First, the Newcity blog takes a look at the Olympic legacy and specifically the Michael Reese Campus that was planned to be the glistening Olympic village in an article titled:
Nolympic Dreams: Six months after the 2016 heartbreack, what's the legacy of would-be glory?
In the architectural renderings, twenty-one high-rises line the south lakefront amid rows of orderly green trees. A newly built pedestrian bridge arcs over the Metra Electric tracks and Lake Shore Drive to connect the shimmering high-rises to the lakefront attractions, which include a new fountain, amphitheater and swimming pool. On the side of each high-rise is visible a symbol that’s slowly sliding from ubiquity to oblivion: the Chicago 2016 logo.
Also of interest was a NYT article (from the Chicago News Cooperative) looks at the problems many Condo boards are facing with their developers who have built crappy buildings:
Unexpected Repairs Rattle Owners of New Condos
The view from Tom and Jane Justic’s eighth-floor condominium in the South Loop — with Soldier Field in the foreground and majestic Lake Michigan behind it — is exactly what they were looking for when they moved from Beverly in 2005.
But the condominium that came with that view has an unexpected and unwelcome additional cost: $850 a month in special assessments for the next five years, to cover the expense of building repairs that were completed late last year.
(Hat Tip: FS!)
(Image from NYT)
I seem to remember a previous posting (or maybe I just saw it in the news) about 1717. It seems truly horrendous, but what I can't figure out if it is something of an isolated case.
ReplyDeleteThe South Loop, unlike Chicago Magazines claim, is not going to be the hottest neighborhood. Until the Aldermann does something about the ICKES, LONG GROVE house and other scattered public housing, retail will not follow. The area is going to be mess, an empty mess for that matter. Five years before we see any real changes, if that.
ReplyDeleteI live in 1717 S. Prairie and these developers really put a burden on not only the residents of our building but other residents in the area. I know that some of the buildings just south of us with the red stripes had similar issues with windows leaking and I'm now hearing that one of the same buildings had a pool that was not built to code. Something should be done to stop these developers from leaving homeowners with homes that don't fulfill the purchase contract. After so many problems throughout the city I can't see why the city of Chicago doesn't require developers to put up a bond for the work they do. It's really a shame.
ReplyDeleteI've heard rumors of similiar crappy development at the building on State and Cermak and the townhouses across the street on State as well.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I meant to type State and Archer (NOT State and Cermak).
ReplyDeleteNothing compares to the shotty work performed by the "developers" of the buildings at SW corner of 16th and Indiana and NE corner of 16th and Wabash - New City. Both of these relatively brand new buildings are a mess. Cracking concrete, peeling paint, rusting balconies, vacant storefronts, etc. These dumps are an eyesore.
ReplyDeleteThe word is "shoddy" not "shotty".
ReplyDelete90% of the new stuff that's been thrown-up over the past 10 years isn't worth spit.
Well the good thing is the residents at 1717 paid Millions to replace the windows and finish the building off right.
ReplyDeleteActually the views and layout in the building are good. Just that the developer and contractor screwed up and designed and installed the windows wrong.
This is the very reason why I attempted to create a solution to the never ending condo special assessment drama - CondoPerks.com. I spent months going from condo board to condo board, hearing stories of what everyone was going through. Though the site couldn't find the momentum to continue, it brought me closer to neighbors in and around the Sloop.
ReplyDelete