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THE 10 TOTALLY BEST CHICAGO MOVIES. Yup, most of them are from the 1980’s.

Robert Redford on location in Lake Forest, Illinois, directing Timothy Hutton in Ordinary People, 1980

Like Rob Gordon, from the comedy High Fidelity (2000,) we love making lists – mostly about Chicago. Rob and his cohorts’ used their “top five lists” to bring some order to a chaotic world, and we get it. We’ve defined a “Chicago” movie, as one that was actually shot in part here, and one that captured the essence of Chicago in some magical way in the process.

But, first – just a little bit of Chicago movie history.

Chicago was the original hub for movie making at the turn of the 20th century, not New York or Los Angeles. Yes, before Hollywood went on to become, well Hollywood, it was Chicago that paved the way – of course. The city was brimming with production companies and filmmakers at the time. It was the start of the silent movie era, and Essanay Studios in particular was one of the earliest and most powerful, producing fifteen short films with Charlie Chaplin, and giving Gloria Swanson her start. But soon – with the birth of the “western,”the industry headed west. Essanay Studios was eventually absorbed by Warner Brothers, and it would be nearly seventy years before a new creative swell in filmmaking would return.

The gigantic success of two movies are largely credited with jump starting that shift; Cooley High (1975,) written by Eric Monte about his experiences coming-of-age in Chicago, (Monte wrote the hit TV shows; Good Times, The Jeffersons and What’s Happening,) and The Blues Brothers (1980.) The latter in particular was considered to have been the catalyst for ushering in a golden age of filmmaking in Chicago during the 1980s. This eventually lead to the rebirth of the “teen movie” and a trove of iconic John Hughes films; from Sixteen Candles (1985,) The Breakfast Club (1986,) Uncle Buck (1988) and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1984.)

So here goes part one of our list – It’s all completely speculative – and in no particular order.

The list (part one)

10 – HIGH FIDELITY

Released 2000; Directed by Stephen Frears ; Screenplay by John Cusack, D.V. DeVincentis and Steve Pink Starring John Cusack, Jack Black, Iben Hjejle, Todd Louis, Lisa Bonet, Tim Robbins

There are probably not many lists about favorite Chicago movies that do not include High Fidelity, and with good reason. Not only does it perfectly capture a Chicagoan man-child having a thirty-something’s identity crisis at the turn of the century, but the movie’s lead, co-screenwriter and producer is hometown golden boy, John Cusack. You see his passion for the city at every turn. The script is based on the Nick Hornby novel about a record store owner with relationship issues. Originally set in London, Cusack moved the story to Chicago and set-up protagonist Rob Gordon’s shop up in a storefront on Milwaukee Avenue. With such insider touches as references to local record labels like Wax Trax! and Touch and Go Records, it’s easy to believe that Rob and his friends were an authentic part of Chicago’s outta sight music scene in the 1990s.

John Cusack in High Fidelity, 2000

9- ABOUT LAST NIGHT

Released 1986; Directed by Edward Zwick; Screenplay by Tim Kazurinsky and Denise DeClue Starring Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Elizabeth Perkins, Jim Belushi

The film, About Last Night, is remembered for aptly reflecting an authentic Chicago-y singles scene; with its’ main characters playing softball on the weekends in Grant Park and hanging out with their pals at Lincoln Park and Division street bars, where you might find their modern-day counterparts today. Demi Moore even put on twenty pounds so she looked more like a “realistic” Chicago gal. Yeah, I know. Anyway, the script was loosely adapted from the 1974 play Sexual Perversity in Chicago, by Chicago scribe, David Mamet, and was first performed at the Organic Theatre Company. Mamet turned down the chance to adapt his drama about a twenty something couple, who fall in and out of love, with the help of their romantically cynical friends, for the screen. Still, the movie version is a moving love story, that went on to show a generation of gen-xers that love could be found in the Chicago bar scene, and even after a one night stand. Trust us, it’s Demi Moore at her very best – plus anything with Elizabeth Perkins is a go!

Demi Moore and Elizabeth Perkins in About Last Night, 1986

8 -THE BLUES BROTHERS

Released 1980; Directed by John Landis; Screenplay by Dan Aykroyd (story) and John Landis Starring John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd

Chicago is first and foremost, the star of the iconic film, The Blues Brothers, based on John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd’s band by the same name. From the films spot on depiction of the bustling late 1970s Maxwell flea market, to the climatic chase sequence that winds through Lower Wacker Drive, there is no doubt that the musical comedy was an homage to the city. It took director, and hometown boy, John Landis, just two weeks to write the script, and the movie soundtrack sounds like Chicago, with music by Aykroyd and Belushi, and tracks by Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and James Brown, who also appear in cameos. Jake and Elwood’s journey takes them many places, but most iconic is probably the duo’s epic performance of Jailhouse Rock for the prisoners at Joliet prison.

Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, Blues Brothers

7 – ORDINARY PEOPLE

Released 1980; Directed by Robert Redford; Screenplay by Alvin Sargent Starring, Mary Tyler Moore, Timothy Hutton, Donald Sutherland

This was Robert Redford’s directorial debut, one so good, that no one ever thought of him as “just an actor” again. Based on the 1976 novel, Ordinary People, by then first time author, Judith Guest, try and watch this film to completion without dissolving into a pool of tears – this film invented the term “tear jerker.” Filmed largely on Chicago’s North Shore during the fall of 1979, the scenery of suburban Lake Forest is instantly recognizable for anyone who grew up in the area. The story follows a Chicago family, shattered the accidental death of its older son. The direction by Redford, and acting across-the-board, is simply sublime. Timothy Hutton plays tormented teen, Conrad, who blames himself for his brother’s death and breaks our collective hearts in the process; Mary Tyler Moore got a nomination as his ice-cold mother, who blames him too, and Donald Sutherland, the peacemaker and arguably the true protagonist of the story, is finally forced to see things as they are. Judd Hirsch played the therapist who helps him, and a very young Elizabeth McGovern plays his love interest. The film went on to sweep the 1981 Academy Awards, winning best picture, best director, best screenplay and best actor for Timothy Hutton.

Mary Tyler Moore, Timothy Hutton, Donald Sutherland, Ordinary People, 1980

6- HOOP DREAMS

Released 1994; Directed by Steve James Starring William Gates and Arthur Agee

Filmmakers Steve James, Frederick Marx and Peter Gilbert set out to film a documentary in 1986 for PBS about playground basketball, hoping to shed light on Chicago’s street culture. They ended up shooting for four years, resulting in the 1994 emotional powerhouse, Hoop Dreams. One may not think that a documentary about basketball would have that kind of impact, but we promise you it does. Director Steve James narrowed in on the lives of two young black teenagers, basketball prodigies, Arthur Agee and William Gates, who grew up in Chicago’s housing projects. After they both win scholarships to a suburban high school, their fortunes diverge. One follows the footsteps of St Joe’s favourite son, all-star Isiah Thomas and the other doesn’t make the cut. Considered one of the best films of the 1990s, it was notoriously snubbed by the Oscars, winning best editing and losing out best picture to of all things – Forrest Gump.

Arthur Agee, Hoop Dreams, 1994

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From Illinois farm girl to Chicago Icon, Hull House Founder and world peace activist, Jane Addams, set out to make a difference in the world – and boy did she.

Jane Addams, 1915

“Nothing could be worse than the fear that one had given up too soon, and left one unexpended effort that might have saved the world.” – Jane Addams

When Jane Addams died in 1935, she was considered “the greatest women in the world”, a “priestess to both prince and pauper,” and with good reason. She was literally the mother of all social work. She fought throughout her life for child labor laws, insurance against unemployment, old age and poverty. She was instrumental in the successful lobbying to establish a juvenile court system, better urban sanitation and factory laws, along with the establishment of playgrounds and kindergartens throughout Chicago and the country. She battled for the equal rights of women and was a leader in the women’s suffrage movement. She is considered the first American woman philosopher, a leader in establishing the study of sociology, and was a published author many times over. She was among the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and is considered a LGBT heroine. A warrior, who battled relentlessly for the cause of disarmament and for world peace, a cause for which she was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1931, becoming the first American woman recipient. And of course, she was most famously, co-founder of the Hull-House in Chicago.

Addams was born September 6, 1860, in the small farming town of Cedarville, Illinois. The eighth of nine children, her mother died in childbirth when she was two, and her father, John H. Addams, a banker who served for nearly twenty years in the Illinois Senate, was a close friend of Abraham Lincoln. Born into wealth and privilege, she knew at a young age that she wanted to be useful and have a voice in the world. Inspired by the works of Charles Dickens and of Lincoln’s creed “the equality of men,” she focused on her studies. Among the first generation of educated American women when she graduated from Rockford Female Seminary in 1881, she felt an obligation to put her education to greater use. Unlike her classmates, she was more interested in visiting the poor than spending a year in Paris, or going on safari in Africa. And after visiting a settlement house in London with her friend Ellen Gates Starr, her life was set on course.

It was in the early years of industrialization and massive immigration when Addams and Starr founded The Hull House in 1889. They were the first two occupants. Between a saloon and an undertaker, they were situated in one of the most miserable neighborhoods of the city at the time. At its height, it was visited by 8,000 people each month, mostly immigrants, and eventually, it became a 13-building settlement. With all that she accomplished throughout her life here in Chicago and around the world, she never left Hull House, remaining its head resident until her death in 1935. Her friend, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, a leader in the Women’s’ suffrage movement, said upon her death.

“I do not base her greatness on Hull House,” she explained, “important as that contribution is. Far more remarkable is the human trait of sticking to that project all her life. She made it a success. She stuck through when it was a success. That is a rare thing to do–to stick to a success.”

The Jane Addams Hull House Museum in Chicago reopened this month, in honor of this iconic Chicagoan and American, on what would have been her 158th birthday this month (I know, of course she’s a Virgo.) Here are just five contributions that Jane Addams and Hull House made to Chicago and the world.

PLAYTIME

“America’s future will be determined by the home and the school. The child becomes largely what he is taught; hence we must watch what we teach, and how we live.” – Jane Addams

Addams fought passionately for the rights of children to be children. She felt very strongly that those that were deprived of a childhood, were “likely to become dull, sullen men and women working mindless jobs, or criminals for whom the adventure of crime became the only way to break out of the bleakness of their lives.” Sounds about right. She worked tirelessly to stop the use of children as industrial laborers, and instead fought for playgrounds in Chicago and was part of the movement that rethought the importance of childhood play opportunities. Hull House in Chicago had one of the first playgrounds in the city, and also held children’s clubs and classes of all sorts – including free kindergartens.

Jane Addams with the neighborhood children at Hull House Chicago

A MATRIARCHAL SOCIETY

“I do not believe that women are better than men. We have not wrecked railroads, nor corrupted legislature, nor done many unholy things that men have done; but then we must remember that we have not had the chance.” – Jane Addams

One of the many things that made the settlement house unique, was that it was considered an acceptable site for women’s activism at the time. And that was because – well it was literally and figuratively, a home. So, while it absolutely turned the traditional patriarchal norm that a woman’s place was in the home on its heels, the Hull-House provided a totally socially acceptable alternative to marriage. And, almost incredibly, enabled women to cultivate deep and often lifelong friendships as alternatives to traditional marriage, providing these women the chance to experience an expanded sense of family and self. Hull House had dozens of clubs that were organized to aid working women. A lunch room was opened, as was a nursery for the children- the start of day care. There was also a gymnasium, a natatorium, a penny savings bank, a lodging house, as well as a circulating library and an employment bureau. These programs which became models for hundreds of others throughout the world helped to liberate women from desperate subservience and provided a wide range of opportunities for women to gain experience in public life so then they could give back. And give back they did.

Women Residents at Hull House Chicago.

ARMS WIDE OPEN

“The essence of immorality is the tendency to make an exception of myself.” – Jane Addams

Hull House was established primarily to help immigrants assimilate to American lifestyle. Hull House always held welcoming arms out, whether it be Poles, Jews, Russians, Italians, Greeks, Germans, Irish and the Bohemians. All were welcome. Hull House grew to be known as one of the largest and best-known of the nation’s settlements of immigrants, providing such an array of services so many that it does not seem nearly possible, but here’s a go at it. Hull House provided medical services such as midwifery, a night school for adults, clubs and educational classes for older children, a public kitchen, an art gallery, a gym, dance classes, a girls’ club, a bathhouse, a book bindery, a music school, a drama group and a theater, a library, meeting rooms for any kind of discussion political or otherwise, an employment bureau, and a lunchroom. In addition to making available social services and cultural events for the largely immigrant population of the neighborhood, the music program at Hull House was also very influential. Originally established to aid immigrants in assimilating to American life, its music program went above and beyond this goal, helping immigrants to connect cultural roots and background while learning about American life.

Immigrants at Hull House

PEACE ON EARTH

“Action indeed is the sole medium of expression for ethics.” – Jane Addams

Addams was a pacifist that fought for world peace. She believed deeply that human beings were capable of solving disputes without violence and she took action. She protested the American entry into World War 1, and was part of a group of women activists who toured warring nations, hoping to bring about peace. Addams toured Europe in an effort to persuade the heads of the belligerent nations, but found that the spirit of war was too strong. Well, at least she tried.

