Alderman Reilly Against Latest Park Privatization Plan
For the last few months we’ve been following the growing concern in the Gold Coast over the future of Mariano Park. For those of you unfamiliar with that particular sliver of Chicago, it’s the space bounded by North State Street, North Rush Street, and East Bellevue Place that puts the “triangle” into Viagra Triangle. From early spring into the late fall, it is the hub of the neighborhood. A lively place where...
Status Update: The Thompson Chicago in the Gold Coast
Work continues at The Thompson Chicago, the city’s soon-to-be newest hotel. It’s actually the former Sutton Place Hotel (21 East Bellevue Place), perched on the corner of North Rush Street and East Bellevue Place in the Gold Coast. The Sutton Place sign remains affixed to the wall outside. The 246-room, 23-story tower was built in 1987. Last year, the Thompson Hotels chain took over management duties. Locally, Thompson...
Status Update: Maple & Ash – The New and Improved Hunt Club
Chicago’s landmark Hunt Club is gone (1100 North State street). Right now, it’s just a shallow pit filled with bricks and memories. Soon to rise in this space is an oversized three-story building. The Hunt Club name will go away, and be replaced by “Maple and Ash” — a reference to woods used to cook some of the food. Maple and Ash will take up the first two floors of the building. The third floor will...
Progress On a Public/Private Partnership Putting Potable Purveyor in Park Pavilion
It was almost two years ago when we first told you that Chicago’s own tea shop chain, Argo Tea, was going to set up shop in an unusual location — Connors Park. Tea in the triangle is finally becoming a reality. Construction is underway, completely gutting and rebuilding the park. For years it was much less than it could be, or should be, for a park in the heart of the Gold Coast. It was mostly concrete, the shrubs...