"The community owes a lot to Mr. Gouskos. His commitment to that area really helped turn it around. He was here long before it was popular to do such an exciting venture as this, so I wish nothing but the best for him and this project."

-James Cappleman, commenting on yesterday's post about the Theater District Lofts' second phase in Uptown. It's still in planning at 4750 N Winthrop Ave, but developer Jim Gouskos is moving forward a mixed-use cinema development nearby.

Could this be the same James Cappleman who ran against 46th Ward Ald. Helen Shiller in 2007?

"We did not want to go to market with 100-plus condominiums at this point."

- Neil Gehani, president of Monaco Development LLC, on his firm's decision to replace the condo portion of 150 E Ontario St with a new hotel concept from Marriott International. The announcement first appeared in Crain's yesterday.

An upscale hotel, dubbed Edition, will fill the proposed high-rise, along with 20 high-end condo units.

"The absolute last people who should be asked about changes in a neighborhood are the people who live there. If 'neighbor' approval is needed virtually nothing will ever get built. Malls, schools, subdivisions, highway exits, whorehouses etc.

"My main issue with some of these groups and their members is the blanket approach they take to preservation. Not everything that is old is worth saving. Sometimes it might be, but the costs are prohibitive. Sometimes the costs don't justify the benefit. Sometimes what is to be gained by tearing down an older building is worth more than the building itself. I'm thinking of two lovely Brownstones on Huron at STATE."

- irishpirate, bringing a discussion about Preservation Chicago's list of endangered landmarks back around to our readers' favorite topic: The Huron at 8 E Huron St.

"[T]here is stiff competition to sell new construction units on North Ashland, from Belmont to pretty much Lawrence. This will bode well for the young professional consumers who will have a dream life in Lake View.

I will bet all that new construction along Ashland in Lake View will still sell within 5 % of list prices when it's all said and done."

-Eric Rojas, commenting on our post about The Ashby at 3844 N. Ashland Ave. Yo has kept tabs on a number of new projects along this stretch of Lake View, including The Vue and LV Lofts. And Eric, for his part, has championed the appeal of living on busy city streets for quite a while. His comments fueled a Yo entry from last August about that very topic.

"I've dealt with Erik Olsen on a project, and this process is really worthwhile. Getting a building permit in Chicago is often a big unknown in terms of time and expense, and this green permit program can really get things moving quickly and smoothly."

- UptownR commenting on our post about incentives offered from various cities around the country for sustainable projects.

Chicago's green permitting program is operated by Erik Olsen, and he also serves as webmaster for GreenBean, a blog that tracks "built, in-progress and unbuilt green buildings in Chicago." It's a fairly comprehensive resource for green projects here in Chicagoland, and the latest entries have been residential projects.

Erik is currently seeking suburban contributors to beef up the site's coverage; if you know anyone who fits the bill, drop him an email.

"I was once Director of The Harvard School, and applaud the efforts to keep some elements of that wonderful old building and its history. An amazing project. Hope to get in to see the finished product someday."

- John Novick, commenting on our post about the conversion of the South Kenwood school into four high-end condos

"Let's see. Everywhere in the nation it seems mixed income developments are the norm for government subsidized development. Not in Uptown. Let's recreate the genius of Cabrini Green on a smaller scale. Let's have one entire building of low income families. Yea, that is pure genius. It has been so effective everywhere else."

- Excerpted from a longer comment by irishpirate about the proposed Wilson Yard development in Uptown.

"I actually looked at this building before purchasing new construction farther west.. it is a nice building and has the amenities you would expect in a 4-5 floor elevator building, plus low assessments, but I wanted three bedrooms and preferred new construction.

'However, I just checked out the prices here on the MLS and I'm stunned. I wasn't crazy about the location, which is why my visit was nothing more than that, but there are currently 7 units for sale in the building between $380-$430K, and most are two-bedroom units with a small 'den,' which was little more than a closet from what I can remember.

"Considering the 'prime' Wilson Avenue location, I don't know why anyone would buy these units when they can move to any of the new-construction developments a few blocks west for the same money and get three full bedrooms, sans (most of) the drunks and vacant retail spaces. There will be a Starbucks there soon also (in the Vis Vitae building at Clark and Leland) if that's the only thing this location has going for it."

–Ravenswood Dweller commenting on our post about resales at 4553 N Magnolia Ave

"Curious…Is Phil Berger a licensed architect?
Or a licensed developer?

I highly doubt Blair Kamin would concur with Mr. Berger on this one. Saying that they should look more like the development at Lake and Morgan!? That they look Disney-esque?! Now the buildings on May St. between Lake & Randolph with the horse statues atop the pilasters…now those look disney-esque. Not these.

Is he serious?! The development at Lake & Morgan has exposed CMU block on all sides! At least these buildings on Fulton have some character and attention was given to brick masonry detail.

But maybe Mr. Berger is right…a more suitable building with absolutely no attention to detail that is completely void from protrusions, reliefs, masonry accents or other architectural detail would've been much nicer here."

– ML's comment on our video post in which architecture critic Phil Berger expresses disappointment in the design of new live-work spaces on Fulton Market

"Would you guys like triangular ducts? Would that pique your interest? Jeez…leave it alone. Does ductwork really make you say…'No thank you. I was looking for something different, like triangular ducts!'"

– Stokes commenting on Paulj's comment critical of the spiral ductwork and bamboo floors mentioned in our post on the Park Kingsbury Residences