Jane Addams and other women from Hull House as Peace Delegates,

Be sure to visit the Jane Addams Hull House Museum , which reopened September 2018! 800 S. Halsted Street, hullhousemuseum.org

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5 TRENDS TO CONSIDER WHEN DESIGNING YOUR NEW MODERN “BATHROOM”

“Whenever you have the chance, go to the bathroom.” – King Henry V

While it may seem like the whole world subscribes to one open design plan after another, making us always accessible and always on display, what we are really looking for is a place to be good to ourselves, a place of complete and utter luxury and peace.

One could conclude that the new modern bathroom is actually the last frontier of privacy, the final bastion against the grind of our daily life. Too much? I don’t think so. Today’s bathroom begs to be an experience, somewhere between an incarnation of your every pleasure and desire, and your favorite yoga retreat. Ideally, it is a room not to be shared, and if it must be, then by no more than one other person. Ultimately, it should be a luxurious space all your own.

THE KITCHEN HAS SOME COMPETITION

The trend of making the bathroom part of your living space rather than a purely functional room is similar to the evolution that kitchens went through over the last fifteen to twenty years. The bathrooms of yesteryear were normally tight, fit with a commode and two matching sinks, side-by-side, a few matching hand towels – in and out. This is all a thing of the past. The latest trends for bathrooms are all about where high-tech meets low maintenance, meets wellness – meets feel good.

So with that, here are five trends to consider when building your own private sanctuary – yeah the word bathroom doesn’t really suffice anymore.

YOUR OWN PRIVATE DAY SPA

Taking a cue from the Romans, yes the Roman Romans, what homeowners really want from their bathroom these days is pretty simple. They aren’t looking for a utilitarian exercise; they want all the pleasure and wellness found at their favorite world-class spa. That’s all. People might go to a spa once a month or when they’re on vacation, but think about building your individual health and wellness routine into your bathroom design for everyday benefits. Consider the most basic of things – like water. Up to this point bathroom water has been a means to get clean; wash the day and dirt away. But the effects of water on the skin, its untapped benefits for metabolism and the immune system are endless. Consider installing a system with Vitamin D infused water and a horizontal shower which uses the power of water for total relaxation, washing away your everyday stress.

A LOO FOR ONE, NOT TWO

Exercise your very best morning routine with a his-and-her master en suite. The concept of building separate spaces for a couple is nothing new; originally it was born of necessity, fueled by couples having to get ready for work at the same time not wanting to trip over each other, perhaps aiming to keep up some mystique or simply seeking out tranquillity, a respite, yes from even those you love the most. But now, with master bathrooms going the way of the private home spa, its the scale that has changed. Splurge on creating a space where you can spend time alone if you want, soaking in a tub along with some spa amenities like that horizontal rain shower or a nap on your fainting couch. It can not only be your place to get away from it all, but your place of wellness. A haven where you, a party of one, will emerge feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world. This is truly one of life’s great luxuries.

SHOWER WITH NO LIMITS

When it comes to showers, it is all about features, more and more features. Luxury showers these days are being designed more as a wet room and most always include a steam and or sauna chamber. Consider adding preheated tiles or a shower head that gives you all the water experiences you can possibly think up blasting water that feels gentle like a misty rain or hard like a monsoon. You can add mood lighting and music. Further your spa-like-vibe by adding voice control so you can select your favorite music while chilling out in a steam – exerting as little effort as humanly possible. Fiddling around with the shower knobs can also be a thing of the past too. Try voice controlled shower controls or LED lights that change color as the temperature adjusts so that you are always aware of whether the water is hot or cold. This can be an especially handy feature on a chilly morning, of course. And, for all you music lovers who appreciate being able to listen to or make music in the shower, add built in speakers and Bluetooth connectivity. Enjoy belting out a tune, listening to podcasts, music, news or whatever takes your fancy while you go about your morning routine; it is all at your fingertips.

A GOOD SOAK

The highest form of bathroom luxury is to be able to devote an entire room to your bath. Perhaps you are a large marble tub in the middle-of-the-room person, or maybe you prefer more of a mini lap pool. Regardless, the modern era has seen a remarkable plethora of bathtub options, everything from Japanese wood to modern glass; there is something for whatever fits your fancy. For many of us, our bathrooms are also spillover rooms where, whether we like it or not, we plan the mundane details of the day. It’s the what-are-you-doing-after-work and can-you-go-to-the store conversations. If life does seep into your bath time, the style of tub can be very important. Add seating areas so that one person can be in the tub while the other tells you about their day – and it’s all good. Don’t feel guilty. In medieval times, people stayed in the baths all day sometimes, soaking while eating and watching some jousting. Sounds good to me.

MAGIC MIRROR ON THE WALL

The Evil Queen of Snow White fame, is so vain that she doesn’t just stare at herself in the mirror all day, she expects to get her mirror to tell her who she needs to kill. Yikes. So, while, the new smart mirrors of today aren’t going to do that for you, they can do way more than just show off your reflection and store your aspirin. As space is often at a premium and mirrored cabinets normally do need to offer some practical storage, current new smart technology can be activated for a little ease. Adding sensor lighting makes it bright enough to apply makeup during the day, and discreet enough to act as a nightlight in the evening, all with a wave of the hand. Before we know it, mirrors will be programed to offer up everything from personalized beauty and wellness input, to onscreen news, weather and alerts as part of your morning routine.

Now tell me, who’s the fairest of them all?

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With a crop of new buildings set to reshape the Chicago skyline over the next decade, our view will soon be transformed forever.

Chicago Skyline “Make no little plans.” – Daniel Burnham, 1891

No words have been used more frequently by Chicago architects and planners over the generations than those of famed architect and prolific urban planner, Daniel Burnham. First used in front of a Chicago city council meeting at the turn of the 20th century, the famous quote pretty much sums up the spirit of Chicago architecture and skyscraper design to this day.

A brief history

It was one hundred and fifty eight years ago when the city was ravaged by the Great Fire of 1871, killing 300 and destroying more than 17,000 buildings over the course of just two days. The monstrous fire left a charred landscape in its wake and was an utter disaster. But, it came at a time of extreme civic pride in the city, an unprecedented building boom, and a rapidly expanding population. Architects looking to make their mark in the world, like Daniel Burnham, William Le Baron Jenney, John Wellborn Root and Louis Sullivan, saw an epic and historic opportunity. With more than a million residents, Chicago had surpassed Philadelphia to become the second biggest city after New York, and, well, they all needed a place to live. Then with the introduction of the elevator, things started looking up – literally. In 1888, Jenney designed the world’s first skyscraper in Chicago, the Home Insurance Building. Overnight, Chicago became a brooder of high-building innovation, producing such an outstanding group of architects that they changed the modern American city as we know it, and whose work would go on to have a profound influence on skyscraper building design.

Between about 1879 and 1910, these architects of the time were part of what came to be known as the Chicago School. They were the first to promote the use of the steel frame skyscraper introducing function over monument and emphasizing industrial materials. Their guiding principle was that they didn’t want to adhere to any principles. They were renegades in their time and favored using a wide variety of designs, construction techniques and materials to that of a unified approach.

Around 1940, a new wave of high-building design first appeared in the city, sometimes referred to as the Second Chicago School of Architecture. This is associated largely with the arrival of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1938, whose minimalistic designs changed our skyline again and forever. The principal architecture firm of this time was Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Formed originally in 1936, they made breakthroughs in design and structural engineering during the 1960s and 1970s which led to designing several of the tallest buildings in the world including the John Hancock and Willis Tower. This again confirmed Chicago as the undisputed leader in high-rise 20th-Century architecture and led to a new generation of supertall towers.

Chicago continues to be a place where architects come to test the limits of structure and aesthetics. Our skyline now serves as a kind of barometer revealing history and the changing times and tastes of the people. From the gleaming white terra cotta of the Wrigley Building to the minimal residential towers of Mies van der Rohe right up to 21st-century supertall skyscrapers built here first and then thousands of miles away in Hong Kong and Dubai, Chicago continues to be an incubator for skyscraper design.

The Millenium Boom

And now, as we approach 2020, Chicago is in the midst of another building boom with nearly a dozen innovative projects in the works over the next ten years. Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, One Bennett Park is now the tallest all residential building in Chicago at 836 feet and is on track to open this fall. Other projects currently heading for the stars include 110 N Wacker Street, VISTA Tower, and NEMA Chicago. One Chicago Square and 1000M have been approved to break ground, and epic projects including 400 N. Lake Shore Drive, Wolf Point South and 725 W Randolph Street are on the approval track hoping to be complete by the middle of the next decade.

400 N. Lake Shore Drive, Related Midwest

So, when you’re buzzing about the city this week, be sure to take a moment to pause and look up at our skyline, and in particular at these five iconic Chicago buildings. Before you know our view is gonna change forever.

THE ROOKERY

Erected 1888

With its rockstar design pedigree, it is no surprise that The Rookery has long been considered one of the finest building in the world. This iconic Chicago landmark was designed by John Root & Daniel Burnham of Root & Burnham, architecture royalty at the time, and the interior was redesigned in 1905 by none other than Frank Lloyd Wright. The exterior reflects a melange of styles from Roman, Venetian and medieval architecture. But much of what makes the Rookery stand out is its interior light court which literally fills with light and air. It is a space to be seen and experienced. The building was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1972, and was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1975. 209 South LaSalle Street, therookerybuilding.com

The Rookery, 2018

THE CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE

Erected 1924

Fourteen-year old Madelyn FioRito was leaving a summer job interview at the Fine Arts Building. The lift operator passed her a note, which read; “Please come up to my studio. I have spent a year looking for a model for the statue of Ceres, goddess of grain, which I have been commissioned to do for the top of the Board of Trade building. You are the model for whom I have searched.” The note was from artist John Storrs. The young girl said yes. The statue, inspired by Madelyn, sits on top of the Chicago Board of Trade pyramid roof looking down upon the bustling city below, a sheaf of wheat in her left hand and a bag of corn in her right. It is the perfect symbol of Chicago. Designed by Chicago’s Holabird & Root, the building itself is a decadent Art Deco masterpiece, with structural design that symbolized its purpose, activity, and the city’s industrial might. 141 W Jackson Blvd, 141wjackson.com

Chicago Board of Trade Building

AQUA TOWER

Erected 2009

One of the most unique things about the Aqua Tower is how the view changes – close up the balconies appear like soft clouds, billowing up the building, and from a distance the concrete balconies and reflective glass look like waves, dancing on top of pools of water. This gives the skyscraper an other-earthly, sculptural quality. There is no doubt that Architect Jeanne Gang from Studio Gang formidably solved the age old question; how you make a skyrise (essentially a box) aesthetically pleasing? Not only is it, but Aqua Tower is also a marvel of engineering with balconies designed to withstand high winds, provide shade and prevent migrating birds from flying into the windows. And because of the unique design shape and protrusion, residents can chat with neighbors above or below, which is beyond cool. 225 North Columbus Drive, rentaqua.com

Aqua Tower

MARINA CITY

Erected 1964

Marina City was born as an answer to the problem of suburbanization in the early 60’s. The masses were leaving Chicago and in record numbers. The government was investing $3,000 in the suburbs to every $85 spent to support housing in the city. Architect Bertrand Goldberg thoroughly believed that people wanted to live in downtown Chicago. His approach to Marina City was to design a “city within a city” that could fully accommodate people’s daily routines within a short distance from their homes, bringing the seeming ease of suburban life to an urban setting. He wanted to make the city more habitable which he believed would not only have economic benefits, but it would make people happy. Fancy that. It was also the first mixed-use complex in the United States, including units for housing and businesses, and for a short time were the tallest residential buildings in the world. The now iconic corn cob shape towers have appeared on everything from classic airline posters to appearances in TV shows and background in movies like Ferris Buellers Day Off. State Street, marinacity.org

Marina City

WRIGLEY BUILDING

Erected 1924

Chewing gum magnate, William Wrigley Jr. never forgot his visit as a young boy to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition, in particular the otherworldly gleam of the White City. Decades later, when he set out to build his new headquarters on what would become known as the Magnificent Mile, he had his inspiration. Architects Graham, Anderson, Probst & White delivered. The Wrigley Building incorporated it’s iconic terracotta facade using six different shades of white so it grew brighter as you gazed upward. Wrigley insisted the facade was maintained immaculately, keeping its appearance sparkling white, and that it was continuously floodlit, with only three exceptions; for three years during World War II, during a light replacement in 1971, and during the energy crisis in 1974. The Wrigley Building captures the weight of history, not only due to its height and steel frame construction, but for being the world’s first building to use air conditioning, and so perfectly capturing that quintessential Chicago design. The Wrigley company sold the building after receiving official Chicago Landmark status in 2012. 400-410 N Michigan Avenue, thewrigleybuilding.com

The Wrigley Building

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It’s peak rooftop season in Chicago, attracting pleasure hounds and dreamers alike for decadent nights and lazy days on top of the city…it’s always been that way.

