The new Apple store to play a key role in the Clybourn Red Line station!

Doors will open on the right at the Apple stop

By: Thomas A. Corfman October 26, 2009

The North and Clybourn station on the CTA’s Red Line may become the iStop.

In exchange for Apple Inc. spending more than $4 million to renovate the scruffy station, the Chicago Transit Authority gave the maker of MacBooks and iPhones first dibs on naming rights, if the agency decides to go that route. It’s apparently the first such deal ever by the cash-strapped CTA. Apple also gets the exclusive right to buy all the ad space in the station, at 1555 N. Clybourn Avenue.

The CTA has been considering naming-rights agreements since at least 2005, but the idea is seemingly getting another look as President Richard Rodriguez scrambles to avoid hiking fares and cutting services to cover next year’s projected budget deficit of $178 million. A CTA spokeswoman did not respond to questions.

Cities nationwide are increasingly looking at corporate sponsorships to ease budget woes. The risk to the CTA is that slapping corporate logos on stations could confuse riders and cheapen the city’s image, and make only a small dent in the massive financial problems….

Check out the full Crain’s Chicago Business article by clicking HERE!  From driving by the construction zone, you can see the general design of the store, which is different from the picture below.  So far, I like where they’re going with it but I hope they keep it very light, open, and covered in glass.

Hopefully VERY preliminary plans...

New construction across from Wrigley Field…and it’s pretty nice!

A big thanks to Skyscraperpage user ‘george’ for the great photo work and updating everyone on this new construction building right across from Wrigley Field in Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood.  When I first found out they were tearing down the old building, I was dreading what would be built in its place.  But I can rest assured and say that I’m really impressed with the new building. 

Old building, prior to demolition.

New building.

New building.

The Roosevelt Collection hit hard…switching from condos to apartments!

Word broke around a week ago that The Lofts at Roosevelt Collection, located around 150 W. Roosevelt Road in Chicago’s South Loop.  Developed by Centrum Properties, The Lofts at Roosevelt Collection was set to include 342 loft condominiums in addition to a 300,000 square-feet of retail space.  With around 60% of the homes under contract, this is a hard hit…but at least these homeowners received their earnest money back.  According to this ChicagoRealEstateDaily.com article, the development will be anchored by a 16 screen Kerasotes Showplace movie theater and a David Barton gym with the remaining retail space at about 50% leased.  Centrum is in “serious negotiations” with tenants for another 40% of the space which is great news.  So if you’re in the market for a brand spankin’ new loft apartment, check out their website or give the leasing office at call at 312-588-1688.  Rents start at $1,375/month for a one-bedroom and $2,300 for two bedrooms.

Check out the full article by clicking HERE!

“A lot of” interest in finishing the 26 story shell of Waterview Tower?!

Probably some of the best news to come out of Chicago real estate in a long time comes from this Chicago Tribune article.  Waterview Tower, located at 111 W. Wacker Drive in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood, was supposed to be a 90 story hotel and condominium high rise right along the Chicago River on Wacker Drive.  Due to some very…very…very…”little known” financial and economic reasons…construction was stopped at just 26 bare concrete floors.  The odd piece of the puzzle is that a very high percentage of Waterview Tower’s condominiums were sold but to make matters worse, plans for a Shangri-La Hotel on the lower floors were recently scrapped.

Check out the full article by clicking HERE!  Also, thank you to ‘harryc’ at Skyscrapercity for the below picture!

GREEN ROOF ALERT! Office building at 353 N. Clark Street in River North!

Thanks to Skyscraperpage user, ‘harryc,’ who posted these great pictures of an almost complete 45 story office building, located at 353 N. Clark Street in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.  353 N. Clark is being developed and anchored by Mesirow Financial and from what I understand, the green roof is located on top of the building’s retail and underground parking entrance as well as the 45th floor mechanical penthouse.  Props for the cool design too!

Construction views from a Northerly Island bike ride.

This picture was taken from Northerly Island one sunny, hot, summer day.  Because of Mayor Daley’s…ahem…tenacity…Northerly Island has been turned into a prairie with native wildflowers and plants and it even  has some good trails to run and ride your bike on.  Plus, the beach is rarely packed like most lakefront beaches.

Back to the point of this picture, you can see a few construction projects like Trump International Hotel and Tower, One Museum Park West, Legacy at Millennium Park, Blue Cross-Blue Shield expansion, and even the very top of Aqua.  Enjoy!

Construction update for EnV, a River North apartment building.

Over a month ago, I took a walk in the River North neighborhood to give an update on the construction of EnV, Chicago’s first LEED certified luxury apartment building.  Construction seems to be coming along quite nicely and I’m pretty sure there are only a couple more floors left to pour.  Standing at 29 floors when complete in the spring of 2010, EnV is located at 161 W. Kinzie Street in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.  Amenities include a dog run, rooftop deck and pool, and residents will be able to control things like heat and air in their homes via iPod or iPhone.  Pretty cool!

EnV before!

EnV now!

Renovation brings a JW Marriott hotel into a Daniel Burnham designed building in the Loop.

Slated for a June 2010 opening, a new JW Marriott Chicago will be located at 151 West Adams Street in a converted Daniel Burnham designed bank building after a lengthy $369M restoration.  When finished, the JW Marriott Chicago will include 609 large guestrooms, 125 luxury suites, two ballrooms, and 48,000 square feet of meeting and event space.  Included in the newly renovated building is a 20,000 square foot spa which is an amenity not usually found in most Loop hotels. 

I’m excited for the JW Marriott Chicago to be finished for a couple reasons.  First, I am always a huge proponent of the smart re-use of an old and historically significant building especially when many are being torn down without much thought.  Secondly, this part of the Loop becomes a ghost town after 5pm.  With the W Hotel – City Center right across the street at 172 West Adams Street, I am hoping more restaurants and shops will choose to move here and stay open longer.

Construction progress on “The Ledge” at the Sears Tower!

By the looks of this recent picture by jc5680 on Skyscraperpage, “The Ledge” is progressing nicely and should be giving everyone a whole lot of vertigo in the near future.  Originally, it was reported that “The Ledge” would be opening up to the public in June.  Well, unless the workers can finish the project in five days, I have to believe there was some sort of delay. 

When completed, “The Ledge” will give the Sears Tower quite the advantage in bringing people in over the John Hancock Center.  After all, a 103 floor drop with 50 mile views is pretty cool.  The Sears Tower Skydeck is open from 9am – 10pm and tickets are $14.95 for anyone 12 and up.

Old surrenders to new again in Streeterville. Brand new residential project in the works.

Located at 630 N. McClurg Street, the old CBS2 studios have been torn down and there is just an empty lot in the middle of Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood.  Plans call for two residential buildings, most likely rental due to the poor condo market, on top of a large parking and office podium.  As much as I loved the look of the old television studio, I think this project looks great.  I hope it will bring a great street presence because right now, the neighborhood becomes pretty desolate at night.  With so much residential activity in the neighborhood, I’m surprised at how early most retail stores and restaurants close.

Old CBS2 Studio which was demolished for the new project.

Old CBS2 studio fully demolished and awaiting construction!

Looking Northeast

Looking Southwest

Looking Southwest

Looking Northwest