gah! that looks horrible! such a shame, it was a nice development for the area…i wonder why they changed the colors from the orig. rendering–it was a white and light blue motif that looked a lot better.

Nate, simple. A lot of kids are transplanting to the north side from Michigan. What better way to get them interested in buying than to paint the building to look like their alma mater.

The Edgewater Beach Hotel was knocked down years and years ago. The pink building is the Edgewater Beach Apartments also known as the EBA.

South American funk.

This is the view off of my back porch, this mustard and periwinkle clown building. All of the renderings I've seen show more subduded colors. The CG's website may be down but there are renderings on the Edgewater Development News website. Mary Ann Smiths office claims these mustard and periwinkle colors were origionally planned colors, all of us to the east of this horribly colored building will have to look at it for years, Mary Ann doesn't have to worry about that in here A-ville home. This is a developement gone horribly wrong.

How can the developer Charles L. Cornelius Jr, use this feeble excuse of the original architect's "intent" regarding the large, saturated, inappropriately scaled graphic color application on Catalpa Gardens, as justification for what is a really poor design, glaring violation of zoning and the quality of life for residents living around it?

There is no building in Edgewater Beach or this part of the city that I know of, that uses such out of scale color saturation and mannerist rationalization. This logic or lack there of, reminds me of the fable about "The Emperor's New Clothes" and is appropriate for a developer whose intent is to make money, (we know he's not moving into this travesty).

The building is a series of three unimaginative, uninspired boxes sitting on a base, made of concrete block, with standard double hung window punctures, joined by glass walkways and some conventional concrete slab balconies. YIKES! Color isn't going to do anything but bring more attention to a project that's only architectural intent is to maximize the site for as much profit with as little expenditure as possible.

The gardens on the roof will not make up for the 10 story concrete shear wall facing all the property owners yards on the west side of the alleyway. The loss of view, light, and now added "color impact" will definitely have an affect on the quality of life of any property owners near this structure. A count of which outnumber the amount of individuals unlucky enough to purchase in this building.

There are many examples around the world of modern architecture with bold color and sensitive proportion and scale.
Even in contrast to it's surroundings, a sensitively designed and developed structure could have been successful at this location though the massing is totally out of context, and I'm sure, not within the zoning of the area.

Which leads me to the real issue at hand regarding this development, it's appearence and controversey…who allowed the variences for this to be built? I think it's time a good, large unheard community start asking the recently re-elected Mary Ann Smith and the 48th ward governing body when they are going to start taking some responsibility in what is happening to the east side of Broadway in the Ward. They can't put the blame on their selected community approval process, and the architect with this one. It's built, and by nature of it's existence, speaks to the ineptitude, that really needs to change. And it's going to take more than a coat of paint…

This has got to be the most hideous building in Edgewater - not only does its size not fit the location, but the colors are an eyesore for the entire neighborhood.

Can't say I'm too wild about the colors, but hey, let's not be so afraid of something different. Let's face it we've downzoned everything and got cookie cutter condos as a result. Bold means taking risk. Risk works sometimes. Sure, there's failures too. But without someone taking bold risks rather than staying in the safe box, where would we be?

Toto,

Thanks for your insights and response.

I guess it depends on how you define failures and at what risks you would be willing to put our community at, when accepting them. I can't wait until the building is occupied and you try to drive by during rush hour when you will have plenty of time to appreciate the poor color choices as you sit on traffic on Catalpa in your car.

You know Toto, major zoning variances, reviews, and approvals have also allowed for the design and development of projects like the Chicago Spire. Like it or not, and if actually built, I believe this development will become a brilliant addition to the Chicago Skyline. And some may say the Spire is inappropriate for it's location, design, and use in a area already full of density and traffic.

Highly experimental, both in design, appearance, and engineering, this development is unique among most in the US. The review process decided that the benefits to our city and quality of life out way the drawbacks and with this one, and I have to agree.

The Mayor is taking considerable risk in approving such a project, as the financing approach is of great concern to many in the city. It is not based on any percentage of pre-sale financing and sales commitment as is standard on such large developments. Instead, a complete pre-financing prior to any sales attempts or commitments, by an investment bank, is what is supporting this project.

