Curbed Chicago: All Posts by AJ LaTraceLove where you live2020-04-01T17:31:00-05:00https://chicago.curbed.com/authors/aj-latrace/rss2020-04-01T17:31:00-05:002020-04-01T17:31:00-05:00Revisit Ferris Bueller’s Chicago
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<p>Stuck at home? Take a trip through 1980s Chicago by revisiting this John Hughes classic. </p> <p id="Jf8zcK">If being stuck indoors while you practice social distancing has you pining for a day out on the town, dust off your copy <em>Ferris Bueller’s Day Off </em>and distract yourself with a nostalgic trip through 1980s Chicago. The movie was a <a href="https://www.amc.com/talk/2007/04/ferris-bueller">“love letter”</a> to the city from filmmaker John Hughes. “I really wanted to capture as much of Chicago as I could,” he said. “Not just in the architecture and landscape, but the spirit.”</p>
<p id="kQGwTq">Chicago isn’t just a backdrop for the beloved 1986 film. Places like Willis Tower, Wrigley Field, the Art Institute, and Lake Shore Drive played pivotal roles in the story—almost taking on lives of their own. And by capturing the city’s skyscrapers, cultural landmarks, streets, and people on film, Midwesterners were able to claim a piece of Hollywood for themselves. </p>
<p id="LSQ870">Many of the sites featured in <em>Ferris Bueller’s Day Off </em>also were personally meaningful for Hughes. For instance, as a high schooler growing up in Northbrook, Illinois, the future director often escaped suburbia by wandering the halls of the Art Institute. </p>
<p id="YN6kNR">Here are some of the most iconic Chicago filming locations in the ’80s classic.</p>
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https://chicago.curbed.com/maps/ferris-buellers-day-off-filming-locations-chicagoAJ LaTraceSara FreundJay Koziarz2020-01-21T16:20:21-06:002020-01-21T16:20:21-06:00Exploring Frank Lloyd Wright's Oak Park
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<figcaption>The Arthur Heurtly House is one of 25 Wright-designed buildings you can find in Oak Park, Illinois. | Shutterstock</figcaption>
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<p>There’s no better place to observe the architect’s evolution</p> <p id="IMmr9h">Before <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/frank-lloyd-wright">Frank Lloyd Wright</a> became an internationally-recognized name in the world of design, the architect spent many years in Oak Park, Illinois, designing homes for Chicago-area residents. Wright got his start working for the famed Sullivan & Adler firm from 1888 to 1893, and it was under the tutelage of Louis Sullivan specifically that Wright began to explore the elements that would later define the Prairie School movement. For the rest of the 1890s and the first decade of the twentieth century, Wright continued to live and work in Oak Park and designed dozens of structures here.</p>
<p id="U6S9bc">There are several ways to experience the Frank Lloyd Wright/Prairie School of Architecture Historic District. You can buy a ticket for the annual <a href="https://flwright.org/wrightplus">Wright Plus housewalk</a>, which provides rare glimpses inside some of the historic homes. Scheduled for May 16, this year’s event features will showcase Wright’s Isabel Roberts House, J. Kibben Ingalls House, and Oscar B. Balch House as well as other homes designed by Wright’s colleagues and contemporaries. </p>
<p id="c1ljQl">But for fans looking for a free self-guided tour of the district, we’ve mapped 25 buildings in Oak Park that were designed or remodeled by the iconic American architect. The points are listed by direction, starting from the north and heading south.</p>
<p id="gYqRk9"><em>This story was originally published on April 29, 2015 but has been updated with the latest information.</em></p>
https://chicago.curbed.com/maps/oak-park-frank-lloyd-wright-walking-tourAJ LaTraceJay Koziarz2019-12-30T13:48:05-06:002019-12-30T13:48:05-06:0014 significant Mies van der Rohe buildings in Chicago
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<figcaption>S.R. Crown Hall. | Shutterstock</figcaption>
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<p>From the Federal Center to the IIT campus</p> <p id="wgJQ0x">Ludwig Mies van der Rohe heavily influenced Chicago’s architecture—we have more Mies building than any other city. In 1938, he arrived in Chicago after leaving the <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2019/4/9/18296923/bauhaus-100-design-legacy-art-furniture-craft">Bauhaus School</a> in Germany. The architect took a position at the Armour Institute of Technology (which became the Illinois Institute of Technology) and preached his “less is more” philosophy.</p>
<p id="Hf4euu">By the 1960s, Mies had clearly broken from the traditional Chicago aesthetic and developed <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2019/12/5/20976351/chicago-architecture-guide">a modern style using glass and steel</a>. His designs range from the low-slung IIT campus to a pair of residential towers on Lake Shore Drive and an the bold Federal Center complex.</p>
<p id="pKl1CO">If you’re just getting familiar with the architect, here’s a chronological primer on the most significant Mies structures in the Chicago area. </p>
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https://chicago.curbed.com/maps/mies-van-der-rohe-chicago-architectureAJ LaTraceSara Freund2019-10-21T16:30:01-05:002019-10-21T16:30:01-05:00Downtown Chicago’s most iconic public art
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<figcaption><span data-author="-1">Alexander Calder’s iconic </span><em data-author="-1">Flamingo </em><span data-author="-1">sculpture at Federal Plaza. </span> | Shutterstock</figcaption>
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<p>See the iconic work from Picasso to Miro and Chagall</p> <p id="eSNaTn">Hidden in plain sight throughout downtown blocks is essentially an open-air gallery of enormous sculptures, mosaics, and murals. The public works of art were created by some of the world’s most famous artists in the last century including Picasso, Calder, Miró, and Chagall.</p>
<p id="4kyRDj">From the plazas in front of Chicago’s civic buildings to pockets spaces in the Loop’s skyscraper canyons and the iconic green space in Grant Park—these cultural attractions can be easily discovered on foot. Whether you work in the Loop or are touring the Windy City, you’ll get to experience pieces of public art that hold the legacy and history of Chicago. </p>