Flappers dancing on top of Chicago Hotel, 1926

Well, almost –

Chicagoans have long had a love affair with their rooftops. In cities like Miami and Los Angeles, rooftops are obviously a big deal because they are used all year-round, but here in the Windy City – it’s a much bigger deal. Perhaps it’s because of the limited time in which we can enjoy the weather, or those unobstructed views of our magnificent skyline, the stars so close that you feel as though you could simply pluck one out of the sky, or maybe it’s just our love of a good party. Regardless, rooftops are the ultimate luxury of Chicago living and lifestyle. So, it comes with no surprise that today’s hotels and residential developers continue the tradition of reinventing ways to feed this need of ours to climb on top of tall buildings and hang out.

It’s the American dream.

However, near the end of the nineteenth century, the only things that hung on a Chicago rooftop was wet laundry. At the time, real estate developers had begun to invest in apartment buildings for the rising urban-middle class, who were flocking to the city. It was the new American dream. However, this emerging demographic was not yet comfortable living in the city, on top of each other. They valued their privacy. Coming from the country, they were accustomed to living with ample space between them and their nearest neighbor. Accordingly, the new buildings were built with private entrances and staircases, in order to limit any possibility of stumbling into awkward conversations. Even balconies were rare in these buildings, and seen at the time mostly in working-class, immigrant housing.

Then, at the turn of the century, and with the advent of the elevator, buildings began to reach for the skys’. It became the new status symbol of this emerging class. Grand apartment buildings came with grander views, and rooftops and balconies were designed for full advantage. Laundry moved to the basement, and we flocked higher and higher, not only to frolic but to enjoy the fresh air and city views. Developers of the day, soon began to make use of a structure’s roof, to offer leisure activities and entertainment. It was before the advent of movies, when a fad called, theater rooftop gardens, was fashionable. It had become a staple of summertime extravagance at the time, promising entertainment and spectacle. A song called Rooftop Garden Two Step, and outlandish vaudeville acts, which showcased rooftop performers, were all the rage. During intermission, flappers imbibed and danced wildly on the buildings’ rooftops. These decadent parties went on for decades.

The friendly confines of Wrigley.

Wrigleyville Rooftop Viewing back in the day

It was around 1914 when the rooftops around Wrigley Field were first used to view Cubs baseball games. This was before big business stepped in of course, when building owners would simply invite family and friends to take in a ball game from their roof. These were small, casual gatherings. Neighborhood folks, would perch atop of what’s come to famously be known as, Wrigleyville Rooftops, lining Sheffield and Waveland Avenues. Imagine sitting on a folding chair, a cooler filled with beer, watching Cubs gameday action in 1915. Decades later of course, an invite became an increasingly coveted prospect and building owners began constructing more and more sophisticated seating arrangements, building bleachers and charging admission to their buildings. This did not bode well with the Cubs organization at first, but after some legal entanglements, they are now officially endorsed, and the Wrigleyville Rooftops are considered a structural paradise.

Caviar wishes & airship dreams –

Promotional picture, InterContinental Chicago, 1929

In the 1920’s the city was crazy for airships. The talk of the time was that Chicago would actually become some kind of airhub for the newest dirigibles technology. These were “lighter-than-air steerable aircrafts” that floated around the skies like ocean liners (pre-Hindenburg.) Zeppelin loading docks would span the city’s rooftops, to accommodate. Sounds amazing. Of course, this was a terrible idea, which ultimately proved totally impractical. But legend has it, that a few hotels went so far as to build blimp moorings, to appeal to their exclusive clientele, who were on a never- ending quest for the next big thing. The hotels wanted to keep up. This never came to be, BUT it is true that the InterContinental Chicago Hotel (originally known as the Medinah Athletic Club) built a blimp mooring on top of its’, already opulent, rooftop onion dome.

The green movement

Fast forward almost a century and rooftops have become more than a leisure pursuit. Chicago has been on the forefront of the green-roof movement for more than two decades now. It ostensibly started when the city began looking for ways to actually make Chicago cooler in the summer, after a terrible heat wave in 1995 had resulted in 700 deaths. In 2000, Chicago’s most famous rooftop garden was built atop City Hall. It features 20,000 plants from 150 different species and is credited with ushering in a new renaissance of green rooftop gardens, for which the city has become known. It was conceived as a demonstration project and developed as part of Mayor Daley’s efforts to combat the urban heat problem, and improve air quality. The transformation of City Hall’s roof into a sprawling green space, set an ever important precedence for not only residential and commercial property owners in the city, but around the country, to follow suit. It demonstrated that green roofs do more than add beauty and sanctuary to our lives, it makes us healthier.

Chicago City Hall Rooftop, 2001

It’s a rooftop renaissance.

And now in 2018, it’s safe to say it would be practically illegal to put up a new luxury apartment building or launch a new hotel in Chicago without a rooftop lounge – and certainly so to hang your laundry up there. These days the legacy of the rooftop lifestyle not only lives on, but is experiencing a complete renaissance. New luxury developments are being designed by the world’s leading architectural and landscape designers, and include an ever-expanding array of modern rooftop amenities, such as infinity pools and spas, sustainable gardens, summer kitchens and winter fireplaces – it’s like your own private resort.

And then there are our hotels, for which Chicago has long been known. Yet, over the last few years, we’ve been in a full-on renaissance, with a slew of new developers reimagining historic hotels and buildings with spectacular effect, each with a cooler rooftop scene than the next. Perhaps, spend an afternoon this weekend floating around one of these hotel rooftop oases. Enjoy an Orange Blossom or some watermelon juice and the sunny skies. In about five months, this will all seem like a dream.

The Chicago Athletic Hotel (12 S. Michigan Avenue) was founded in 1890 by some of the most influential men of the time. It was an exclusive mens-only private club for more than a century, becoming one of the most highly anticipated hotel openings in the city’s history when it launched in 2015. Enjoy an old fashioned, or a moscow mule at Cindy’s Rooftop. The hotel’s restaurant and open air terrace has insane views of Millennium Park and Lake Michigan.

The London House Hotel (85 E. Wacker) began life in 1923, as the London Guarantee and Accident Building. Decades later it was the location of The London House jazz supper club, where big names such as Sarah Vaughan and Ramsey Lewis performed. Take in the history and a cocktail at LH Terrace, which has amazing views from the center of the city.

The Viceroy Hotel (112 N. State Street) opened this year, replacing the historic, 1920’s era Cedar Hotel. The developer incorporated the old building’s masonry and terracotta exterior, signature Chicago style elements, into the new tower. Enjoy a night at the hotel’s rooftop bar and pool area, the Devereux, complete with craft cocktails and its’ long views of the Chicago skyline.

The Robey Hotel (2018 W. North Avenue) is housed in an 1920’s office building in Wicker Park. It has maintained many vintage touches, from the preserved first-floor office directory to the Art Deco lifts. The hotel’s Cabana Club, is a rooftop lounge with a cool city vibe, boasting 180 degree views of the Chicago skyline, and a triangular dipping pool. Enjoy a margarita or a glass of rose and soak up some sun.

Hotel Lincoln (816 N. Clark Street) was built in 1928, and went through a century’s worth of iterations before being reborn again in 2012. The rooftop hotel bar and restaurant, J. Parker, features an outstanding view of Chicago.

London Calling, LH Terrace, 2018

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Take a cue from the past when working with a private chef. It will nourish you and make your dinner parties the talk of the town.

Slim Aarons, “Dining at the Wilmonts”

“I have made a lot of mistakes falling in love, and regretted most of them, but never the potatoes that went with them.” -Nora Ephron

It may seem like a luxury, but really, it’s not.

It may happen in the middle of planning your next dinner party. You find yourself drifting off into an alternative universe, one where you are living like a modern-day version of Lady Mary Crawley from Downton Abbey. You’re barely aware of the lavish dinner preparations at hand, and not a bit worried. Your team of professionals are preparing a menu that you tasted and approved a month ago. Instead, you are the consummate hostess, greeting your guests as they assemble in the “drawing-room,” gentlemen arriving in dress suits, escorting ladies in beautiful dresses. And when it’s time, you announce that dinner is served and lead your guests to a perfectly-set table with complete confidence and grace.

Or, perhaps your fantasy is about waking up on a late summer morning, intent on making fresh eggplant salad for your brood. The sun shines brightly as you admire your lush kitchen garden. You pick gorgeous, fresh basil and a perfectly ripe eggplant, and some oh-so-green lettuce, from your perfectly composed dirt. Produce in hand, you feel a bit like the Hamptons’ goddess herself, Ina Garten, effortlessly preparing lunch for her husband Jeffrey.

But reality bites – whether it’s that empty space where your perfect kitchen garden should go, or its remembrances of your last dinner party, the one where you were still making the sauce and applying a last coat of nail polish when one of your guests inevitably arrived on time.

And it’s then that you decide. It’s time to hire a private chef. And you should. It is totally worth it.

Why be in it alone?

The food options at our fingertips in Chicago are endless, feeding our appetites both healthy and not. But you can only go out to eat so often, or order so much take out – really, with all the waste “to go” creates, its’ enough already. In 2018, like in the days’ of yore, in order to keep a proper kitchen, and consistently prepare, nourishing and exciting meals for yourself, your family and friends – you need help.

Today, eating is still very much about culinary indulgence, and the kind of happiness that comes from having a great meal and good conversation with family and friends. And yet, these days, it’s also about food values and wellness. Thank goodness.

So with higher expectations for ourselves, and less time to execute, it is not at all surprising that more people today are choosing to bring the best of the restaurant, and sometimes the chefs’ themselves home with them – by hiring a private chef.

Today’s private chefs are artists, experts in all types of cuisine, and in many cases, also skilled in floral and table design. They have studied at the best culinary institutions, understand nutrition and farming, and know where to purchase the most ethically sourced meats and local produce. These modern day godfreys, can make your dinner party the talk of the town and also strictly facilitate your food goals.

Here are few things to consider when finding and working with a private chef.

It’s not just about the food, it’s chemistry.

The key of course, is finding the right person. Just as the food should match your preferences, the chef should be a good match for your personality. He or she should also be private and discreet. Unlike a personal chef, who will have multiple clients, a private chef is going to be up close and personal with your family and friends—and in many cases living and traveling with you. They will be front and center to both your whims, as well as those little personality quirks that make family dinners so fun. So spend time together first. Try out a few meals, and like with anything, iron out your expectations. At best, these relationships should be a collaboration, and the process consultative.

Mindful eating, aka food values

You want a food partner, one that understands, not only your style, and what you’re looking to achieve, but someone who will help facilitate your expectations when you’re there and when you are not. A private chef is responsible, not only with preparing your meals, but for costing ingredients, sourcing product, and planning menus tailored to your wants and needs. For many in 2018, being conscious and aware of where food comes from, whether it has been sustainably and ethically sourced, is of utmost importance. Also, for many, the same goes for having a deep understanding of how what you eat affects your health and wellness. You want someone, who not only shares your values, but someone that you can trust to facilitate. You don’t want to worry about where your vegetables are coming from.

Consider a kitchen garden.

Creating a beautifully maintained kitchen garden, one where you can select herbs, vegetables, and fruit for each meal is the ultimate luxury. City life is no excuse for not maintaining one. In Chicago, we are known for our rooftop gardens and have led the way among many big cities in cultivating this new trend, and the positive impact they can have on our environment. Fresh food also makes us happy, boosts our energy, and gives us an edge. We know this. However, when life becomes busy we tend to neglect these basics. Think about growing all the staple items, like herbs, onions, shallots, tomatoes, eggplant, and other crops that see a lot of daily use, or even some harder to find items like lemongrass, alfalfa sprouts, root vegetables, and maybe some artichokes.

DID YOU KNOW? For every kilogram of vegetables grown in your own dense garden, you are reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2 kilograms, compared with buying in the store.

So, now that you are nourished…entertain and travel

The happiness that comes from bringing friends together for a meal can not be overstated. Why not indulge them? One of the key benefits of hiring a private chef is that you will have a partner when entertaining, whether its for an elegant tasting menu, an intimate gathering, or a traditional dinner party. While served at home, the service and quality will reflect the best of the restaurant feel with the irreplaceable feeling of home. And then when you do leave home, whether it be for a weekend getaway to the mountains or for a month-long trip to the summer beach house, they can come with you.

Creativity…because everything should be as beautiful as the food

Finding a chef that is also your creative partner, is a winning combination. All those ideas you have, like buying spices in bulk at Whole Foods to create your own custom mixes or infused oils, canning your favorite soups and sauces, made using vegetables from your new kitchen garden, harvested in the summer, to enjoy during the endless winter- you can do it together. Create custom gift baskets reflecting your own seasonal esthetic for your friends and family at the holidays or for birthdays. Or consider creating a bespoke cookbook, one that chronicles family favorites, along with new recipes and menus, that can be passed along generation to generation. In addition to projects, your private chef can teach you untraditional cooking methods, like live-fire cooking, using a smoker or a wood-burning pizza oven, or maybe if you are feeling crazy, even sous-vide cooking.

The possibilities are endless.

