I say build the south loop just like Manhattan, because you know what is VERY true about Manhattan? It is rich… VERY RICH in fact FILTHY RICH. What does that mean for everyone including the city here or there (NYC)? Tons of tax dollars which can be very useful for all of us. I think its about time that Chicago sits back and looks at just what makes Manhattan such a successful borough of NYC. Even though it is crowded, people there are used to it and don’t mind the crowds, just as people here would get used to it, jobs are plentiful, healthcare is good, the housing market is a gold mine if you can afford to buy there, and NYC is VERY easy to get around. There are cabs everywhere, buses, SUBWAYS going all over the city (hint hint Chicago), trains (MTA), etc. not to mention that everything is so close together that you can walk just about everywhere. In Manhattan there are little mom and pop stores all over the place making it very convienent to be able to just run down to the corner to get a gallon of milk or the corner bakery for some bagels. With our south loop developing in the manner it is, basically we are building another larger scale Schaumburg, only this one will be located on the edge of downtown Chicago, where even though these developments are close to downtown, people will still have to drive in to work everyday, drive to go out and eat, drive to go shopping at the new Target or Jewel, drive to go get cigarettes, so on and so on making this environment not so convienent for those without cars.

For those that say, “oh well thats not true I would walk…” Would you want to walk a mile or two in 20 degree weather with winds howling off the lake to get something from the store or go into work, a weather situation which we are plagued with in Chicago from November through about April??? I know I wouldn’t. Developers need to keep all of this in mind when planning to build/redevelop a new neighborhood. Chicago is not New York, however we can learn very valuable lessons on how to make a neighborhood successful by looking at and learning how New Yorkers have set up their neighborhoods and transportation systems, as we (Chicago) have a similar diverse population, similar climate, and similar road system. Chicago needs to lose this LA type mentality of building new high rises blocks apart from eachother to give more green space or light from the sky because all that does is spread everything out and encourages people to drive everywhere bringing in MORE cars to an area where the roads already can’t handle the traffic. Not to mention, LA has a nice 60-70 degree year round climate where walking would be a pleasure, we don’t. Keep all that in mind Chicago and all you developers!

Well that’s about the only foundation work the company did before they were forced to comeback and fix the sagging timber basement structure…wow, the revisionist history that developers sell is amazing. I probably still have the special assessment for the facade repairs still lying around.