Developer planning to build ugly building in our neighborhood, what can we do as a community to stop this? (Chicago: apartment, condos)

[kevinchitown]

I live in Printer's Row in the South Loop. LG Development scaled back the height and size of their micro-apartment building to be built on the NW corner of Dearborn & Polk street. I along with many other residents in neighborhood think the re-design is hideous! The neighborhood is surrounded by landmarked buildings and it would be a shame if something like this is allowed to be built on our street. What can we do as a community to fight back?






Sloopin - A South Loop Blog: Development Planned for Vacant NW Corner of Polk/Dearborn Cut Down to 7 Stories

[chet everett]

For better or worse, Chicago has long allowed aldermen to have enormous power in what gets built in the various wards.

Use this map to confirm your ward -- http://www.cityofchicago.org/content...verviewMap.pdf

Pretty sure that is 25th Ward, Danny Solis -- City of Chicago :: Ward 25 Good Luck!

[kevinchitown]

Originally Posted by chet everett

For better or worse, Chicago has long allowed aldermen to have enormous power in what gets built in the various wards.

Use this map to confirm your ward -- http://www.cityofchicago.org/content...verviewMap.pdf

Pretty sure that is 25th Ward, Danny Solis -- City of Chicago :: Ward 25 Good Luck!

Thanks Chet!

[emathias]

So would you be asking that they build something that apes historic architecture? That fakes it? Or are you asking that something with stronger contemporary architecture be built so that you have nice examples of both historic and contemporary architecture?

[deeman7]

You can't please all the people all the time.

[jdiddy]

Should have supported the initial proposal.

[kevinchitown]

Originally Posted by emathias

So would you be asking that they build something that apes historic architecture? That fakes it? Or are you asking that something with stronger contemporary architecture be built so that you have nice examples of both historic and contemporary architecture?

The initial design was more widely accepted, I think it has a mix of historic and contemporary architecture. If they wanted to scale it down, it would've been nice to have based it on the initial design. But the new 7 story building looks like something they put together without much thought.

Originally Posted by deeman7

You can't please all the people all the time.

Sure, but why build something ugly in a neighborhood surrounded by landmarked buildings? We just want them to put a little more thought into the design, not build some crap box. All of the buildings on that block are 100+ years old.

Originally Posted by jdiddy

Should have supported the initial proposal.

No one was against the initial proposal. We thought the 15 story building was going to be built. Then all of a sudden we heard that the plan got downsized to the ugly 7 story building. No issues with the downsizing, just the architecture.

[deeman7]

I agree the original fits in better with the height but a post modern design would have fit better than the modern designs shown in the picures.

[kevinchitown]

Originally Posted by deeman7

I agree the original fits in better with the height but a post modern design would have fit better than the modern designs shown in the picures.

I'm no expert when it comes to architecture, but I feel like the original design pulls from the Chicago School style of architecture. It looks a little like a modern version of the Marquette Building with it's Chicago style windows etc.

[NOLA101]

You will need to lobby your alderman. Aldermen have veto power over projects, so if you get him/her on your side, you can win.

Building is hideous, BTW. It would be nice for once if the city didn't approve every single project proposed. Would be great for existing homeowners, so they could actually get some price appreciation and long-term value like in other cities, rather than having neighborhoods ruined by cheap dreck and too much supply.

The South Loop, just a few years ago, had tons of virtually worthless condos, but the neighborhood recovered because the development boom finally stopped.