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Chicago Quality of Life – The latest trends in wellness amenities allow us to not only find our zen, but build it into our daily routine without so much as stepping a foot outside.

“Happiness is just a moment before you need more happiness.” -Don Draper

So, you can’t buy happiness, but wellness? Not so fast.

We’ve heard it all before – we are more distracted than ever. Too connected, not connected enough. Forever tied to work, but struggling to find the time for ourselves. And still, we know that not taking that time is an unhealthy and unfulfilling way to live. It can take a toll on our appearance and emotional well-being, and can sometimes feel like an ever-retreating goal, making our quest to maintain a clear, calm mind, and a healthy body seem insurmountable.

And so, it comes with no surprise that the trend for wellness amenities inside private homes and developments, continues to be on the rise. These state-of-the-art sanctuaries allows us to more easily find our zen from the comfort of our own homes.

It’s like a five-star hotel experience in your own home.

Consumers’ expectations have long surpassed the home gym of ‘ole. No longer are the days of a few dumbells and a solitary rowing machine sitting sadly in the corner of a building gym. Remember those?

NO, we want much, much, more. Luxury developments have become like fortresses’, with wellness amenity programs’ that almost always include a state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, yoga and meditation sanctuaries and some kind of lush rooftop space that extends your living area far beyond your apartment. Other cool wellness perks may include; spa treatments, salt grottos, farm-to-table lounges, vitamin c infused water and state of the art water and air purification systems.

Luxury meets lap pool, One Bennett Park. Related Realty

Developers have been listening.

Just as concepts of wellness infiltrated other industries, like food & travel, it is similarly de rigueur in luxury residential real estate, and shows no signs of abating. We spend so much of our time indoors that access to these kinds of amenities can have a profound effect on our health, energy, and levels of stress and productivity. How can it not? So, in order to keep up with these changing expectations, developers and architects are going far beyond the visuals of beautiful design when developing new properties. Of course, they are savvy to the benefits of building for the health of their residents, in part because it helps attract luxury buyers and renters. In Chicago, where our weather is so unpredictable, it is even more of a luxury to be able to work out, practice yoga, and swim, regardless of the time of year, all without leaving your building.

So, whether you are seeking to purge those tensions in the pool, spa, or yoga room, or simply be, amid the glorious landscapes of your own private park or rooftop garden, here are five must-have wellness amenities that Chicagoans really shouldn’t have to leave their building to enjoy.

Just breathe you’re home.

A FITNESS CENTER. NOT ALL ARE CREATED EQUAL

A fitness center is the staple of all wellness programs. And they are definitely not created equal. Fully equipped gyms and dedicated yoga rooms and spa rooms continue to crop up in new luxury buildings around Chicago. They should include nothing less than a state of the art gym with pools (yes plural) sauna and steam rooms, and dedicated areas for yoga or meditation at a minimum. Luxury is convenience, so, why should you schlep to the gym in the morning when you can ride the elevator instead? 500 Lake Shore Drive (500 N Lake Shore Dr) boasts an exclusive residents-only fitness center managed for 500 Lake Shore Drive by Equinox® featuring a full suite of cardio/weight training equipment and a yoga and meditation area, rooftop pool and private cabanas.

500 Lake Shore Drive residents enjoy an exclusive membership at 500 Lake Shore Drive by Equinox®

POOLS. AND NOT JUST ONE

A swimming pool is the ultimate creature comfort anywhere, but luxury in Chicago can be defined by having a pool to enjoy year round. Pools are not uncommon in California or Florida where the sun is out most of the year, but the appeal is more exotic in Chicago. The terrace pool at One Bennett Park (451 E. Grand Ave) is a splendid setting, and overlooks the buildings’ exclusive private park, designed by superstar landscape architect, Michael Van Valkenburgh. A glorious spot, whether to enjoy a swim, the sun or some shade in the seating area, this will appeal to anyone wanting the ultimate urban oasis. Other wellness amenities include a full-service spa and salon, an exercise facility with a fitness center, Pilates studio and an indoor lap pool.

The terrace pool at One Bennett Park, Related Realty.

SPA SERVICES

Want to live like a grown up version of Eloise with your own state of the art gym, pool, and array of spa treatments just a short elevator ride away? Yes please, who doesn’t? The Waldorf Astoria (11 E Walton St) offers its residences access to its world-class spa & health club which boasts a 14,000 square foot spa & fitness center, lap pool, and a catalogue of luxuries that come with living in one of the city’s most opulent hotels. Why go out for a lava shell massage, body polish or facial when they are only a few floors away? The spa also features a mosaic tiled pool, eucalyptus steam room, and dry sauna. Leaving the house just to grab a mani-pedi can really be a thing of the past.

The Waldorf Astoria Chicago offers its residences access to its ultra exclusive hotel spa.

ROOFTOP PARADISE

A rooftop lifestyle is essential in Chicago. Perhaps it is more important to us than in other cities as we are not able to enjoy it year round, so we seek to maximize our outdoor time, or, maybe it is because of our magnificent skyline. Regardless, it allows one’s living space to expand beyond the traditional apartment. It is like having an outdoor living room in the sky, and is one of the most highly sought after features in the trend of “wellness lifestyle.” Optima Chicago Center (200 E Illinois St,) boasts a rooftop with a modern dessert feel with prairie grass and a jacuzzi that can fit up to two dozen people, that is, if you are in the mood to share.

A rooftop paradise perched on top of the urban jungle, Optima Chicago Center.

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Rediscovering secret Chicago parks. Oases designed for us by some of the greatest landscape architects of all time.

Living in Chicago, it’s hard to forget that the city is famous for its’ architecture. Those who imagined and reimagined the landscape were visionaries, superstar architects and designers, such as William Le Baron Jenney, Louis Sullivan, Bruce Graham, William Holabird, and of course, Frank Lloyd Wright. These luminaries made their mark throughout the city. Their vision around us at every turn.

But, we are also a city of parks. I mean, our motto is literally, “City in a Garden,” translated from the Latin, “Urbo Hurti.” And we seem to be guided by it. With a park system made up of an astounding 8,000 acres of open space, wherever you are, an oasis of spectacular beauty and history is never far away.

Chicago has long been on the forefront of landscape architecture. From Jen Jensen’s Prairie-era masterpieces, Frederick Law Olmsted’s iconic lakefront parks, and Daniel Burnham’s masterful city planning, to prolific designers such as Alfred Caldwell and modernist Dan Kiley, our pedigree is long. So, while we are known for being the birthplace of the skyscraper, it’s our city’s park system that is quietly heralded as one of America’s greatest.

It wasn’t always this way. At first we had the motto, but no parks to speak of.

Jackson Park, 1891, before World’s’ Fair in 1893. Courtesy of the Chicago Public Library’s Special Collection.

Necessity is the mother of invention. A quick history –

Not wanting to be overshadowed by the creation of New York’s Central Park, it was in the mid 1800s’ when a group of visionary citizens rallied for the creation of Chicago’s first parks, starting with Lincoln. It was then, in late 1800’s, that the idea of neighborhood parks started to take hold. It was a time of great industrial growth and wealth in the city, along with extreme poverty, families living in overrun and dilapidated tenement houses. These smaller parks were born in large part to serve social purposes, like providing fresh milk, public playgrounds for children to play, or as a place to get a hot meal. They were meant to transform marginalized areas into beacons of civility. Jen Jensen, along with Jane Addams, founder of the Hull House, and other influencers of the time, championed for these public spaces, and went on to identify a series of forest preserves’ across western Chicago that were dedicated to the creation of our first neighborhood parks. They encircled the city in a green band and would come to be known as the Emerald Necklace.

As the 20th century unfolded, Jen Jensen designed four massive neighborhood parks; Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Douglas Park and Columbus Park, while Alfred Caldwell designed The Lily Pond and Dan Kiley followed in the 1960’s with more formal gardens, such as The South Garden. One thing they all valued, was preservation and conservation of the land, and most important, that all citizens had a place to play, rest, meet and organize in an open green space. They felt it was the rights of all citizens to enjoy the city’s parks- and enjoy we do –

“There is nothing so American as our national parks.” Franklin Roosevelt

Bennett Park, One Bennett Park. Related Realty

And now in 2018, with a resurgence in landscape architecture around the city, comes a new generation of world-class designers, like Michael Van Valkenburgh, Carol Ross Barney and Jeanne Gang, helping to shape a Chicago of the future. They are innovative and driven by similar values as Olmsted, Jensen, Caldwell and Kiley before them, designing urban parks and streetscapes, urban trails and playground with an eye towards making our city’s ecosystems healthier and more biodiverse.

“I don’t so much think of a park as an escape from the city as I think of it as an escape in the city.” – Michael Van Valkenburgh , Designer, One Bennett Park

Take a pause between your busy day, amid the trees and gardens of these unique public spaces, gifted to us by our predecessors. It will surely transform your day.

THE LILY POOL Landscape Design by Alfred Caldwell

The sounds of birds singing and waterfalls breaking is just the kind of respite you need from a busy day. Nestled away in Lincoln Park, The Lily Pool is an almost otherworldly space in the middle of the concrete jungle. It was designed in the late 1930’s by Alfred Caldwell. He envisioned a refuge from the city, intending it to resemble “a river meandering through a great Midwestern prairie.” And it does. It remains one of the best examples of prairie-style landscape architecture which was what Caldwell intended. He was inspired by Jen Jensen’s use of the environment. His understanding of sky, the wind, the movement of water and seasons. Chicagoans flocked to the gardens for decades, which eventually took a toll on the space. Caldwell visited near the end of his life. The park, for which, at one time had cashed in his own $5,000 life insurance policy for a measly $250 in order to pay for the gardens much needed perennials, had fallen into deep despair and flowers grew no more. He declared, “It is a dead world.” But with the support of citizens, environmentalists and birdwatchers, artists and the like, The Lily Pool was refurbished in 2000. It is now deemed a National Historic Landmark and Chicago Historical Landmark status.

The Lily Pool, Lincoln Park

The Lily Pool, Lincoln Park 125 W Fullerton Pkwy 773-883-7275 lincolnparkconservancy.org

BENNETT PARK A garden hideaway in the heart of Chicago. As the designer of the celebrated Maggie Daley Park and The 606 Trail in Chicago and Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York City, world-renowned landscape architect, Michael Van Valkenburgh, appreciates how a park can truly be an escape within a city. He appreciates how a park can truly be “an escape within the city.” At Bennett Park, the idyllic gardens sit alongside two dog runs, meandering pathways, and steps leading to a shady grove. A sense of privacy is ensured with a frame of trees surrounding the park’s outer edge, yet the center of the park, which welcomes the sun, is bright and open. At the core of the park is what Van Valkenburgh calls a “lawn bowl”— an open bowl ringed with small flowering trees that get progressively larger and taller. It’s the perfect gathering place in the center of the 1.7 acre park. This magical area is the perfect place for children. “They can sit under the trees or run freely in this small world,” he says. Van Valkenburgh designed the park so that it will evolve through the seasons, with some trees maximizing their color each fall and others retaining their greenery throughout the year. As a result, the park will maintain a sense of life all year long as the beating heart at the center of One Bennett Park and the broader Streeterville neighborhood.

Bennett Park, Related Realty Bennett Park, One Bennett Park 451 E Grand Avenue onebennettpark.com

THE GARDEN OF THE PHOENIX Landscape Design by Frederick Law Olmsted

There is peace to be found in the lush, Garden of the Phoenix, nestled away on Jackson Parks’ Wooded Island, a true escape in the belly of the city. There is a feeling of otherworldliness in this hidden park, as you walk the gravel paths that wind through several acres of greenery. Although, this feeling is not just due though to the garden’s unique beauty, its’ landscape full of azalea trees, waterfalls, or its intelligent landscape design, which deliberately and perfectly obscures all sight of industry and commerce lurking nearby. But it is also the enormous history of the garden, that has twisted and turned, right along with our own for over a century. The parks website provides a fantastic timeline and history of the park, but it was in the 1930’s that the Japanese Emperor gifted the Phoenix pavilion to the city, reflecting his high hopes for greater understanding and a wish to showcase their nations heritage. Today, Yoko Ono’s Sky Landing sculpture conceived as a call for peace and respect among nations, stands on the spot of the original pavilion.

The Garden of the Phoenix

The Garden of the Phoenix, Jackson Park South Cornell Drive 773-256-0903 gardenofthephoenix.org

THE MONTROSE BIRD SANCTUARY Original Landscape Designed by Alfred Caldwell

Think of it like a stop-over point while travelling the world, a logical landing place for exhausted songbirds. Resting quietly on the shores of Lake Michigan, the Montrose Bird Sanctuary is home to over 300 species of birds and is considered the best bird watching spot in all of Illinois. The Great Lakes are an important area for migratory birds, the open water provides a resting point for them as they travel from one continent to the next. While there are other points in Chicago that are active during spring and fall migrations, it is Montrose Bird Sanctuary, nicknamed “Magic Hedge,” that stands above the rest. In the mid-1930s, Alfred Caldwell created a plan for the area that conveyed what he called a “naturalistic effect” with sweeping meadow spaces and layered native plant materials emphasizing the long view. In the late 1990s, the Chicago Park District undertook an expansion of the habitat for birds while retaining the historic integrity of what was intended, hundreds of trees and shrubs were planted. Thirty years later, this sanctuary is truly well worth discovering for yourself – bird lover or not.

