#but I love it. LOVE it. if I were mayor of chicago and the CTA came to me and said ''we need a kajllion dollars''

[notbecauseofvictories]

Just wanted to say you kinda opened my eyes with your post about public transit a month ago. I am deathly afraid of public transportation. I guess seeing all the news and videos of horrible things happening on buses and subways made me ignorant of the fact that it’s just people. It’s just people. And that’s awesome. I’m gonna go ride a bus and thank the driver

I would never claim that nothing terrible happens on the bus---I've read those news stories too, to deny that it's possible would be flatly incorrect. Even in just my personal experience, there are dismissive, rude or belligerent people everywhere. People smell...different, especially when everyone is sweating through their winter coat, and unfortunately we can't convince certain members of the human race to buy some damn headphones. Still, I've been living in Chicago since 2010 and have never owned a car; I take a lot of buses and ride in a lot of taxis, I've biked from River North to Edgewater, taken the El from O'Hare down to Woodlawn, and ridden the Metra to the surburbs, to other states.

And I love public transit. I write about how much I love it with an almost unwell frequency---how it's a vehicle for grace, how the people who work there can be delightful, that it brings you into contact with people you wouldn't ordinarily meet. I still think about this article from Chicago magazine, where CTA workers were interviewed to talk about the highs, lows, and general insanity of the job. To recount every person I've had an unexpected conversation with, or shared a meaningful glance, or just admired from a distance as they gave up their seat, would take more time than any of us have.

Ultimately, everyone has to make their way through the world. When you realize that that's all people are really doing on the bus---or the train, or the subway, or the streetcar, or whatever other public transit is available to you---the idea of sitting alongside them doesn't seem so monumental. Everyone there just wants to get where they're going, and maybe arrive a little better than when they left.

[rjzimmerman]

This annoying weekend

Normally, the 4th of July celebration is a neutral thing for us. When the kids were little, we did the community fireworks or, like a million other crazies, drove or took the CTA downtown to watch the Chicago fireworks at Navy Pier or from barges in Lake Michigan off Grant Park. We’d do the traditional grill-on-the-grill thing and maybe do a parade. Because of all that earlier life hyperactivity, we feel good about staying home and doing stay-at-home things. (Although that has gotten old, for obvious reasons.)

But this weekend was not pleasant.

First, I was terribly upset and horrified about the continued violence in some of the neighborhoods of Chicago. A 7-year old girl was shot in the head and killed around 7 p.m. Saturday, while she was standing on the sidewalk in the South Austin neighborhood while outside at a family gathering. (The South Austin neighborhood is about 2.5 miles east of our house.) A 14-year-old boy was also shot and killed later in the night in the Englewood neighborhood. An 11-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy were shot and injured. This is now the third week in a row to include the death of young children. A 20-month-old boy and a 10-year-old girl were killed in separate shootings last weekend. A week earlier, five children were fatally shot, including a 3-year-old boy.

I’m horrified and sad for the families and I feel helpless. I don’t remember ever feeling as badly about the violence in Chicago as I do this year. I also don’t remember so many little ones being killed or injured as the adults played with their firearms on the streets. I would not want to be Mayor Lightfoot these days.

Then the fireworks. Until 4:00 to 5:00 in the morning. Not just firecrackers, but those loud, giant ones that are used at the community fireworks displays, but there were no community fireworks displays. Because there was no wind, a stinky, smoky, gunpowder-smelling haze hovered over neighborhood through this morning. (I had just read that the haze can be toxic at certain levels, including lead.) We have three dogs. Two are deaf, but one of them has always been terrified of explosions. Even though deaf, he heard them, so we had to dose him with CBD to settle him down. The third dog is blind and also terrified of explosions. She was running into walls and furniture and whimpering all night. We had to also dose her with CBD. Thank God for CBD for dogs. It was a lot of fun taking them outside for the final pee and poop before bedtime. They kept running into the bushes and trees stands to hide, and they hid well. Tough to find them. I was afraid they were having cardiac arrests.

Mid-90′s temperature. So hot, but again being thankful, low humidity. Still, being outside is a challenge and a chore.

But we did watch Hamilton. Loved it. Took our minds off the coronavirus spread, the violence in Chicago, the noise and the stink of the fireworks and our maniacal dogs.

[chaunceyandchumleysdad]

Riot Fest 2018 Wrap Up This was my 6th consecutive year at Riot Fest and it was another wonderful event. (See my three previous postings for day-by-day write-ups.)

