New 20-Story Hotel Proposed for Fulton Market Area
That sizzle you hear drifting across West Town isn’t flame broiled goodness being charred on the roof deck of some hipster dot-com startup’s offices. It’s the neighborhood’s searing real estate market, that simply cannot build fast enough. The next big project on the list: A 20-story hotel at 801 West Lake Street. That’s the southwest corner of Lake and Halsted, just north of Randolph Street and just...
Slice of Life: Rookie Reporter Fooled By Non-Pool
We’ve watched The Parker Fulton Market (171 North Halsted Street) grow from our perch atop the Chicago Architecture West Loop bureau for months now. We saw the glass go up; we saw the tower crane come down. But just because it can be seen from here doesn’t mean we shouldn’t see it from there. It’s a quick walk over to North Halsted, so the decision was made to venture over to the construction site, and once...
The Parker Fulton Market Tops Out at Halsted and Lake
Sometimes you can just sense change in the air. Such was the case this morning, when we flung on the lights at the Chicago Architecture West Loop Bureau, looked out the window, and saw the tower crane at The Parker Fulton Market (171 North Halsted Street) has been lowered below the top floor. That can only mean one thing. A top-out. We reached out to Focus Development, Inc., the general contractor and developer (along with Shapack...
171 North Halsted Brings the Pane, Gets a Name
There are two things you can write to get a reaction out of the staff at The Chicago Architecture Blog: “New Glass!” and “New Name!” But something one should never do is announce both of those phenomena without making sure you’re not blocking the fire exit. Such was the case Monday, when we scrambled on foot over to Lake and Halsted to confirm rumors the Booth Hansen-designed residential tower at 171...
Status Update: WAY UP-dates
We’ve already told you our feelings on Aon Center stealing the show at Open House Chicago 2015. One of our favorite features of Aon’s 71st-floor vantage point, as well as the one high atop the Kemper Building‘s 41st-floor observation deck (new windows!) was being able to look out across the city and check on the progress of several construction projects. It’s one thing to stand at street level and look up to...
Curve on the Kennedy Now Visibly Curvy
What we at the Chicago Architecture Blog have taken to calling The Curve on the Kennedy (171 North Halsted Street) might conjure up nightmares for Chicago drivers. What exactly do we mean? The angled segment through Hubbard’s Cave? The constant jam as you veer west at the Edens junction? The turn at Nagle before you hit the home stretch on the way to O’Hare? Wow. Now that we list them out, we see your point. And apologize...
Status Update: 171 North Halsted Begins Blocking View of Cool “Breakout” Wall
The new, wonderfully-curved residential tower at Lake Street and North Halsted is taking shape in West Town. We zipped over to have a look, and it’s already risen 5 stories above the street. When the Booth Hansen design is complete, it will have (depending on which document filed with the city turns out to be final) 28-30 stories, with 214-227 residences. Another thing it will have is the ability to completely obstruct our view...
Status Update: The Curve on the Kennedy
It was with a great sigh of relief that architecture enthusiasts greeted the design of 171 North Halsted Street when it was presented to the public just about a year ago. Well, keep exhaling because the building you loved on paper is well on its way to becoming a concrete and steel reality. The Chicago Architecture Blog’s Daniel Schell went a calling recently and found the hardware store that was once there is long gone, the...
A Skyline-Changing Week for Chicago; City May Approve 4 New Towers
For fans of Chicago’s urban environment, it’s always a good month when the city approves a new skyscraper. Some months we get lucky and two are approved. If everything goes as expected, this week the city will greenlight not one… not two.. but four new skyscrapers, and a high-rise for the greater downtown area. Here’s a look at the five projects expected to be approved this week: 171 North Halsted Rendering...
New West Town Tower Liked by Neighbors, the Savior of a Beloved Bank
Last night, residents of Greektown, West Town, and the West Loop gave a collective thumb’s up to the new residential tower proposed for the intersection of Lake and Halsted Streets. The skyscraper, which is currently using the name 171 North Halsted, will replace a dilapidated hardware store and provide much-needed apartments in an area where the residents have traditionally been wary of those of us with transient lifestyles....