Seagull, Montrose Beach at sunset.

The Montrose Bird Sanctuary 4400 N Simonds Dr 847-433-6901

THE SOUTH GARDEN Landscape Design by Dan Kiley

There is a timeless, simple quality to the South Garden, situated on top of a parking garage, along the Art Institute of Chicago on Michigan Avenue. The honey locust trees hang low, providing the perfect shade for your lunch break, or just to take a quick break from it all. The South Garden was designed and constructed by Dan Kiley between 1962 and 1967. Kiley is considered one of the most influential Modernist landscape architects of the 20th century, and the South Garden one of best commissioned pieces. Kiley believed that man was a “part of nature not separate from it.” Rather than forcing order into the landscape, he ignored obvious man-made boundaries. Nowhere is it any more clear than in The South Garden, which features The Fountain of the Great Lakes, a sculptural fountain from Lorado Taft, created in 1913. It is the centerpiece of the space and an “allegorical sculpture in which the five women are arranged so that the water flows through them in the same way the water passes through the five Great Lakes.”

The Fountain of the Great Lakes, by Lorado Taft – The South Garden, Art Institute of Chicago

The South Garden, Art Institute of Chicago 229 South Michigan Avenue

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JUNE – Chicago Summer Festival Schedule

Grant Park Summer Music Festival, JUNE 13 – AUGUST 18

What does summer in Chicago look like? Ten weeks of classical music performed by the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus under the stars. Our season begins June 13—Don’t miss a thrilling summer of music!

Grant Park Chicago Summer Music Festival

Taste of Randolph, JUNE 15 – 17

Commemorating the iconic street festival’s 22nd Anniversary, Star Events and WLCO will bring together the biggest and brightest names in Chicago dining, featuring over 16 restaurants exemplary for delectable menus and irresistibly unique flavors. Silver Wrapper has curated a list of the nation’s hottest up-and-coming bands and musicians, as well as the biggest names in Chicago house music, performing on two stages and a DJ stage, to entertain guests on their culinary adventure.

Star Events – Taste Of Randolph

Chicago Pride Fest, JUNE 16 – 17

The weekend before the 2018 Chicago Pride Parade makes it’s way through Boystown, the Chicago Pride Fest® starts the celebration! Chicago Pride Fest®, June 16-17, 2018, is an exciting two-day street festival held the weekend leading up to the Chicago Pride Parade with up to 100,000 expected to attend, celebrating LGBTQ life, culture and community.

The festival features live music by popular artists, 3 stages, food and drink, 100+ arts/craft and merchant vendors, DJ’s and dancing, drag shows, pet parade, sponsor booths and more.

Northalsted – Pridefest

Gold Coast Art Fair, JUNE 16 – 17

Incredible artwork, live music, great food and fun activities for kids make the Gold Coast Art Fair a destination for all! See the masters at work with live art demos and speed-painting taking place throughout the weekend. Bottle & Bottega will be offering 3 classes a day. Sign up & Register below for a spot!

AmdurProductions – Gold Coast Art Fair

Country LakeShake Music Festival, JUNE 22 – 24

Dierks Bentley, Florida Georgia Line and Blake Shelton will headline Chicago’s fourth annual Country LakeShake. The music festival runs June 22-24 at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island.

The initial lineup includes performances by Lee Brice, Billy Currington, Russell Dickerson, Jillian Jacqueline and more. Additional acts will be announced in the coming months.

CMT.com – Country Lakeshake Returns to Chicago

Chicago Food Truck Fest, JUNE 23 – 24

Food trucks are intricately woven into American history. Starting with the Chuck wagon stemming from the “Father of the Texas Panhandle,” Charles Goodnight. In 1866, Goodnight, a cattle herder, realized the difficultly to cook proper meals during cattle drives. He took a sturdy old United States Army Wagon and constructed interior shelving and drawers. He then stocked the wagon with tableware and utensils, spices and medical supplies, including castor oil and quinine. The American Food Truck was born.

Food trucks today are eons away from the original Chuck wagons but one thing still remains. We still love food trucks! We realized the joy people received each day from eating from their favorite food truck. This lead us to create the Chicago Food Truck Festival continuing an world tradition.

Chicago Food Truck Fest

Pride Parade, JUNE 24

The 2018 Chicago Pride Parade has nearly reached its 50th anniversary, and there’s a lot to celebrate. The event has grown from a small parade in Boystown to a thriving Chicago tradition that brings more than one million people together from around the world. The event is one of the largest gay pride parades in the country.

The Chicago Pride Fest will kick off all the exciting LGBTQ events over the next few weeks. The street festival will be held Saturday, June 16, and Sunday, June 17, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Halsted Street from Addison to Grace Street in Boystown.

Patch.com

Windy City Ribfest-Uptown, JUNE 29 – JUL 1

It’s a saucy summer happening! From tasty slabs (and sides) to a smokin’ music lineup, this pre-Fourth of July party in the eclectic Uptown neighborhood brings its A-game on when it returns for its 10th anniversary year!

Beyond the flavorful offerings of top local and national ribbers and cool summer tunes, this popular three-day fest also features arts & crafts plus an activity area for kids and families.

And with the vibrant Broadway-Lawrence intersection boasting acclaimed Chicago music venues that include The Green Mill, Aragon Ballroom and Riviera nightclub, Windy City Ribfest is the perfect urban destination for both daytime and evening fun

ChicagoEvents – Windy City Ribfest

JULY – Chicago Summer Festival Schedule

Fourth of July Fireworks at Navy Pier, JULY 4

Navy Pier is preparing to light up the Chicago skyline with a fireworks extravaganza Tuesday that’s part of its annual Independence Day celebration. It’s the city’s only official lakefront fireworks show and will feature a 15-minute display synchronized with patriotic music.The fireworks display begins at 9:30 p.m. on the Fourth of July. Navy Pier opens to the public at 10 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. Tuesday.

People can watch the fireworks from Navy Pier’s 27,000-square-foot rooftop, where the annual Freedom Fest kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with a DJ, barbecue and cash bar at the cost of $39 for a general admission, standing room-only ticket.

Chicago Tribune – Navy Pier Fireworks

West Fest, JULY 6 – 8

West Fest is an annual street festival in Chicago’s West Town Community on Chicago Avenue between Damen Avenue and Wood Street. (1800W – 2000W Chicago Ave. Chicago IL 60622)

What makes West Fest so unique? Since 2004 West Fest stands out from the rest because it is locally planned and managed by the West Town Chamber of Commerce, thus the emphasis is on local offerings and local talent. West Fest features neighborhood retailers and restaurants, fine artists, crafters, and more. The event reflects the eclectic and hip West Town community, and is also known for cutting edge live music.

West Fest Chicago

Millennium Art Festival, JULY 6 – 8

Popping up for a three-day weekend, top-ranked art and design show Millennium Art Festival brings excitement and art to downtown Chicago. Renowned as one of the “Top 50 Art and Design Shows” by Sunshine Artist Magazine, Millennium Art Festival showcases the talents of more than 110 juried artists who participate in this city-centric festival. Festival goers will see an array of original artwork, including paintings, ceramics, photography, and furniture. Millennium Art Festival blends live performances, fantastic food, and interactive art-filled experiences into Chicago’s streets.

EventBrite – Millennium Art Festival

Taste of Chicago, JULY 11 – 15

Taste of Chicago is the nation’s premier outdoor food festival showcasing the diversity of Chicago’s dining community. The delicious array of food served at Taste of Chicago is complemented by music and exciting activities for the entire family. Every summer since 1980, Chicago’s beautiful Grant Park on the city’s magnificent lakefront has been home to the world’s largest food festival.

CityofChicago.Org – Taste of Chicago

Windy City Smokeout, JULY 13 – 15

The Windy City Smokeout has announced an all-star lineup for 2018 that’s headed up by Brett Young, Brett Eldredge and Brothers Osborne.

The BBQ, craft beer and country music festival returns to Chicago from July 13–15, 2018, for the sixth consecutive year. According to a press release, organizers expect more than 50,000 fans on Grand Avenue near the Chicago River for the three-day event this year.

Taste of Country – City Smokeout 2018

Southport Art & Music Fest, JULY 14 – 15

Festival fans will visit the beautiful tree-lined streets of the picturesque neighborhood. Just steps away from the friendly margins of Wrigley Field, the two-day festival will showcase some of the city’s best and most diverse artists. Southport Art Festival will put numerous art forms including oil, acrylic, watercolor, jewelry, sculpture, photography, wood, fiber, glass, paper, metal, and mixed media at center stage all weekend long.

Star Events – Southport Art Festival

Roscoe Village Burger Fest, JULY 14 – 15

Fire up the grills! More than a dozen local restaurants will be throwing the tastiest party around when Roscoe Village BurgerFest returns for its 10th mouth watering anniversary on Saturday and Sunday, July 8-9!

Add two stages of non-stop music, a fun filled Kid’s Zone and artists/merchants to the weekend’s mix and mid July is going to be blazing hot!

Roscoe Village – BurgerFest

Pitchfork Music Festival, JULY 20 – 22

Celebrating its 13th year in 2018, the internationally recognized Pitchfork Music Festival presents 40+ acts over the course of three days each summer in Chicago’s Union Park. The festival highlights the best in new and emerging music. Since 2006, this independently run festival has consistently proven to be one of the most welcoming, comfortable, reasonably priced, and rewarding weekends of music around.

Pitch Fork Music Festival

Taste of River North, JULY 20 – 22

Celebrating its 17th year as the signature event in Chicago’s most entertaining neighborhood, the Taste of River North is prepared to feed all appetites the weekend of July 20-22. With its brilliant location in Ward Park along the Chicago River, the annual food and music lover’s gig leaves nothing left over or overlooked.

Every season, 35,000-plus gather to taste some of River North’s most dynamic restaurants, sip on cold sudsy beer, and listen to the best party jams playout live on stage.

At the family-friendly Taste of River North, dogs are catered to with their own food and activities, kids play in a devoted children’s area, and artisans set up shop. Presented by the River North Residents Association, this year’s festival includes some surprises along with the usual mix of hot eats, cold drinks, and morning exercises to prep the body for three fun-filled days dedicated to the River North good life

CityofChicago.Org – Taste of River North

Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, JULY 21

Sailors from 15 different U.S. states as well as Ontario, Switzerland, and as far off as Hong Kong, are preparing for the race of a lifetime – the 333 mile Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, presented by Wintrust.

The Mac, as it is affectionately known, kicks off Saturday, July 15, 2017 with 3,000 sailors competing in this world-class sporting event. Although The Mac remains primarily an amateur event, this race has a proven track record of attracting some of the finest sailing talent in the sport.

The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac is the longest, annual freshwater sailing race in the world. It takes place on Lake Michigan

Mackinac Blog

Sheffield Music Festival & Garden Walk, JULY 21 – 22

Whether or not one has a green thumb, the iconic Sheffield Music Fest & Garden Walk, celebrating its 50th year in 2018, is inspirational, dreamy and motivational. It’s a unique way to savor a summer weekend in the city! There’s also a fantastic music lineup on two stages.

More than 80 of the neighborhood’s lush residential gardens will again be open for the public to explore. There are both self-guided garden tours, and guided architecture tours. Visitors are always amazed at the creativity of urban green spaces on splendid display.

Presented by the Sheffield Neighbors Association, the weekend also includes food, and plenty of nifty afternoon activities for kids and families.

Another exciting component of Sheffield Music Festival & Garden Walk is its partnering with the sixth annual Chicago Craft Beer Festival. This stand-alone microbrew fest will be held in tandem with the Garden Walk throughout the weekend and definitely enhances the crowds

ChicagoEvents – Sheffield Music Fest & Garden Walk

Wicker Park Fest, JULY 28 – 29

In celebration of its 15th milestone season, Wicker Park Fest 2018 is expanding from two to three days! The street festival that Chicago Magazine and Chicago Tribune have called the “best” of the year returns July 27 – 29. Always one of the city’s most anticipated summer events, Wicker Park Fest attracts visitors from across the Midwest with its stellar music line-up and diverse selection of participants. Chicago’s longest (in terms of length) neighborhood festival reflects Wicker Park’s rich musical heritage, eclectic artistry and acclaimed dining scenes. Building on the area’s unique character, the weekend pays homage to the neighborhood with over 50 bands on four stages, area restaurants and over 120 merchant vendors, Kids Fest, Interactive Arts Exhibit, Sculpture Installation and three nights of live Fashion Shows.

Choose Chicago – Wicker Park Festival

Taste of Lincoln Avenue, JULY 28 – 29

Chicago’s sweet summer vibe will be in full swing when Taste of Lincoln Avenue, one of the Windy City’s most iconic (and pioneering) street fests, returns for its 35th fun-filled year to the heart of the Lincoln Park/DePaul neighborhood.

