Posts Tagged ‘Chicago’
Wednesday, January 12th, 2011
As Chicago’s longest serving mayor leaves his post in May of 2011, Richard M. Daley leaves a legacy that includes the iconic Bean in Millennium Park to the flower-filled planters that ornament 85 miles of the city’s streets. Whoever fills his post will find that budget shortfalls resulting from the Great Recession will collide with reality; the bottom line is that it will be difficult for whoever succeeds Mayor Daley to extend his vision to beautify Chicago.
Writing in the Chicago Tribune, architectural columnist Blair Kamin says that “This was a mayor with a passion to build. By combining the roles of chief politician and chief planner, Daley became the ultimate shaper of Chicago’s cityscape. There was no denying his authority over the cityscape — just as there is no denying the deep anxiety his departure has spawned among the city’s architects and builders. Chicago, they worry, will go from being a city in overdrive to a city on hold.”
“I hope the intensity remains,” said Chicago developer Dan McCaffery, who is planning to turn the 580-acre former U.S. Steel plant on the southeast lakefront into a mixed-use community. “People in City Hall knew that when the mayor had endorsed something, it was aggressively pursued. You could feel the difference. It was palpable.” “Any new mayor has got to realize that being a green city has become a part of Chicago as much as hot dogs,” said Ben Helphand, president of the Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail, which is pushing to develop an elevated park, nearly three miles long, on a long-disused railroad spur on the city’s Northwest Side.
A 2010 survey conducted by the Trust for Public Land revealed that Chicago has a mere 4.2 acres of parkland per every 1,000 residents, according to Erma Tranter, president of the advocacy group Friends of the Parks. “We do not have sufficient park space for a healthy community,” Tranter said. “It’s an absolutely critical issue in neighborhoods where children don’t have places to play. That correlates to obesity, health problems and higher costs for future health issues. There are children who are bombarded with all these electronic games. They don’t have land anywhere near for them to go to.”
“Daley’s done a great job and he led the city very strongly. But if we’re going to move where we need to be, we need to engage the community in a different way,” said Peter Nicholson, executive director of the Foresight Design Initiative, a nonprofit devoted to sustainability issues. “It can’t be command and control.”
Tags: Blair Kamin, Bloomingdale Trail, Chicago, Chicago Tribune, Dan McCaffery, Erma Tranter, Foresight Design Initiative, Friends of the Park, Friends of the Parks, Loyola University, Mayor Richard M Daley, Millennium Park, Public works projects, Rahm Emanuel, The Bean, Trust for Public Land, U.S. Steel plant
Posted in Development, General, Green, Healthcare, Industrial, Office, Residential, Student Housing | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010
Noted Chicago architect Ludwig Mies 
van der Rohe’s famous maxim “Less is more” should apply to ambitious plans for revamping Chicago’s Navy Pier, the city’s top tourist destination. Writing in the Chicago Tribune, architectural critic Blair Kamin says “The good news about the latest vision for the pier is that it discards the excesses of a 2006 plan that would have layered a roller coaster and an indoor water park onto an attraction that already resembles a shopping mall or a carnival midway. But it is one thing to ditch a bad plan and another thing to find the creative spark necessary to bring order and élan to Navy Pier’s architectural mishmash.”
A bold design framework is needed for the 3,300-foot-long pier, which was a vision of Daniel Burnham and was completed in 1916. The Urban Land Institute has issued a 40-page report with recommendations that address the ways in which the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority could enhance the Pier, which has seen a fall in attendance to 8,000,000 annually from a high of 9,000,000 in 2000. According to Kamin, “The report’s principal recommendations lack flashes of insight about the great public work, which originally consisted of classically inspired buildings framing freight and passenger sheds. The sheds disappeared as part of the pier’s $225 million makeover, completed in 1995. Still, the Urban Land Institute is offering a few promising ideas that could refresh the pier’s identity as a public pleasure ground and replace its once-graceful appearance.”
Among the recommendations are replacing the white fabric-roofed Skyline Stage with a 950-seat venue that would expand the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. This has the potential to restore the pier’s clean-lined silhouette. Another is to replace the current Ferris wheel with a larger one similar to the London Eye. Some of the elevated pier’s edges might be redesigned, giving visitors access to Lake Michigan.
“But as the report itself acknowledges, the next step is for architects to translate these vague notions into a reality that is both user friendly and visually striking,” Kamin says. “Fortunately, pier officials say they will consider asking Chicago’s architects to submit redesign proposals based on the report. And well they should, given that the city has a mother lode of design talent that’s been sidelined by the construction downturn. It’s time to use that talent – and to use this fresh opportunity to make Navy Pier the great public space it ought to be.”
