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Community Meeting Summary for Northwestern Memorial Hospital Outpatient Care Pavilion Proposal
October 23, 2011

On October 18, 2011, Alderman Reilly co-hosted a second community meeting for Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Outpatient Care Pavilion (OCP) proposal to be located at 259 E. Erie Street. This follow-up meeting was required by Alderman Reilly to address community concerns raised at the first meeting held on September 13, 2011.

This second meeting was well attended and highlighted changes Northwestern made in response to community feedback. Those revisions include:

  • Submerging all loading to below-grade. (The original plan included on-grade loading accessed off of Erie Street)
  • Removing one of the pedestrian bridges for a total of two. (The original plan included three pedestrian bridges)
  • Reducing the height of the overall building from 25 stories to 24 stories.

If you were unable to attend the meeting, please click here to view the power point slide show presented by NMH.

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Community Meeting Summary for Streeterville Development Proposals: 410 E. Grand Ave. and Northwestern Memorial Hospital Outpatient Care Pavilion (SW corner of Fairbanks and Erie Streets)  
September 23, 2011

Alderman Reilly co-hosted a public meeting on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 with the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents to inform area residents of two recently filed planned development applications.  Alderman Reilly would like to thank everyone who participated in the open and transparent community review process.

Representatives from both Golub Real Estate and Northwestern Memorial Hospital gave a full presentation of their proposals and answered questions raised about each project.  Alderman Reilly has secured a copy of the slideshow presentations given at the meeting for those who were not able to attend.  Please click on the links below to view the presentation and learn more about the projects. 

410 E. Grand

A planned development application filed by Golub Real Estate Corporation proposing two residential mixed-use buildings: one measuring 428' with 443 rental units and a second measuring 110' with 87 rental units with a total of 297 enclosed on-site parking spaces.  The site is currently used as a surface parking lot.

For additional information, please refer to the following documents:

NMH Outpatient Care Pavilion
A planned development application filed by Northwestern Memorial Hospital for a new Outpatient Care Pavilion proposed to contain 622,692 square feet of medical office space, 575 parking spaces and 13,700 square feet of retail area.  The building is proposed at 354'.

For additional information, please refer to the following documents:

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Feasibility study for Prentice Hospital - supplied by Northwestern University, building owner
May 24, 2011

Click here to view the study.

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Proposed Reuse Study for Prentice Hospital - Recently Published by Landmark Preservation Council of Illinois
May 6, 2011

Click here to view the study.

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Community Presentation – 1003 N. Rush Street Development Proposal
May 12, 2011

On May 11th, a public meeting took place to review 3001 Development LLC’s proposal to redevelop their property at 1003 North Rush Street.  Per my direction, the development team and their architect made a full presentation of their proposal and were present to answer any and all questions residents had regarding their project.  Staff from Alderman Reilly's office were present at this meeting to monitor the discussion, take notes and record feedback.

3001 Development LLC’s proposal for 1003 North Rush Street would call for the demolition of the existing 3-story building and rebuild of a 2-story building for retail development.   The plans for the site can be viewed by clicking on this link.

Additionally, click here to view the Revised Exterior Design as of May 9, 2011.

What:      1003 N. Rush Street Community Meeting

Who:       3001 Development LLC and Ald. Reilly’s Office

When:     Wednesday, May 11th - 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Where:    1201 N. Clark Street, Ground floor

* Please use entrance on Division Street, just east of Clark (this is the former bank space)

As you have come to expect, I am firmly committed to providing an open and transparent community review of all local development proposals.  Thank you to all who came out on Wednesday, May 11th to take advantage of this opportunity to engage in a direct dialogue with 3001 Development LLC and their architects to gain a better understanding of their proposal and receive answers to any questions you may have.

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SOAR Town Hall
Click here to view answers to questions raised at the SOAR Town Hall.

