Does the Chicago Spire have a chance in hell of ever being completed? (condos, construction)

[amensupremera]

I'd love to see this building get completed. Chicago needs another contender...hell America does. The Sears Tower was once the heavyweight champ of skyscrappers and in my travels I've seen some of the new contenders and regardless The Sears Tower is still a King snake (although the Burj Dubai once completed will be the undisputed champ). Just wanted to know what the people of Chicago thought about the Chicago Spire. Do you want to see is built? Do you think it will ever be completed considering the current economy.

[hank0604]

It doubt work will be resumed any time soon, and I also doubt that it will be finished as currently planned. We've learned over the past months the limits of our nation's housing market, and there is just no way it could ever support a 120+ story building of nothing but condos. Maybe if it had some office space and retail added to it, things might be different.

[west lawn kid]

If the spire is completed by 2012 the economy should booming by then, and the condo will sell faster then, uhh, something that sells really fast.

[Avengerfire]

http://www.city-data.com/forum/chica...ll-happen.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/chica...not-built.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/chica...ago-spire.html

http://www.city-data.com/forum/chica...ago-spire.html

[aragx6]

Developing nations need giant skyscrapers not developed ones. What benefit do we get out of it?

We don't need to prove our balls are big the way UAE etc. does.

[amensupremera]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Developing nations need giant skyscrapers not developed ones. What benefit do we get out of it?

We don't need to prove our balls are big the way UAE etc. does.

Maybe its just me but I'd like to get back to the days when America had the best of everything or at least wanted to strive to have the best of everything. The tallest this, the most modern that, the most state of the art whatever, etc.

Seems like America just doesn't want to compete anymore. If we're not going to strive for these types of things where is the motivation for the kids who want to be architects and engineers. Yet most Americans will say that America is the greatest country in the world based on things that we take for granted.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by amensupremera

Maybe its just me but I'd like to get back to the days when America had the best of everything or at least wanted to strive to have the best of everything. The tallest this, the most modern that, the most state of the art whatever, etc.

Seems like America just doesn't want to compete anymore. If we're not going to strive for these types of things where is the motivation for the kids who want to be architects and engineers. Yet most Americans will say that America is the greatest country in the world based on things that we take for granted.

Most of the supertalls are being built for ego-boosting purposes rather than true economic necessity. America has long outgrown the need for ego boosting via supertall construction. When we're in need of ego-boosting, we invade other countries instead.

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

When we're in need of ego-boosting, we invade other countries instead.

::snort::

I agree with sukwoo completely. What do we get out of it? Wouldn't that money be better put towards health care or education -- at least then we could have the healthiest, smartest people. Maybe it's just me, but I think that's the mark of a great country.

As long as this is true:

UNICEF states that although the U.S. is still the wealthiest country on Earth, with income levels higher than any other country, it also has one of the highest incidences of child poverty among the rich, industrialized nations. Denmark and Finland have child-poverty levels of less than 3 percent, and are closely followed by Norway and Sweden, thanks to higher levels of social spending. In the U.S., 17 percent of children live in poverty.

we have a long way to go toward being the greatest country in the world.

Rich Man, Poor Man: Hungry Children in America

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by amensupremera

Maybe its just me but I'd like to get back to the days when America had the best of everything or at least wanted to strive to have the best of everything. The tallest this, the most modern that, the most state of the art whatever, etc.

Seems like America just doesn't want to compete anymore. If we're not going to strive for these types of things where is the motivation for the kids who want to be architects and engineers. Yet most Americans will say that America is the greatest country in the world based on things that we take for granted.

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.

[coldwine]

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.

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.