Tags: architecture, Blair Kamin, Chicago, Lake Michigan, London Eye, Navy Pier, Urban Land Institute
Posted in Development, General, Industrial, Student Housing | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010
The Federal Reserve is considering new action to simultaneously stimulate the economy and prevent the possibility of deflation. Charles Evans, President of the Chicago Fed, recently said that the central bank needs to act to prevent the inflation rate from falling, saying the U.S. economy faces a “bona fide liquidity trap” and that additional accommodation is not even a “close call.” Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren, agrees, noting “insuring against the risk of deflation may be cheaper than” attempting to deal with it once it becomes a reality.
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is working with the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to devise a strategy to purchase additional assets aimed at averting deflation and cutting the nine percent unemployment rate, noting that there is a “case for further action.” Evans supports a “reasonable period of time” as long as it is communicated “regularly and often” to the public. This type of policy would complement large asset purchases and represent a change to the FOMC statement that they will keep interest rates close to zero for “an extended period.”
“The central banks of the world, including ours, have been on an inflation targeting regime and moving to a brand new regime like that is quite difficult to blame,” said Alan Blinder, formerly a Fed Vice Chairman and currently a Princeton economist. The action poses “the danger of undermining credibility.” Other Fed officials are worried that the expectation of lower inflation will become a self-fulfilling prophesy. That might impede demand by increasing the cost of borrowing money.
Tags: Ben Bernanke, Charles Evans, Chicago, deflation, Fed, Federal Open Market Committee, Federal Reserve, stimulus
Posted in Economics, Financing | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010
Eight Chicago taverns – all built more than a century ago by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company and which bear the brewer’s signature globe logo – may be given landmark status by the City Council. The former brewery-tied houses were built in the Queen Anne or Baroque styles and “convey important aspects of the ethnic, social and commercial life of the city’s neighborhoods,” according to the Chicago Department of Zoning & Land Use Planning. The distinctive buildings are reminders of the bygone era when brewers like Schlitz owned and operated their own taverns. The city’s Commission on Chicago Landmarks says the process of granting the eight buildings landmark status could take as long as a year.
Although some building owners are resisting landmark status, Thomas Magee, who owns Mac’s American Pub at 1801 West Division Street, is eager to receive the landmark designation. “Obviously, there’s concern because any time I’d want to make a change, I’d have to get (city) approval,” he said. But, “it’s a beautiful old building and I want to keep it that way. I’m not opposed to it.” Magee’s pub was built in 1884 and was one of 57 taverns that the Milwaukee-based brewer operated in Chicago. After Prohibition was repealed, the state banned brewer-owned bars and Schlitz was forced to sell its buildings. Today, only 10 of the Schlitz buildings remain, according to the Chicago Bar Project.
In addition to the Division Street building, the proposed landmarks include Schuba’s at 3159 North Southport; 11400 South Front Avenue; 3456 South Western Avenue; 958 West 69th Street; 2159 West Belmont Avenue; 1944 North Oakley Avenue; and 5120 North Broadway. According to James Peters, president of Landmarks Illinois, “Usually taverns are just simple commercial structures, and these have a lot of attention to craftsmanship and structure. This shows that there’s some really great architecture in the neighborhoods.”
Tags: Chicago, Chicago City Council, Illinois, landmark
Posted in Development, General | No Comments »
Thursday, October 14th, 2010
Who is the recipient of the inaugural Mayor Richard M. Daley Legacy Award for Global Leadership in Creating Sustainable Cities? It’s none other than retiring Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley himself.
Writing in the Chicago Tribune, architecture critic Blair Kamin said “Chicago’s lame-duck mayor, famous for his green thumb and his iron fist, will receive the award at the annual Greenbuild conference in Chicago this November, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced.”
The Greenbuild Conference & Expo will be held in Chicago at McCormick Place West November 17 – 19. Roger Platt, Senior Vice President of Global Policy and Law for the USGBC, said “USGBC is incredibly honored to be part of Mayor Daley’s legacy as a world leader in demonstrating how a nurturing and sustainable city can be the highest service to a community. This award is in recognition of the Mayor’s visionary and planet-changing leadership that has created the amazing legacy of a green city. We are looking forward to bringing our Greenbuild conference back to one of the world’s most sustainable cities.”
Chicago holds the honor of being one of the first cities in the United States to adopt LEED certification for its public buildings. Additionally, the city boasts the largest number of LEED-certified buildings in the nation. “During Daley’s 21-year reign as mayor, according to city officials, Chicago has planted more than 600,000 trees, constructed more than 85 miles of landscaped medians and built more than seven million SF of planted roofs – more than any other city in America,” Kamin said.