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Major Safety and Infrastructure Improvements Coming to New Eastside Area
October 15, 2010

A large-scale infrastructure improvement project will be starting soon in the New Eastside.  Residents of the neighborhood frequently contact my office to report concerns with confusing signage, traffic issues and pedestrian safety along Upper Randolph Street - east of Michigan Avenue.

Due to the growing population of young families in the New Eastside community and the large number of pedestrians - including a number of elderly residents with mobility challenges – Alderman Reilly directed the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to conduct a comprehensive traffic and infrastructure survey on Upper Randolph Street.  Alderman Reilly is pleased to report CDOT has designed several large-scale improvements to the area, which will help to slow vehicular traffic and significantly improve pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular safety.

The Alderman has allocated a substantial portion of the discretionary Aldermanic Menu capital fund that he controls in order to pay for these much-needed (and long-overdue) infrastructure repairs to Randolph Street. 

Please click here to review the plans for this project.

The upcoming improvements under this neighborhood initiative include:

New Bike Lanes on Upper Randolph between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive:

Per the Alderman’s direction, CDOT’s bicycle program has engineered a number of pavement marking improvements for Upper Randolph Street between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive.  These improvements include the extension of the eastbound bike lanes on the north side of Upper Randolph Street from Columbus Drive to just west of Stetson Avenue.  Shared lanes were recently installed from the end of the old bike lanes down to Michigan Avenue. 

On the south side of Upper Randolph Street, between Stetson Avenue and Columbus Drive, the existing eastbound bike lane has been relocated 8 feet off the curb line to keep school or charter buses servicing Millennium Park from parking in the bike lane.  The warning signs have been installed in conjunction with the pavement marking recommendations.

Improvement to Intersection of Upper Randolph and Field Blvd:

Alderman Reilly’s office fields numerous reports of vehicles failing to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk in the east leg of the intersection at Upper Randolph and Field Boulevard. 

This dangerous intersection will be “tightened-up” by shifting the crosswalk and stop line on the west approach approximately 35 feet to the east.  This will improve driver compliance with the posted stop signs and encourage drivers to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. 

The City will also be installing new accessible pedestrian ramps, crosswalks and intersection pavement markings at this relocated crosswalk.

Improvement to Intersection of Upper Randolph and Harbor Drive

Alderman Reilly’s office also receives chronic complaints of vehicles that fail to yield to pedestrians at the intersection of Upper Randolph and Harbor Drive.  This intersection will be reconfigured to include a painted median on the curve to provide a buffer between opposing travel lanes.  The painted median will also provide an area for pedestrians to stand while waiting for a gap in oncoming traffic – and will encourage slower travel speeds through the narrowing of the adjacent travel lanes. 

The City will also be installing additional warning signs to alert drivers to the approaching curve in the road and the presence of pedestrians crossing at the upcoming intersection.

Finally, CDOT recommends the removal of the stop sign and stop line for southbound traffic on Harbor Drive, because the intersection does not meet the necessary stop sign warrants and is inconsistent with the eastbound approach of Upper Randolph that has no stop sign. 

There is a stop sign for southbound traffic on Harbor Drive – but eastbound traffic on Randolph is not required to stop at this corner.  As a result, pedestrians gain a false sense of security that vehicles will stop at the crosswalk.  Alderman Reilly has introduced an ordinance to repeal this stop sign to improve pedestrian safety at the intersection of Randolph and Harbor Drive.

These improvements are scheduled to begin on October 18th and the project is expected to last for 8 weeks.  The Alderman is very happy to announce this exciting project, which will finally address many complaints regarding traffic and pedestrian safety in the New Eastside.

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Fourth Presbyterian Church Expansion Proposal
August 26, 2010

Earlier this month, Alderman Reilly co-hosted a public presentation to review a proposal submitted by the Fourth Presbyterian Church to expand their current facility in order to accommodate their growing congregation and community programming. 
 