In total, the fest features more than 60 merchants, artists, community group and food/drink booths. The always-popular Kids’ Carnival, held from Noon-6:00 p.m. each afternoon on Altgeld between Lincoln and Halsted (free entrance from Halsted), features inflatables, art activities galore, pony rides, kiddie carnival rides and much more.

ChicagoEvents – Taste of Lincoln Avenue

Chicago Margarita Festival, JULY 28 – 29

Chicago Margarita Festival will be held at Navy Pier. This year will feature three tasting sessions. The first session runs from, Saturday 11:00am until 6:00pm and Saturday 7:00pm to 11:59pm. Then the final session on Sunday from 12:00pm to 7:00pm. This years festival will feature live bands playing island sounds pairing well with dancing and margaritas. Also, an awe inspiring fire work show over Lake Michigan will occur on Saturday Evening. Drink tickets must be purchased in advance.

EventSprout – Chicago Margarita Festival

AUGUST – Chicago Summer Festival Schedule

Lollapalooza, AUGUST 2 – 5

Lollapalooza will return to Chicago’s Grant Park this year from August 2-5. The lineup for the 2018 event has just been announced, with headliners The Weeknd, Bruno Mars, Jack White and Arctic Monkeys. Other artists include Travis Scott, The National, Vampire Weekend and Odesza. Tickets are on sale now–check the full lineup below!

SeatGeek – Lollapalooza

Retro on Roscoe, AUGUST 10 – 12

Ever wish you could go back in time? Well here’s your chance! Referred to by Patch as a “Generation X haven”, Chicagoans looking for a blast from the past don’t need to look further than the 22nd annual Retro on Roscoe festival. Go back in time with music enthusiasts, families, and gearheads for a back in the day weekend.

Star Events – Retro on Roscoe

North Halsted Market Days, AUGUST 11 – 12

Northalsted Market Days® is the largest outdoor street festival in the Midwest and Chicago’s biggest summer party! Founded in 1980, the celebration now spans 6 blocks of North Halsted in Chicago’s Boystown/Lakeview neighborhood stretching from Addison to Belmont.

The 2 day/weekend long festival features an all day lineup of live music on 5 stages, unique vendors, arts, crafts, food and drink, DJ’s and dancing. Attendance approaches nearly 200,000 fairgoers, from near and far, all walks of life, and all colors of the rainbow.

ChicagoEvents – Northalsted Market Days

Chicago Air & Water Show, AUGUST 18 – 19

The Chicago Air and Water Show presented by Shell Oil Products U.S. and the City of Chicago is the largest FREE show of its kind in the United States. The show can be viewed along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach as the focal point.

CityofChicago.Org – Chicago Air & Water Show

Taste of Greektown, AUGUST 24 – 26

Hellenic pride will take center stage when this acclaimed annual culinary fest on Halsted Street in Chicago’s happening West Loop returns for its 29th year. As most Chicagoans know, this strip of Halsted has been the epicenter of the city’s acclaimed Greek restaurant scene for decades. Quite simply, Taste of Greektown is a romantic weekend celebration for lovers of Mediterranean culture.

Blending Old World traditions with a 21st century freshness, the tantalizing food and spirits from neighborhood eateries will again be the main attraction. There will also be plenty of music and entertainment including Greek bands and games for both kids and families. Opa!

ChicagoEvents – Taste of Greektown

Transamerica Chicago Triathlon, AUGUST 25 – 26

For 35 years, triathletes have gathered on the shores of Lake Michigan for one of the largest triathlons in the world. The Chicago Triathlon is an action-packed tour through one of America’s signature metropolises.

Chicago Triathlon

Chicago Jazz Festival, AUGUST 30 – SEPTEMBER 2

Known for its artistic creativity, the Chicago Jazz Festival is a favorite Labor Day Weekend tradition. It promotes awareness and appreciation for all forms of jazz through free, quality live musical performance. Since 1979, the festival’s mission is to showcase Chicago’s vast jazz talent alongside national and international artists to encourage and educate a jazz audience of all ages.

CityofChicago.Org – Chicago Jazz Festival

#Related Chicago - Feed #Chicago Real Estate

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relatedrealtychicagoblog · 6 years

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After breaking cover in October, the massive 62-acre development known as ‘The 78’ was the topic of a formal community meeting on Thursday evening.

Presentations from developer Related Midwest and architectural master planner Skidmore, Owings & Merrill outlined new details of the plan to transform the vacant riverfront parcel between Chicago’s South Loop and Chinatown into a new mixed-use neighborhood.

Expected to take two decades and more than $5 billion to complete, The 78 is one of the largest single developments in the city’s history.

Here are some key takeaways from the meeting:

Three new roads

Considering that the site faces natural and man-made barriers on all sides, it’s little surprise that the developer’s first order of business is to improve access. Related plans a trio of new roadways.

Up first will be the long-discussed Wells-Wentworth Connector which is already under construction just south of the site. As its name suggests, the north-south roadway will connect Wells Street’s South Loop dead-end to Chinatown’s Wentworth Avenue.

To bring connectivity to the site from low-rise Dearborn Park development to the east, 15th Street will be extended from Clark Street to the new stretch of Wells. This east-west route will dip under the realigned Metra tracks (more on that in a moment).

East of the Wells-Wentworth extension, the development team proposes a second north-south road in the form of a new “LaSalle Street” running from the elevated level of Roosevelt Road down to the 15th Street extention.

Improved vehicular circulation is expected pay dividends for The 78 as well as for existing businesses and residents currently isolated from downtown and the river.

Major Metra and CTA improvements

Arguably the biggest challenge facing the site are the Metra tracks running along its eastern edge. Related’s bold solution moves the tracks west, away from Clark Street.

The shift will allow Clark Street—currently walled-off and auto-focused—to be re-imagined as a more walkable, urban street with active use. The relocated Metra tracks would be decked over to improve site cohesiveness. Enclosing the rail line comes with the added benefit of improved air quality and reduced noise.

A new CTA Red Line station is also in the cards for The 78—filling the mile-long gap in service between the Roosevelt and Cermak-Chinatown stops.

It’s all about the river

While just about every recent development along the Chicago River touts the waterway as an attractive amenity, The 78 takes its relationship to the river to another level.

In a nod to the past, a seven-acre crescent shaped park mirrors the path the river originally followed before it was straightened in the 1920s. To draw people towards the current waterfront, The 78 proposes a number of “open space threads” cutting between and even through some of the buildings.

At river’s edge, the development features a 100-foot-wide, half-mile-long riverwalk that takes lessons from Chicago’s downtown riverwalk. Dedicated “lanes” will be set aside for dining, traversing (think jogging and biking), and waterside lingering.

Building heights step down from Clark Street as they approach the river, maximizing views while giving the waterfront promenade a more human scale. A future water taxi stop is also planned.

The 78 is surprisingly low density

For the development’s staggering 13 million square feet of mixed-use space, The 78 is seeking a surprisingly modest zoning designation of DX-5. For comparison, the Riverline/Southbank development under construction to the immediate north is working with denser DX-7 zoning.

The 78 achieves this with its abundance of open space and a plan that keeps the tallest towers—expected to reach as high as 950 feet—thin and narrow. The final design, number, and orientation of the high-rise buildings is still being worked out.

Landing a corporate tenant is key

The South Loop has no shortage of all-residential developments in the works. To set The 78 apart from the crowd and make the site a vibrant 24-hour neighborhood, Related is committed to attracting major companies and organizations before it brings in residences and hotel rooms.

Getting corporate partners into the site is also vital to the success of The 78’s Discovery Partners Institute—an innovation center and technology incubator from the University of Illinois. Slated for the development’s southern edge, the DPI aims to collaborate hand-in-hand with The 78’s future corporate tenants.

Filling office space is key to the project’s timing as well. While the Wells-Wentworth extension and other infrastructure improvements are expected to begin in July, The 78’s developer is “talking to a number of people” in regards to phase two and beyond.

What about Amazon?

With regards to future tenants, it’s no secret that The 78 hopes to land Amazon’s prized HQ2 second headquarters. The undeveloped riverfront parcel was one of ten locations included in Chicago’s official bid for HQ2 and its estimated 50,000 high-paying tech jobs.

“The request for proposal calls for 8 million square feet. Our site has 13 million square feet so you do the math,” said Related Midwest president Curt Bailey when asked about Amazon at Thursday’s meeting. “But it’s an opaque process. I know as much as you know—which is basically what I read in the papers.”

‘The 78’ is not a working title

The project gets its numeric name from the fact that Chicago has 77 recognized neighborhoods and the development is so large that it will increase that number by one. Any thoughts that the term was a temporary placeholder were quickly put to rest when a resident asked the team if they had thought of a name for the project.

“The 78 is what our branding team came up with and it’s already being used by members of the community,” responded Bailey. To drive the point home, attendees of the meeting were offered complimentary baseball caps embroidered with the number 78.

On Tuesday, the Related team will present its long-awaited plan for the former Chicago Spire site at 400 N. Lake Shore Drive. The public meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. in the ballroom of Streeterville’s Sheraton Grand Hotel.

Related Midwest and architectural master planner, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, presented new details of their plans to transform the vacant riverfront parcel between the South Loop and Chinatown, into an historic, mixed-use, 24 hour neighborhood, called The 78. The cutting edge development will bring improved access to the area and a new partnership with Discovery Partners Institute, an innovation & technology center from the University of Illinois.

To view original article please visit: Curbed.com

#Related Chicago - Feed #Chicago Real Estate

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relatedrealtychicagoblog · 6 years

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Not all upgrades are equal

If you’re like most Americans, your home is probably your biggest investment. You want that investment to perform as well as possible, so if you think you may sell your home some time soon, it makes sense to do as much as you can to boost its value.

Depending upon your situation, this can mean doing some home renovations so your house becomes more attractive to potential buyers.

But, while upgrades can boost your home price and help your home sell faster, not all renovations have an equal impact on what your home is worth. To ensure you’re making renovations that will actually pay off, read on to find out some upgrades that give you the most bang for your buck.

1. Improving energy efficiency

While most homeowners think upgrades that improve the look of their home will pay off, improving your home’s efficiency may actually make a bigger difference. In fact, a Remodeling.com survey found homeowners can recoup 116% of the costs of attic insulation. And attic insulation is just one of many upgrades that improve efficiency.

“While renovating the kitchen and updating the bathrooms are both great improvements that can increase property value, making energy efficient upgrades will give you more bang for your buck,” according to Sacha Ferrandi, founder of Source Capital Funding, Inc. a real estate finance company. “As the number of energy efficient homes continues to rise, first time buyers and renters are beginning to favor these upgraded homes over traditional homes due to the potential long-term savings.”

Ferrandi recommends upgrading HVAC, water heaters, and windows — these changes cost less than solar panels and are more likely to provide a positive return on investment when the time comes to sell. When you sell, you can recoup around 73% of the costs of upgrading 10 old windows with new ones, and your energy bills will be lower in the time before your move.

If you make energy efficient upgrades, make sure your realtor markets your home appropriately. You can even consider providing copies of your utility bills to potential buyers so they can see how low ongoing costs will be.

2. Sprucing up your exterior

You only get one chance to make a first impression when a buyer pulls up to your home. That’s why Holden Lewis, home analyst at NerdWallet believes the best bang for your buck comes from projects that enhance curb appeal.

“Real estate agents say that the first impression counts the most,” Lewis said. “And the first impression comes from what the buyer sees when the car pulls up to the curb.”

Making changes to your home’s exterior doesn’t have to cost a fortune. “Curb appeal can be improved by some basic efforts such as power washing the home’s exterior,” advised Rhoda Wheeler a realtor with Hoffman Real Estate Group in the DC Metro area. Alternatively, Allen Johnson, realtor and leader of the AJ Team at Keller Williams Realty, recommends painting the home’s front door. “It cost less than $200 and it’s the first impression as the buyer’s enter the home.”

Improvements to landscaping were also recommended by Wheeler, Johnson, and Lewis. “Think about refreshing mulch, trimming shrubs, and planting seasonal colorful plants. These small investments create value when selling a home,” according to Johnson. In fact while the statistics vary, most evidence shows you’ll get more than a 100% return on investment for money spent on landscaping.

Making more major upgrades to your home’s exterior can also pay off. Studies have shown you can recoup around 93% of the costs of adding stone veneer, around 91% of the costs of a new garage door, and around 91% of the costs of a new entry door.

3. Budget-friendly kitchen remodels

Roh Habibi, realtor and star of Million Dollar Listing, San Francisco, lists landscaping as the number one remodel that pays off — but the kitchen is second on his list. Habibi describes the kitchen as the “heart of the home,” and recommends focusing on colors and textures when making upgrades. “You don’t need to break the bank for the appliances,” he said.

Most experts agree a kitchen is key to improving a home’s value and Kevin Deselms, a realtor with RE/MAX Alliance in Golden, CO, advised that if a seller has only enough money to renovate one room, the kitchen is the room to pick. “Kitchens are the focal point of almost every home showing and an impressive kitchen will almost always make the difference between an average offer and the maximum,” Deselms said.

