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.

Top that glass off for ya? Aurélien nears full glazing

Posted on January 26, 2017 by danieldschell

Glass nears the top of Aurélien, 833 North Clark Street in Near North.

Aurélien, the 31-story, 368-unit apartment tower Ryan Companies is developing and building at 833 North Clark Street in Near North continues to move closer to moving in tenants. Window installations have reached within a couple floors of the top. Pretty soon, they’re be installing appliances, tiling back splashes, and hanging shower curtains. The Aurélien website promises an early-2017 opening for the Antunovich Associates-designed rental project.

Construction Progress: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Posted on January 18, 2017 by danieldschell

There are bricks in the wall at the new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Near North. The 7-story design by Dixon + Associates of Salt Lake City, Utah has already climbed to the sixth floor. McHugh Construction has been on the job since May of last year.

Before we head to the photos, here’s a reminder of what David Dixon of Dixon + Associates sent us last summer:

The new building in Chicago is unique for the Church. While they typically complete a new standard single-story meetinghouse every day somewhere in the world, this project is specifically designed for Chicago. Following the Neoclassical Romanesque Revival style of architecture, the building will incorporate the traditional red brick and limestone appearance that is prevalent in this area of Chicago. It will be six stories above grade (three meetinghouse and three parking levels) with a partial story of parking below grade. The building will open in about a year with a two-story chapel and associated classrooms. The top floor can accommodate another smaller chapel and classrooms in the future. Three or four congregations from the downtown area will utilize the building with staggered meeting schedules. A unique feature of this building is a landscaped courtyard on the fourth story. The courtyard provides semi-private outdoor space that could be used for receptions, mingling between meetings, or children’s activities. Plans were presented to the local neighborhood and were very well received.

: Render from Dixon + Associates.

Onni Group’s Christmas Crane returns to light up Chicago

Posted on December 5, 2016 by danieldschell

Onni Group, developer and general contractor on the Atrium Village redevelopment in the Near North, is lighting up the Christmastime skies over Chicago for the second year in a row. The shiny blue neon adorning the tower crane above Atrium Village is a dead ringer for the tower crane Onni lit up last Christmas at The Hudson.

The Christmas Crane, and a view of progress at Atrium Village, from Twitter user @joecarpita

In the meantime, the pretty crane still has a job to do, and that’s piling parts on top of pieces to bring this 31-story tower to fruition. Pictures of progress, and a few more angles of the neon crane, follow:

Atrium Village Christmas crane

: This was the Christmas Crane at The Hudson from Christmas 2015.

: Couple things: 1. The lights are impressive. 2. The crane extends across Wells Street. Also impressive.

Quick Look: An overview of Atrium Village construction

Posted on October 6, 2016 by danieldschell

This look at Atrium Village construction is courtesy of Joe Carpita.

Joe Carpita of Chicago (@joecarpita on Twitter) sent in this elevated view of Atrium Village construction Wednesday. Not only is it a great shot of those Fields of Gold from last week’s post, but it also provides a new perspective on just how high The Sinclair (in the background) has risen.

Thanks, Joe!

Construction Update: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Near North

Posted on October 3, 2016 by danieldschell

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Meetinghouse in Near North.

Construction is above street level at the new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Meetinghouse at 822 North Clark Street in Near North. The 7-story church, designed by Dixon + Associates of Utah, began construction back in May. The full building permit was filed on the first of August. McHugh Construction is the general contractor.

Atrium Village plants Fields of Gold, and it Stings so good

Posted on September 30, 2016 by danieldschell

There’s gold in them there excavations!

I don’t know quite what to make of the yellow field Onni Group has put down in its Atrium Village construction site, but I know I like it.

This is Phase One of the Atrium Village project, which will be a 31-story apartment tower designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architects. It will have 400 rental units, ground-floor retail, and some 300+ parking spaces.

: Gratuitous tower crane shot.

Construction Update: Niche 905

Posted on September 20, 2016 by danieldschell

Balconies galore at Niche 905.

Balconies. If you ask me to describe Niche 905 in one word, that’s my answer: Balconies.

Named for its location at 905 North Orleans Street in Near North, Niche 905 continues toward completion. Having dropped its tower crane back in late August, the 18-story, 202-unit apartment tower by FitzGerald Associates is wrapping up exterior work, while evidence can be seen through the windows of the interior work that goes on.

But the balconies are what get your attention. Extending from the west and east sides of the building, they’re spaced vertically and horizontally like an out-of-control climbing wall. Don’t try that, though. That wouldn’t be safe.

Expect residents to start enjoying those outdoor spaces in Spring 2017. Also, expect them to use elevators to get there, not climbing apparatus.

Construction Update: Sedgwick at Locust

Posted on September 16, 2016 by danieldschell

Sedgwick at Locust, 367 West Locust Street in Near North.

Sedgwick at Locust is a new condominium building (someone’s building condos in Chicago?!) in the Near North neighborhood at 367 West Locust Street. Developed by Belgravia Realty Group (CA Washington across from the now-dust Harpo Studios, and the soon-to-begin Renelle On The River next to Trump Tower) , designed by Sullivan Goulette & Wilson Architects, “SL” will have 44 condos in 2-bed/2-bath and 3-bed/3-bath configurations. The six-story building will also include 52 parking spaces.

Sedgwick at Locust is being built on the site once occupied by Saint Dominic’s Church. Long vacant, it was demolished last summer.

: Demolition of Saint Dominic’s Church preceded Sedgwick at Locust construction.

: Sedgwick at Locust from the west. That’s Niche 905 hulking in the background.

: Humble beginnings, Winter 2016.

Aurélien glasses up North Clark Street

Posted on August 3, 2016 by danieldschell

That yellow light means “Caution: Approach Aurélien Slowly, Or You’ll Miss All The New Glass”

That’s right, Aurélien. You didn’t forget, did you? Two weeks ago, we learned that 833 North Clark Street in Near North got a name change when it topped out. Ryan Companies christened her Aurélien. And now Ryan has added something else to their new tower: glass. New name, new glass, new website. That’s the Construction Trifecta!

It seems to be a theme around here lately. A residential tower under construction gets a new name and some new glass at the same time. (See Level Apartments.) Okay, obviously a new building getting glass isn’t unexpected. It’s very difficult to see in or out of a structure without windows. But the name change, that’s always a surprise. Sometimes buildings just keep the mailing address as their name. I can make a case for either method.

Anyway, what were we talking about? Oh yeah, glass. Here ya go:

: Here’s a photo of a render of Aurélien.

: Corner glass.

: What’s that? Would I like to try? Oh, no thank you. I don’t hang off the edge of buildings.

: Looking up at the first row of glass along North Clark Street.

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