Old Chicago Main Post Office Redevelopment

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Old Chicago Main Post Office Phase II
General information
StatusNever built
TypeSupertall skyscraper
LocationChicago, Illinois
AddressWest Congress Parkway and South Canal Street, 433 West Van Buren
CountryUnited States
Cost$3.5 billion
Height
Roof2,000 feet (610 m)
Technical details
Floor count120
Floor area16,000,000 square feet (1,500,000 m2)
Design and construction
ArchitectBooth Hansen
DeveloperInternational Property Developers
References
[1]

The Old Chicago Main Post Office Redevelopment was a proposed 20-acre (81,000 m2) project on a lot located along the Chicago River on the southwest side of Downtown Chicago, Illinois to be constructed in phases over a period of one decade that will include the renovation of Chicago's historic Old Main Post Office building as well as residential, retail, entertainment and office space.[2]

The plan includes several towers, the tallest one being a proposed 120-story mixed use twin tower skyscraper that will stand about 2,000 feet (610 m) high to the roof, which would make it the tallest building in the United States,[3] over 500 feet (150 m) taller than the Willis Tower, and will contain office, residential, and hotel space. It will also include two 60-story residential towers as well as a 40-story hotel.[2]

All the buildings in the development will be connected via a ground level complex[4] that would be built over the Chicago River and the Eisenhower Expressway.[5]

The proposal was sent to Chicago City Commission in July 2011 for approval, which was expected to be a several month process. The project is said to have an estimated cost of $3.5 billion and the potential to create 12,000 jobs.[6]

Some critics oppose the proposal in its current state, calling it old-fashioned and suburban and an unrealistic pipe dream, as it is largely car oriented (12,000 parking spaces and free parking) with shopping mall style retail.[7]

The city voted and approved the plan July 18, 2013. [8] But the area was sold in 2016 thus the building was never built.

References[change | change source]

  1. Alby Gallun (July 21, 2011). "Skyscrapers, retail part of massive Old Post Office plan". ChicagoRealEstateDaily. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Alejandra Cancino, Blair Kamin (July 21, 2011). "Old Chicago post office redevelopment plan unveiled". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  3. Brian Louis (July 21, 2011). "Tallest U.S. Tower Proposed as Part of Chicago Development". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  4. Ben Meyerson (July 27, 2011). "Old post office plans include hotels, skyscrapers for Chicago". Chicago Journal. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  5. Don DeBat (July 27, 2011). "Towering old post office plan air mailed to Chicago". Chicago Journal. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-07-31.
  6. Kate Springer, Susie An (July 22, 2011). "Big plans for the old Chicago post office". WBEZ-FM. Archived from the original on 2011-08-19. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  7. Blair Kamin (July 24, 2011). "Plan for old post office: A suburban throwback, and a pipe dream". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  8. "City to examine old post office rehab plan". Gazette Chicago.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2013.