Hopefully the investment bank, developer and City will stick to their intent, not butcher the design of Calatrava and maintain the architects talented and yet controversial design.

Now there is something different, bold, and risky yet well designed, whatever your "tastes in style".

Don't confuse such a project and moves by it's developer with the travesty of Catalpa Gardens. And don't misinterpret our comments as representative of some sort of conservative thinking or fear of experimentation in color and/or architecture.

Our comments are not the result of fear but anger with the 48th Ward variance processes and WHERE and HOW they decide WHAT to approve.

I don't really know of anyone with sincere interests in their community that desire "cookie cutter condos" that can be just as badly designed and built. All any project like this represents is a greedy developer with suspect influence, who financially benefits from them.

Style is not the issue here, whether buildings are designed to integrate with the "styles" of the surrounding structures, or to contrast and push design, engineering and experimentation of building construction, appearance, and function.

The "new/old" buildings, that I believe you are referring to and believe my comments insinuate that I would prefer, can be just as ill conceived and implemented as Catalpa Gardens. Good and bad design can sometimes be subjective, but not when they impact light, view, density, and poor construction. The color choices on this project are a by-product and actually consistent with the other problems with this development. It doesn't take an expert to see this.

Unless you have a love of split block box construction and walls of poorly selected color choices I'm not sure what you are seeing here that is justifiably acceptable in terms of the building design, quality of life, risk and failure.

Ironically, I believe the city of Chicago has been discouraging, if not working to outlaw, the use of split block construction utilized by Catalpa Gardens, due to water barrier problems, structural issues, and appearance, despite how much MONEY using it can save a developer. As for the color, maybe we should just ask the hosts of TV's "What Not to Wear" and have them critique, as the obvious seems unclear to you, by your response.

To somewhat reinterpret your commentary, no one was thinking "outside the box"…or should I say, three boxes. Painting these boxes with over saturated, heavy colors just makes the lack of design more obvious, and it doesn't take someone conservative or afraid of experimentation to see it.

Unfortunately the problems with Catalpa Gardens are largely due to improper (and now it seems somewhat illegal) financing and profit goals, as much as a lack of design abilities. Yet this project was approved by the 48th Ward variance process as an acceptable development for the community. What's next?

The point of variance hearings and approvals, no matter what the existing zoning, are to create a process for exceptions that will benefit the community. The down zoning you refer to has occurred for a reason. The idea is to require a process with which the community and city will better scrutinize and review proposals prior to them being built. The idea is to prevent bad development at the expense of the surrounding community.

Some wards, unlike the 48th, include community groups, experts NOT connected to the development, AND open public hearings for everyone to attend and give input. And then this feedback is ACTUALLY considered.

I know this is feared by the 48th ward as being implausable to organize and consider. But, with all the talent and political know how in the ward office, I'm sure they can figure out a way to do so, especially now that there is so much press about the behavior of the Catalpa Project, it's developers, and the process of disrespect to the requirments of the original development approvals. It also is a wake up call to the members of the community who are not as involved in these processes as they should be, until it's too late.

Better community standards of processes and enforcement can support creative, unexpected projects and styles. The "radical" idea here sould be to allow exceptions to the variances that are "exceptional" and will benefit the community by doing so, in a balanced way.

If any of this still doesn't make sense, I suggest you contact the 48th ward, and ask them why such developments are not allowed on the west side of Broadway Avenue, though still within the same ward and within one block of this project.

The problem is the process, the result is the Catalpa Gardens development, and yes, the colors!

Answering Toto's statement "Bold means taking risk. Risk works sometimes." We can certainly call this projects colors bold, maybe one step further, garish might be a good word as well. I just returned from a early morning bike ride to the Prairie gardens at Millennium Park, as I was studying the city skyline around the park and along the lake shore I saw many bold designs that worked well in the skyline. The difference between these buildings and CGs is that they are bold designs that are dignified and will stand the test of time. Where as Catalpa Gardens is a bad design, painted garish colors that will not age well and certainly not stand the test of time. Although there are no winners in this project (well, besides the developers and MAS) the luckiest will be those inside CGs looking out at the surrounding skyline.

