Does the Chicago Spire have a chance in hell of ever being completed? (Kell: loan, buyers)

[Bluefly]

I always thought the Sears Tower was siilly. It just gets really skinny and reaches for the record like a guy pulling his penis down before swaggering through a lockerroom. There doesn't seem to be any real economic demand for it.

I think the U.S. has an opportunity like Europe to stop proving to the world that it's big and tough and start investinig in quality of life.
Look at DC - 13 story height restrictions and one of the vibrant cities in the country.

On a deeper level, I think we have an opportunity to turn our growth inward rather than just always focusing on the physical.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Now we just build the world's tallest building for other people. The Burj Dubai, currently the tallest man-made structure on the planet, was designed by the Chicago office of architecture and engineering firm Skidmore Owings and Merrill. All Dubai did was pay for it.

Yeah, and if we wanted to, our military could easily destroy it too!

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

I always thought the Sears Tower was siilly. It just gets really skinny and reaches for the record like a guy pulling his penis down before swaggering through a lockerroom. There doesn't seem to be any real economic demand for it.

Huh? The Sears Tower is pretty fricking hulking, even at the top. You want to talk about a frivolous taper, look at the Burj Dubai. The upper floors arent even occupiable..its all for show.

No economic demand? What are you on? Theres tons of economic demand for Class A office space in Chicago. The Sears Tower problem is its floorplates are outdated, as are its technological/energy capabilities. Once those are updated it should have no problem brining back tenants.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by via chicago

Huh? The Sears Tower is pretty fricking hulking, even at the top. You want to talk about a frivolous taper, look at the Burj Dubai. The upper floors arent even occupiable..its all for show.

No economic demand? What are you on? Theres tons of economic demand for Class A office space in Chicago. The Sears Tower problem is its floorplates are outdated, as are its technological/energy capabilities. Once those are updated it should have no problem brining back tenants.

Even in this current Depression, the Loop has lower vacancy rates than suburban office parks. There are stories every few weeks of companies relocating from the suburbs to the Loop.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by coldwine

And it's a **** ugly building in a city that has no industry to sustain the grid.

Dubai was a hideous mistake; we already have one Disneyland, thank you.

Thanks. I've worked on multiple projects in Dubai. Not any more, though!

Oh, I agree, It's a freak show of a place that has "boom and bust" written all over it.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

I always thought the Sears Tower was siilly. It just gets really skinny and reaches ...

Oh shut up.

[chicken.or.the.nugget]

i hope it will get built but i doubt it.
It would be so great for the skyline, but it's too residential and expensive. The only people who would buy a 700k condo would be rich guys who come here for business and dont want a hotel or rich people in their early 20s.

[Venom]

I heard it was being funded once again.

[UICJohn]

I read a story the other day (it might be incredibly old news so I'm sorry) that Ty Warner, of Beanie Baby fame, purchased the penthouse of the Spire for $40 million dollars. Again, sorry if it's really old and I don't know if it happened when the project was in jeopardy or not, but it could be a good sign that it might get underway again?

[surlycue]

Originally Posted by Venom

I heard it was being funded once again.

Some of the workers unions (construction/plumbing, etc) are in talks to put their money behind it to get it started again and keep them employed through 2011 but it would literally be their money, as in 401K or equivalent so if I were them I would want some serious guarantees of return compensation before throwing my future away on a pipe dream.