<p id="N9F5kH">Here’s are 15 pieces of important downtown public art that every Chicagoan, and visitor, should know.</p>
https://chicago.curbed.com/maps/chicago-downtown-loop-public-art-picassoAJ LaTraceJay Koziarz2019-09-05T12:56:04-05:002019-09-05T12:56:04-05:0014 secret parks and gardens in Chicago
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<figcaption>South Garden at the Art Institute | Shutterstock</figcaption>
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<p>Green rooftops, tucked away gardens, beautiful parks</p> <p id="VlkRFj">Although Chicago’s outdoor season is limited, our green space is abundant. </p>
<p id="VO0RuO">Long ago the city adopted the motto “urbs in horto,” Latin for city in a garden and the city’s leaders have taken that phrase seriously. There are over 8,800 acres of parks, nature preserves, and trails—it’s difficult to know every inch of it.</p>
<p id="r74qQp">Aside from the small neighborhood parks, our city has sprawling historic parks from Frederick Law Olmsted’s lakefront parks to Jens Jensen’s Prairie-era parks. Landscape architecture continues to be an <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-public-spaces-kamin-met-0719-20150717-column.html">area of design Chicago represents</a> with projects like Maggie Daley Park, The 606 and the Riverwalk.</p>
<p id="AvLtTo">We know many of these parks and gardens aren’t exactly <em>secrets</em> anymore, but with 570 parks across the city it’s hard to know them all. What new things could you discover with fresh eyes?</p>
https://chicago.curbed.com/maps/chicago-secret-gardens-parks-mapAJ LaTraceSara FreundRyan Smith2018-11-13T11:46:13-06:002018-11-13T11:46:13-06:00Amazon HQ2 Chicago: news and updates
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<p>Chicago didn’t win the bid, here’s what happened</p> <p id="imoQaZ">The <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/9/7/16267162/amazon-new-headquarters-cities-whole-foods">hunt</a> for Amazon’s HQ2 is over. After a long show where <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/10/19/16504426/amazon-hq2-bid-urban-planning">238 cities submitted proposals</a> vying for the company’s attention, ultimately Arlington, Virginia and New York City were the <a href="https://www.curbed.com/amazon-second-headquarters-cities">winners</a>. Yes, the bid was split between not one but two unsurprising choices. </p>
<p id="VNEg1W">You can bet some officials like Mayor Rahm Emanuel are disappointed, but others will say the city dodged a bullet. Either way we definitely pulled out all the stops—even getting <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/3/23/17157232/chicago-amazon-bid-video-william-shatner">William Shatner to narrate Chicago’s pitch video</a> for Jeff Bezos who is a well-known Star Trek fan. The <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/23/16512138/chicago-amazon-hq2-bid">10 development sites</a> that were pitched including The 78, Lincoln Yards and The River District will now continue without the mega online retailer.</p>
<p id="zeOjkZ">Chicago’s Amazon journey is over for now, which you can read about below in our story stream. Track the tech giant’s progress in its new HQ2 cities on <a href="https://ny.curbed.com/2017/10/19/16503782/amazon-hq2-cities-nyc-proposal-news">Curbed New York</a> and <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2017/9/13/16301964/amazon-second-headquarters-dc-virginia-maryland">Curbed DC</a>.</p>
https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/4/16425628/amazon-hq2-headquarters-chicagoJay KoziarzSara FreundAJ LaTrace2017-10-18T15:43:36-05:002017-10-18T15:43:36-05:00Chicago’s best sites for Amazon’s second headquarters
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<figcaption>Nick Fochtman</figcaption>
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<p>Chicago has a number of potential locations for the coveted corporate outpost </p> <p class="p--has-dropcap" id="B04K3e">Mayor Rahm Emanuel is serious about getting Amazon’s attention. Like other big deals in recent years, Chicago’s mayor is using his consolidated power at City Hall to <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/chicago-development/2017/9/27/16375452/amazon-hq2-chicago-rahm-emanuel">line up</a> Chicago’s business, civic, and political leaders to organize a unified push to land Amazon’s second headquarters. Unlike recent civic deals such as the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and the Obama Presidential Center which have ultimately dented Emanuel’s reputation, the mayor is looking forward to a deal with Amazon to redeem himself and push Chicago into the 21st century as a power player in the tech industry. </p>
<p id="yie2Wf">Shortly after Amazon announced its intentions to build a second headquarters, cities around the nation lined up for the chance to land the deal, which Amazon claims will ultimately produce 50,000 well-paying jobs and billions in new investment. There’s been a lot of discussion about Chicago’s <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/9/8/16276144/chicago-amazon-hq2-rahm-emanuel-loop">odds</a> of landing such a deal and <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/9/29/16385282/amazon-hq2-headquarters-chicago-locations">where</a> the headquarters would actually fit in Chicago. Just in the last few weeks, Chicago developers and architects have unveiled a number of master plans for high-profile development sites. </p>
<p id="keFimH">The timing of these unveilings isn’t coincidental. It’s clear that the city is showing its hand—although ever so slightly. Rahm, a mayor known for being a brash, hard-knuckled deal maker, doesn’t want the competition to know what Chicago is offering. And ultimately, it can be argued that the city doesn’t have a lot to lose either. For the last four years in a row, the Chicago metro area <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/5/1/15480788/chicago-corporate-relocations-investment">has led the nation</a> in corporate expansions and relocation—a point that the mayor’s office has highlighted since beginning its conquest for Amazon. </p>
<p id="bcs1sE">Now that the picture is looking more lucid regarding prospective headquarter sites around Chicago, it’s a good time to take a step back to get a big picture perspective. Will Amazon choose Chicago for its second headquarters? It’s hard to say. But if Mayor Emanuel has anything to do with it, Bezos and company will have a tough time turning down what Chicago has to offer. </p>
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<cite>Solomon Cordwell Buenz</cite>
