Vermilion Development finally presented their Harper Court redevelopment plans to the good people of Hyde Park this week, and it looks pretty good! These renderings, taken from the Hartshorne Plunkard website, show something of a cross between the glassy high-rises of the South Loop and John Ronan's Gary Comer Youth Center.
Only in Hyde Park does an architect have to explain why glass and steel is preferable to limestone. "It will be more like a beacon or a lantern than a solid element," architect Jonathan Boyer explained. The board unanimously approved the design, and the Department of Community Development recently signed off on $20 million in TIF financing for the $240-million development.
·Community sees first Harper Court designs [Hyde Park Herald]
·Harper Court [Hartshorne Plunkard Architects]