Tags: Blair Kamin, Chicago, Green, LEED, LEED certified buildings, Mayor Richard M Daley, sustainability, U.S. Green Building Council
Posted in Development, Office, Residential | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 13th, 2010
Rahm Emanuel’s abrupt departure as White House Chief of Staff to run for mayor of Chicago is no surprise now that Richard M. Daley has announced his retirement after 21 years in office. The mercurial Emanuel, who left his Congressional seat and House leadership position to take the White House job, was replaced by the more introverted Pete Rouse, who served as President Barack Obama’s Senate chief of staff. Emanuel ran the White House in an era of economic uproar, two wars and increasing political partisanship and assisted in the passage of what is considered one of the more productive legislative agendas in decades.
“This is a bittersweet day at the White House,” Obama said to senior staff and Cabinet member at the East Room announcement. “On the one hand, we are all very excited for Rahm as he takes on a new challenge for which he is extraordinarily well qualified. But we’re also losing an incomparable leader of our staff and one who we are going to miss very much. Rahm has exceeded all of my expectations. It’s fair to say that we could not have accomplished what we’ve accomplished without Rahm’s leadership.”
As Chief of Staff, Rouse will bring a completely different, less confrontational style to the job. Obama said that Rouse has “never seen a microphone or TV camera that he likes.” Initially, Rouse is expected to reorganize the West Wing to better coordinate policy-making with the political operation, both for the mid-term elections and later for Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. Obama described Rouse as one of his “closest and most essential advisers” who brings “customary clarity and common purpose” to the job.
As a going-away gift, Austan Goolsbee, head of the Office of Management and Budget, presented Emanuel with a dead Asian carp wrapped in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. The gift echoed the occasion when Emanuel sent a dead fish to a political opponent. After Emanuel – who reportedly had tears in his eyes — opened the gift, Goolsbee said, “To most people, it looks like a dead fish. But to a future mayor of Chicago, it looks like a dead Asian carp. And you’ll be happy to know that it wasn’t easy to find one of these.” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs got the last word, “In Chicago, this is how friends say goodbye.”
Tags: Chicago, elections, mayor election, Pete Rouse, President Barack Obama, Rahm Emmanuel, Richard Daley, White House
Posted in General | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 12th, 2010
Chicago’s downtown office market started its long-awaited recovery in the 3rd quarter, with a slight decline in the vacancy rate reported following seven consecutive quarters of decline. According to statistics provided by CB Richard Ellis, the vacancy rate fell to 17 percent from 17.3 percent across all property types. Class A space has the lowest direct vacancy rate at 14.2 percent, and totals 6,900,000 SF. Class B vacancies total 15.9 percent, or 8,900,000 SF. Class C space reports a 15.3 percent vacancy rate, or 3,500,000 SF.
This is cautious but good news for building owners. “Armageddon has passed us,” said John Dempsey, a senior vice president with CB Richard Ellis. “We’re not happy about how things are today, but we’re looking down the road and seeing things are getting better.” He noted that electronic trading firms are currently dominating the market, with companies looking at upper tier Class A office buildings. During the 3rd quarter, demand – measured by net absorption – was positive for the first time since the end of 2009. A couple of significant deals completed during the 3rd quarter helped the market, such as the Getco LLC lease to double its space in the former Apparel Center at 350 North Orleans Street.
Tags: armageddon, CB Richard Ellis, Chicago, class A office building, Colliers International, office vacancy rates, sublease space
Posted in Economics, Office | 1 Comment »
Thursday, September 30th, 2010
It’s not your imagination. Chicago’s weather is getting warmer and climate scientists, botanists and zoologists have collected evidence that show real-time changes in seasonal timing and weather patterns that are altering the region’s ecosystems. Writing in the Chicago Tribune, reporter William Mullen says “This is what experts say we should expect in the future: Shorter, warmer winters with fewer but more severe snowstorms; longer, more intense summers with fewer rainfalls and more drought, but also an increase in sporadic, intense, basement-flooding downpours; lower lake- and river-water levels; and less winter ice cover on Lake Michigan and area streams.”
Chicago Wilderness, a regional alliance dedicated to protecting nature and enriching life, has issued the “Chicago Wilderness Climate Action Plan for Nature”, a far-reaching plan designed to guide local governments, companies and conservation groups on coping with environmental change. “We’re in for warming regardless of what we do now,” said Robert Moseley, director of conservation with the Illinois Nature Conservancy and the plan’s lead author. As an example, the Arbor Day Foundation’s 1990 national “U.S. Hardiness Zone” map put Chicago in Zone 5, where winter temperatures can fall as low as 20 degrees below zero. By contrast, the 2006 map placed Chicago in Zone 6, where the coldest winter temperatures register at 10 below zero.
According to Mullen, “Too much CO2 can warm the planet too much, and in the last 240 years, the fossil fuel-powered Industrial Revolution raised atmospheric levels from 280 parts per million (ppm) to more than 380 ppm, raising worldwide temperatures at an alarming rate. As countries like China and India industrialize, the increase in CO2 levels is accelerating, and so is global warming, climate scientists warn.”
