The Chicago Boom (Oak Lawn, Riverside, Manhattan: environment, equity, skyscrapers)

[saadrajabali]

....i SINCERELY HOPE THIS DOESNT MAKE LIVING IN CHICAGO MORE EXPENSIVE LIKE IT DID IN NEW YORK!!!!!!!!! THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH MANHATTAN!!

[Drover]

Well if anything it would theoretically make living in Chicago less expensive, or at least slow the rate at which housing prices rise. New York's issue, particularly in Manhattan, is that there is simply no room left to increase supply of housing to meet the considerable demand. As a result, housing there is incredibly expensive.

[desibear]

Originally Posted by via chicago

no offense, but you live in downtown chicago (the birthplace of the skyscraper) and you're complaining about skyscrapers going up? classic case of NIMBYism: "Not In My Backyard". you want the benefits of living in the city, without everything that comes along with living in the city. this isnt naperville. its like moving to a rural area, but then complaining about being surrounded by corn...sorry, i just dont have a lot of sympathy. its like the director of urban planning told a lady in a Q&A session who had the same complaint about Park Michigan:

Q: My husband and I bought our home in this neighborhood in 2000 because we liked the quiet low-rise loft envronment here. Now we can hardly recognize our block anymore. How can these developers be allowed to change a neighborhood this way?

A: It's always a good idea to take a look at the Zoning map for the area you are buying a home in to see if it meets you needs.

680 Rush will be the first condominium project for Canyon Ranch (mainly operate resorts and spas now), which touts a "wellness" lifestyle (free on site medical, etc), especially aimed at baby boomers. there is a market for this, and all indication point to it being built. Also, the church will be using it for their offices.

This whole area is aimed at baby boomers. It's hard to fathom that there is so much pent up demand still out there, that a whole new building is needed. Just yesterday, I noticed that a sign has gone up but havne't yet checked out the verbiage on it. I'm assuming that means the project is moving forward

Part of the charm of living here is the skyscrapers are built around the 2 churches in the neighborhood, leading to a paradox of ultra crowded streets with lots of tall buildings that still feels open to the locals. Realistically, it will be another 12-24 months before this montrosity goes up by which time we will be out of here anyway.

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by HockeyFan

How much do these condos go for? Does anyone have links to websites?

Very impressive!

im not sure, but i believe most of these would fall into the "if you have to ask, you cant afford it" category

The Chicago Spire. Inspired by nature, imagined by Calatrava
Trump Chicago
WATERVIEWTOWER.COM
One Museum Park
The Legacy at Millennium Park - City living by Chicago's Millennium Park
Chicago Condos & Apartments at the Aqua in Lakeshore East
Mandarin Oriental Tower
- Elysian -

[sukwoo]

First of all, the Sears Tower is not "almost empty", but it is less full than its owners would like, definitely.

Secondly,regarding housing costs, one contributing factor to the high price of Manhattan real estate is the lack of significant new high rise residential construction due to rampant NIMBYism. Its almost impossible to get approval to build a new residential high rise there. Basic economics, increased demand for Manhattan living and static supply of housing units results in sky high housing prices.

[the_pines]

Lame. All the Detroits, Clevelands, New Orleans, Buffalos and every other city that was in the rustbelt rot away while imperial cities gobble stuff up. This countries future has to be bleak. Ive seen more inspirational designs from Kindergartners too. This global city race stuff is the lamest stuff ever. In reality people couldn't even come close to affording those cramped arse condos and crap. This country is going to turn in to some rich/poor country with drastic differences in standards and no middle class.

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by the_pines

Lame. All the Detroits, Clevelands, New Orleans, Buffalos and every other city that was in the rustbelt rot away while imperial cities gobble stuff up. This countries future has to be bleak. Ive seen more inspirational designs from Kindergartners too. This global city race stuff is the lamest stuff ever. In reality people couldn't even come close to affording those cramped arse condos and crap. This country is going to turn in to some rich/poor country with drastic differences in standards and no middle class.

a) its somehow chicagos fault that the other rust belt cities didnt realize early on (and some still havent accepted) that our country was shifting away from a manufacturing to service based economy?

b) what exactly is chicago "gobbling" up? you lament the loss of the other rust belt cities, and now you chide chicago for actually suceeding and moving forward?

c) you obviously dont care or know nothing about architecture. while many of the designs are perhaps average (and to be honest, most are far above average by american standards), at least 2 (chicago spire and aqua) have been hailed as some of the most forward thinking designs of the new century.

d) "cramped condos and crap"...so i take it you think the solution is to gobble up farmland and increase our dependence on fossil fuels by building mcmansions in far flung exburbs instead. interesting.

[the_pines]

Pfff whatever. carry on. They all look average and unimpressive to me. The only thing that would be striking would be their size and interiors. And you have to be rich to afford them even though there is endless space in Illinois. This will be the age of cookie cutter global cities and overhyped unrealistic prices for everyone. The middle class will die and the rich will get richer, and the poor cutoff.

Don't even get me started on innovation. All the technology in the world is at our fingertips. Its a matter of practicality. The rich don't want to spend money pioneering things. Its doesn't profit them. What a cheap gimmick the United States is going to become. They just want to make sure everyone is hooked on the their tit system.

Its one big sham and a shame people are so herd-like. They're going to give every ounce of faith and integrity away to flaunt wealth.

Shut up Chicago. One big arse Pretender city. Just another global cookie cutter imperialist road to nowhere city. All of that and then some isn't impressive. Its just a bunch of eye candy that does nothing for nobody. BLEAK.

[via chicago]

so what happened, someone cut you off on the Dan Ryan?

[the_pines]

Nah. Never been to Chicago. Have no desire to go. I have been keeping my eye open looking for another country to call home if God is willing. Or at least somewhere in the wilderness. I think the United States is headed right in to disaster. I wouldn't put on no wedding dress if I were you miss USA and mighty little Chicago. I'm not going to even try to help Ohio either. It has no gull, no one there has any coconuts to do anything. Its dead in the water and subject to imperial rule with no real hope. Its going to be sitting right between the two biggest imperial cities in NY and Chicago now. Remind of what there is to be excited about. I must have missed it.