Scheduling and Event This was a crazy year for Riot Fest. They released the first wave line up in a timely manner. However, the schedule and additional bands were delayed until about a week before the event. (Schedule was released about four weeks before the event last year.) Worse, Riot Fest kept silent during the delay which led to questions and speculation about the event possibly being cancelled. Part of the issue was headliner Blink-182 backing out late in the game. However, my guess is that it had more to do with money issues. They did not sell single day passes until the schedule was released. They gave away free tickets at a White Sox game on Riot Fest night and they were selling tickets on Groupon. So maybe ticket sales were slow or they had other financial problems. Judging by attendance, it looked as well attended as ever. Perhaps many people bought last minute tickets either waiting for single day passes or maybe holding out to see if the weather would be good. Despite the late schedule, the planning was all in place and from my perspective, the event went off without a hitch. They also did provide free tickets to make up for a Ticketfly breach in security.

Weather This was an outstanding weather weekend, especially taking into consideration all the rain we have had in the Chicago area in late August and early September. While there were some rain and mud issues the first three years I attended (2013, ’14 & ’15), the last three years have been great; no rain and lots of sunshine. This year, it was a little warm and the sun was intense, forcing me to sometimes forgo being close to a stage in order to get out of the sun for awhile. Temps were low to mid 80’s, which was not quite as warm as last year when they were mid to upper 80’s.

Stages The fourth year in Douglas Park, and the second year with five stages. 88 bands this year, two less than last year. As I mentioned last year, I do miss having two small stages side-by-side. Most of the early sets on the small stages are just 30 minutes. So with two stages, I would sometimes get to see four bands in two hours up close. With one stage, there is some down time between acts.

Time Other than a couple minutes here or there, set times started an ended on time

Services Three water stations this year was a big improvement although the water pressure was not as good as last year, so filling a bottle went a bit slower. However, there was usually little or no wait for water.  Clean up crews were excellent. The hand sanitizer stations did not run out and the port-o-potties were mostly in good shape. (One lady, holding the door for me as I entered a port-o-potty as she was exiting said to me, “That’s the cleanest port-o-potty I’ve been in all weekend.”) Plenty of Chicago’s Finest were on hand, but I saw no trouble at all during the fest.

Drinks Plenty of beer tents and beer vendors walking around. The only tent with draft beer is the All Rise tent which I frequented frequently. (Sounds like I’m from the department of redundancy department.) It is conveniently located in the central area of the grounds. There was tent selling vodka drinks and a Dos Equis bar area, but I did not stop by either.

Food Lots of good local vendors. I had the pulled pork with mac and cheese from Reggies two of the days and a Cuban sandwich the other day. All was very good.

Amusements & Shopping The carnival rides, circus tent and merchandise vendors are always around, but I spent little or no time in those areas.

Exercise – According to my phone, I walked an average of 5.5 miles per day.

CTA Mostly good but I did wait for a Pink Line train for close to 20 minutes on the way back on Sunday. I don’t know why CTA does not increase the amount of trains on that line during Riot Fest.

Neighborhood I enjoyed walking through the Douglas Park area in the old West Side neighborhood of Lawndale.  Upon arrival each day, I walked up California Avenue on the edge of Little Village, and when returning each evening, I would walk down Kedzie Ave. through the South Lawndale neighborhood. I can’t say that this a neighborhood that I would normally walk through on a weekend night, but I do love getting a pedestrian glimpse of the area when I can.

Crowd The Riot Fest crowd is always awesome. I did not see anyone that was causing trouble or that looked over-the-top wasted. Just a great community of “Punks” hanging together for three days of music and fun.

Style Riot Fest is always a potpourri of Punk styles, or just about any style and some crazy costumes. When kicking back in the shade for awhile, part of the fun is people watching. To see some of the fashions and costumes, go to the Riot Fest web site and check out the “People of Riot Fest” photo gallery.

Thanks!!! Reiterating from last year, I want to say thanks to all the bands that came to our fine city. Thanks to all the park maintenance crews, vendors, paramedics, and security, and much thanks to the Chicago Police and Fire Departments. Thanks also to Mayor Emanuel and the Lawndale City Council members for their cooperation and support. Thanks to St. Anthony Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital for their three days of tolerance and for their dedication to caring for people. And most of all, thanks to the Douglas Park neighbors for allowing us “Rockers” to take over your park for 3 days during one of the finest seasonal times of the year in Chicago.

