With big apartment developments already under way in River North and Evanston, Amli Residential is working up plans for its third local one, a two-tower 398-unit project in the South Loop.
Amli CEO Greg Mutz confirms that the Chicago-based developer has signed a contract to buy the 3.5-acre site at the southwest corner of Clark and Polk streets, where it would build the project, just north of a 440-unit apartment building it owns.
“We really want to start this thing this year,” Mr. Mutz says. “We think the South Loop has a lot of upside.”
If you're familiar with that area, you know that Amli already has a building at 900 S. Clark (just South of the proposed development). While we're a fan of anything over a parking lot, the renderings are hard to get excited about.
A reader even went as far to send us a letter that he sent to Rahm, Alderman Fioretti and others (here is the link if you're interested).
(Images from Mr. Downtown Skyscraper Page)
(Hat tip: Curbed Chicago)
26 comments:
This will be another nail in the coffin of our neighborhood.
Why is the parking not being replaced as it was just north at Burnham Pointe?
Why such low density so close to the downtown core?
Why such poor architecture?
Why a suburban site plan?
To top it off the developer will not commit to NOT driving piles for the foundation, so we neighbors get many months of banging and shaking houses and walls.
The developer does not care about our neighborhood - we should protest and demand this be made better!!!!!!
OH.MY.GOD.
I would be embarrassed as hell to send that letter. Its corny, pontificating, and demeaning.
I know whoever wrote that said "this is not a nimby letter" but I m sorry that uis exactly what it comes off as.
People, it is very simple-- if you choose to live in the city of Chicago, you have to get used to dealing with sinking sewer holes, smells, speedy cars, horns, trains, cop sirens, etc etc etc. I love how we all try to keep our south loop hood a neighborhood ( and i still think its the closest thing to a neighborhood as u can get in chicago) but the reality is its a major city that doesnt cater to cute, smug little nimby people such as the person that wrote that letter.
I guarantee you Rahm doesnt even read that whole letter and the developers went out after that meeting and had a scotch and toasted to their new cash.
The sooner you get over it and accept reality the better. Feel free to reply with statements like "im ignorant " or " we have every right to blah blah blah " but the fact of the matter is you do not matter enough to make a difference, your voices will not be heard, and you have no effect on how this city goes about its daily routine. Look at the Remapping...that could have singlehandedly been the biggest FU ever given to the taxpaying community of the south loop---does anybody care...sure! Will anybody be able to change anything about it....no! Its the way it is and its the way it always will be and no little neighborhood question and answer is going to change it. So save your letters, save your petitions, and save your liberal "change the way things work" attitudes because the reality is---its doesnt matter. The only reason you matter to the city is for sales and property tax so I suggest pouring a glass or two of wine tonight, enjoy your view of the skyline and just learn to deal with it. As long as you live HERE its going to be this way.
Don't love the design at all, but what else do we expect from AMLI (owned by Morgan Stanley, so - lucky us! - they don't have to rely on someone to give them a construction loan in this economy). Make no mistake, AMLI doesn't give a shit about the neighborhood... they just want to make some money. Their other building seems to be fully occupied, so who can blame them for wanting to build more.
Not that concerned about the loss of parking for local businesses. Every time I walk around this area, there seems to be LOTS of open meter parking on the street. So there is plenty of parking. Maybe the problem is the parking rates are too high, but that's a different issue altogether.
What do our aldermen (Fioretti and Burns) say about this? And whose campaign coffers get the donations for approving this? I seem to recall Ald. Solis advising current aldermen to consult (defer to) the "new" aldermen for zoning decisions.
I admire someone taking a stand about something they care about, NIMBY or not.
I've never been in Almi but always thought it is a good looking building. Is it run poorly or a dump inside? If not whats people's beef with the new tower
Full disclosure - I worked for AMLI for 8 years up until just over a month ago.
900 S Clarke is also an AMLI building, and a good looking one I think. I think AMLI are a good company and attract good residents. More folks in that area could help the drive for better retail, especially at the stalled RC collection.
From what I gathered, Fioretti was seeking out someone to come in and develop this spot after the original plans for a much taller structure fell through. I don't think many palms had to be greased to get this done. And Brendan, great comment, I agree with almost everything you said. I think residents can get things done by being active in the community, but they are generally small things, or small changes to developments that are already in the works. Hoping to have an entire development scrapped because you hate every single thing about it, well, best of luck.
I don't know about Chicago, but I've lived in AMLI apts in other cities, and they've always been the nicer, well run ones. The rent has always been on the higher than avg side as well, so they always attracted a good group of renters. Agree that more people in the area would help retail.
