JKC

I have cool charts but no idea how to post them. The box office totals nationally for theaters plummeted from $10Bn to $2Bn from 2019 to 2020.   This is no surprise. What wasn't so obvious was that it only recovered to $2.5Bn in 2021.   For Movie Theaters, 2022 will be telling.

A couple of things I have never seen before. Thanks for posting the master plan and that news clip..

A hotel is not competition, it is very complimentary. In fact more are needed to support a hopeful growth in convention business and to offset frequent sellouts. 

 

The TIF position to reimburse for building transformers is also positive to future developments, arguably more positive for the larger developers who could more often take advantage of it.  The self serving route would have been to just let it go without discussion so as to be able to use it later without scrutiny.

 
That said, Panther Island would make for a great residential neighborhood with minimal auto traffic.

Also making it a very well organized and complimentary use for the surrounding districts.

The questions were intended to align the City policy with a unanimous desire to approve the project. The current City TIF policy says that TIF proceeds may not be used for an exclusively private purpose which this is. That was made very clear in the meeting as was full support for the project. The high cost of the double redundancy requirement in downtown is definitely a competitive disadvantage that needs to be addressed. The TIF policy should allow the board to simply say this is what is needed.. However, As it turns out, modifying the policy is not as simple as it sounds either. Edited.

In these type of marketing sponsorship arrangements, eyeball (impressions) are often activated through marketing channels, collateral and temporary event setups. It isn't like naming rights in an arena or other facility. Permanent signage is simply not as effective or desirable (for either side). Green Mountain Energy is another example that has been around for 10 years or more but no signs are hanging on buildings.  There is not really a corollary between a marketing sponsorship and building signage. At least in this type of case.

Good questions that had to be thought through for the design and development.  Here are some answers:  The costs are totally the responsibility of Sundance and as such will be privately funded. An operating budget was developed anticipating the costs of maintenance and programming, to include rather nicely appointed restrooms.

 

As respects space here are two considerations: the plaza is not as much acreage as two full blocks but the removal of the curbs, planters, guardrails and fences on two sidewalks; together with raising the street grade to level with the plaza actually creates much more flexible space for programming. The Main Street Arts Festival for example is actually planning an increase in the number of artist spaces.  The second consideration is that while large events can (and will) be hosted there, smaller and more frequent programming has historically produced better sales for the retailers and restaurants. In many cases, large events that impose themselves upon the flow and operation of the downtown can actually limit sales. The large events will simply be more carefully selected.

Ameristeel commissioned it and donated it to "whoever" in the city had a home for it. So I suppose I might call it private art technically. Had there been a city-owned home for it I suppose you could have then called it public......

That small glass building with the strange roof in the renderings is going to be a public restroom?

 

 

 

Really enjoying the pictures of the progress. Only 4 months until this is all complete!

 A little less than half of this building will house public restrooms (the eastern end of the building).  The western end will be a mulitpurpose building with glass panels that can open or close to fit the various progamming requirements as needed. Here is a rendering if I can figure our how to post it..

 

http://jkcimages.shu....com/pictures/9

It is hard to imagine those who depend on convention and tourism for a component of their business, ever supporting the removal of the cowboy theme.  But the whole idea of "Cowboys and Culture" was to demonstrate that the city had much more to offer while not forsaking the western theme. IMO, the trouble in the tag comes partly from the word "Cowboy" having so much more vivd imagery than the word "Culture". Put the big word first and what follows will always follow.

 

I would support a re-visit of the tag as well as the messaging but in an effort to create balance, variety and a more rounded picture of what the whole city offers.

Seems like we ought to start seeing the facades go up soon.  Very exciting time.

 

Yes, if you look carefullly the cast stone is being set on the south end of The Westbrook (beginning at the second floor).  Should see some noticeable facade action in the next few weeks.

I still do not know how to post photos here or I would post some of the photos we took during the roof demo. Nearly all of the rafters from the rear moving toward the front were heavily burned and had been reinforced. I have no idea when there was a fire in the building but it was before we acquired it.... It was apparently a serious fire.

Is anyone up on the Trump deal on the old Chicago Main Post Office?  Pretty dramatic plan as I recall but it seems like it has been a couple of years since I have heard anything on it.

 

On another somewhat tangential note, I recieved a survey from the Real Estate Council asking for suggestions on a "legacy" project to support or help make happen. I wonder if the T&P Warehouse wouldn't be a good one to suggest...

Out of curiosity, I checked the FBI 2011 crime statistics. Some interesting things noticed were:
Handguns are over 68% of all murders.
Personal weapons such as fists, feet etc. account for more than rifles.
The overall number of murders has declined every year for the last five years (that is all I could see).

Here is a link:

http://www.fbi.gov/a...de-data-table-8