Photos Above photos all from the Riot Fest web site. https://riotfest.org/

[violetsystems]

#personal

My kitchen sometimes feels like the ultimate fish bowl.  The CTA platform overlooks it’s windows with a large cathedral like structure looming in the distance like a death star.   On particularly icy days you can see the bright orange and yellow uniforms sweeping the train platform against the Dark Souls inspired facade.  It’s always under construction.  It sometimes feels like it will never be completed.  It’s that view that’s shaped a large part of my peaceful existence offline.  Something is always being built or swept away right before my eyes.  I’ve spent most of my vacation at the kitchen table playing one game or another.  Saturday night a neighbor texted me to come play magic.  I stayed out past midnight and walked myself home.   I don’t think I’ve left the neighborhood much at all.  There’s a lot of shift in local politics currently.  I think I’ve answered more political surveys on the phone than had actual personal inquiries to my mental health.  I already voted for both Mayor and Alderman.  We live in what is called the 25th ward and we incorporate bits of Chinatown, Little Italy and the predominantly Mexican-American neighborhood I live in.  The alderman I voted for has their office set up a few blocks over near where I used to do laundry.  The one thing you can’t escape here is the neighborhood.  Jobs are one thing.  So are the more oppressive aspects of the city.  But home is something that we all strive to create for ourselves.  A place where we can both survive and feel a sense of belonging to a point.  I’ve always erred on the side of being transparent.  I don’t like hiding anything.  I’ve also learned the hard way traveling around the world by myself that there are layers to safety out there.  There’s layers to everything.  Things have felt eight layers deep with me for quite some time.  Vacation has been a clearer break between my job and the time I need away from it.  I ran a cold run across the street.  I went to Chinatown yesterday for lunch.  They were playing this Chinese dating show where the parents play the judges.  Parents are the harshest critics.  It seems like everybody’s parents love me.  I’ve never been married.  But I’m sure that’d be a bigger fish bowl in and of itself.  One that to me would be a much brighter future possibly sitting across from me in the kitchen someday.

I can’t see the future.  People might be shocked to know it’s still just me out here.  That all the weird shit that happens to me has no real endgame or result other than what I observe.  Lately since I’ve been off work it’s been easier to relax.  It’s easier to focus on the little details you might miss.  I have ideas sure.  The last idea had me travel to New York for twenty four hours by myself.  It wasn’t the perfect trip but I learned a lot.  I made my own connections to places and things that I brought back with me.  People started to see me differently maybe.  It put another piece in the puzzle together.  I’m headed back for the weekend Friday for a minute.  Still staying in Chinatown.  Still feel safe about doing so.  I might not be able to do anything but take pictures.  A bunch of my friends live out there.  I’m comfortable exploring it alone.  It’s taken a lot to get there.  I don’t know if I can explain it to anyone even at this point.  It loses a sort of magic that way.  Whatever reasoning behind whatever ban is in effect with my accounts on other social media, it did make me think.  Tumblr is probably one of the last places I’m open and somewhat transparent.  It’s also one of the closest way to maintain contact with people low key.  Maybe you learn a lot about watching a person from a distance over the years.  Maybe we start to understand some of the choices people make with their lives.  I had to quit music at some point.  Much like I had to quit a lot of social media.  These connections had been abused and corrupted to a point.  I did watch the Dark Knight for the first time all the way through recently.  I do know all about surviving long enough to find you are the villain.  The ending of that movie hurt a bit.  Especially since much of that film is set in Chicago.  I used to rack my brain over all of this way too much.  What did I do to cause so many people to be angry with me?  I’m the most isolated I’ve been in my life these days.  A venue in Russia that hosts Mac Demarco followed me on Instagram.  I can’t even follow back.  I can’t even really imagine why after all of this wanting to.  The one thing I can see about the future is that the view from the kitchen is always very pretty.  It reminds me of a place you might like to watch snow fall repeatedly.  Where everyone could see us but nobody would particularly care.

I don’t ever really question the way things work out.  I’ve grown used to things taking however long they need to take.  I’ve had to take opportunities to become a better person as they arose.  I’ve had a lot of free time to do that over time.  I had to make room for all that with a job and whatever else has been dogging my tail for years.  It’s been hounding us all for a minute now.  I’ve grown to understand at least in America it won’t go away.  There is a care and feeding to safety and security that requires your attention if you wish for it yourself ultimately.  People can lock themselves up in gated communities metaphorically and other wise and still forget the truth.  It starts with you and what you let into your life.  Sometimes there’s things that get pushed on you regardless of how hard you say no.  For me those times were times I’ve had to get rough.  People don’t like being told no.  People in power don’t quite understand why you’d even question it.  Sometimes I’m just looking for a solid answer.  Sometimes I’m just trying to make a case for something better.  I’ve done it alone for a very long time.  And at the same time I haven’t been so alone in the process.  People have grown to understand just how hard I try to stay genuine.  It doesn’t get easier as you get older.  It doesn’t seem to get easier for anyone.  It’s easy enough as an adult to order a standard queen size bed frame online and have it delivered on vacation.  I’m still growing.  I’m still learning how to be a sustainable adult.  It’s a lot easier for me these days to stay away from trouble.  Mostly because I think people know just how much trouble I’ve seen at this point.  I am at the point somedays when I wake up and it doesn’t phase me.  I can’t register any emotion other than how to face the current task at hand.  I know soon the windows will be open.  The moonflowers will bloom outside my window and feral cats will hang out on my porch.  These things are constants with the seasons.  With a little care and feeding they keep coming back.  Just like little signs on the ground if you look hard enough.  I’m sure it’d be painful to wait this long with your eyes strained every waking moment.  Some people are worth the attention.  I don’t question how much I need to do.  I just need a good night’s sleep.  A bed frame helps.  A nice hotel and a weekend getaway is cool too.  In the city that never sleeps.  Bigger fish bowl out there for sure. <3 Tim

