Now that it sold at the Rick Levin auction, what now for Chicago’s Old Post Office?

I found this article from the Chicago Sun Times and although I don’t agree with most of Hedy’s ideas, it is still an interesting article to read about the potential uses for the old Chicago Post Office that was recently sold at auction for $40MM.  Click HERE to read the complete article.

I have a few novice ideas for the post office that I will write about in a seperate post.

 

GREEN ROOF ALERT! The most famous Chicago green roof: Millennium Park!

A lot of people have no idea that Millennium Park is one of the world’s largest green roof.  Under the park is a major parking garage, a train station with dozens of retail spaces, and rail lines that service the South Side of Chicago.  Millennium Park started construction in October 1998 and officially opened July 16th, 2004 with 24.5 acres of new parkland for downtown Chicago.

Now, of course something this big in Chicago can’t come without some controversy.  Millennium Park was finished four years behind schedule and cost approximately three times as much as the inthe initial budget of $150MM really came out to be $475MM with a brunt of the money paid from taxpayers and donors.  Without Millennium Park, I really wonder what the area would look like today.  I know the park had at least some sort of influence on the many residential buildings that have been built.  I’m sure the different cultural centers surrounding it have seen at least some sort of increase in traffic.  Block 37 and other new State Street retail spaces could also have been influenced by the proximity to Millennium Park.  Thoughts?

 

 

Listen up home buyers: First-Time Buyer Tax Credit Extension Possible!

According to this article from Realtor.org, the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit may be extended past its original ending date of November 30th.  If approved by the U.S. House and the Senate, the tax credit may go up to $15,000 and may be open to all home buyers.  That’s huge!  But don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t get extended because $8,000 is amazing no matter how you think of it.  Just don’t get greedy and miss out on that house you love and $8,000 by waiting for something that may not happen.

Check out the full article by clicking HERE!

GREEN ROOF ALERT at the Chicago Cultural Center across from Millennium Park!

This green roof is located on top of the Chicago Cultural Center, located at 78 E. Washington Street, right across from Millennium Park.  Originally built as Chicago’s central library, it later became an arts and culture center that attracts over 800,000 visitors a year.  The Chicago Cultural Center roof had to be retrofitted to accommodate the new green roof, which provides a nice visual for neighbors but there is also a solar water collection system to help with the building’s hot water demands.  Altogether, about 15,000 square feet of green roof was incorporated.

Would you like to own the old Chicago Post Office for $300K? It’s going to auction Thursday!

So if you want to own a piece…a massive piece of Chicago real estate, Rick Levin & Associates, Inc. is auctioning off the former Main Chicago Post Office tomorrow, August 27th at 1:00pm.  The auction will take place at the Intercontinental Chicago O’Hare Hotel, located at 5300 N. River Road in Rosemont.  The suggested opening bid is a cool $300,000 so if you got some spare change, register and head over to the auction.  Check out the Rick Levin website and a video HERE!

 

I wish I knew about this…Groucho glasses mark a new record for Chicago.

So, apparently, before the screening of the classic Marx Brothers movie “Duck Soup” at the Chicago Outdoor Film Festival in Grant Park, 4,436 Chicagoans took part in breaking the world record for largest number of people wearing Groucho Marx glasses at an event.  The previous record took place during a 2007 baseball game in Springfield, Missouri with 4,077 participants.

To read the full story and see a video of the world record taking place, click HERE!

GREEN ROOF ALERT for a small, tucked away fire station in Streeterville!

This is a prime example of how even the smallest of places can make a difference when they incorporate a green roof into the structure.  This fire station is just Southeast of the Museum of Contemporary Art on Chicago Avenue.  Anyone know what I’m talking about?

Little Mel’s Place on 18th Street in Pilsen opened by a great, young couple!

After a second time eating at Little Mel’s Place, located at 1800 S. Jefferson Street, in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, I realized I should have posted about this place after my first visit.  I’m all about no frills places where I can actually leave full and satisfied for not much money and where I know I’m contributing to a small neighborhood restaurant.  A very nice, young couple were the ones to open up Little Mel’s and they will also be the ones to take your order and cook your delicious food…plus, they happily took my townhome brochures which was extra cool.

Both times I visited, I was lame and got the same thing but I swear I only did so because it was so good.  I ordered a double bacon cheeseburger meal which includes a drink and fries.  Let me tell you, the burger was massive and with the pickle spear, lettuce, tomato and onion, I could have died a happy man right there.  BUT, I’m not one to turn down these fries because they taste similar to McDonalds fries but are a bit bigger.  I also skipped the pop and went with a large strawberry shake which was perfect for the 95 degree day.  All of this set me back a little over $7.00…not bad for being able to fill me up.  Kudos Little Mel’s, kudos.

Thanks to “Yelper” Southside S. for the photo of Little Mel’s.  I couldn’t find any picture of the place.

GREEN ROOF ALERT at the Apparel Center and Holiday Inn!

This green roof alert comes from The Chicago Apparel Center in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.  To a lot of people, including myself, this building is one of the ugliest buildings in all of Chicago but the Apparel Center redeemed itself a bit by planting a curvy green roof.  Along with housing 250 wholesale showrooms for apparel and accessories, the Apparel Center houses the headquarters of the Chicago Sun-Times as well as the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, a 525 room hotel.

Free wine seminar with Lush Wine & Spirits and Belgravia Group’s Hartland Park Townhomes!

Tonight at 7pm, Belgravia Group’s Hartland Park Townhomes is hosting a complimentary wine seminar in their model home, located at 1721 W. Schubert Avenue in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.  Lush Wine & Spirits brings the wine and one of their fun and knowledable employees to teach a seminar that feels nothing like a class…well, because it’s fun and I haven’t ever had wine during a class.  Some good food will be there and of course, you can’t beat the free wine can you?  To RSVP give Hartland Park a call at 773-935-0523.