Wow…you all must be really bored…i tried to read, but you all bored me. I think the building is exciting and tough for residents around it.

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

Wow, it looks like a giant transit card! How appropriate for tranist oriented development.

Lucy,

Your comments are unclear as you seem to be saying that you are too bored to elaborate with full sentences.

If you had fully read and understood the points of discussion regarding Catalpa Gardens you'd realize this:

The intent of these exchanges is to bring to light how poor design and color choice has exposed underlying issues for concerned property owners regarding greedy developers, faulty variance processes, substandard (read, poor quality) building construction and the 48th ward's lack of REAL concern or responsibility.

Now Lucy, bored as you are, AND as you believe, as bored as we are anyway, let's see if you can stay with me as I try to interpret your position with a loose analogy in the form of a ficticious property owner named "Lucy":

Your new neighbors continually wake you up Lucy, because they are partying at 4:30am playing Led-Zeppelin at top volume on mornings you have to be up early. This makes you angry.

You call the police, your alderperson, and friends as now it seems that this problem is also starting to encourage other loud neighbors to move in around you. You fear this will lower your property value and as simple a problem that it is, it potentially will affect your quality of life.

Suprisingly, the response you get from the alderperson is: "Wow…you must be really bored…I tried to listen to your concerns, but you bored me. I think Led-Zeppelin's music is exciting, especially at full volume and in my face, and tough for the you and the residents around it."

Ouch! NOW you are angry Lucy. This prompts you to look into the whole issue further only to discover that the noise law variances were allowed by the alderperson through a poorly managed variance process with the landlords and a select group of community representatives.

You, as an owner were not allowed to participate in or have your concerns considered, during this process.

Oh no Lucy! now more greedy landlords are benefitting from another variance approval allowing more ease with screening tenants and inforcing curfews so the landlords can fill their buildings more quickly and allow a free for all!!!

YIKES Lucy, now DEVELOPERS are proposing development of more substandard buildings, more cheaply and poorly than before, and they are getting through the variance process, so that every headbanger in the US moves into your ward and pumps up the volume!!!

Well Lucy, you might as well skip sleeping and turn your music up full volume too, cause you ain't gonna get "nothin" for your property when you try to sell it and get out!

We are not bored Lucy, we are ANGRY. (Hate is such a strong word). ANGRY at both the players, AND the game.

This blog is about residential real estate development in the city, and readers discussions on projects and related topics. If you are bored, I'd like to know what get's you excited, or at least why you are reading this in the first place. Development isn't that exciting, unless you are profiting from it, but it can be very damaging when left unchecked.

Real community involvement is working to invest in our homes, our communities and our city by confronting and highlighting simple issues while they are small, and before they become so out of hand that even you Lucy, might be affected. It's the underlying problems you should take notice of whether you agree with the initial concern or not.

I hope this helps you understand our position, even if you don't agree, and even if you didn't make it to this last sentence before you switched to watching Paris Hilton's latest statements on the news, as you were JUST TOO BORED.

PS: ANON - Brilliant

Lucy,

Your comments are unclear as you seem to be saying that you are too bored to elaborate with full sentences.

If you had fully read and understood the points of discussion regarding Catalpa Gardens you'd realize this:

The intent of these exchanges is to bring to light how poor design and color choice has exposed underlying issues for concerned property owners regarding greedy developers, faulty variance processes, substandard (read, poor quality) building construction and the 48th ward's lack of REAL concern or responsibility.

Now Lucy, bored as you are, AND as you believe, as bored as we are anyway, let's see if you can stay with me as I try to interpret your position with a loose analogy in the form of a ficticious property owner named "Lucy":

Your new neighbors continually wake you up Lucy, because they are partying at 4:30am playing Led-Zeppelin at top volume on mornings you have to be up early. This makes you angry.

You call the police, your alderperson, and friends as now it seems that this problem is also starting to encourage other loud neighbors to move in around you. You fear this will lower your property value and as simple a problem that it is, it potentially will affect your quality of life.

Suprisingly, the response you get from the alderperson is: "Wow…you must be really bored…I tried to listen to your concerns, but you bored me. I think Led-Zeppelin's music is exciting, especially at full volume and in my face, and tough for you and the residents around it."