Anything is better than parking lots... That part of the South Loop is practically downtown, so why should parking be a priority? Anon 9:22 AM, you seem to be codridicin yourself when you complain about parking, the go on to ask why such low density in the area. Last I checked there aren't too many parking lots in the Loop...
Frankly not to concerned with providing parking for the people who work in the loop, wouldn't kill any of them to rely on the trains or other public transportation and evening and weekend impact will be nominal.
What is most disappointing is that it's just a bad design. Not pedestrian friendly, nominal public green space. Set right up against the sidewalks and doesn't offer much street life or interest. They just could have done better,
Best bet is to lodge complaints and concerns with the Alderman's office.
The nearby old time residents have complained anytime one of their ugly surface parking lots were threatened. It is the dumbest objection imaginable. Those lots are full of car commuters who drive in from the suburbs and choose to park outside the expensive loop garages and walk in. They are full in the day and empty at night. In terms of business concerns, I think the locals would favor two full towers of residents over whatever they get from weekday parkers. The lots are ugly and retard development. Residences increase density and spur further density. maybe someday there will be a great enough need for parking that a vertical garage will be built, but until the area has one there is no need to cry about the loss of a surface lot. Finally, any letter that states this is not a NIMBY letter, is of course a NIMBY letter.
I live very close to this. In fact, I'll be able to see them out my kitchen window. I think the buildings are ugly as hell, but I welcome more people in the neighborhood. Especially rental buildings, as they'll attract younger people. Need more people, especially young people in the neighborhood.
Good to see any new construction. Need more people and more businesses to open. It's just that simple.
Does anyone know a way where I can help voice my concerns over height and design? A public forum/council event/meeting? Thank you.
I don't know what the big drama is regarding this proposed development. Could it be bigger and better? Of course. But, it's hard not to get excited about 400 units coming to that site, that's pretty good density. The north building holds the corner, which is good, not crazy about the larger setback on the southern building but I'm sure the residents will appreciate the drop off area. The parking lot/garage is next to a heavily used rail corridor, so it seems to be logically located. This eliminates the need for a parking pedestal under the units so it brings some life down to street level.
Also, 400 units and ~250 parking stalls is a decent ratio. The south loop has way too much off street parking as it is.
Overall, for that site and the state of the market, i give that development a solid B.
Because the project is "as-of-right" under existing zoning, there's not much leverage that can be brought to bear on AMLI about the site plan or design. I did hear Thursday that they may be tweaking the architecture a bit.
Mr Downtown you win this round...... I will be back sir. You havnt heard the last of me
I think this is great, more people means more business and retail for the South Loop. I invite anyone who objects to this development on the grounds that we should preserve this parking lot to take a stroll over there to see this dilapidated litter strewn lot. ANYTHING is better than what it looks like now. I welcome the development. Businesses here don't suffer from lack of parking, and their not going to suffer once this eye sore is gone.
I just wish there was a park involved. Amli has this and the other development just south, neither of which included a park in an area that desperately needs one. And the Roosevelt Collection still hasn't built the promised park. We need to contact our alderman to demand a park with this.
This is very near me, and I'm glad it will be developed; not crazy about the design, but I think the park issue is most important ...
A park? This site is less than 300 feet from Dearborn Park, and less than 150 feet from the 3-acre park Roosevelt Collection is required to build. Must there be a useless little dogshit park on every single parcel in the South Loop?
You people have an inflated view of self importance. "demanding" a voice.
Really?
Move to a small twn and in for mayor. You live in Chicago.
Any idea when/if Roosevelt Collection is going to build that park?
hey Mr Downtown why dont you run for mayor? then you can turn all the parks into shopping malls
Although the architecture is incongruous, this is great news. As far as a park, if I was a developer in the South Loop I would never include green space because it will just get ruined by dogs.
I live on a park where dogs are around constantly....the park is in beautiful shape.
Do you have a phobia of dogs?
I live across the street and think the buildings should go up as quick as possible. The parking lot is a mess and does nothing more than harbor daytime workers, homeless by night, and trash leaving tailgaters. I parked in that lot years ago but got annoyed with broken windows and moved to a garage. street parking is a joke with the new zoning and current Comed project going on. Overall the residential buildings are a good idea with self supporting parking. As for how the buildings look, I was thinking they should just transplant the currently unfinished and abandoned waterview tower at the corner of Clark and Wacker into this site. In its current unfinished condition it looks better than the garbage buildings in the proposed renderings. The proposed buildings are bland and ugly as a result. Did Terrapin help design these? Oh yeah, I forgot, they went belly up after Burnham point. Must be the staggering design of that building as well. Seems like this neighborhood is where the intern architects come to design buildings.
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