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<h2 id="yPDUpd">Chicago Tribune riverfront sites</h2>
<p id="FkTznw">After revealing plans to construct a <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/9/6/16262480/700-west-chicago-riverside-development-tribune">four-building riverfront campus</a> of loft offices and residential units on a 7-acre plot at 700 W. Chicago Avenue, Tribune Media has recently released its <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/4/16418846/tribune-freedom-center-redevelopment-river-district-amazon">grand vision</a> for its 30-acre Freedom Center parcel to the immediate south with the hopes of attracting Amazon. Known as ‘The River District,’ the joint 37-acre parcel would be a “city within a city,” supporting in excess of 10 million square feet of new mixed-use space and tens of thousands of jobs. </p>
<p id="qdwJAR">Located at the intersection of the neighborhoods of River North, River West, Goose Island, and Fulton River District, the Trib’s mega-project is a short walk from nearly all of the CTA’s major train lines and could include transportation improvements such as a new pedestrian bridge across the river and a transitway or <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/9/18/16329148/700-river-district-tribune-development-update">shuttle route</a> from Chicago’s big commuter rail stations. Despite calling for nearly two dozen structures, the plan sets aside a fair amount of open space and a riverwalk component.</p>
<p id="YrRVeP">The multi-phase project could potentially see Amazon start with the northern portion and then spread south of Chicago Avenue. In addition to some zoning challenges, the Tribune sites also must contend with the existing 800,000 square foot Freedom Center building. The printing facility has a lease through 2023 and includes two options to extend for another 10 years.</p>
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<cite>Sterling Bay</cite>
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<h2 id="qtlQHv">North Branch sites</h2>
<p id="AsD6g9">Over the last few years, major industrial sites along the Chicago River’s North Branch have been changing hands. Despite protections put in place decades ago to help keep industrial jobs along the stretch of river, the city recently <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/7/27/16050734/chicago-development-north-branch-zoning-ordinance-approved">approved a sweeping zoning ordinance</a> which will allow developers to build a variety of uses along the riverfront. One of the largest zoning changes in recent history, the approved plan reshapes the cluster of the Planned Manufacturing Districts (PMDs) that line the banks of the North Branch just north of Chicago’s central business district.</p>
<p id="KcHW0B">This is where developer Sterling Bay comes in. The group has built a name for itself by transforming Fulton Market from a legacy packaging and distribution hub to one of Chicago’s most prominent office markets. High profile tenants and partners include Google, SRAM, McDonald’s, and Ace Hotel, but Sterling Bay has shifted focus in recent months towards its <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/chicago-development/2017/8/3/16071128/chicago-river-north-branch-sterling-bay-pmd">growing collection</a> of North Branch sites.</p>
<p id="bwONyi">Last month, Sterling Bay finally unveiled its plans for its North Branch properties. Dubbed Lincoln Yards, the plan will transform the former A. Finkl & Sons steel plant and the city’s former Department of Fleet and Facility Management site into an ambitious megaproject could cost upwards of $10 billion and take a decade to complete. The site is being pitched as one of Chicago’s most prominent locations for a potential Amazon headquarters. And even if Amazon doesn’t bite, its combination of key location along the riverfront and planned transportation improvements will be able to lure another high-profile tenant to the campus.</p>
<div><aside id="GahrwT"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"18 buildings, new riverfront park planned for Chicago Tribune printing plant site","url":"https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/4/16418846/tribune-freedom-center-redevelopment-river-district-amazon"},{"title":"Developer takes wraps off of Old Chicago Main Post Office concept","url":"https://chicago.curbed.com/chicago-development/2017/9/27/16375094/chicago-main-post-office-renderings-photos"},{"title":"Master plan for former Finkl Steel site finally unveiled","url":"https://chicago.curbed.com/chicago-development/2017/9/13/16302870/finkl-steel-lincoln-park-sterling-bay-606-extension"},{"title":"Massive redevelopment plan for Chicago’s Union Station breaks cover","url":"https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/5/25/15689098/chicago-union-station-high-rise-master-developer"}]}'></div></aside></div>
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<cite>601W Companies/Gensler</cite>
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<h2 id="ow41S0">Old Main Post Office </h2>
<p id="jCN3T2">While it stood vacant for years, hundreds of construction workers are on site each day transforming Chicago’s Old Main Post Office. The upcoming development, simply titled The Post Office, is poised to be one of the most transformative office projects for Chicago. The renovation of the hulking 2.8 million square foot building is estimated to cost $600 million and will see not only the rejuvenation of the Art Deco behemoth, but it’ll also reshape the building’s prominent river frontage with the addition of outdoor cafes and a landscaped riverwalk.</p>
<p id="mYjFjV">Tenant amenities alone will occupy 80,000 square feet of space. The Post Office will not only feature numerous food and beverage offerings, but it’ll also feature what is likely to be the largest contiguous green roof deck in Chicago. Originally built in the 1930s to help serve Chicago’s mail order behemoths such as Sears and Montgomery Ward, the old Art Deco building will see a new life as a prominent office hub. While the completed project won’t fit all 50,000 employees that Amazon says it is looking to house, there’s going to be room for thousands of office workers at the Old Main Post Office.</p>
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<h2 id="J5aG9p">Union Station</h2>