The proposed new building would house a mid-sized chapel, classrooms for the Church's Sunday School, Day School and Tutoring Program, a new kitchen and dining room, a computer center, library and fellowship/concert/meeting spaces that will also be available to the broader community.  The maximum height of this proposed structure is five stories and scheduled to contain approximately 80,000 square feet.
 
If you were unable to attend the Alderman's meeting to raise your questions or concerns, you can email the Alderman at office@ward42chicago.com and we can secure answers for you or relay any concerns you may have.
 
To view the Fourth Presbyterian Church expansion proposal, please click here: Presentation
 
A traffic impact study for this project was also made available and can be viewed here: Traffic Study
 

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Alderman Reilly Landmarks Historic Germania Club
August 7, 2010

After almost two years of meetings and negotiations, Alderman Reilly was pleased to finally testify in support of designating the historic Germanic Club a city landmark at the Chicago Commission on Landmarks hearing last Thursday, August 5th.  Alderman Reilly worked closely with the current owner of the Germania Club and the city Landmarks Division to present a final designation report to the Landmarks Commission.  The grandly-scaled Germania Club Building is located at the corner of Clark Street and Germania Place in the 42nd Ward's Gold Coast/Near North Neighborhood. The final designation was unanimously approved by the Landmarks Commission and their recommendation will be submitted to the full City Council for consideration at the September meeting.

Built in 1889 by prominent members of Chicago's German-American community, the Germania Club is a structure known today for its distinctive Victorian-era architecture and abundance of ornamental detail - in stark contrast to the immediate surroundings of the postwar high-rises  of Sandburg Village. 

Germania Club is architecturally significant, combining Romanesque styling with elements of German Neoclassicism.  The massive walls combine two-stories of alternating smooth and rusticated Bedford limestone serving as the base with deep red brick, terra cotta, and round arches on the top story.  This design epitomized the Romanesque style of architecture particularly common to Chicago during the late 1880-1890's.  Neoclassical details include the pediments, bracketed cornice and portico.

The large third-story windows serve to exaggerate the building's volume, given that its exterior is decorated with rich materials and ornate, picturesque details.  These features made the Germania Club stand out - even during a period when embellished architecture was the norm.  Other prominent features include the pyramidal roof at the southeast corner, the long projecting window bay supported by limestone brackets on the Clark Street elevation, a terra-cotta sculptural panel with figures depicting musical allegory on the Germania Place elevation and a substantial stone porch with classical columns framing the main entrance to the club.

In addition to its architectural significance, Germania Club is one of the best-remaining examples of a once-prevalent building type: the local neighborhood club.  The long-standing Chicago tradition of forming clubs and organizations meant that grand-scaled club buildings were a very distinctive part of the city's neighborhood landscape in the late-nineteenth century.  Several well established organizations built and maintained their own buildings, including clubs dedicated to boating, cycling, literature, fine arts and ethnic groups.  The Germania Club served as a focal point for Chicago's German-American community, acting as an important center for German-American cultural, charitable and civic activities.

Other examples of architecturally and historically significant club buildings which still stand today include the Chicago Club at Michigan and Van Buren and Union League Club at 65 W. Jackson Blvd.  However, these buildings were built in the twentieth century, out of the political and business social climate of Chicago's Central Business District.  Germania Club remains distinctive due to its age, neighborhood location and association with a particular ethnic group.

The origin of Germania Club dates back to 1869, when a group of German Civil War veterans, known for performing at various ceremonies, formally incorporated as the Germania Mannerchore (German men's chorus).  In 1886 the club purchased the parcel of land at Clark and Grant (now Germania Place) Streets from Chicago restaurateur Philip Henrici.  It was located in the heart of the oldest and largest settlement of German-Americans in Chicago at the time, and served as the prime location for a new club.  By 1888 the membership of the Germania Mannerchore had raised $100,000 through a private bond issue and hired the architectural firm of Addison and Fiedler to design the new club building.

