: No. 9 Walton, from a distance.

: Yep. Gratuitous tower crane shot.

: A rendering of No. 9 Walton from Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture.

: The full-build permit.

: The tiniest sliver of a peek at No. 9 Walton, from atop the John Hancock Center.

Construction Update: 640 North Wells

Posted on September 13, 2016 by danieldschell

640 North Wells continues to grow in River North.

Progress continues on the 23-story apartment tower JDL Development is building in River North, designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture. When completed, 640 North Wells will have 251 units and 12,000 square feet of retail space. Expect about 140 parking spots too, if the building permit is to be believed. Lendlease is the general contractor. They’re working on a completion goal of Spring 2017.

: Looking at 640 North Wells through the tower crane at 3Eleven.

: 640 North Wells on the left, 167 West Erie on the right.

Still no tower crane, but 171 Aberdeen making foundation progress

Posted on September 8, 2016 by danieldschell

It is, admittedly, a cool yellow crane. But it is no tower crane.

Patience is a virtue. But Saturday will mark the four-month mark since a tower crane permit was filed for 171 Aberdeen, the mixed-use project from MCZ Development now underway in the West Loop. Not that foundation work isn’t fun to watch too, but nothing beats a tower crane. Nothing.

The Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture-designed 171 Aberdeen will have 75 luxury apartments, 15,000 square feet of retail, and 40,000 square feet of office space, plus about 130 parking spots. Novak Construction is doing the dirty work.

The Tower Crane Permit.
MAY 10!

351 West Huron (finally) moving earth to make way for condos

Posted on September 7, 2016 by danieldschell

Demolition happened in 2012. This is what the lot at 351 West Huron had looked like since then. Until now.

It took some time, but the new 7-story condo building slated for 351 West Huron Street in River North is starting to make some headway. 351 West Huron, from Regency Development Group of Northbrook, IL., will boast just six condominiums, each with four bedrooms, and its own parking. According to @Properties, each unit will have 4,528 square feet of space, with 1,530 of that being outdoors.

Designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, 351 West Huron received a building permit back on May 10. But the vacant lot sat idle until this month, after a new permit was filed, back on August 16, that, among other changes, transferred the general contractor duties to Summit Design + Build.

: A rendering of 351 West Huron from Regency Development Group.

: 351 West Huron has a banner and a website.

: The Permit, Part 1

: The Permit, Part 2

: The demolition permit that turned 351 West Huron into an empty lot.

: The empty lot.

Ironwork as artwork at 312 North Carpenter

Posted on August 29, 2016 by danieldschell

The artwork of ironwork, at 312 North Carpenter.

New York City’s Madison Capital is renovating its three-story building at 312 North Carpenter in the Fulton Market District. And while the front still looks like an old brick facade in desperate need of some fixing up, the rear of the building is nothing short of an iron work of art.

LG Construction is the general contractor for the 312 project, designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, which includes some demolition work of the building next door at 328 North Carpenter, allowing 312 to be more accessible for renovation. (Madison Capital owns both properties.) A permit was filed back in February to, and I quote (copy, actually…)

RENOVATIONS AND ADDITION TO EXISTING 3 STORY OFFICE AND MERCANTILE BUILDING. CONVERT 1ST FLOOR RETAIL, 2ND AND THIRD FLOOR INTO OFFICE SPACE. 3 STORY ADDITION, ROOFTOP AMENITY DECK TO BE ADDED IN PLACE OF DEMOLISHED 1 STORY WAREHOUSE AS PER PLANS

**Some emergency demo work was necessary back in September when a large portion at the back of the structure collapsed (see the DNAInfo story here.)**

: The Carpenter Street frontage of 312 North Carpenter.

: 328 North Carpenter in the foreground. Madison Capital’s website shows big plans for that structure as well.

: 312 and 328 North Carpenter Street.

: The emergency demolition permit, filed when a portion of the building collapsed.

: The renovation permit.

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Construction Update: 171 Aberdeen builds a foundation

Posted on August 10, 2016 by danieldschell

The non-tower crane (for now) at 171 Aberdeen casts a long shadow as morning work gets underway.

The Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture-designed 171 Aberdeen is having some foundation work done courtesy of Novak Construction, even without the benefit (yet) of the almighty tower crane. The new mixed-use project from MCZ Development (click that link. MCZ has a wonderful video introducing their building) will have 75 luxury apartments, 15,000 square feet of retail, and 40,000 square feet of office space. Plus 130 or so parking spaces to accommodate residents, shoppers, diners, and commuters.

: A render of 171 Aberdeen from MCZ Development.

: And my attempt to recreate that rendering. Without the unbuilt building, obviously.

: July’s caisson work, from the L.

: This is how you mark a photo so you don’t forget where you took it.

Before you build a building, you have to build a building-building crane

Posted on August 2, 2016 by danieldschell

A shiny yellow LaGrange Crane crane helps assemble a pretty red All Crane.

And you’ll need a crane-building crane to help you build that building. Which is what Onni Group is doing right now at Atrium Village in the Near North neighborhood. Now that it looks like the massive foundation digging is mostly complete, Onni can start going skyward on the 31-story tower. They put up the stem yesterday; today, they were adding pieces and parts.

And you can see more photos of the some-assembly-required tower crane and the big dig down below:

: They were trucking in tower crane parts faster than they could put them together…

: …or maybe you’ve got to have all the parts on hand…

: …so you *can* put them all together.

: And all those parts will go up there.

: Cranes helping cranes.

: They did a lot of digging here.

: A little more love for LaGrange Crane.

: DO NOT BUMP THE TOWER CRANE!

Quick Look: Atrium Village (almost) has a tower crane

Posted on August 2, 2016 by danieldschell

Here, through a scratched, filthy CTA window, is the Atrium Village tower crane.

I did what I could from a fast-moving Brown Line train Tuesday evening to capture an image or two of the tower crane being set up at Atrium Village in the Near North neighborhood. That’s where Onni Group is building a 31-story apartment tower designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architects.

That’s one of the two tower cranes at The Sinclair in the background.

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