Looks Like Essex on the Park is Officially Underway

Another major development is officially underway in the Sloop (via Curbed):

The Essex project involves the construction of a 479-unit luxury rental building at 808 S. Michigan Avenue as well as the renovation of the neighboring 1961 Essex Inn at 800 S. Michigan. The soon-to-be-landmarked midcentury modern hotel will be expanded from 254 to 271 guest rooms and repositioned as the ‘Hotel Essex.’ Shared amenities include a new chef-driven three-meal restaurant, a bi-level sky bar named ‘SX,’ and a multi-story indoor winter garden with pool and spa.

Seems like a pretty good addition and we're pretty pumped for a bi-level sky bar.  While those have become prevalent throughout the city, we don't really have many in the Sloop.  Should be cool!

Judging by the pictures, another cool amenity is the "winter garden":

This joins the 76-story rental skyscraper currently underway at Roosevelt and Indiana as two huge projects that will dramatically shift the South Loop and Chicago skyline.