W. August Fiedler (1843-1903) designed the Germania Club.  He was a partner of the firm Addison and Fiedler, and also a club member.  Fiedler was born in Eblin, Germany, and immigrated to the United States in 1886.  He moved to Chicago in 1874 to participate in the post-'1871 Chicago Fire' boom reconstruction.  Later in his career, Fiedler was appointed as the supervising architect for the Chicago Board of Education where he oversaw the construction of a number of schools, including: Goethe School, 2236 N. Rockwell, 1895; Komensky School, 1925 S. Throop, 1890; McCosh School (now Emmett Till School), 6543 S. Champlain, 1894; Bass School, 1140 W. 66th, 1895; Funston School, 3616 W. Armitage, 1895; and Pickard School, 2301 W. 21st, 1896.

The Germania Club was almost demolished in 1964 along with the Red Star Inn, another German-American landmark across the street from the club, to make way for the Carl Sandburg Development.  Edwin Eckert, Germania Club's president at the time, proclaimed "if we destroy our community landmarks, we will have a city without visible history, citizens without roots and leaders callous to our American heritage."  However, the club was suffering at the time due to rising maintenance costs, lack of parking and the far distance of the club from its mostly (now) suburban membership.

The demolition of the Red Star Inn in 1970 recommitted the Germania Club membership to preserve their building.  Attempts made in the mid-1970s to gain landmark designation for the club were unsuccessful.  The building was threatened again in 1985 with a proposal to build a 45-story residential high-rise on top of the existing structure.  It was eventually bought by commercial developer in 1986 following years of declining membership.  The men's chapter of Germania Club has since dissolved but the women's chapter is still active, although they no longer hold meetings in the building. 

Currently, Germania Club's ground floor is home to several businesses and the large main rooms are still intact and are rented for special occasions.  This historic building remains one of the strongest links to Chicago's German-American cultural history.  Many other landmarks such as the Red Star Inn, German Building from the World's Columbian Exposition (demolished, 1925), and the German Opera House/Garrick Theater (demolished 1961), were all identified with Germans in Chicago, but the Germania Club remains - a rare and distinguished touchstone to German heritage.

As an official city landmark, the building would be protected from significant alternation or demolition and be eligible for a variety of tax and financial incentives.  The Commission on Chicago Landmarks' recommended designation involves all exterior elevations, including rooflines of the building and the major historic public interior spaces of the building.

**Photos and Historical Data provided by the Chicago Department of Zoning and Land Use Planning Commission on Chicago Landmarks.  To view the complete Landmark Designation Report please click here. ** 

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Alderman Reilly invites you to view the Central Area Action Plan
April 9, 2009

The Central Area Action Plan is a “vision document” that represents the next step in the implementation of the economic development and land use goals set-out in the original 2003 Central Area Plan (CAP) by prioritizing key urban design, transportation, open space and waterfront projects. 

It is very important to note the Central Area Action Plan is in no way binding – it is simply a planning document.  Any projects included within the Plan would still require the appropriate Plan Commission, Zoning Committee and City Council approvals.  Further, all project proposals listed in the Central Area Plan that impact the 42nd Ward would be required to go through my regular community review / input process prior to receiving my support or any city approvals.

Click here to view the Central Area Action Plan.

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Burnham Pavilions in Millennium Park
April 8, 2009

Alderman Brendan Reilly, in concert with the Burnham Plan Centennial Committee, the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Art Institute of Chicago and Friends of Downtown, hosted a meeting to inform the public about the temporary Burnham Pavilions in Millennium Park. 

These exciting exhibits were designed by international architects Zaha Hadid and Ben Van Berkel of UNStudio to commemorate the spirit of Chicago embodied in the Burnham Plan. They will open to the public June 19 and close on October 31, 2009.  They are at the heart of a region-wide series of events, plans and projects designed to challenge metropolitan Chicago to continue its bold visionary planning tradition.

For further information about the Pavilions, the Burnham Plan Centennial and schedule of events throughout the region, visit www.burnhamplan100.org

 
         
 
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