Investing in the kitchen makes a lot of sense, as studies have shown as many as 80% of homebuyers list the kitchen as their favorite room. When your kitchen is updated, buyers may also be more forgiving of other outdated areas. “I’ve found that my clients are more likely to tolerate an outdated bathroom than an outdated kitchen,” Maria Tabakova, an agent with Triplemint said.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to make a big improvement in your kitchen, either. In fact, while a major kitchen remodel returns only around 80% on your investment, a minor remodel has an 87% return. A minor face-lift for your kitchen could include painting cabinets or getting new cabinet doors, installing new appliances, upgrading countertops, or switching out cabinet hardware. “There’s just something about new doors and handles and stainless steel appliances that make people excited,” advised Mike Higgins of Keller Williams Realty in Green Bay.

4. Bathroom remodel

If your bathrooms are outdated, this is another room where updates could make a big impact. “Next to kitchens, bathrooms are the number two selling point in most homes,” according to Cedric Stewart, a residential sales consultant and team leader of Entourage RG at Keller Williams in Washington D.C. “Nail this upgrade and you’re halfway to the closing table!”

Studies have shown a minor bathroom remodel can provide a 102% return on investment, and you don’t have to spend a fortune to make big upgrades.

“Consider re-grouting tile; remove and replace caulk around the shower, tub, and toilet areas; and maybe it is time to replace the toilet for a more efficient and modern look,” advised Nancy Wallace-Laabs, a licensed real estate broker and founder of KBN Homes, LLC. “Replacing mirrors and fixtures will also go a long way to improve the look and feel of the bathrooms.”

Higgins also advised changing a plastic tub to a tile shower. “The impression it gives a potential buyer when they’re viewing homes in a similar price point could be huge,” he said. While converting a standard five-foot tub into a tile shower can cost around $4,000 to $5,000, you may get back as much as 84% of the money when you sell your home.

5. A new coat of paint

One of the cheapest updates you can make also has one of the best returns on your investment: painting your home’s interior.

“It cannot be underestimated the effect that a clean coat of new paint has on a property,” said William Fastow, a real estate agent with Sotheby’s International Realty. “Most sellers don’t realize how much abuse walls take during ownership until that fresh coat of paint has been applied. New paint lightens rooms, hides visual defects and instantly makes a space feel fresh and clean.”

Painting an interior can produce a 109% return on investment, but could benefit you even more if your home’s colors are unusual. “The colors most people have in their homes are personal, but they should be transitional and appeal to a larger pool of people,” advised Patrick Ryan, a certified residential specialist, senior vice president, and managing broker at Related Realty in Chicago. “Our brokers often suggest Benjamin Moore Gray Owl. It goes with every other color out there — it’s clean and just dark enough to contrast with white boarders and make them pop.”

6. Fix your flooring

Flooring makes a huge difference in how your house comes across to buyers and upgrading it can make a big impact.

“The least expensive thing you can do to get your home ready to sell is a nice coat of neutral paint and either new carpet or flooring,” advised Gina Lipari, a real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Southern California. “It makes such a difference to buyers, and makes the home look as if it has been maintained nicely. New flooring and paint will instantly brighten up the home, and give it an instant update for very little expense.”

Today, many buyers place a premium on hardwood floors and, when done correctly, hardwood floors could add around 2.5% to a home’s sale price. Installing hardwood can be costly, with popular woods running around $5 to $10 per square foot plus the costs of installation, but you can recoup as much as much as 70% to 80% of the cost when it’s time to sell.

If you’re short on funds, focus on replacing floors in public areas including kitchens and living rooms, while opting for less costly carpet in the bedrooms.

7. Increase your square footage

If you’re up for a bigger investment, making your home bigger — or making more areas of your home livable — could make a huge difference.

“A home’s valuation is strongly driven by the amount of livable square-footage,” said Evan Roberts, a real estate agent and owner of Dependable Homebuyers in Baltimore, MD. “The best bang for your buck upgrades are always those that add to this square footage, like finishing the basement or converting an enclosed deck into a sun room.”

The data is clear that adding space can pay off. You could recoup as much as 83% of your spending on a two-story addition, 81% of spending on adding a bathroom, 74% on a family room addition, and 73% on adding an attic bedroom.

These additions can be really costly, and you’ll tend to benefit the most from adding square footage if you’re bringing your home in line with your neighbors rather than making your home the biggest on the block. If you’re the only two-bedroom in the area, it could be hard to even sell your house without upgrading to a third.

Upgrade your home the right way

Ultimately, the market where you live is going to have the biggest impact on the upgrades you should make. Working with a local realtor can help you to decide what upgrades it makes sense to invest in so your home meets the expectations of buyers in your market.

You’ll also want to make sure upgrades and updates you do in anticipation of selling your home are neutral and designed to appeal to many buyers, as upgrades that buyers don’t like won’t add any value at all.

Planning to sell your home? Related Realty in Chicago shares seven renovation ideas that are important to new homebuyers. These smaller, less costly improvements, can have a bigger impact than you may think, and increase your odds of getting your selling price. Whether it is a quick fix, or a weekend project, they will yield a high return on your investment.

To view original article please visit: TheMotleyFool

#Related Chicago - Feed #Chicago Real Estate

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relatedrealtychicagoblog · 6 years

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More than three years after taking title to the land where the audacious Chicago Spire was once envisioned, and more than two years after soliciting designs from a half-dozen architecture firms, Related Midwest on Tuesday unveiled a bold plan for the waterfront site.

The long-awaited vision for the 2.2-acre site along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, unveiled in the first community meeting for the project, is toned down a bit from the 2,000-foot-tall Spire plan that stirred emotions but never advanced beyond a 76-foot-deep foundation hole. The design, by One World Trade Center architect David Childs, includes a south tower rising 1,100 feet and an 850-foot north tower.

The development is now called simply 400 Lake Shore Drive.

Although the site has been divided into two residential towers, the project remains ambitious and complex. Related Midwest said it plans to build both towers while simultaneously building a four-level podium below them, which will include levels for vehicle entrances, parking, meeting rooms and a ballroom.

“What we wanted to do here was push the absolute envelope of what we thought was achievable and buildable in Chicago, and get right to the edge of it and more,” Related Midwest President Curt Bailey said ahead of Tuesday’s meeting. “We want to build the best, most visionary, architecturally significant project that’s financeable and achievable.”

The painstaking process to reinvent the site near Navy Pier, which began when Related Midwest took control of the site in 2014, took shape when Childs, who is based in Skidmore, Owings & Merrill’s New York office, was enlisted from outside the initial group of potential designers.

The taller of the two towers would be shorter than just four existing Chicago buildings: Willis Tower (1,451 feet), Trump International Hotel & Tower (1,389 feet), the Aon Center (1,136 feet) and the former John Hancock Center (1,128 feet). That ranking will change when the 1,191-foot Vista Tower, under construction in the Lakeshore East development near the Spire site, is completed in 2020 and becomes Chicago’s third-tallest building.

Another tower proposed nearby, as part of the Tribune Tower redevelopment, would be 1,422 feet tall.

The Tribune on May 11 first reported Related’s plans for two big towers. But until Tuesday’s community meeting, renderings had not been shared publicly.

Childs’ design is for similar-looking towers framing North Water Street, built at offset angles on the site. Each tower would have dramatic setbacks as it thins upward, creating large outdoor terraces for about 20 percent of each building’s residential units. Exterior elements include terra cotta.

Artist renderings show two towers proposed on the former Chicago Spire site, now called 400 Lake Shore Drive. (Related Midwest)

The extensive use of setbacks is a design unique to Chicago — yet the plan is also, in the developer’s view, more achievable than the 2,000-foot-tall behemoth once drawn up for the site.

“We’re not trying to set new records for height,” Bailey said.

But Bailey added: “We talk a lot about legacy, and there will not be a shot of Chicago that doesn’t have these buildings in them. Every shot from the east will have this front and center. So we’ve taken this assignment very seriously.”

The plan still must gain city zoning approval and financing before becoming a reality.

The south tower would have 300 condominiums atop a 175-room luxury hotel. The north tower would include 550 apartments. The towers would be built 150 feet apart, atop a four-level parking and amenities podium. The top of the platform, rising above Lake Shore Drive traffic, would serve as an outdoor amenities area. The project’s 750 parking spaces would be accessible from Water Street and a ramp on and off Lake Shore Drive.

The proposed development is less jaw-dropping than Santiago Calatrava’s soaring, corkscrewlike design once dreamed for the site.

Developer Christopher Carley’s Fordham Spire plan, which later morphed into Irish developer Garrett Kelleher’s Chicago Spire development, called for up to 1,200 condos. But after selling 395 units and digging the foundation, construction stopped in 2008 amid a global financial crisis. Related bought the delinquent bank debt on the property in 2013 and along with other creditors forced Kelleher’s firm into bankruptcy.

Part of the foundation — as well as an eight-story-deep retention system already built around the entire site — can be used to support Related’s construction, Bailey said. But because it’s now a two-tower plan, some of Chicago’s infamous hole likely would be filled.

Related initially considered taller, single-tower designs for the site. But the developer didn’t want the architecture to be dictated by the huge hole. “Instead of trying to bastardize the design to fit what was in place, we said we’re going to take the most beautiful buildings we can design and we’ll see what we can utilize” from the Spire foundation, Bailey said.

Building two towers in separate phases would have mitigated the project’s risk, but Bailey said the downside — construction disrupting residents of the first tower — outweighed the benefits.

Beyond structural challenges, Related also must clear other hurdles.

Those include competition from other luxury high-rises in the works — such as Vista Tower, the Tribune Tower redevelopment and new tower and JDL Development’s planned two-tower One Chicago Square across from Holy Name Cathedral. It remains uncertain just how much oomph remains in Chicago’s yearslong construction boom.

Related’s track record and the location along both the river and lake are advantages, Bailey said. The firm’s other projects in Chicago have included the One Bennett Park, 500 Lake Shore Drive and Park Tower residential towers. Related also recently unveiled plans to build up to 13 million square feet of residential, office, hotel and retail space on a 62-acre site along the river in the South Loop, a $5 billion-plus development it is calling The 78.

Unlike the Spire plan, this one won’t be heavily dependent on sales to foreign buyers, Bailey said.

Bailey declined to say how much the project is expected to cost, and said units have yet to be priced. Related plans to begin construction by late next summer, with the towers scheduled for completion in 2023, Bailey said.

The developer plans to contribute $10 million toward the creation of the long-planned DuSable Park on a 3.3-acre peninsula just on the other side of Lake Shore Drive, Bailey said. The firm also would fund and build riverwalk extensions along the river and Ogden Slip sides of the site, linking its development to the park.

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relatedrealtychicagoblog · 6 years

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Related Midwest Unveils Plans for 400 Lake Shore Drive

It was nearly four years ago that Related Midwest took title to the land where the Chicago Spire was once destined. Earlier this month, the developer unveiled its visionary plans for the 2.2 acre run along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, at the first community meeting dedicated to the project.

“There will not be a shot of Chicago that doesn’t have these buildings in them.” – Curt Bailey, Related Midwest President

The two sister towers at 400 Lake Shore Drive, as proposed by Related Midwest and designed by architect David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, are seen at center. A $10 million donation to the Chicago Park District would launch the construction of DuSable Park, located on a 3.3-are peninsula immediately east of 400 Lake Shore Drive. Related Midwest Rendering.

A First Look.

The development, which is now referred to as 400 Lake Shore Drive, was originally planned as a single tower. Related decided that the site will instead be divided into two residential towers, not wanting the architecture to be simply dictated by the city’s infamous hole. “Instead of trying to bastardize the design to fit what is in place, we said we’re going to take the most beautiful buildings we can design and we’ll see what we can utilize” from the Spire foundation, Bailey said. Related Midwest plans to build the towers simultaneously, which will include levels for vehicle entrances, parking, meeting rooms and a ballroom.

A rendering of the proposed motor court at 400 Lake Shore Drive, proposed by Related Midwest and designed by architect David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Related Midwest Rendering.

The Architecture.

The highly-anticipated plans are being designed by One World Trade Center architect, David Childs. His designs are for similar looking towers that frame North Water Street and are built with breathtaking setbacks as the building thins upward. This will allow for large outdoor terraces for 20% of the residential units. Exterior design elements will include terracotta and intricate metal details. An ode to traditional Chicago architecture.“What we wanted to do here was push the absolute envelope of what we thought was achievable and buildable in Chicago, and get right to the edge of it and more,” Related Midwest President Curt Bailey. “We want to build the best, most visionary, architecturally significant project that’s financeable and achievable.”

A detail of the facade of the proposed towers at 400 Lake Shore Drive. Both buildings will be constructed of glass and terra cotta, with intricate metal detailing. Related Midwest Rendering.

A View from the Top.

The south tower, will rise 1,100 feet, with an 850 foot north tower. The latter will be shorter than only four existing Chicago buildings: Willis Tower (1,451 feet), Trump International Hotel & Tower (1,389 feet), the Aon Center (1,136 feet) and the former John Hancock Center (1,128 feet). “We’re not trying to set new records for height,” Bailey said. But. He added, “We talk a lot about legacy, and there will not be a shot of Chicago that doesn’t have these buildings in them. Every shot from the east will have this front and center. So we’ve taken this assignment very seriously.”