Field Museum bird expert Doug Stotz notes that “chronology mismatches” are already occurring. “We see oaks leafing out two or three weeks earlier than they used to in the Chicago area.” Climate change means that some native bird species will disappear while others currently common in the South will move north. Called “invasives” and “exotics”, these birds can act as predators towards native species. And, there are other consequences. Kudzu, the fast-growing vine that chokes trees in the Southeastern United States, has been found in Evanston. Armadillos, which once weren’t seen north of Texas, have been sighted in downstate Illinois.
Tags: Chicago, Chicago Wilderness, climate change, ecosystem, global warming, Green, greenhouse gas, Lake Michigan
Posted in General, Green, Student Housing | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
High-end residential sales in Chicago rose – somewhat unexpectedly — during the first eight months of 2010. This is primarily a result of sellers reducing their asking prices and closings at some high-profile condominium developments. Even with the uptick in sales, there’s still an excess of houses and condos on the market that likely will depress prices even more.
According to an analysis by Midwest Real Estate Data LLC, there were 452 single-family houses and 572 condominiums price at upwards of $1 million on the market as of August 31. That represents an 18-month supply of houses and 21 months worth of condominiums. James Kinney, Baird & Warner, Inc.’s vice president of luxury sales, said that a normal market is a six- to eight-month inventory. “I think we’re in for many months of wading through inventory,” according to Kinney. “The supply is going to continue to build until we see a turn in the job market.”
High-end single-family home sales rose approximately 24 percent in the first eight months of the year. That totals 199 sales as opposed to 161 in the same time period of 2009. Condominiums fared even better with sales rising 85 percent to 253 units, compared with just 137 a year ago. Kinney said that the uptick can be attributed by the first closings at high-end developments like the Elysian Hotel and Private Residences and Ten East Delaware.
Even Jamie Dimon, CEO of J.P Morgan Chase & Company, has hopped on the bandwagon. He recently cut the price of his tony Gold Coast mansion to $6.95 million – a 25 percent reduction from the previous $9.5 million. Janet Owen, a broker at Sudler Sotheby’s International Realty who is the listing agent, said “They realize the market does pertain to their home, not just everyone else’s. That’s why these properties are selling.”
Tags: Baird & Warner, Chicago, Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase, Midwest, real estate market, residential market
Posted in Economics, Residential | No Comments »
Monday, September 13th, 2010
Richard M. Daley dropped a bombshell on Chicago with his announcement that – after serving as mayor for 21 years, longer than his father Richard J. Daley – he would not seek an unprecedented seventh term. As citizens and pundits pondered the reasoning behind the decision and political hopefuls immediately started jockeying to be his replacement, the Chicago Tribune‘s architectural critic Blair Kamin wrote that the mayor “changed the face of his city as well as its tired Rust Belt image.”
According to Kamin, Daley “was the Boss and the Builder – a democratically elected king who could remake vast swaths of the city at will. He ruled with an iron fist and a green thumb, and he often used the power of the former to carry out the agenda of the latter.” Daley’s legacy includes planting more than 600,000 trees, building more than 85 miles of landscaped medians and building more than 7,000,000 SF of green roofs. Public construction of schools, police stations and firehouses are designed with energy-saving LEED standards. “All that greenery was simply the beginning of Daley’s efforts to transform Chicago from a City Functional, where utilitarian concerns were paramount, into a City Beautiful, where quality of life issues carried equal weight,” Kamin wrote. “Indeed, Daley’s long tenure – and his unchallenged grip on power – allowed him to take urban design risks that other mayors, nervously contemplating the next election, would be too timid to try.”
Other important public works projects carried out by the Daley administration include the de-malling of the State Street bus corridor; the renovation of Navy Pier into a tourist mecca; the construction of Millennium Park over an unsightly rail yard; the creation of the Museum Campus along the lakefront; and the controversial overhaul of Soldier Field – a move that deprived the stadium of its National Historic Landmark status.
“Daley’s style of operating often seemed to come straight from the playbook of Robert Moses, the all-powerful, mid-20th Century New York ‘master builder.’ Moses believed it was better to get things done now and apologize to his critics later,” according to Kamin. “Yet Daley rarely apologized, earning him a reputation for arrogance as well as boldness. Outside Chicago, his high-handedness didn’t cost him. Within the city, it bred deep resentment, particularly when the economy turned sour.”
As someone who arrived in Chicago when Daley came to power, I saw first hand the transformation of our city into a world-class metropolis. The redevelopment and architectural boldness did much more than re-inscribe our physical environment – it made the city cosmopolitan and multi-cultural, a focus for exciting ideas and a largeness of spirit, which still surprises people who travel here. Daley leaves a legacy.
Tags: cancer, Chicago, Green, Iraq war, LEED certification, Maggie Daley, Mayor Richard M Daley, Olympics, Richard Daley, University of Illinois
Posted in Development, Green | 2 Comments »