In newspaper terminology, this is an evergreen story – one that recurs regularly. It’s had multiple variations over the decades, and the latest comes to us via David Roeder at the Sun-Times:
The Kennedy family, partnering with a major development firm and an internationally renowned architect, is crafting plans to build on its Wolf Point property along the Chicago River.
People familiar with the proposal said the Kennedys envision a three-tower complex for residential and office use on the four-acre site. Their chosen architect is Cesar Pelli, who designed the Petronas Towers in Malaysia that were once the world’s tallest.
The tallest tower is expected to be only 60 stories.
UPSIZE!
A spectacular location like this requires an ultrahigh to do it justice, ideally the tallest building in the city. It is better that this land be left vacant for some additional years until the construction of ultrahighs becomes economically feasible again. There are many other places where buildings can be constructed that are stunted because the current economic situation does not make really tall buildings viable at the present time.
I disagree that supertall is the way to go here for several reasons. With access from only 2 streets (Sidestreet-sized Kinzie and Franklin/Orleans) the logistics of getting that many people in and out of that area is going to be a challenge. Also, is there actually a market for anything supertall, either commercial or residential? Look at Trump and the Spire of examples of why residential won’t work. Other than the Sears, whats the next tallest commercial space Downtown?
I realize this is a radical idea, but I kind of think they should tear down the rather plain Sun-Times building and start from scratch on the entire site. Imagine what could be done with a blank slate, in that location, on 12(?) acres. That area should far more easily support a live/work/play complex than the Post Office site.
“Look at Trump and the Spire of examples of why residential won’t work.”
These projects were victims of the collapse of the housing bubble and the worst recession since the Great Depression. Therefore this does not prove that these projects would not work under more normal economic conditions. The John Hankock building shows that an ultrahigh consisting of part offices and part apartments can work.
The ideal solution would indeed be to tear down the unsightly Sun-Times building and build the ultrahigh at that location and then turn Wolf Point itself into a park with a spectacular fountain more impressive than the Buckingham fountain.
This gives the Kennedy family a unique opportunity to use its wealth to create a spectacular monument for itself at this location: A Kennedy Tower and a Kennedy Fountain.
Came across this project of “clean tower” the other day. Worth a look, seems like an appropriate design for the site, no matter how ridiculous it may cost.