<p id="WzskPF">Revealed earlier this year, the <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/5/25/15689098/chicago-union-station-high-rise-master-developer">multi-phase redevelopment</a> of downtown Chicago’s Union Station is arguably Amazon’s most centrally located and transit-rich option. The highly ambitious, mixed-use project from Chicago-based Riverside Investment & Development Co. would vertically expand the station’s historic 1925 headhouse building as well as construct three additional high-rises atop nearby Amtrak-owned real estate. </p>
<p id="cugFlt">While expected to deliver 3.1 million square feet of office, residential, hotel, and retail space, the project falls short of Amazon’s 8-million-square-foot future need and still requires the blessing of the City of Chicago Plan Commission, Landmark Commission, Zoning Committee, and City Council to move forward as shown. Union Station has been linked to a possible joint bid for HQ2 in collaboration with the 601W Companies’ adjacent Old Post Office property.</p>
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<cite>Related Midwest</cite>
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<h2 id="WRVZtA">The 78</h2>
<p id="SdbeEp">While master plans for sites along the North Branch and downtown have become more clear in recent weeks, one of the big unknowns was what exactly Related Midwest has planned for its 62-acre riverfront site in the South Loop. Titled “The 78,” Related Midwest claims that the upcoming development will become Chicago’s 78th community area when complete.</p>
<p id="ftmjdB">Expected to be one of the largest real estate developments in Windy City history, the $5 billion project will include at least 10 million square feet of residential and commercial space for the sprawling site. </p>
<p id="YzLkrn">Roughly 30 percent of the parcel is expected to remain green space—giving Amazon workers plenty of room to stretch out and relax during lunch breaks. A recently announced plan for a new <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/18/16498658/south-loop-related-development-university-illinois-innovation-center">innovation center</a> at The 78 would certainly compliment Amazon’s presence. </p>
<aside id="L3gbWD"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Chicago courting Jeff Bezos to land Amazon’s coveted second HQ","url":"https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/9/7/16268734/amazon-hq2-headquarters-jeff-bezos-rahm-emanuel"},{"title":"Chicago still reportedly in the hunt for coveted Amazon HQ2 headquarters deal","url":"https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/9/19/16334648/chicago-amazon-hq2-headquarters-bid"},{"title":"Mayor Emanuel assembles all-star cast to lure Amazon HQ2 to Chicago","url":"https://chicago.curbed.com/chicago-development/2017/9/27/16375452/amazon-hq2-chicago-rahm-emanuel"},{"title":"Amazon’s new HQ: How cities are making their case","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2017/9/8/16274084/amazon-headquarters-city-planning"}]}'></div></aside> <figure class="e-image">
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<cite>SOM</cite>
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<h2 id="llD5BC">Michael Reese Hospital site</h2>
<p id="BD4L9n">Billed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to transform Chicago’s Near South Side, the <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/6/2/15728728/chicago-bronzeville-michael-reese-hospital-redeveloper">planned redevelopment</a> of the Bronzeville’s former Michael Reese Hospital provides Amazon with Lake Michigan views and plenty of room to spread out. </p>
<p id="yZSK7z">Vacant since 2009, the property was purchased by the City to serve as the Olympic village under Chicago’s <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2014/2/21/10140834/chicago-2016-the-summer-olympics-that-got-away">unsuccessful bid</a> for the 2016 summer games. In June, a multi-phase redevelopment plan was awarded to a team led by firms Draper & Kramer and Farpoint Development.</p>
<p id="A5bYvN">Initially expected to feature “more than 5 million square feet” of technology-oriented commercial spaces, retail, homes, and hotel rooms, the plan has been super-sized to include 8 million to 14 million square feet depending on tenant needs and overall market demand. High-tech touches such as fiber optic data connections, on-site renewable energy generation, and dedicated traffic lanes for autonomous vehicles are reportedly on tap. </p>
<p id="HxcRXg">While well-connected to Chicago’s highway network, the area does lack the mass transit options of some of its Windy City competitors. The possibility of a new 31st Street train station is reportedly on the table.</p>
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<h2 id="sg2E7n">Cook County Hospital and Illinois Medical District (wild card)</h2>
<p id="LyOinW">Similar to the Old Main Post Office, the former Cook County Hospital building has stood vacant for years awaiting its redevelopment. However, unlike the Old Main Post Office which is finally undergoing a major overhaul costing hundreds of millions of dollars, the historic Cook County Hospital remains a missed opportunity. Since 2011, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has initiated a number of redevelopment plans for the enormous Beaux-Arts building. </p>
<p id="00TwxY">The most recent, unveiled last year, would see the original Cook County Hospital building transformed into a mix of hotel rooms and mixed-income housing units. Following phases would add a series of new towers to the surrounding property, including room for new office space, hotel rooms, and market-rate housing. The total estimated cost of the privately-funded project ranges between $550 million and $700 million with a timeline of 10 and 15 years to complete. </p>
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<cite>JAHN</cite>
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<h2 id="SWQo4x">James R. Thompson Center (wild card)</h2>
<p id="FYmvxu">The Thompson Center represents one of the most prominent redevelopment opportunities in Chicago—one that could possibly lure a team of developers and corporate tenants with deep pockets to help with its eventual transformation. Governor Bruce Rauner has pitched the idea of <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/1/19/14329252/chicago-thompson-center-supertall-skyscraper-redevelopment">selling the property</a> to the highest bidder to allow for demolition of the existing structure and the construction of a new supertall skyscraper at the site, however, architect Helmut Jahn has countered the idea with his own <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/1/20/14339894/helmut-jahn-thompson-center-proposal">conceptual plan</a> for a new tower that will rise out of the existing atrium building. </p>
