(Hat tip: L, I, & CN)
Well this doesn't seem good (via WBEZ):
Seven years ago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Bruce Rauner invited dignitaries to a 62-acre plot of land in the South Loop and offered a bold promise: The long-vacant property would be transformed, with a high-tech research facility that would give a massive economic boost to the city of Chicago.
The University of Illinois would operate the proposed $285 million facility, dubbed the Discovery Partners Institute. It would sit on an acre south of Roosevelt Road along the east bank of the Chicago River donated by the property owner, Nadhmi Shakir Auchi, an Iraqi British billionaire who has long been denied entry to the United States as a result of past criminal convictions.
But the university pulled the plug in October on the planned research hub at the sprawling site that has sat vacant for decades and is now being marketed as The 78. The U. of I. said it would turn its vision to the south and become part of a quantum computing research park that Gov. JB Pritzker wants to build on a vacant, 300-acre site at East 79th Street and South DuSable Lake Shore Drive, once occupied by U.S. Steel.
That decision means Illinois taxpayers are now out of more than $30 million, records obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times show.
And the losses for taxpayers still could grow, sources say, to $40 million.
This property has been this biggest quagmire for the neighborhood, government, and numerous ambitious business people. Our first post back from taking a bit of a hiatus pondered the question "The 78: Will 2025 Finally be the Year?" So far the answer has been an expensive, resounding no!
This giant empty piece of land that is so visible from so many vantage points across the Sloop is tantalizing to dream about the possibilities. But so far, it's just been an expensive, bureaucratic nightmare with big dreams but little return on investment.
We can thank Maurizio Michi for the thin crusted deliciousness. Michi is also the owner of Sofi Italian, which happens to be right next door. The ingredients used in both restaurants are imported straight from Italia, and give a sense of flavor that you don't find just anywhere. Of the three pizzas I tried at Forno Mauri, my favorite was the Emiliana. Check it out and show our local Sloopin' eateries some love!
The Riverline development was announced way back in 2015 and almost 10 years later the project is finally underway at 1010 S. Wells (via Urbanize Chicago):
Renderings have been released for 1010 S. Wells, the first building to be constructed at Riverline in the South Loop. Developed by CMK Companies, the project will be located along the South Branch of the Chicago River at the intersection of S. Wells St and W. 10th St.
With Gensler behind the updated design, the 21-story tower will stand 227 feet tall. As part of the redesign, the building has shifted from 286 condos to 386 apartments. The building’s parking count has been reduced from 240 spaces to 182 parking spaces. The building will include 2,904 square feet of retail space on the ground floor.
The article goes onto say that there will be retail that will be accessible via Wells and most importantly this will also have a public river walk that hopefully one day will allow you to walk from Harrison all the way south to Ping Tom Park in Chinatown.
While CMK's buildings are usually modern and glassy - they're pretty straightforward. This one looks a little better in our opinion - maybe because it's on the river?!?
This isn't the only project CMK is working on at the moment - they have four (yes 4!) buildings under construction in the Sloop (according to Yimby Chicago - 1730 Wabash (red) – 1700 Wabash (green) – 1630 Wabash (yellow) – 1717 Michigan (orange):
Wow! It's been awhile since we've heard about anything cooking at the old restaurant space where Cuatro (2030 S. Wabash) lived. This article in Block Club Chicago says something could be coming - but after reading this feels like it still has some hurdles to clear:
After 15 years of sitting empty, the building formerly occupied by a popular Latin fusion restaurant could become a new restaurant later this year.
Joji Tirumalareddy told Block Club he aims to open Rhumbar at 2030 S. Wabash Ave. in six months. Tirumalareddy has been trying to open the bar and restaurant in south suburban Frankfort since 2019, but pandemic-related delays and concerns from nearby residents has slowed progress.
Tirumalareddy has owned the South Loop property for several years. He began work on the restaurant in 2020 but the pandemic forced him to put everything on hold. Now he’s ready to get back to work, recently applying for a liquor license under Tulips Chicago LLC.
