Swift & Company demolition, 4155 South Packers Avenue

Posted on July 11, 2022 by danieldschell

Demolition is fascinating to watch. You might hate that it’s happening, but it’s still hard to look away.

Taken back on June 23, here’s a whole mess of photos of demolition at the former Swift & Company warehouse at 4155 South Packers Avenue in the New City (the first post in New City!) community area. That’s Taylor Excavating on the job, who we saw most recently at the 210 North Aberdeen demos.

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.

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As demolition continues, foundation work begins at Ravenswood and Lawrence

Posted on June 25, 2021 by danieldschell

RaveLaw is cooking now.

Most of the demolition work at Ravenswood and Lawrence is done, save for the gaping hole and (what appears to be) 45-foot-thick concrete at the northwest corner of the site. So while Precision Excavation keeps hammering away at that, William A. Randolph has started doing foundation work towards the southeast corner of the property.

They’re working on the two buildings of RaveLaw for Harlem Irving Companies that will ultimately deliver about 170 luxury apartments, wrapped around the newly built Chase Bank, and right next door to the Ravenswood Metra station.

RaveLaw demolition commenceth

Posted on May 20, 2021 by danieldschell

Several months ago, I went to Chase Bank’s ATM at Ravenswood & Wolcott and transferred all my money from the old bank to the newly-completed branch next door. And it’s a good thing I did, because that old building started coming down yesterday.

That’s Precision Excavation out there doing the dirty work. If you still have money in this branch, they’ve probably found it by now. Sorry.

Once the dust and rubble clear, construction can begin on Ravenswood and Lawrence. But the cool kids (me) are calling it RaveLaw.

Metra and CTA rides, Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, and comfortable walking shoes are adding up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

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Ravenswood & Lawrence scores more permits

Posted on April 24, 2021 by danieldschell

I was only (mostly) kidding about daily updates on RaveLaw, but permits are milestones, and Ravenswood & Lawrence got two more of them Thursday.

The first permit will tear down the old Chase Bank building at the corner of Lawrence and Wolcott, and the other allows construction to begin for the second portion of the development. Precision Excavation will do the demolition honors.

Soon, a blank canvas at Ravenswood & Lawrence.

Permit issued to begin work on Ravenswood and Lawrence at….well, Ravenswood and Lawrence

Posted on April 5, 2021 by danieldschell

Coming soon to this space: Ravenswood and Lawrence.

Across the street from the grocery store I frequent at least three times a week (so, expect frequent updates), behind the brand-spankin’-new Chase Bank that replaced an old Chase bank (even though part of the old Chase bank is still standing) work will soon begin on a new four-story, 55-unit apartment development.

Ravenswood and Lawrence is from Harlem Irving Companies, the developer who brought us Eight Eleven Uptown. Situated right next to the Ravenswood Metra station (TOD, FR), Ravenswood and Lawrence should be followed in the near future by another 100 or so units once the rest of the old Chase Bank needs to be demolished.

I have not been given permission to rename this development, but I’m going with RaveLaw. Let’s see if it sticks.

Humphreys and Partners Architects is the design firm for Ravenswood and Lawrence. William A. Randolph of Gurnee is the general contractor.

Lincoln Park Lost Its Edge. Now It’s Getting Schooled.

Posted on July 13, 2016 by danieldschell

A rendering of Altschool, 2720 North Clark Street, courtesy of Hirsch Associates Architects.

AltSchool’d, that is.

At 2720 North Clark Street in Lincoln Park, Centrum Partners and Hirsch Associates Architects have teamed up for a two-story mixed use project that will be the home of AltSchool, and a Banana Republic Factory Store. (If the Centrum Partners/Hirsch Associates combo sounds familiar, they’re the two responsible for bringing the just-permitted 412 North Wells and 221 West Hubbard project to life.)

AltSchool provides education for pre-kindergarten through 8th-grade students. Chicago will be its fourth location, joining San Francisco, Palo Alto (CA) and New York City.

William A. Randolph Inc. of Gurnee is the general contractor. Construction is expected to be completed in time for the 2017-2018 school year.