<p id="ya7tpN">The sale and possible redevelopment of the Thompson Center is problematic for a number of reasons, but the political back and forth between Springfield and Chicago lawmakers has almost all but ensured that no sale will take place in the foreseeable future. However, with Chicago’s push to land Amazon’s second headquarters, a redeveloped Thompson Center is a site that <a href="https://twitter.com/whet/status/905854739346280448">shouldn’t be written off</a>. It checks off a number of boxes, including a central downtown location, excellent transit connectivity, and a <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/1/23/14354898/chicago-james-thompson-center-historic-preservation">place in Chicago’s architectural legacy</a>. </p>
<ul>
<li id="2Y8T0N">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/9/29/16385282/amazon-hq2-headquarters-chicago-locations">Which Chicago sites are the most likely candidates for Amazon’s HQ2?</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
<li id="XLnWXY">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/9/8/16276144/chicago-amazon-hq2-rahm-emanuel-loop">Could Chicago actually land Amazon’s second HQ?</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
</ul>
https://chicago.curbed.com/chicago-development/2017/10/4/16423494/amazon-headquarters-hq2-chicago-locationsAJ LaTraceJay Koziarz2017-10-12T14:23:02-05:002017-10-12T14:23:02-05:00New apartments coming to vintage Milwaukee Avenue building
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<figcaption>Google Street View</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>An old building in the heart of Wicker Park will feature 18 total residences</p> <p id="2WxxS9">More residences are coming to the busy stretch of Milwaukee Avenue in the heart of Wicker Park. According to a zoning amendment introduced today to the Chicago City Council, the vintage masonry building at 1431-1437 North Milwaukee Avenue is seeking a change from B3-2 zoning to B3-3 to allow for a total of 18 residences.</p>
<p id="I5AkFB">The building, which previously housed the Continental Furniture store on the ground level, was listed for sale with a couple of neighboring buildings in August 2016 with a price tag of $12.3 million. At the time of listing, the commercial listing agent representing the building owners <a href="https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160802/wicker-park/for-123-million-former-continental-furniture-buildings-could-be-yours">told DNAinfo reporter Alisa Hauser</a> that the properties were "tremendous assets in an irreplaceable location."</p>
<p id="l1H3L9">As a contributing property to the Milwaukee Avenue Chicago Landmark District, no major changes will be made to the exterior facade or height of the building. However, the property owners will utilize the city’s transit-oriented development to provide no on-site parking. </p>
<p id="b1zNGo">The new zoning amendment ordinance comes on the heels of a downzoning just steps away at 1572 N. Milwaukee Avenue, the former home of longtime Wicker Park venue Double Door. Just yesterday, the Chicago City Council <a href="https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20171011/wicker-park/ex-double-door-sites-zoning-changed-by-city-despite-building-owner-pleas">voted to change the zoning</a> on the building, a controversial move which has been seen as retribution against the property owner for evicting the Double Door from the location.</p>
https://chicago.curbed.com/chicago-development/2017/10/12/16465758/wicker-park-milwaukee-avenue-continental-furnitureAJ LaTrace2017-10-12T10:50:18-05:002017-10-12T10:50:18-05:00Here’s what $85K gets in Irving Park right now
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<figcaption>VHT Studios</figcaption>
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<p>This is the only residence in Irving Park listed for under $100,000</p> <p id="xEGqez">Prices throughout the city’s northwest side are going up—for both rental and for-sale properties. More national outlets <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/3/16411974/best-neighborhoods-usa-lonely-planet-avondale">are discovering Avondale</a> and are declaring that the neighborhood is set to take off. Developers are also rushing in to stake their claim in the area by proposing a flood of new mixed-use projects for popular corridors along <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2016/5/17/11692112/chicago-avondale-residential-development-proposed">Belmont</a> and <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/chicago-development/2017/9/26/16368434/avondale-milwaukee-avenue-polish-mattress-store">Milwaukee</a> avenues. </p>
<p id="n2u49U">It’s the same story we’ve all seen happen in Wicker Park and more recently in Logan Square—eventually a neighborhood hits critical popularity and then it’s on to the next one. Housing prices also reflect the demand to live in these neighborhoods and before you know it, the neighborhood can completely change within a few years. </p>
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<p id="Eb3yMc">Avondale had been the affordable destination for those priced out of Logan Square, but now that Avondale is quickly changing, what’s next? If you follow Milwaukee Avenue, the Blue Line, and the Kennedy Expressway, it’ll lead you to Irving Park. It’s a residential area known for its inventory of older, larger homes, but there are still some great affordable options available. </p>
<p id="pk5HDB">There are a handful of listings priced around $150,000 and under, but only one residence in the area currently listed under the $100,000 mark. You’re not getting anything fancy here, but for $85,000, it’s hard to complain about this one-bedroom on Berteau Avenue. Finishes are super basic and its got radiator heat. But it’s also within reach for a lot of would-be homebuyers who can no longer afford other nearby neighborhoods. </p>
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<ul>
<li id="TdLZ45">
<a href="https://www.atproperties.com/9772991/3738-w-berteau-avenue-3-chicago-illinois-60618-nei">3738 W Berteau Avenue #3, Chicago, Illinois 60618</a> [@properties]</li>
<li id="S1aJX3">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/9/28/16380572/condo-for-sale-under-100000-chicago">Here’s what $99K buys in West Ridge</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
