The Chicago 77

29 September 2009 ? With the final location announcement looming, Chicagoans are both excited and apprehensive. But little has been said of the long term impact of the enormous venues needed to host the 2016 games. Will we have a “Bird’s Nest” that only tourists visit, similar to Beijing? Not necessarily, according to the plans. [...]

24 September 2009 ? While the City of Chicago boasts miles and miles of lakefront, very few single family homes grace the shoreline, especially on the north side. But now you too can own a private slice of beach – 56 feet of private shoreline to be precise. The home owned by the family of [...]

17 September 2009 ? The Block 37 project in the heart of the Loop has included a constantly shifting group of participants since its inception, at one time including Apple, who has since canceled its plans to open a retail store with the project. This week the Loews hotel chain announced its withdrawal, drawing claims [...]

08 September 2009 ? Residential solar energy systems are more affordable now than ever. Falling demand, driven by the weak economy and reduced government subsidies in some European countries, has resulted in high inventory levels and distributors willing to slash prices to keep sales volumes up. This supply-demand imbalance is predicted to last at least [...]

03 September 2009 ? Home Services of America, a division of Warren Buffet’s investment firm Berkshire Hathaway, has acquired Koenig and Strey, one of Chicago’s largest real estate brokerages. Koenig and Strey’s parent company, GMAC Home Services, LLC, was purchased by Canadian company Brookfield Residential Property Services. Shortly after that transaction closed, Brookfield began selling [...]

25 August 2009 ? Recent changes to the City’s Olympic plans to level all but one building of the near-south Michael Reese campus include reusing additional buildings that were designed by architect Walter Gropius. After voting down a proposal to place the entire campus on the National Registry of Historic Places, the City’s landmarks commission [...]

20 August 2009 ? On July 29 Mayor Daley introduced an ordinance supporting the Metropolis retail development at State and Pershing in the city’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Daley wants the city to issue $28 million in “Enterprise Zone” bonds for the $50 million development, which includes a Roundy’s grocery store and an additional 60,000 sq ft [...]

13 August 2009 ? In a plan to link under-served areas of the city and near suburbs, the CTA has approved a $2 billion plan to extend three lines by almost ten miles. While similar projects in other cities require the taking of personal property to make room for the new lines, Chicago’s project will [...]

6 August 2009 ?I was pleased to see that Chicago was not on the Forbes’ list of the cities to get the best deals on a condo. Unlike many of Forbes’ lists, this is one list we as a city do not want to be on. Being on this list means that there are too [...]

30 July 2009 ? The new construction building on northeast corner of Clark and Kinzie may look like any other new construction project in the city, but look again. This green glass covered parking garage generates its own energy and is technologically advanced enough to have been awarded a U.S. patent. Wind turbines will be [...]

23 July 2009 – Chicago finally has its first net zero home. Simply stated, a net zero home produces as much energy as it uses. Chicago resident Michael Yannel has built a 2,695 square foot showcase for emerging green technology at 4895 N Ravenswood. The home?s green features include 48 photovoltaic roof panels, a rain [...]

16 July 2009 ? A Chicago architectural icon is losing its identity today. Or is it? Willis Group Holdings, the London-based insurance broker who has leased a substantial portion of the Sears Tower, will officially change the building’s name on Thursday. But how many of us Chicagoans will give up tradition and call the building [...]

7 July 2009 ? More foreclosures are to come. While the housing market has been showing signs of stabilization, we may see another surge of foreclosures before the end of summer, according to several major banks. Why now? Since the end of last year many lenders have held off on foreclosure proceedings, instead offering loan [...]