[carol38banks]

The 78 Chicago — The Huge Plan for Downtown That Actually Could Happen

Over the last couple of years, Chicago’s traditional and new media have been ablaze with huge headlines about massive bigger real estate development projects all over town.  While most are eager to print even the most fanciful claims and screwball ideas just to generate clicks, we take a more measured approach around here.

With a logo straight outta 1978, it’s comfortably neo post retro. (Screenshot)

Which is why it’s refreshing to bring you news of The 78 — an enormous institutional research nexus planned for the South Loop that actually has a very good chance of happening.  Though the politicians backing it are quick to point out that it depends, in part, on private donations and funding, this is one of the few big new projects that stands a snocone’s chance in Little Italy.

Governor Bruce Rauner made the official announcement about the project in the wasteland just south of Roosevelt Road along the Chicago River this morning.  He was flanked by politicians of lesser stature, as well as representatives from Related Midwest, upon whose wide acres the acorns of innovation will be planted.

In this portion of The 78’s promotional video, we see that it has convenient CTA Red, Orange, and Green Line access; seasonal water taxi service (yellow); and distant South Shore interurban love (cyan). The pink line which bypasses the site is certainly not a subliminal message to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the RTA that this would be a good place for a new Metra station.

When we first reported on this yesterday, things were a little muddy.  Now that everything is official, it makes a bit more sense.  So, follow along and we’ll work through this together:

The 78 is the new name for the 62 acres of fallow ground between Roosevelt Road and Chinatown owned by Related Midwest.  People who like to note its political past sometimes call it Rezkoland.  (If you don’t know why, Google is your friend.)  Related likes “The 78” because it reinforces the notion that it could someday be recognized as Chicago’s 78th neighborhood.

The Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) is a research quango that will conduct research with the aim of turning ideas from academia into real-world ideas, products, and benefits.  Think of it as a miniature version of Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.  On the institutional side are The University of Illinois, The University of Chicago, and Northwestern University.  On the corporate side… we’re still in wait-and-see mode.  The DPI will occupy an unspecified portion of The 78 — land that will be donated by Related Midwest.

The DPI is the first part of the Illinois Innovation Network, which will eventually have campuses across the state.

So if you’re not a researcher working on “computing and big data, food and agriculture, and health and wellness,” what’s in it for you?  How about a nice new section of Chicago Riverwalk?  We’re talking a half-mile long and one hundred feet wide.

Also on offer are a lot of pretty new buildings.   As Related likes to tout, this is a blank slate for development.  It’s hired famed former Chicago architecture firm SOM to design the project, and has a history of fostering good architecture, from One Bennett Park near Navy Pier to its sister architecture petting zoo known as Hudson Yards on the west side of Manhattan.  It’s not unreasonable to expect great things here.

At this point, a word of caution is in order.  There are a lot of renderings of this project around.  But don’t get too attached to them.  Remember, this project is still in its infancy.  It hasn’t been funded on either the public or the private side.  And Related Midwest still hasn’t decided how much land it’s going to hand over to DPI/IIN/MOUSE.  But again, with names like Related and SOM on the tote board, there’s no reason not to expect something above average.

As always, the press release follows the pictures.

Related’s The 78 to Be Site of Planned Discovery Partners Institute

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner reveals innovation plan with University of Illinois System; Related donates land to jump-start project

CHICAGO (Oct. 19, 2017) – Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen today unveiled plans for an interdisciplinary public-private research and innovation center known as the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) at The 78, a mixed-use, master-planned development by Related Midwest. The new facility is planned to be developed on a donated portion of the 62-acre site bordered by Roosevelt Road, Clark Street, 16th Street and the Chicago River in downtown Chicago. In selecting The 78, DPI will anchor a new neighborhood offering dynamic residential, commercial, academic, civic, cultural and recreational experiences.

DPI is the inaugural step in the development of the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN), which will join businesses, public sector partners and research universities to focus on the study of computing and big data, food and agriculture, and health and wellness. Led by the U of I System, with its campuses in Champaign, Springfield and Chicago, DPI will bring students, world-class faculty and businesses together to share ideas and take them into their respective communities. “DPI will help drive economic growth for generations,” said Gov. Rauner. “It combines our state’s most valuable resources in education, technology and business so we can attract venture capital to build the businesses – and jobs – of the future.”