<li id="I9qGRt">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/8/31/16235422/uptown-coop-unit-for-sale-vintage">Here’s what $99K gets in Uptown right now</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
<li id="aW1SyI">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/7/25/16029548/logan-square-condo-for-sale-under-100">Here’s what $99K gets in Logan Square right now</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
</ul>
https://chicago.curbed.com/chicago-homes-for-sale/2017/10/12/16464514/irving-park-chicago-affordable-for-saleAJ LaTrace2017-10-11T14:07:07-05:002017-10-11T14:07:07-05:00Open House Chicago 2017: The best new sites
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<figcaption>The lobby at 150 North Riverside | Nick Fochtman</figcaption>
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<p>The Chicago Architecture Foundation’s Eric Allix Rogers highlights what’s new and noteworthy for this year’s event</p> <p id="QcuCqZ">The Chicago Architecture Foundation’s popular Open House Chicago event, a weekend-long series that opens up Chicago’s greatest building to the public, returns once again this weekend. And like last year, the Chicago Architecture Foundation will feature over 200 different sites throughout the city and nearby suburbs. </p>
<p id="TLu20b">There are a lot of new additions and debuts in this year’s Open House Chicago, and to help us navigate the list, Interim Open House Chicago Manager Eric Allix Rogers has highlighted 25 new sites that visitors should consider when making their lists for this weekend’s event. </p>
<p id="9oXTX4">Here’s a quick look at what’s new for this year’s Open House Chicago. For a complete list of partner sites and schedules, head on over to the official <a href="https://openhousechicago.org">Open House Chicago website</a>. </p>
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<figcaption>150 North Riverside’s wildly contemporary exterior facade.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2 id="0APIj5"><strong>Downtown</strong></h2>
<p id="9iokcu"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/150-north-riverside"><strong>150 North Riverside</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Completed just this spring, the brand new office tower at 150 N. Riverside makes its Open House Chicago debut this year. In addition to exploring the tower’s uniquely shaped lobby, visitors will also have access to a raw, open office level this weekend. Complex structural engineering allowed for the tower’s seemingly gravity-defying shape, making 150 North Riverside an <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/4/28/15460734/150-north-riverside-chicago-photos">instant Chicago icon</a>. </p>
<p id="LG8mAH"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/330-north-wabash--ama-plaza-ibm-plaza/"><strong>330 North Wabash</strong></a><strong>: </strong>Open House Chicago visitors will be able to visit a full, raw level at this iconic modernist tower from legendary architect Mies van der Rohe. Rogers states that the river views are “spectacular” from the tower—which for many years served as IBM’s Chicago home. </p>
<p id="PmNGSo"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/east-west-university-student-life-center/"><strong>East-West University’s Student Life Center</strong></a><strong>:</strong> This new building at East-West University’s downtown campus features a unique six-story interior atrium which functions as a kind of “vertical campus,” Rogers explains. Designed by historic Chicago architecture firm Holabird & Root, the building features academic and athletic spaces which OHC attendees will be able to get a glimpse of. </p>
<p id="glwV3S"></p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XX_7XLTP-4MfbPFGjrqtoYJ8pgE=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9439855/rosenwald_web_ericallixrogers_3.jpg">
<cite>Eric Allix Rogers</cite>
<figcaption>The recently restored Rosenwald Courts development in Bronzeville.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2 id="G24oGt"><strong>Bronzeville</strong></h2>
<p id="PMvkJo"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/armour-institute-illinois-institute-of-technology-main-building/"><strong>Armour Institute</strong></a><strong>: </strong>The original Armour Institute building, also known to many as IIT’s Main Building, is about to undergo a major renovation and <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/1/30/14442438/iit-main-building-apartments-construction">conversion into new apartments</a>. According to Rogers, architects from Pappageorge Haymes Partners will be on-site during Open House Chicago to discuss the project in the lead up to its overhaul.</p>
<p id="yMQLWu"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/first-church-of-deliverance/"><strong>First Church of Deliverance</strong></a><strong>: </strong>This unusual church comes from the period of Streamline/Art Moderne architecture of the late 1920s. It’s a rare example of a place of worship done in the style and visitors will be able to get a look inside this weekend.</p>
<p id="hUdbTh"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/northeastern-illinois-university-jacob-h-carruthers-center-for-inner-city-studies/"><strong>NEIU Carruthers Center</strong></a><strong>:</strong> “This may be our deepest Frank Lloyd Wright cut this year,” Rogers explains. The building is notable for being Frank Lloyd Wright’s first non-residential commission. Wright was both hired and fired by his uncle, and the job was eventually passed to Dwight Perkins to finish. Rogers indicates that auditorium shares some similarities to <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/6/7/15751444/frank-lloyd-wright-architecture-unity-temple-restoraton">Wright’s famous Unity Temple</a> in Oak Park, though the Carruthers Center predates Unity Temple by nearly a decade.</p>
<p id="PPBeU8"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/rosenwald-courts-apartments-michigan-boulevard-garden-apartments/"><strong>Rosenwald Courts</strong></a><strong>:</strong> A philanthropic gift from Sears Roebuck magnate Julius Rosenwald, the old Rosenwald Courts Apartments recently wrapped up an <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/8/1/16075380/landmarks-illinois-2017-preservation-unity-temple">award-winning restoration</a> that saw the 1920s housing complex completely <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2016/5/5/11597822/chicago-bronzeville-apartment-renovation">refreshed and rehabilitated</a>. OHC visitors will be able to get a first look at the complex fully restored and occupied and will have access to amenities such as the lounge and interior courtyard which are typically not open to the public. </p>
