Wolf Point South Tower

Wolf Point South Tower is the tallest of three planned buildings to be developed in the Near North Side community area on the Wolf Point property at a fork in the Chicago River in downtown Chicago. The building is planned to be 950 feet (289.56 m) tall.[1]

Background

Map depicting Wolf Point (area owned by the Kennedy family in black, with approximate area of the historical Wolf Point settlement in red)

On January 26, 2012, the Chicago Sun-Times broke the story that the Kennedy family was planning a three-tower development at Wolf Point.[2][3] On May 8, 2012, Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly announced that a three-tower proposal for Wolf Point had been made including buildings of approximately 900 feet (274.32 m), 750 feet (228.60 m) and 525 feet (160.02 m) and that plans would be made public on May 29. The South Tower would be the tallest of these buildings.[4][5]

Location

The site of Wolf Point South Tower in March 2014

The property upon which the development was planned is historic and drew scrutiny by critics.[6] Plans for the tower development were presented as scheduled by the Kennedy family on land that they own in the River North neighborhood at the confluence of South, North, and Main Branches of the Chicago River southwest of the Merchandise Mart complex.[7][8][9] As plans for the Kennedy proposal were developing on the north bank of Wolf Point, a plan for a 45- to 50-story office building on the west bank called River Point were progressing according to Robert Sharoff of The New York Times.[10] Chicago Tribune Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic Blair Kamin felt that the initial plans presented by Christopher G. Kennedy needed some work.[11]

History

West Tower under construction

On October 30, 2012, a revised plan was presented that included more open space.[12][13] In November the responses to the revisions were negative,[14] and Reilly withdrew the proposal on November 27.[15] The Chicago Plan Commission approved the plans for the entire three-tower development that included 1,410 residential units, 450 hotel rooms and 1,285 parking stalls on January 24, 2013.[16][17]

In May 2013, opponents of the planned development filed suit in United States Federal Court.[18] On November 19, 2013, U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve ruled that the valuable and iconic views of downtown are not something that can be constitutionally protected saying "Illinois courts do not recognize property values, air, or light as constitutionally protected property interests."[19] The Wolf Point Towers broke ground in March 2014.[20] Neighboring Wolf Point West Tower had its groundbreaking ceremony on July 18, 2014.[21] In July 2015, a rumor emerged that the tower might exceed 1,000 feet (304.80 m) based on revised renderings.[22][23]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Wolf Point – South Tower". Skyscraperpage.com. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  2. ↑ Roeder, David (2012-01-26). "Kennedys envision 3-tower development along Chicago River". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  3. ↑ "Kennedy family eyeing 3-tower development on river's Wolf Point". Chicago Tribune. 2012-01-26. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  4. ↑ Roeder, David (2012-05-08). "Wolf Point plan could include 80-story building, alderman says". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  5. ↑ Kamin, Blair (2012-05-08). "Developers to present plans for controversial River North site". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  6. ↑ Kamin, Blair (2012-05-10). "Wolf Point plan deserves scrutiny; Kennedy family and architect Pelli plan complex that includes 900-foot skyscraper". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  7. ↑ Roeder, David (2012-05-29). "Kennedys unveil three-tower plan for Wolf Point site". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  8. ↑ Kamin, Blair (2012-05-30). "$1 billion high-rise project proposed downtown at Wolf Point: 3-building plan, backed by Kennedys, would be biggest Chicago development since recession, financial crisis". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  9. ↑ Kamin, Blair (2012-05-30). "First glimpse of plan for Wolf Point along Chicago River". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  10. ↑ Sharoff, Robert (2012-07-11). "Chicago Attracts New Towers With River Views". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  11. ↑ Kamin, Blair (2012-06-03). "Wolf Point proposal doesn't live up to promise of its site; Kennedy family's $1 billion development, designed by Cesar Pelli, needs substantial reworking". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  12. ↑ Ori, Ryan (2012-10-30). "Kennedy-Hines team unveils changes to plans for Wolf Point". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 2014-03-12. (subscription required (help)).
  13. ↑ "Kennedy, developers revise plans for Wolf Point". Chicago Tribune. 2012-10-30. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  14. ↑ Grossman, Ron (2012-11-16). "Wolf Point history puts scrutiny on proposed project". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  15. ↑ Grossman, Ron (2012-11-27). "Alderman pulls Wolf Point proposal: Reilly cites last-minute changes to plan". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  16. ↑ Roeder, David (2013-01-24). "Wolf Point 3-tower plan backed by Kennedy family wins city planners’ approval". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  17. ↑ Byrne, John (2013-01-24). "Wolf Point tower development clears first hurdle". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  18. ↑ Gallun, Alby (2013-05-31). "Condo owners sue to block Wolf Point project". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  19. ↑ Janssen, Kim (2013-11-19). "Judge dismisses suit by neighbors to halt development at Wolf Point". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  20. ↑ "After Years Of Planning, Wolf Point Construction Finally Begins". Curbed.com. 2014-03-21. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
  21. ↑ "Construction Begins on Wolf Point West: Luxury rental units, office, retail space and possibly a hotel planned for development". WMAQ-TV. 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
  22. ↑ Neamt, Ioana (2015-07-16). "Wolf Point Tower Rises Even Higher". Commercial Property Executive. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  23. ↑ Guse, Clayton (2015-07-13). "New design released for Wolf Point towers". Time Out Chicago. Retrieved 2015-11-12.

External links


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