urbanSTL

Source is the wine and spirits manager at the location. Also this thread should probably be moved to a more appropriate location

Crazy.

Chicago Sun-Times - Loop skyscrapers must be demolished to protect safety of Dirksen federal building

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/4/26/ ... rbin-op-ed

^Jeez! Just think about the precedent this sets. Imagine all the buildings around the country that could potentially be targeted for demo. And, of course, the "safe zone" could keep being pushed further and further back from any government building. 

Crazy indeed. 

It's like we're dong the terrorists' work for them. And by spreading out places they're putting people at more risk by coercing more driving.

If they're worried about looking into windows in the courthouse they could simply brick up the windows in the courthouse. Or even just install shutters. There are simpler, cheaper, and less damaging solutions.

symphonicpoet wrote: ↑

Apr 28, 2022

If they're worried about looking into windows in the courthouse they could simply brick up the windows in the courthouse. Or even just install shutters. There are simpler, cheaper, and less damaging solutions.

That and/or fill the buildings with a use that meets "security" standards, maybe court offices or other government entities that would require a background check to enter the areas they're concerned about

is the courthouse a newer building? seems pretty disingenuous to build a high-security tower next to a bunch of other towers and then claim that there's no recourse but tear down the existing towers.

^It's a landmark in its own right, and not remotely new, but yes, it's fifty years newer than the adjacent Chicago School/Deco skyscrapers. It's a classic New International style complex designed by Mies van der Rohe, completed in 1964. So I suppose bricking up windows would be a problem. That said, I have to think there's a way to solve this problem. Sure, move some federal offices from some other GSA property into this pair. Or blank out windows on Century and Consumers. They're contributing structures to the Loop historic district, but they don't seem to be nationally listed, so maybe you could make alterations. Sounds like the last proposal was an apartment conversion, which might be what raised so many concerns. It would be quite difficult to control security in that. I can understand that you have to address security concerns that weren't considered in 1964 when the government built the courthouse complex. But . . . geeze. That's a lot of demo for a little security. It's only been four years since the last proposal fell through, and the deterioration is entirely the result of GSA neglect. I don't think Durbin's analysis really holds water. I can't believe these can't be redeveloped in a way that's useful. Heck, I'd say move the court before allowing these to be demolished. Repurpose the courthouse instead. It'd make a great signature office building.

If the security buffer is really an issue, then why aren’t they talking and demanding the Dearborn Street subway be moved since that goes right underneath the street outside the courthouse. The Jackson CTA station is right under this building too, so that’s a potential other issue. I don’t think these people know what their talking about beyond demanding another plaza.

^I think they're concerned with potential shooters getting into the upper floors of the Century and Consumers buildings. That's not really going to be a problem with the CTA stations and lines, seeing as they're underground. I can understand the concern. An angry or well connected defendant could potentially hire someone to prevent a case going to trial the old-fashioned way. Chicago does have a reputation for that sort of nonsense. These are honestly all fairly standard federal security concerns. I'm just inclined to think there are better ways to address them than tearing down a building. Besides, tearing down one building just opens up sight lines tot he next one. And there are skyscrapers on every side, so this isn't even really going to eliminate the problem. It'll just pop back up the next time another adjoining building changes hands and uses. The real problem is the courthouse itself. Maybe there's a good reason newer courthouses aren't glass boxes.

The security concern is just an excuse that was brought up in 2019 - there was a plan to redevelop this building and it's next door neighbor that was announced in 2017 until Chief Judge Ruben Castillo spoke out against it, citing concerns that the rooftop deck was a clear line of sight right into the courthouse.  The city and GSA were both on board with the original plan. 

GSA purchased the buildings back in 2007 as part of a courthouse expansion that never happened. So, fortunately, this isn't a situation where the government just decided there was a concern and used eminent domain to buy a property to tear it down. Unfortunately, it seems as if they're not willing to revisit other uses even though Judge Castillo has since stepped down.

Two Chicago city Whole Foods to close. People not happy.

https://abc7chicago.com/whole-foods-eng ... /11804936/

The Englewood store closing is being celebrated by Southsiders who didn't want the store to begin with. I'm surprised it didn't burn down two years ago. Lord knows the city didn't deploy militarized police presence to the Walmart on 87th. 

dweebe wrote: ↑

May 05, 2022

Gotta get closer to that Fed money

^Do they have any engineers in Chicago? Honestly, this probably just represents the defense side becoming more important than commercial. (Never really was sure why they moved to Chicago in the first place. It's well connected, but it's not like you can't get direct flights to any major market from Seattle anyway. And you could base sales teams near any major customer anyway. Probably best to just keep sales teams permanently in Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, DC, and probably New York no matter where you put your fancy people.)

^No, not stupid. I'm asking an honest question. Maybe they do have engineers there. I'm not sure. I know they have engineers here and in Seattle, and probably a few other places. (They have several other plants, I think, and there's probably at least a few engineers at all of them.)

But the move to Chicago was pretty heavily criticized anyway. (And so very many of their problems have happened since then.) They've been moving people away from the engineers for a while and the engineers have never been well pleased by this. But all the major defense contractors have moved their C-suite to the DC area and I don't think any of them have major plants there.

So wasteful

Slate - The Two Towers

"$52 million to tear down a pair of century-old, terracotta-clad skyscrapers in Downtown Chicago"

https://slate.com/business/2022/05/chic ... urbin.html

It’s kinda funny that this news follows the below publication on the Tribune

https://www.chicagotribune.com/business ... story.html