<p id="lqS5o1"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/schulze-baking-company-building/"><strong>Schulze Baking Company Building</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Currently a vacant structure, Rogers indicates that the building’s owner is looking to redevelop the historic industrial facility into a data center—a contemporary adaptive reuse that shows how Chicago’s industrial building stock can still perform in the information age. </p>
<p id="1DyDQj"></p>
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<cite>Eric Allix Rogers</cite>
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<h2 id="RjdXPS"><strong>Edgewater</strong></h2>
<p id="S1O6D5"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/chicago-filmmakers-ridge-firehouse/"><strong>Chicago Filmmakers</strong> (Ridge Firehouse)</a>: Open House Chicago attendees will have access to the brand new Chicago Filmmakers outpost in Edgewater. Located in the former Ridge Firehouse, the facility features offices, classrooms, and will eventually include a theater with seating for 75 people. </p>
<p id="3OJGrd"></p>
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<cite>Eric Allix Rogers</cite>
<figcaption>The breathtaking Baha’i House of Worship.</figcaption>
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<h2 id="MNAM6a"><strong>North Suburbs</strong></h2>
<p id="NTl08n"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/bahai-house-of-worship/"><strong>Bahá'í House of Worship</strong></a><strong>:</strong> “The Bahá'í<strong> </strong>House of Worship is a site that people have been asking about for years,” explains Rogers. The ornate structure finally makes its Open House Chicago debut this year. Rogers adds that this year is especially significant, being the bicentennial celebration of the founding of the Bahá'í faith. In addition, visitors will be allowed to take photos inside the building, which generally is not permitted.</p>
<p id="6i6HXS"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/northwestern-university-ryan-field/"><strong>Ryan Field</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Northwestern University’s football stadium also makes its Open House Chicago debut this year. According to Rogers, it’ll be the first of any outdoor athletic stadium featured as a site in Open House Chicago. “People will be able to walk up to the field and explore the press box, which I think is really cool,” Rogers says. </p>
<p id="EF3Oua"></p>
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<cite>Eric Allix Rogers</cite>
<figcaption>The Art Deco-era Powhatan tower. </figcaption>
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<h2 id="zr7U7g"><strong>Hyde Park</strong></h2>
<p id="wKHsAM"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/regents-park-apartments/"><strong>Regents Park Apartments</strong></a><strong>: </strong>OHC attendees will have access to this set of modernist apartment towers in the Hyde Park community. Rogers indicates that visitors will be able to explore the large private outdoor garden between the towers—a private amenity for residents that is not typically open to the public.</p>
<p id="yCYyeY"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/powhatan/"><strong>Powhatan</strong></a><strong>:</strong> Described as “the most remarkable Art Deco multifamily residential building in Chicago” by Rogers, the Powhatan is certainly a unique time-capsule-quality residential tower. “It’s an absolutely stunning building and it’s usually locked up pretty tightly,” Rogers adds. Visitors will be able to explore the lobby and pool area this weekend during Open House Chicago. </p>
<p id="HW91lh"></p>
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<cite>Alex Fradkin</cite>
<figcaption>The Congress Theater in Logan Square.</figcaption>
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<h2 id="wF3NRL"><strong>Logan Square/Avondale</strong></h2>
<p id="rEZ79J"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/aloft-circus-arts/"><strong>Aloft Circus Arts</strong></a>: For the first time, this year’s Open House Chicago will feature a number of sites around Logan Square and Avondale, including the new Aloft Circus Arts which Rogers describes as a “very unique adaptive reuse of a church building.”</p>
<p id="rPAuN5"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/congress-theater/"><strong>Congress Theater</strong></a>: Logan Square’s old Congress Theater formally shuttered three years ago to allow for a <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2015/1/26/9998728/one-last-look-at-the-congress-theater-before-its-big-makeover">major renovation</a> that would not only restore its historic auditorium, but also deliver new <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2016/7/21/12250150/congress-theater-apartment-tower-redevelopment-plan">hotel rooms and residences</a> to the stretch of Milwaukee Avenue. Architects from Woodhouse Tinucci will be on-hand this weekend to discuss the project with OHC attendees. </p>
<p id="wqhv5S"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/l--logan-square/"><strong>L Logan Square</strong></a>: One of the many new apartment developments for Milwaukee Avenue, L Logan Square will open its doors this weekend to OHC attendees. Rogers says that this one is “for the transit nerds”—hinting at the project’s reuse of a <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2015/12/8/9893338/l-logan-square-apartments">decommissioned CTA rail car</a> for its amenity deck and its status as a transit-oriented development. </p>
<p id="1a3y6Z"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/metropolis-coffee-company/"><strong>Metropolis Coffee Company</strong></a>: “This is the first time we’re featuring a coffee roasting facility in Open House Chicago,” Rogers says in regards to Metropolis Coffee’s participation in this year’s edition. The Avondale facility is tucked away in a cluster of former industrial buildings that is quickly transforming into a larger food and beverage distribution district.</p>
<p id="x2c8U0"></p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eTsX1-QCsMx8ADcklXVi9JQV0a8=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9440755/publishinghouse_web_ericallixrogers_3.jpg">
<cite>Eric Allix Rogers</cite>
