From the Air, the Jane Byrne Reconstruction Looks Fascinating, Not Frustrating
Not everyone who lives in or visits Chicago enjoys a car-free existence. And for them, there is the Jane Byrne Interchange. November 2020 construction at the Jane Byrne Interchange (Courtesy of YoChicago!) We haven’t talked about it much since reconstruction commenced on the intersection of the Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Ryan Expressways. Partly because it’s been going on for eight years, and mostly because you can get the...
Video: Construction at 1400 West Monroe
Critics of the internet say there’s more to life than cat videos. And they’re right. There are also construction videos. Recently the people putting up 1400 Monroe sent over a video showing how far construction has progressed on the Near West Side residential building. Construction, led by Summit Design + Build, started this past June, and is expected to run into next Summer. When complete, the JK Equities project will bring 42...
Construction Underway on New Near West Residential Block
It’s “Play ball!” out at 1400 West Monroe Street. That’s where construction crews are taking a swing at a new 42-unit condo building with “1400 Monroe” stitched on its jersey. May 2020 rendering of 1400 Monroe (Courtesy of JK Equities) JK Equities says its seven-story building, designed by Booth Hansen, is already 40%+ sold. Prices run from New York Yankees relief pitcher Jonathan Holder, all the...
Groundbreaking Imminent for What May Be the Safest Building in the Midwest
The first construction permits have been issued for 1400 Monroe, a new 42-unit residential building planned for — you guessed it — 1400 West Monroe Street on Chicago’s Near West Side. May 2020 rendering of 1400 Monroe (Courtesy of JK Equities) The building was designed by Booth Hansen for Long Island developer JK Equities. The new homes run from $760,000 for 1,242 square feet with two bedrooms to $2,350,000 for over 3,100...
A Brief Slice of Union West
If you haven’t seen what’s happening with the Union West development lately, now you have. Construction of Union West (Courtesy of Near West Spy Joel) Near West Spy Joel sent in the photograph above showing one of Union West’s new 15-story towers from West Washington Boulevard. The ZOM Living project designed by bKL has a second such tower, and together they bring 357 new apartments, 255 new parking spaces, and...
Near West Residential Tower Going to the People
Another building for Chicago’s Near West Side means another chance for you to weigh in on its merits. Twenty-fifth Ward Alderman Danny Solis and the West Loop Community Organization are holding a public meeting on the proposal for 99 South Sangamon, which is the northeast corner of Sangamon and Monroe. The developer wants to put up a 24-story residential block with 193 new homes, designed by GREC. The tower will sit atop a...
New Near West Side Condo Tower To Get Public Debut
The people who want to put up an 18-story condominium tower on North May Street between Madison and Washington are ready to share their plans with the public. West suburban Sulo Development is already building Hayden West Loop on the same city block. But this new proposal is twice the height. The new building has the (hopefully temporary) name 19 North May. Right now that space is construction staging for Hayden, so it doesn’t...
Two-Tower 845 West Madison Project Breaks Ground
If you want to put a little “Opa!” in your life, a new mixed-use development is underway that may be just the flaming cheese your Greek alter ego craves. 845 West Madison broke ground recently on the Greektown-adjacent block where the H2O+ personal care products factory once stood, behind the Mariano’s. It’s a two-tower GREC Architects design for Lendlease and The John Buck Company that will being 586 new...
1050 and 1125 West Van Buren Get Resized Again
If you’ve been itching to move into one of a pair of new residential blocks along the Eisenhower Expressway, near Target, with excellent rail and bus service… you’re gonna need more calamine lotion. 1050 and 1125 West Van Buren are going to the people. Again. The two towers have been in the works since the Romans invaded Gaul, and Julius Caesar predicted the rise of malignant social media with his FaceParchment...
Another Downtown Chicago Building Lights Up the Night
There are lots of ways to add a dash of visual Tabasco sauce to a building. You can let an artist go to town on it, like the University Center at 525 South State Street. You can use metal patterns on the facade, like the Marquee Apartments at Block37. Or you can simply stand back and light up the existing building in patterns of light, like The Willis Tower, The Goodman Center, The Merchandise Mart, and now 24 South Morgan Street....