“This campus for innovation, anchored by the University of Illinois, will be a transformative force on the South Side of Chicago and for all of Chicago,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I look forward to working with the Governor and the many partners involved as we turn this vision into a reality.”

The 78, in development by Related Midwest, is master-planned in partnership with world-renowned architecture firm SOM and calls for a curated mix of residential, commercial, institutional, cultural and recreational uses, including 40 percent green and open space and a half-mile of developed riverfront that will expand the city’s existing Riverwalk. An extension of Chicago’s central business district, The 78 will connect to the downtown core via the new Wells-Wentworth Connector and to the entire city via bike-friendly streets and proximity to all major transit lines.

“Leveraging Related’s extensive experience in international placemaking, The 78 will be a transformative downtown neighborhood designed to respond to the rapidly changing demands of future generations, making it the ideal location for a dynamic institute like DPI,” said Curt Bailey, president of Related Midwest. “Research, education and innovation are guiding principles for The 78 – one of the largest and most ambitious projects ever conceived in Chicago – so when we learned of the U of I System’s mission, we were eager to not just support it, but accelerate it by providing a blank canvas on which the institute can be developed.”

The $1.2 billion DPI will be operated through private donations, government support and partnerships with business and industry. The size of the institute’s site on The 78 is still to be determined, and the university will work in conjunction with Related Midwest’s design and development teams to determine the exact location. An implementation plan that will include a timetable for the opening is expected to be complete next year.

“The 78 will provide students, faculty and corporate partners with a world-class setting in which they can live, study and work – ultimately pairing graduates with high-quality jobs within the immediate neighborhood as leading employers establish a presence there,” Bailey said. “By fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and creating an urban experience unlike any other in the country, our hope is that students, including those from out of state, will decide to remain in Chicago – and The 78 in particular – long after they finish their studies, in some cases starting their own business enterprises that will contribute to our city’s diverse economy.”

At full operation, DPI plans to have as many as 90 faculty members – sourced from the U of I System’s three universities as well as partner institutions – and approximately 1,800 graduate and undergraduate students who will spend one to four semesters living in Chicago while working at DPI and other businesses throughout the city. In connecting students with top research faculty in agriculture, healthcare, computing and other critical fields, as well as with entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, DPI will promote cutting-edge research and product development designed to address real-world challenges facing the city and state.

“This unique new institute will add to the momentum that has been developing in Chicago to create an innovation infrastructure at the kind of scale that can massively accelerate progress and economic development in our state,” Killeen said. “It will build on the U of I System’s long, rich history of pioneering innovation, and a legacy of service to Illinois and to this global city that dates back more than a century.”

  from Chicago Architecture https://www.chicagoarchitecture.org/2017/10/19/the-78-chicago-the-huge-plan-for-downtown-that-actually-could-happen/

[max34ron]

The 78 Chicago — The Huge Plan for Downtown That Actually Could Happen

Over the last couple of years, Chicago’s traditional and new media have been ablaze with huge headlines about massive bigger real estate development projects all over town.  While most are eager to print even the most fanciful claims and screwball ideas just to generate clicks, we take a more measured approach around here.

With a logo straight outta 1978, it’s comfortably neo post retro. (Screenshot)

Which is why it’s refreshing to bring you news of The 78 — an enormous institutional research nexus planned for the South Loop that actually has a very good chance of happening.  Though the politicians backing it are quick to point out that it depends, in part, on private donations and funding, this is one of the few big new projects that stands a snocone’s chance in Little Italy.

Governor Bruce Rauner made the official announcement about the project in the wasteland just south of Roosevelt Road along the Chicago River this morning.  He was flanked by politicians of lesser stature, as well as representatives from Related Midwest, upon whose wide acres the acorns of innovation will be planted.

In this portion of The 78’s promotional video, we see that it has convenient CTA Red, Orange, and Green Line access; seasonal water taxi service (yellow); and distant South Shore interurban love (cyan). The pink line which bypasses the site is certainly not a subliminal message to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the RTA that this would be a good place for a new Metra station.

When we first reported on this yesterday, things were a little muddy.  Now that everything is official, it makes a bit more sense.  So, follow along and we’ll work through this together:

The 78 is the new name for the 62 acres of fallow ground between Roosevelt Road and Chinatown owned by Related Midwest.  People who like to note its political past sometimes call it Rezkoland.  (If you don’t know why, Google is your friend.)  Related likes “The 78” because it reinforces the notion that it could someday be recognized as Chicago’s 78th neighborhood.

The Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) is a research quango that will conduct research with the aim of turning ideas from academia into real-world ideas, products, and benefits.  Think of it as a miniature version of Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.  On the institutional side are The University of Illinois, The University of Chicago, and Northwestern University.  On the corporate side… we’re still in wait-and-see mode.  The DPI will occupy an unspecified portion of The 78 — land that will be donated by Related Midwest.

The DPI is the first part of the Illinois Innovation Network, which will eventually have campuses across the state.

So if you’re not a researcher working on “computing and big data, food and agriculture, and health and wellness,” what’s in it for you?  How about a nice new section of Chicago Riverwalk?  We’re talking a half-mile long and one hundred feet wide.

Also on offer are a lot of pretty new buildings.   As Related likes to tout, this is a blank slate for development.  It’s hired famed former Chicago architecture firm SOM to design the project, and has a history of fostering good architecture, from One Bennett Park near Navy Pier to its sister architecture petting zoo known as Hudson Yards on the west side of Manhattan.  It’s not unreasonable to expect great things here.

At this point, a word of caution is in order.  There are a lot of renderings of this project around.  But don’t get too attached to them.  Remember, this project is still in its infancy.  It hasn’t been funded on either the public or the private side.  And Related Midwest still hasn’t decided how much land it’s going to hand over to DPI/IIN/MOUSE.  But again, with names like Related and SOM on the tote board, there’s no reason not to expect something above average.

As always, the press release follows the pictures.

Related’s The 78 to Be Site of Planned Discovery Partners Institute

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner reveals innovation plan with University of Illinois System; Related donates land to jump-start project

CHICAGO (Oct. 19, 2017) – Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen today unveiled plans for an interdisciplinary public-private research and innovation center known as the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) at The 78, a mixed-use, master-planned development by Related Midwest. The new facility is planned to be developed on a donated portion of the 62-acre site bordered by Roosevelt Road, Clark Street, 16th Street and the Chicago River in downtown Chicago. In selecting The 78, DPI will anchor a new neighborhood offering dynamic residential, commercial, academic, civic, cultural and recreational experiences.

DPI is the inaugural step in the development of the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN), which will join businesses, public sector partners and research universities to focus on the study of computing and big data, food and agriculture, and health and wellness. Led by the U of I System, with its campuses in Champaign, Springfield and Chicago, DPI will bring students, world-class faculty and businesses together to share ideas and take them into their respective communities. “DPI will help drive economic growth for generations,” said Gov. Rauner. “It combines our state’s most valuable resources in education, technology and business so we can attract venture capital to build the businesses – and jobs – of the future.”

“This campus for innovation, anchored by the University of Illinois, will be a transformative force on the South Side of Chicago and for all of Chicago,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I look forward to working with the Governor and the many partners involved as we turn this vision into a reality.”

The 78, in development by Related Midwest, is master-planned in partnership with world-renowned architecture firm SOM and calls for a curated mix of residential, commercial, institutional, cultural and recreational uses, including 40 percent green and open space and a half-mile of developed riverfront that will expand the city’s existing Riverwalk. An extension of Chicago’s central business district, The 78 will connect to the downtown core via the new Wells-Wentworth Connector and to the entire city via bike-friendly streets and proximity to all major transit lines.

“Leveraging Related’s extensive experience in international placemaking, The 78 will be a transformative downtown neighborhood designed to respond to the rapidly changing demands of future generations, making it the ideal location for a dynamic institute like DPI,” said Curt Bailey, president of Related Midwest. “Research, education and innovation are guiding principles for The 78 – one of the largest and most ambitious projects ever conceived in Chicago – so when we learned of the U of I System’s mission, we were eager to not just support it, but accelerate it by providing a blank canvas on which the institute can be developed.”

The $1.2 billion DPI will be operated through private donations, government support and partnerships with business and industry. The size of the institute’s site on The 78 is still to be determined, and the university will work in conjunction with Related Midwest’s design and development teams to determine the exact location. An implementation plan that will include a timetable for the opening is expected to be complete next year.

“The 78 will provide students, faculty and corporate partners with a world-class setting in which they can live, study and work – ultimately pairing graduates with high-quality jobs within the immediate neighborhood as leading employers establish a presence there,” Bailey said. “By fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and creating an urban experience unlike any other in the country, our hope is that students, including those from out of state, will decide to remain in Chicago – and The 78 in particular – long after they finish their studies, in some cases starting their own business enterprises that will contribute to our city’s diverse economy.”

At full operation, DPI plans to have as many as 90 faculty members – sourced from the U of I System’s three universities as well as partner institutions – and approximately 1,800 graduate and undergraduate students who will spend one to four semesters living in Chicago while working at DPI and other businesses throughout the city. In connecting students with top research faculty in agriculture, healthcare, computing and other critical fields, as well as with entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, DPI will promote cutting-edge research and product development designed to address real-world challenges facing the city and state.