The two sister towers located at 400 Lake Shore Drive proposed by Related Midwest and designed by architect David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill feature slender, cascading silhouettes designed to create breathtaking city-to-lake and lake-to-city vistas while transforming the downtown skyline. Related Midwest Rendering.

The Residents.

The south tower will have 300 condominiums atop a 175 room luxury hotel and the north tower will include 550 apartments. They will be built 150 feet apart, set on top of a parking ( 750 parking spaces will be accessible from Water Street and a ramp on and off Lake Shore Drive,) and an amenities podium. The top of the platform, will rise above Lake Shore Drive traffic, and serve as an outdoor amenities area.

A view of the proposed riverwalk adjacent to 400 Lake Shore Drive. A portion of the project would be the completion of DuSable Founders Way, creating a landscaped pedestrian experience from Michigan Avenue. to Lake Michigan. This public extension of the Chicago Riverwalk would pass along the 400 Lake Shore Drive site, under Lake Shore Drive and out to the new DuSable Park. Related Midwest Rendering.

Related also plans to contribute $10 million toward the creation of the long-planned DuSable Park and will build riverwalk extensions to link it to the development. Construction is set to begin by late next summer, with towers being completed in 2023.

“We want to build the best, most visionary, architecturally significant project that’s financeable and achievable.” – Curt Bailey, Related Midwest President

Related Midwest’s other projects in Chicago include One Bennett Park, 500 Lake Shore Drive and Park Tower residential towers. Related also recently unveiled plans to build up to 13 million square feet of multi-use space on a 62-acre site along the river in the South Loop, a $5 billion-plus development called The 78.

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relatedrealtychicagoblog · 6 years

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7 BUDGET-FRIENDLY RENOVATION IDEAS THAT ATTRACT HOME BUYERS

When it comes to selling your home, you want to consider what renovations are most attractive to the home buyer. Small, less costly improvements, can have a bigger impact than you may think, and increase your odds of getting your selling price. Ask your Related Broker for help in deciding which upgrades will best meet the unique expectations of buyers in your market.

1. Be more efficient.

Improving energy efficiency in your home is not the sexiest of all upgrades, but arguably the most important. It increases your property value and lowers your own energy bills, while making your home more appealing for new buyers, who have come to expect it. Try upgrading water heaters, windows and HVAC first — these changes cost less than say, solar panels, and are more likely to provide a return on investment when you decide to sell.

TIP: Consider sharing copies of your utility bills with potential buyers so they can compare annual costs.

2. It’s all about that curb appeal.

First impressions are everything when selling your home. Luckily, improving your curb appeal, does not need to cost a fortune. Improvements can be made with some basic DIY projects. Try power washing your exterior, and getting out your garden tools to refresh mulch, trim shrubs, and plant some seasonal plants.

TIP: If you’re really on a budget, consider adding a fresh coat of paint to your front door, or even adding house numbers. Oh, and don’t forget a clean welcome mat!

3. The Kitchen: It’s the heart of the home.

The kitchen tends to be the focal point of your home. So, when your kitchen is updated, buyers tend to be more forgiving of other, more outdated rooms, and you don’t need to break your budget to make substantial change. Consider minor improvements to start, such as painting the cabinets, adding new cabinet doors, or upgrading counter-tops and appliances, especially if they are dated.

TIP: Stay on trend and get instant results by switching out cabinet knobs and handles.

4.The Bathroom: Refresh.

Next to kitchens, bathrooms are the number two selling point in most homes and again, you don’t have to spend a fortune to make a difference. Consider re-grouting tile; removing and replacing caulk around the shower, tub, and toilet areas; and maybe it is time to think about replacing the toilet for a more modern look. As with the kitchen, switching out mirrors and fixtures will go a long way to improve the look and feel of the room.

TIP: Save on a big renovation by simply reglazing or refinishing the tile you’ve got, rather than replacing.

5. Paint.

Do not underestimate the effect a clean coat of paint can have on a property, both interior and exterior. It is also one of the cheapest updates you can make. New paint instantly lightens rooms, and makes the buyer feel as though the house has been well-maintained. As for colors, Patrick Ryan, a certified Residential Specialist and Senior Vice President and Managing Broker at Related Realty in Chicago, advises, “The colors most people have in their homes are personal, but they should be transitional and appeal to a larger pool of people.” We often suggest Benjamin Moore Gray Owl. It goes with every other color out there — it’s clean and just dark enough to contrast with white borders and make them pop.”

TIP: Paint the ceiling of the living room with reflective white lacquer, it will instantly lighten up a dated rooms.

6. When it comes to flooring; try to work with what you have.

Flooring of course makes a huge impact in how your house comes across to buyers. Like a fresh coat of paint, new flooring will instantly brighten the home and can make a big difference for the homebuyers, the challenge is, its expensive. So, if you have real hardwood floors, they should probably stay. Just because its old, doesn’t mean it should go. People love hardwood floors and they can often be sanded down and refinished to look like new again.

TIP: If you’re short on funds and you need a change, focus on replacing or refinishing smaller areas in public spaces, such as the kitchen and living room.

7. Go bigger!

If you’re up for a bigger investment, consider making your home bigger — or focus on making one area of your home more livable. It can make a huge difference. Clearly a home’s value is driven in large part by the square footage, so converting a basement or attic into a livable space can really pay off.

TIP: If you’re the only two-bedroom on the block, it may be difficult to sell your house without upgrading with a third.

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relatedrealtychicagoblog · 6 years

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The development was the topic of a formal community meeting this month, where developer Related Midwest and architectural master planner Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, presented new details of their plan to transform the vacant riverfront parcel between the South Loop and Chinatown, into an historic, mixed-use, 24 hour neighborhood.

Image courtesy of Related Midwest

One of the first questions came from a local resident, curious about the origin of the developments name, The 78. It is the brainchild of Related’s marketing team, and is based on the simple fact that Chicago has 77 recognized neighborhoods. Now, with The 78, that increases by one. At first, it was meant to be temporary, but there has been a lot of love for the name, so it will keep.

All Roads Lead to The 78

The first order of business, is to improve access, by building three new roads. Planning is designed to improve traffic patterns not only for The 78, but for existing business and residents, currently cut off from the downtown and river areas.

At 62 acres, The 78 is one of the largest undeveloped parcels in the entire city. Mark Segal

Road #1: Starting with the Wells-Wentworth Connector, already under construction. The new road will connect Wells Streets South Loop dead-end to Chinatown’s Wentworth Avenue.

Road #2 15th Street will be extended from Clark to a new stretch of Wells, in order to connect the site from the Dearborn Park development to the east.

Road #3 East of the Wells-Wentworth extension, Related proposes a second north-south road, a new “LaSalle Street” running from the elevated Roosevelt Road down to the new 15th Street extension.

The Metra.

Related’s bold solution for addressing the challenge of the Metra tracks, which run along the eastern edge, is to move the tracks away from Clark street, which is currently only accessible by auto. It will be reimagined into a walkable, urban paradise. The relocated Metra tracks will be decked over, which allows for a more cohesive, aestically pleasing space, with the added benefit of improved air quality and reduced noise.

Additionally, in order to fill the mile long gap in service between Roosevelt and Cermak-Chinatown stops, a CTA Red Line station is also under consideration.

Looking north from The 78’s half-mile riverwalk. Rendering by DBOX, master plan architect SOM

The River.

Related’s relationship to the river is of utmost importance and The 78 takes it to another level. The seven-acre crescent shaped park, will lay credence to the path the river originally followed before it was straightened in the 1920s. As well, a number of “open space threads” will cut in and around, and in some cases through, the buildings.

A half-mile long riverwalk will be dedicated to outdoor restaurants, and waterside gazing. The riverwalk will stretch for five acres and have lanes, similar to Chicago’s Downtown Riverwalk, dedicated for outdoor dining, jogging and biking. Building heights will be designed to lessen as they approach the river, giving us humans expansive views gazing at the sky. A future water taxi stop is also planned.

The 78’s riverwalk, looking south. Rendering by ICON, master planning by SOM, architectural contributions from Hollwich Kushner

A 24 Hour Neighborhood.

Although the final design and orientation of the buildings is not complete, the development will boast an impressive 13 million square feet of mixed use space, with a zoning designation of DX-5. This designation is due to the abundance of open space and a plan that keeps the tallest towers thin and narrow, only 950 feet at their tallest.

The 78’s so-called “Crescent Park.” Rendering by ICON, master planning by SOM, architectural contributions from ASGG and SOM.

Landing a corporate tenant is key of course and vital to the success of the development. Related is committed to attracting companies first and residents and hotels second. The 78’s partner, Discovery Partners Institute, a cutting edge, innovation & technology center from the University of Illinois, plans to work side by side with the future corporate tenants.

The Feather in its Cap.

It is no secret that The 78 is eyeing Amazon’s prized HQ2 second headquarters. It is one of ten locations with an official bid. Amazon is scheduled to announce the winning bid for HQ2 in 2018.

Bailey confirmed as much, saying, “The request for proposal calls for 8 million square feet. Our site has 13 million square feet so you do the math.“

AMB

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relatedrealtychicagoblog · 6 years

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Q: What’s the greatest piece of advice you’ve ever received?

A: Always pay yourself first! Before you lead, learn to follow!

Q: What are you reading, watching, and/or listening to right now?

A: BOOM! The Seven Choices to Blow the Doors Off Business-as-Usual by Kevin & Jackie Freiberg.

Q: What’s one thing that most people may not know about you?

A: I’m a sports car and motorcycle fanatic! I’m also a major sneaker-head.

Q: Name two things you consider yourself to be very good at.

A: Art/design and I’m good with people.

Q: If you could have dinner with anyone (alive or dead), who would it be and why?

A: Robert T. Kiyosaki (the founder of the Rich Dad Company, a private financial education company that provides personal finance and business education to people through books and videos) and Sensei Gregory Jaco (a member of the Illinois State Martial Arts Hall of Fame).

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do in Chicago?

A: Trying new restaurants and walking on the lakefront.

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relatedrealtychicagoblog · 6 years

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Lakeview, on Chicago’s north side, is a big neighborhood. Within its borders you’ll find the well-known Wrigleyville and popular Boystown. These mini neighborhoods within Lakeview add to its character. You’ll find there’s tons to do in Lakeview! You can catch a baseball game in Wrigleyville at its namesake Wrigley Field or spend some time on the waters of Lake Michigan. With its proximity to the lake and Lincoln Park, there are countless activities—both athletic and simply outdoor– activities to get into in Lakeview. Here are our favorites:

Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field, nestled in Wrigleyville is packed with sports bars, shops and restaurants. The baseball lovers in your life are going to love this part of Lakeview. You can catch a baseball inside the stadium or enjoy the new Park At Wrigley, with classic lawn games and large TVs for watching the game outside. There’s so much history to take in that even non-fans will enjoy a tour of the stadium and grounds.

Southport Lanes and Billiards

Talk about a throwback- this bowling alley and billiards hot spot was built in the early 1900’s. You can enjoy bowling where the bowling pins are still reset by hand by “pinboys.” If that’s not your speed, you can play some pool in the excellent billiards room. The food and drink menus are on point. Look forward to some good times at these lanes.

Belmont Harbor

With almost 1,000 boats in the harbor during the warm months, this is the largest harbor in the Chicago harbor system. You can charter a sailboat from the harbor and get out onto Lake Michigan where you’ll enjoy unparalleled city views. The northerly part of Lincoln Park is resides alongside this harbor and makes a great spot for a picnic before or after a day out on the boat. If you’re looking to relax, you can enjoy some lounging in the sun nearby. A day at Belmont Harbor is great fun for both rookie sailors and families.

Sydney R Marovitz Golf Course

It’s time to hit the links! The Sydney R Marovitz Golf Course is a convenient and welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of city life. This beautifully manicured course rests up against Lake Michigan and will make you forget you’re in the middle of Chicago. Tee times can be booked via phone or online and you’ll find that a round of golf is really affordable. Even if you’re not the best golfer, getting outside and walking the course is a wonderful way to spend your day.

Diversey Range and Mini Golf

A little less time-consuming and more casual than Sydney R Marovitz Golf Course, the Diversey Range and Mini Golf Course is a blast for families and small groups. The driving range is the perfect place to blow off steam — you can buy a bucket of balls and go to town. If you’d like a bit more adventure and competition, give the 18-hole miniature golf course a shot. With obstacles like bridges, hills, and waterfalls, you’ll find this mini golf course is fun challenge for kids and adults alike. The range is open into the evening until 10PM.

There’s no shortage of fun things to do in Lakeview—you’ll find an adventure around every corner. This big neighborhood creeps down into Lincoln Park and there are just tons of amenities and activities for you take advantage of. If it’s a cold or rainy day, visit the Southport Lanes. If it’s beautiful out, visit Belmont Harbor or play some golf (miniature golf counts too!). You can visit historic Wrigley Field or one of the famed sports bars near it.

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