Ouch! NOW you are angry Lucy. This prompts you to look into the whole issue further only to discover that the noise law variances were allowed by the alderperson through a poorly managed variance process with the landlords and a select group of community representatives.

You, as an owner were not allowed to participate in or have your concerns considered, during this process.

Oh no Lucy! now more greedy landlords are benefitting from another variance approval allowing more ease with screening tenants and inforcing curfews so the landlords can fill their buildings more quickly and allow a free for all!!!

YIKES Lucy, now DEVELOPERS are proposing development of more substandard buildings, more cheaply and poorly than before, and they are getting through the variance process, so that every headbanger in the US moves into your ward and pumps up the volume!!!

Well Lucy, you might as well skip sleeping and turn your music up full volume too, cause you ain't gonna get "nothin" for your property when you try to sell it and get out!

We are not bored Lucy, we are ANGRY. (Hate is such a strong word). ANGRY at both the players, AND the game.

This blog is about residential real estate development in the city, and readers discussions on projects and related topics. If you are bored, I'd like to know what get's you excited, or at least why you are reading this in the first place. Development isn't that exciting, unless you are profiting from it, but it can be very damaging when left unchecked.

Real community involvement is working to invest in our homes, our communities and our city by confronting and highlighting simple issues while they are small, and before they become so out of hand that even you Lucy, might be affected. It's the underlying problems you should take notice of whether you agree with the initial concern or not.

I hope this helps you understand our position, even if you don't agree, and even if you didn't make it to this last sentence before you switched to watching Paris Hilton's latest statements on the news, as you were JUST TOO BORED.

PS: ANON - Brilliant

Tom, wow…you had to post your comments TWICE?! Poor tom…poor, poor angry tom. I love Led Zeppelin and I love new development in Edgewater - big or small, loud or soft, colorful or gray…just like Edgewater: diverse and exciting. You don't like the Alderwoman? Or dvelopment issues that make you angry? I can see that and respect that feeling you and others may share and hope you take action to resolve any issues. For now, I'll be reading YoChicago and keeping abreast of Paris' statements…after all, it's all diverse information. PS. ANON - super brilliant!! Just like Edgewater Apartments reminds me of Pepto Bismol and the building that houses Starbucks on Bryn Mawr reminds me of Gerber's split peas baby food. Either way, you have to admit Edgewater has the colors of the rainbow!

A friend of ours from Milwaukee that has been following multiple email exchanges with the MAS machine about the colors of the Catalpa Gardens offered this remidy….

"Great to hear from you, Don. And keep me posted on the clown building! How about a fund raiser to paint the mustard white?? Get a bunch of grocery stores to donate bottles and jars of mustard, and sell them all over the neighborhood to publicize the problem?

Best…Jane"

Cheers, Lucy and ROCK ON! Thanks for your clarifications. Now you make sense.

Go to this link, and read about how Catalpa Gardens is bringing a colorful and diverse experience to the neighborhood and the potential buyers trying to get out of their purchases:

http://outside.in/places/catalpa-gardens-chicago
(The 6/22/07 entry outlines the facts.)

It's not about liking or disliking Mary Ann Smith.
Her office has brought some great benefits and protections to the ward, especially for the residential voting base in Andersonville.

But allowing corrupt development and density in an area that she previously had established specific height and density restriction ordinances to prevent, does cause many in Edgewater Beach to question her motives and enforcement capabilites.

Colorful and diverse yes, but dysfunctional, corrupt, and detrimental? It's easy to say it's
an aesthetic issue, but that is just a great way to excuse responsibility for the underlying issues no one in the Ward office will own up to.

You know, as more of the Catalpa Garden's cheap, split block exterior is painted, it is now starting to appear to be an IKEA Express, (though not as well designed or constructed as the IKEA mother ship at Woodfield Mall).

Just add a food court on Sheridan, and Mary Ann can rename Edgewater Beach "Mary Ann Mega Mall". This could be a developers dream if the Ward office can can keep the developers all out of jail.

zzzzzzzzzz…eppelin.

AWESOME CONDOS!!! GREAT ADDITION TO THE CITY/NEIGHBORHOOD!!