Wrigleyville Development Proposal

[Jon]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/alternatethumbnails/story/2008-01/34898959-24041718.jpg

ChicagoTribune.com[/url]"]A Chicago developer unveiled plans in the city's Wrigleyville neighborhood Wednesday night for a nine-story, mixed-use development with a hotel that would stand virtually eye-to-eye with Wrigley Field.

 

Representatives for developer Steven Schultz, who owns land across the street from the ballpark at the north end of the block bounded by Clark and Addison Streets and Sheffield Avenue, met with community members and Ald. Tom Tunney to seek support for the project.

 

Schultz wants to build two nine-story buildings connected by a four or five-story base, with a Hyatt Place hotel on the Clark Street side and residences at Addison and Sheffield. The hotel would have about 135 rooms, and the other building would contain about 150 rental units. There also would be about 100,000 square feet of commercial space on the land, plus a health club and 500 parking spaces.

This would certainly change the feel of the area right around Wrigley.

[daske17]

The last thing that area needs is more residential traffic. It's congested enough as is. And then there will be the chorus of people who end up moving into the residential tower complaining about the noise and crowds that Wrigley draws in.

 

If they scrap the residential portion and keep the hotel, I'm 100 percent okay with it. The North Side doesn't have enough hotel space for visitors. You're either stuck downtown or out towards the airport. I'd love to have out of town guests, but don't want to put them up in my house for more than overnight. I'm a jerk like that.

[UMFan83]

That area could use some gentrifying up I guess. The area looks too late-80's, early-90s, and doesn't really have the historic atmosphere that you'd want to keep.

 

That said, I don't think this gets approved.

[nilodnayr]

Is he gonna knock down Improv Olympics, er IO?

[daske17]

Is he gonna knock down Improv Olympics, er IO?

 

He's going to knock it down, but build them a new space in the same complex. The owner of IO is excited by that prospect (which I concur with because it can get hot up in there).

[swordsman]

Is he gonna knock down Improv Olympics, er IO?

 

He's going to knock it down, but build them a new space in the same complex. The owner of IO is excited by that prospect (which I concur with because it can get hot up in there).

 

True enough. I hope it really happens. It would be an easy thing for the developer to back out on though.

 

Beware, Charna. Beware.

[nilodnayr]

Is he gonna knock down Improv Olympics, er IO?

 

He's going to knock it down, but build them a new space in the same complex. The owner of IO is excited by that prospect (which I concur with because it can get hot up in there).

 

How far south is it going to go? Is Salt n' Pepper going? I'm assuming Goose Island will still be safe.

 

The hotel is a great idea, but I would not want to live there.

[David]

I like it. On an unrelated note, it'd be nice if they could get that parking facility built once and for all.

[Banedon]

Boy, if they build something like that, the Cubs better be playing in Wrigley for quite some time to come. You'd hate to build it and then have the Cubs move.

[jmajew]

This is a horrible idea. 1) The building is way to high. It should have a 5 story limit. 2) The people who would want to live there will not be able to afford it. 3) What kind of tourist would want to stay that far from downtown? Wouldn't it be easier to stay in the downtown area and simply travel to Wrigleyville to see the game?

 

Side note...if the name changes will it still be called Wrigleyville?

[pitchcs]

I am a homeowner in Wrigleyville (Fremont & Waveland) and I am definitely NOT for this.

[Jon]

I like it. On an unrelated note, it'd be nice if they could get that parking facility built once and for all.

This proposal calls for a 500-spot parking garage. While most of those spots would be used up by condo residents, but I'd imagine that it wouldn't make the parking garage proposed on the Wrigley campus all that useful. I doubt many staying at a hotel in that location would bring their cars.

 

I'd have to believe that the triangular building proposal won't be brought back up for a while, although at some point they'll have to address the batting cage situation.

[UMFan83]

I am a homeowner in Wrigleyville (Fremont & Waveland) and I am definitely NOT for this.

 

Don't worry it won't happen. Or if it does, it will be extremely scaled down. This project would work a block from Wrigley, but across the street it will never happen. Mark my words, too many NIMBYs in Wrigleyville.

[UMFan83]

Oh and the worst part of this proposal. Unless they build a 7-11 into the retail section, where the hell am I supposed to get my Big Gulp to fill with booze before the game?

[pitchcs]

I am a homeowner in Wrigleyville (Fremont & Waveland) and I am definitely NOT for this.

 

Don't worry it won't happen. Or if it does, it will be extremely scaled down. This project would work a block from Wrigley, but across the street it will never happen. Mark my words, too many NIMBYs in Wrigleyville.

 

 

I would say I fall into that category about some things, but I would be against this even if I didn't live there (I think?).

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

As someone who likes to stay in a hotel within walking distance, I like the idea. On the other hand, I fairly certain that this hotel would be out of my price range...so down with the idea!

[swordsman]

You've got to admit though folks that there is a better use for that land than what is there now.

 

Here is a google map of the area.

Google Maps of Site

 

Here is the map of the site to be changed.

 

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6138/areaforredevlopmentzz2.png

Edited January 24, 2008 by swordsman

[pitchcs]

As someone who likes to stay in a hotel within walking distance, I like the idea. On the other hand, I fairly certain that this hotel would be out of my price range...so down with the idea!

 

 

I should have been renting out my 2nd bedroom all this time

[swordsman]

As someone who likes to stay in a hotel within walking distance, I like the idea. On the other hand, I fairly certain that this hotel would be out of my price range...so down with the idea!

 

 

I should have been renting out my 2nd bedroom all this time

 

You like the stench of Old Style and strip clubs do you?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

As someone who likes to stay in a hotel within walking distance, I like the idea. On the other hand, I fairly certain that this hotel would be out of my price range...so down with the idea!

 

 

I should have been renting out my 2nd bedroom all this time

 

You like the stench of Old Style and strip clubs do you?

 

I'm not a drinker of Old Style!!!

[seanimal]

I don't really see anything wrong with this. Looks kinda cool.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here's another one of the artist's renditions of what it might look like.

 

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/images/random/wrigleysketch.jpg

[Jon]

Hopefully it won't block the view of the skyline from the back of the UD reserved seats on the first base side. I've always enjoyed that view when I've sat back there.

[seanimal]

Hopefully it won't block the view of the skyline from the back of the UD reserved seats on the first base side. I've always enjoyed that view when I've sat back there.

 

From that one that Vance posted, it looks like it might block it somewhat.

[Sammy Sofa]

Bah. I'm sick of Wrigleyville. Buy up the land where Cabrini is and build a new stadium there, please. I could use the property value bump.