Old Chicago Main Post Office Redevelopment

building in Chicago, United States of America

The Old Chicago Main Post Office Redevelopment was a proposed 20-acre (81,000 m2) project on a lot located along the Chicago River on the southwest side of Downtown Chicago, Illinois to be constructed in phases over a period of one decade that will include the renovation of Chicago's historic Old Main Post Office building as well as residential, retail, entertainment and office space.[2]

Old Chicago Main Post Office Phase II
General information
StatusNever built
TypeSupertall skyscraper
LocationChicago, Illinois
AddressWest Congress Parkway and South Canal Street, 433 West Van Buren
CountryUnited States
Cost$3.5 billion
Height
Roof2,000 feet (610 m)
Technical details
Floor count120
Floor area16,000,000 square feet (1,500,000 m2)
Design and construction
ArchitectBooth Hansen
DeveloperInternational Property Developers
References
[1]

The plan includes several towers, the tallest one being a proposed 120-story mixed use twin tower skyscraper that will stand about 2,000 feet (610 m) high to the roof, which would make it the tallest building in the United States,[3] over 500 feet (150 m) taller than the Willis Tower, and will contain office, residential, and hotel space. It will also include two 60-story residential towers as well as a 40-story hotel.[2]

All the buildings in the development will be connected via a ground level complex[4] that would be built over the Chicago River and the Eisenhower Expressway.[5]

The proposal was sent to Chicago City Commission in July 2011 for approval, which was expected to be a several month process. The project is said to have an estimated cost of $3.5 billion and the potential to create 12,000 jobs.[6]

Some critics oppose the proposal in its current state, calling it old-fashioned and suburban and an unrealistic pipe dream, as it is largely car oriented (12,000 parking spaces and free parking) with shopping mall style retail.[7]

The city voted and approved the plan July 18, 2013. [8] But the area was sold in 2016 thus the building was never built.

References

change
  1. Alby Gallun (July 21, 2011). "Skyscrapers, retail part of massive Old Post Office plan". ChicagoRealEstateDaily. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Alejandra Cancino, Blair Kamin (July 21, 2011). "Old Chicago post office redevelopment plan unveiled". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  3. Brian Louis (July 21, 2011). "Tallest U.S. Tower Proposed as Part of Chicago Development". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  4. Ben Meyerson (July 27, 2011). "Old post office plans include hotels, skyscrapers for Chicago". Chicago Journal. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  5. Don DeBat (July 27, 2011). "Towering old post office plan air mailed to Chicago". Chicago Journal. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-07-31.
  6. Kate Springer, Susie An (July 22, 2011). "Big plans for the old Chicago post office". WBEZ-FM. Archived from the original on 2011-08-19. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  7. Blair Kamin (July 24, 2011). "Plan for old post office: A suburban throwback, and a pipe dream". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  8. "City to examine old post office rehab plan". Gazette Chicago.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2013.