“This unique new institute will add to the momentum that has been developing in Chicago to create an innovation infrastructure at the kind of scale that can massively accelerate progress and economic development in our state,” Killeen said. “It will build on the U of I System’s long, rich history of pioneering innovation, and a legacy of service to Illinois and to this global city that dates back more than a century.”

  from Chicago Architecture https://www.chicagoarchitecture.org/2017/10/19/the-78-chicago-the-huge-plan-for-downtown-that-actually-could-happen/

[al32richards]

The 78 Chicago — The Huge Plan for Downtown That Actually Could Happen

Over the last couple of years, Chicago’s traditional and new media have been ablaze with huge headlines about massive bigger real estate development projects all over town.  While most are eager to print even the most fanciful claims and screwball ideas just to generate clicks, we take a more measured approach around here.

With a logo straight outta 1978, it’s comfortably neo post retro. (Screenshot)

Which is why it’s refreshing to bring you news of The 78 — an enormous institutional research nexus planned for the South Loop that actually has a very good chance of happening.  Though the politicians backing it are quick to point out that it depends, in part, on private donations and funding, this is one of the few big new projects that stands a snocone’s chance in Little Italy.

Governor Bruce Rauner made the official announcement about the project in the wasteland just south of Roosevelt Road along the Chicago River this morning.  He was flanked by politicians of lesser stature, as well as representatives from Related Midwest, upon whose wide acres the acorns of innovation will be planted.

In this portion of The 78’s promotional video, we see that it has convenient CTA Red, Orange, and Green Line access; seasonal water taxi service (yellow); and distant South Shore interurban love (cyan). The pink line which bypasses the site is certainly not a subliminal message to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the RTA that this would be a good place for a new Metra station.

When we first reported on this yesterday, things were a little muddy.  Now that everything is official, it makes a bit more sense.  So, follow along and we’ll work through this together:

The 78 is the new name for the 62 acres of fallow ground between Roosevelt Road and Chinatown owned by Related Midwest.  People who like to note its political past sometimes call it Rezkoland.  (If you don’t know why, Google is your friend.)  Related likes “The 78” because it reinforces the notion that it could someday be recognized as Chicago’s 78th neighborhood.

The Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) is a research quango that will conduct research with the aim of turning ideas from academia into real-world ideas, products, and benefits.  Think of it as a miniature version of Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.  On the institutional side are The University of Illinois, The University of Chicago, and Northwestern University.  On the corporate side… we’re still in wait-and-see mode.  The DPI will occupy an unspecified portion of The 78 — land that will be donated by Related Midwest.

The DPI is the first part of the Illinois Innovation Network, which will eventually have campuses across the state.

So if you’re not a researcher working on “computing and big data, food and agriculture, and health and wellness,” what’s in it for you?  How about a nice new section of Chicago Riverwalk?  We’re talking a half-mile long and one hundred feet wide.

Also on offer are a lot of pretty new buildings.   As Related likes to tout, this is a blank slate for development.  It’s hired famed former Chicago architecture firm SOM to design the project, and has a history of fostering good architecture, from One Bennett Park near Navy Pier to its sister architecture petting zoo known as Hudson Yards on the west side of Manhattan.  It’s not unreasonable to expect great things here.

At this point, a word of caution is in order.  There are a lot of renderings of this project around.  But don’t get too attached to them.  Remember, this project is still in its infancy.  It hasn’t been funded on either the public or the private side.  And Related Midwest still hasn’t decided how much land it’s going to hand over to DPI/IIN/MOUSE.  But again, with names like Related and SOM on the tote board, there’s no reason not to expect something above average.

As always, the press release follows the pictures.

Related’s The 78 to Be Site of Planned Discovery Partners Institute

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner reveals innovation plan with University of Illinois System; Related donates land to jump-start project

CHICAGO (Oct. 19, 2017) – Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen today unveiled plans for an interdisciplinary public-private research and innovation center known as the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) at The 78, a mixed-use, master-planned development by Related Midwest. The new facility is planned to be developed on a donated portion of the 62-acre site bordered by Roosevelt Road, Clark Street, 16th Street and the Chicago River in downtown Chicago. In selecting The 78, DPI will anchor a new neighborhood offering dynamic residential, commercial, academic, civic, cultural and recreational experiences.

DPI is the inaugural step in the development of the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN), which will join businesses, public sector partners and research universities to focus on the study of computing and big data, food and agriculture, and health and wellness. Led by the U of I System, with its campuses in Champaign, Springfield and Chicago, DPI will bring students, world-class faculty and businesses together to share ideas and take them into their respective communities. “DPI will help drive economic growth for generations,” said Gov. Rauner. “It combines our state’s most valuable resources in education, technology and business so we can attract venture capital to build the businesses – and jobs – of the future.”