<figcaption>The brand new Publishing House Bed and Breakfast.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2 id="qHsZP4"><strong>Near West Side</strong></h2>
<p id="0BW38u"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/university-of-illinois-at-chicago-university-hall/"><strong>UIC University Hall</strong></a>: While it’s not a new site to Open House Chicago, Rogers says that UIC’s University Hall was overlooked last year by many attendees. A prominent Brutalist high-rise, Rogers says that this is a good site “for people who love—or love to hate—Brutalism.”</p>
<p id="C6opb0"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/publishing-house-bed-and-breakfast/"><strong>Publishing House Bed & Breakfast</strong></a><strong>:</strong> As the name would suggest, this new overnight offering is built in a former printing plant. The B&B pays homage to its past with a literary theme, Rogers explains. </p>
<p id="7hIF3A"></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JAyc7tSeSgY3mUQN67wNEOc3D50=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9440803/cheneymansion_web_ericallixrogers_1.jpg">
<cite>Eric Allix Rogers</cite>
<figcaption>Oak Park’s Cheney Mansion.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2 id="6jx0fD"><strong>Oak Park </strong></h2>
<p id="tkxxRj"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/cheney-mansion/"><strong>Cheney Mansion</strong></a>: Eric Rogers describes the historic Cheney Mansion as “one of the most impressive non-Frank Lloyd Wright homes in Oak Park.” The mansion is generally used for private events, but OHC visitors will be able to get a thorough look through the house this weekend. </p>
<p id="V7O0ow"></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NMIidUKre-DKHSBedpov9XPu5aw=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9440817/chicago_scenic_studios_001_2.jpg">
<cite>Chicago Scenic Studios</cite>
</figure>
<h2 id="msfEh2"><strong>Pilsen</strong></h2>
<p id="BDKL7n"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/chicago-scenic-studios"><strong>Chicago Scenic Studios</strong></a>: Though the Chicago Scenic Studios has previously been featured as a site during Open House Chicago, this year’s edition will allow visitors through the company brand new location in Pilsen. The organization, which fabricates film sets and exhibition displays, will allow visitors an inside look at the space and the items that they build. </p>
<p id="1GabIa"></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Nmeo__5y7In4MrqlsRiF5zDnDxs=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9440887/wintrust_arena_003.jpg">
<cite>Wintrust Arena</cite>
</figure>
<h2 id="zUXyWh"><strong>South Loop/Prairie District</strong></h2>
<p id="vVtClm"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/wintrust-arena/"><strong>Wintrust Arena</strong></a>: Coincidentally, Open House Chicago aligns with the grand opening of the brand new Wintrust Arena in the McCormick Place Entertainment District. This weekend will not only be the first time that the general public will have access to the building, but there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony taking place on center court at 1:00 p.m. this Saturday. </p>
<p id="oslCUW"></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/g_iQEZASwf9cvuYgCmYbXLNIHvs=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9440939/sthelen_web_ericallixrogers_9.jpg">
<cite>Eric Allix Rogers</cite>
<figcaption>St. Helen Roman Catholic Church in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2 id="O15cwE"><strong>Ukrainian Village</strong></h2>
<p id="xU9NQ0"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/st-helen-roman-catholic-church/"><strong>St. Helen Church</strong></a>: Many of Ukrainian Village’s elaborate and ornate churches have been featured in previous editions of Open House Chicago, but this will be the first year that visitors will be able to explore St. Helen Roman Catholic Church. “It’s a very unique church built during the modernist period,” Rogers explains. “Its sanctuary is shaped like a fish and the aesthetic is like a mashup of Art Deco and Midcentury Modernism.” </p>
<p id="56Isnz"></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9qpzwZMGXiPGNB0i399KOl3xm90=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9441005/marine_dr_apts_eric_rogers_007.jpg">
<cite>Eric Allix Rogers</cite>
<figcaption>The Art Deco courtyard at the 5040-5060 North Marine Drive condos.</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2 id="qJ57J5"><strong>Uptown</strong></h2>
<p id="k5JFuP"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/5040-5060-north-marine-drive-condominiums/"><strong>5040-5060 North Marine Drive</strong></a>: Rogers highlights this residential complex in Uptown for its unique courtyard amenity. “It’s a residential building built around this hidden courtyard with an amazing Art Deco fountain in it,” Rogers tells us.</p>
<p id="FY89iv"></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5zC24_0KVAaA6IOUXYWFw5gb1Zg=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9441045/therobey_web_ericallixrogers_1.jpg">
</figure>
<h2 id="Gmuiis"><strong>Wicker Park</strong></h2>
<p id="fPkJwe"><a href="https://openhousechicago.org/sites/site/the-robey-northwest-tower/"><strong>The Robey</strong></a>: The old Northwest Tower in Wicker Park just <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2016/11/29/13778058/the-robey-hotel-chicago-wicker-park-photos">reopened late last year</a> as The Robey—a new boutique hotel offering. The hotel makes its Open House Chicago debut this year, allowing visitors to explore its rooftop cocktail lounge and outdoor deck space.</p>
<ul>
<li id="KpGn4i">
<a href="https://openhousechicago.org">Open House Chicago</a> [Chicago Architecture Foundation]</li>
<li id="zUdRSv">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/9/11/16278472/open-house-chicago-architecture-sites-2017">Chicago Architecture Foundation unveils 2017 Open House Chicago sites</a> [Curbed Chicago] </li>
<li id="uKBGRi">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/3/3/14805922/open-house-chicago-architecture-attendance-figures">The most popular sites from last year’s Open House Chicago</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
<li id="Syl0bs">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/maps/open-house-Chicago-2016-15-must-see-sites">Open House Chicago 2016: 20 must-see sites</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
</ul>
https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/11/16458906/open-house-chicago-2017-new-sites-listAJ LaTrace