Tirumalareddy is in the process of renovating the kitchen and dining area so patrons will be able to get a glimpse of the “behind the scenes” action. He envisions a restaurant serving upscale American bar food, with exposed brick walls and big screen televisions.
For those who are curious, check out this post from 2010 about Cuatro's last stand.
We're curious to see if Rhumbar becomes real - would be nice!
Looks like The Staley (1736 S. Michigan) is set to officially open on Monday (via Chicago Star):
Former Chicago Bear Israel Idonije and acclaimed chef Stephen Gillanders are teaming up again to bring Chicago “The Staley,” a high-energy neighborhood sports bar set to open Monday, January 27. Building on the success of their fine dining spot, Signature, which debuted last year, The Staley aims to deliver a more casual, approachable experience while retaining the same dedication to quality and innovation.
For those not familiar with the space this used to be Kroll's - which was one of our faves and had a rough go of it during the pandemic.
Although we miss Kroll's, it's nice to see something open up in the space, so we're curious to see how it does.
For those in the know and confused... thinking "didn't that already open?" - you're not crazy. They did have a "soft opening" during the Bears season last year.
The article in the Chicago Star also has some pictures of the food and the pizza looks pretty good (maybe i'm just hungry?!?). Looking forward to trying this one out.
Well this ain't a great way to start the new year (via Chicago Star Media and Chicago Block Club):
Dick’s Sporting Goods will close its South Loop location on Jan. 4, adding to a string of recent retail departures in the area.The closure was announced via a sign near the store’s entrance, at 1100 S. Canal St., according to the Block Club Chicago. The retailer is part of The Maxwell, a shopping center that also lost T.J. Maxx nearly a year ago. Remaining tenants at The Maxwell include Nordstrom Rack and Burlington. The South Loop has seen several high-profile exits recently. Rising rents forced The Container Store to announce its departure from Roosevelt Collection Shops, while Show Place Icon theater and local boutique Kido Chicago also have closed.
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Rendering of Proposed White Sox Stadium at The 78 (via Urbanize) |
If you’re reading this, you probably know we’ve been away for a while. But you know what? It hasn’t been as long as The 78 – the infamous, long-standing vacant 62-acre site in the South Loop – has remained undeveloped.
If you’re like us, you’ve spent the past couple of decades fantasizing about what could be. An amazing riverwalk? An Olympic village? Amazon’s HQ2? A new White Sox stadium? A casino? So far, we’ve gotten bubkes.
Recently, though, we came across an article in Urbanize Chicago that provided an update on The 78 (and other mega-developments):
Planned by Related Midwest, The 78 is a 62-acre mega-development in the South Loop, located along the Chicago River just south of W. Roosevelt Rd. The original plans, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, called for over 13 million square feet of mixed-use development.
Years later, the only completed structure is the Wells-Wentworth Connector, which isn’t even open to the public yet. In 2022, Mayor Lori Lightfoot chose Bally’s casino plan over Related’s proposal for a casino and entertainment district at the north end of the site.
In early 2024, Related Midwest announced a plan with the Chicago White Sox for a new ballpark that would anchor the proposed high-rise district. The design included home plate at the southwest corner and a stadium that wrapped around the field, offering stunning downtown views, including the Sears Tower.
But later that year, just as construction was set to begin, the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) announced it was scrapping plans for its headquarters at the south end of The 78. Instead, DPI is pivoting to the quantum campus at Related Midwest’s redevelopment of the former US Steel site at 8080 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. With the DPI headquarters canceled and public funding for the White Sox stadium facing opposition, The 78’s progress is largely stalled.
More recently, at the end of the year, it was announced that Chicago Fire owner Joe Mansueto is exploring The 78 as a potential site for a dedicated soccer stadium. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, Mansueto and Related Midwest have presented their proposal to Mayor Johnson and city officials. While no renderings or detailed plans have been released, Mansueto has committed to financing the stadium entirely with private funds.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about this plot of land, it’s not to hold our breath. Could 2025 finally be the year something happens? A billionaire willing to fully finance a soccer stadium seems promising—but we’ve been here before.
Will 2025 be the year The 78 finally becomes something?