“This campus for innovation, anchored by the University of Illinois, will be a transformative force on the South Side of Chicago and for all of Chicago,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I look forward to working with the Governor and the many partners involved as we turn this vision into a reality.”

The 78, in development by Related Midwest, is master-planned in partnership with world-renowned architecture firm SOM and calls for a curated mix of residential, commercial, institutional, cultural and recreational uses, including 40 percent green and open space and a half-mile of developed riverfront that will expand the city’s existing Riverwalk. An extension of Chicago’s central business district, The 78 will connect to the downtown core via the new Wells-Wentworth Connector and to the entire city via bike-friendly streets and proximity to all major transit lines.

“Leveraging Related’s extensive experience in international placemaking, The 78 will be a transformative downtown neighborhood designed to respond to the rapidly changing demands of future generations, making it the ideal location for a dynamic institute like DPI,” said Curt Bailey, president of Related Midwest. “Research, education and innovation are guiding principles for The 78 – one of the largest and most ambitious projects ever conceived in Chicago – so when we learned of the U of I System’s mission, we were eager to not just support it, but accelerate it by providing a blank canvas on which the institute can be developed.”

The $1.2 billion DPI will be operated through private donations, government support and partnerships with business and industry. The size of the institute’s site on The 78 is still to be determined, and the university will work in conjunction with Related Midwest’s design and development teams to determine the exact location. An implementation plan that will include a timetable for the opening is expected to be complete next year.

“The 78 will provide students, faculty and corporate partners with a world-class setting in which they can live, study and work – ultimately pairing graduates with high-quality jobs within the immediate neighborhood as leading employers establish a presence there,” Bailey said. “By fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and creating an urban experience unlike any other in the country, our hope is that students, including those from out of state, will decide to remain in Chicago – and The 78 in particular – long after they finish their studies, in some cases starting their own business enterprises that will contribute to our city’s diverse economy.”

At full operation, DPI plans to have as many as 90 faculty members – sourced from the U of I System’s three universities as well as partner institutions – and approximately 1,800 graduate and undergraduate students who will spend one to four semesters living in Chicago while working at DPI and other businesses throughout the city. In connecting students with top research faculty in agriculture, healthcare, computing and other critical fields, as well as with entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, DPI will promote cutting-edge research and product development designed to address real-world challenges facing the city and state.

“This unique new institute will add to the momentum that has been developing in Chicago to create an innovation infrastructure at the kind of scale that can massively accelerate progress and economic development in our state,” Killeen said. “It will build on the U of I System’s long, rich history of pioneering innovation, and a legacy of service to Illinois and to this global city that dates back more than a century.”

  from Chicago Architecture https://www.chicagoarchitecture.org/2017/10/19/the-78-chicago-the-huge-plan-for-downtown-that-actually-could-happen/

[speakingintothevoid]

#it's funny because I know almost nothing about transit and have no interest in learning #but I love it. LOVE it. if I were mayor of chicago and the CTA came to me and said ''we need a kajllion dollars'' #I wouldn't ask for what. I wouldn't even point out that 'kajillion' isn't a real number. I would simply give them money. - notbecauseofvictories

Just wanted to say you kinda opened my eyes with your post about public transit a month ago. I am deathly afraid of public transportation. I guess seeing all the news and videos of horrible things happening on buses and subways made me ignorant of the fact that it’s just people. It’s just people. And that’s awesome. I’m gonna go ride a bus and thank the driver

I would never claim that nothing terrible happens on the bus---I've read those news stories too, to deny that it's possible would be flatly incorrect. Even in just my personal experience, there are dismissive, rude or belligerent people everywhere. People smell...different, especially when everyone is sweating through their winter coat, and unfortunately we can't convince certain members of the human race to buy some damn headphones. Still, I've been living in Chicago since 2010 and have never owned a car; I take a lot of buses and ride in a lot of taxis, I've biked from River North to Edgewater, taken the El from O'Hare down to Woodlawn, and ridden the Metra to the surburbs, to other states.

And I love public transit. I write about how much I love it with an almost unwell frequency---how it's a vehicle for grace, how the people who work there can be delightful, that it brings you into contact with people you wouldn't ordinarily meet. I still think about this article from Chicago magazine, where CTA workers were interviewed to talk about the highs, lows, and general insanity of the job. To recount every person I've had an unexpected conversation with, or shared a meaningful glance, or just admired from a distance as they gave up their seat, would take more time than any of us have.

Ultimately, everyone has to make their way through the world. When you realize that that's all people are really doing on the bus---or the train, or the subway, or the streetcar, or whatever other public transit is available to you---the idea of sitting alongside them doesn't seem so monumental. Everyone there just wants to get where they're going, and maybe arrive a little better than when they left.