The Gateway tower is back in action at a vacant West Loop lot bordering the new Mariano's grocery— with revisions unpalatable to some. At a packed Tuesday night meeting, architect Joe Antunovich of Antunovich Associates presented renderings for what's now to be a 20-story rental tower at Green & Madison. That's a height reduction of several stories over the previous plan, but, to the minds of many, is still too tall. The Chicago Architecture Blog made the meeting, and reports that each and everyone who piped up was opposed to the new plan. The scale frightens neighbors who hope to combat the westward push of tall buildings massing along Halsted. But the loss of a hotel component rankled people too, with some claiming the project only garnered community approval in 2011 because of its potential for job creation. Antunovich defended the need for residences and height as the only way to make this development viable. Then there's the fact that no interested hotels have stepped forward, though that's still an outside possibility. The final word will go to Ald. Walter Burnett, who made clear his reluctance to proceed in the face of such uniform opposition.
·Smaller Greektown Tower Still Unpopular, Faces Murky Future [CAB]
·Gateway Coverage [Curbed Chicago]
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