archBOSTON ARCHIVE

quadratdackel · Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 144

...and the neighborhood group supports it too...

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http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=1737808&page=1

Chicago Approves Plan for United States' Tallest Tower
124-Story Tower Would Spiral Up on Lakeshore

March 17, 2006 ? The Chicago Planning Commission has unanimously approved the construction of a new high-rise that will be the tallest building in the United States.

Developers plan to build the Fordham Spire, a 124-story residential and hotel tower designed by famed architect Santiago Calatrava, at North Water Street and Lakeshore Drive, where the Chicago River meets Lake Michigan.

Before construction can begin, though, the proposal must be reviewed by the Chicago City Council's Zoning Committee, which meets March 23, and then be considered by the City Council at its next meeting, scheduled for March 29.

Given the glowing reception the proposal received at the Planning Commission meeting, it is expected to receive approval from both the Zoning Committee and City Council. The plan also was endorsed by the neighborhood group that represents the area where it will be built.

The proposed building will be a great addition to the city, said Alderman Burton Natarus at the Planning Commission meeting.

"This is a very unique, historic moment for our city," he said. "The Fordham Spire is a profound project, one with great sensitivity to Chicago's great architecture, and I am proud and pleased to support it."

"This is an important day for us. With this approval, we're on our way to adding another architectural treasure to this great city," said Christopher T. Carley, chairman and CEO of Fordham Co., which is developing the Spire. "We know the Spire will be a beautiful icon of the city's skyline. It will contain 300 of Chicago's finest homes and a five-star hotel."

The 124-story Fordham Spire will measure 2,000 feet to the top of its spire and 1,600 feet to its roof.

Carley has been working to bring one of Calatrava's designs to Chicago for more than three years. Calatrava, a world-renowned architect, artist and engineer, is the recipient of numerous international design awards. His work was the subject of a recent exhibition, "Santiago Calatrava: Sculpture into Architecture," at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

"I am very happy that people have understood our desire to develop this design beyond the ideas we first presented," Calatrava said. "Now, we have taken everything a step further, in order to connect this building to the city around it."

If it receives all the approvals, the tower could be completed in 2010.

ABC News affiliate WLS-TV in Chicago contributed to this report.
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Here's an image of it- not from the article:

patrick0000 · Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 2570

LeTaureau · Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 118

This is great, it looks like Fordham Spire will be built! Why can't Boston's permitting process be so smooth and hassle free? Rolling Eyes

Chi649 @ SSC posted an updated on FS:

02:21 PM CST on Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Bloomberg News

A proposed condominium and hotel tower that would be the tallest building in North America won approval from the Chicago City Council today, clearing the way for construction to start later this year.

The council approved a measure that raises the height limit on structures at the site to accommodate the 2,000-foot tower. The building, named the Fordham Spire, would top Chicago's Sears Tower and the planned Freedom Tower in New York as the tallest in North America.

The building was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and has a twisting design that resembles a drill bit.

?It's really unique and different, and that's a great symbol,? Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley said at a press conference outside the council chambers. ?We have great skyscrapers here.?

The $550 million, 124-story building to be developed by the Fordham Co. will have about 300 condominiums, 250,000 square feet of hotel space, retail stores and restaurants. It will overlook the Chicago River where it meets Lake Michigan.

Fordham has said construction will begin around the end of the year, and the building should be completed by 2010.

Fordham representatives didn't immediately return messages seeking comment today.

Fordham Chairman Chris Carley has said he already has reservations for 30 of the condominiums and will take more starting in April. The condos, which will start at about 700 square feet, may sell for more than $1,000 a square foot, according to Carley.

Fordham is a closely held real estate developer based in Chicago and founded by Carley in 1988. The company has other developments in Chicago's Gold Coast and North Michigan Avenue areas.

Carley has said he plans to name the hotel operator, a five-star operator new to Chicago, in coming weeks.

user_145 · Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 82

Matt · Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 840

chicago rocks....that looks absolutely phenomenal. That's a very cool part of town, too, if not mistaken...near navy pier and michigan avenue? Some of you guys are from chicago, right? Are you guys psyched?

I highly recommend people visiting chicago...cheap flights from manchester...and it's generally much cheaper than boston all in all (unless things have radically changed in the past couple years)

patrick0000 · Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 2570

^ i hear the south side is quite nice! Laughing

castevens · Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 145

Imagine the shadow that thing will cast!! I'll put up heating costs for thousands of people and be a real annoyance until the summer months when people like shadow. Cool

briv · Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 118

Hats off to Chicago, a city that refuses to stagnate like so many major American cities. Amazing how fast this mega-project is progressing. It will be interesting to compare this project to Boston's new, relatively, minuscule 1000 footer proposal in Winthrop Sq. The difference between two cities.