What’s new on the river cruise in 2019?
Even if you've been on the river cruise before, it's time to go again! With new changes every year, you'll never go on the same tour twice.
By John Schneider
This year, the Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady will showcase several exciting new projects taking place along every branch of the Chicago River. Nearly all of these developments include open space, parks, the continuing expansion of river walks and water taxi stops. Several were contenders for Amazon’s HQ2.
If you're a CAC member, remember to use your annual buy-one-get-one-free ticket benefit and join us on the boat starting March 30 to see these projects and more!
1. WOLF POINT EAST
DESIGNERS: Pelli Clarke Pelli and Pappageorge Haymes
DEVELOPERS: Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises, Hines Interests and AFL-CIO Investment Trust
COMPLETION: Under construction; estimated December 2019
Wolf Point, the small peninsula at the confluence of the main and north branches of the Chicago River (just west of the Merchandise Mart), will soon be getting the second of its three planned skyscrapers. Joining Wolf Point West, an already completed 490-foot, 48-story apartment tower, Wolf Point East will be even taller, at 660 feet. The new glassy 60-story residential building will hold 698 apartments and include a new park and water taxi stop along its river walk. A third and final tower, the 800-foot Wolf Point South, will be named Salesforce Tower and eventually take its place between the other two buildings.
2. THE POST OFFICE
DESIGNER: Gensler
DEVELOPER: 601W Companies
COMPLETION: Under renovation and construction; estimated fall 2019
The country’s largest adaptive reuse project is taking place at Chicago’s former main Post Office, on the south branch of the river. The Art Deco structure, designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, was completed in 1921 and expanded several times to accommodate Chicago’s burgeoning mail order businesses, including Montgomery Ward and Sears. It was vacated in 1997 and sat empty for nearly 20 years. The current redevelopment, started in 2016, includes the restoration of the grand marble lobby, a new food hall and a 3-acre rooftop terrace. Large, unobstructed floors allow for collaboration and have attracted new tenants like Walgreens and Ferrara Candy Company. The site straddles operating railroad tracks, but will be people-friendly with the addition of a landscaped park and public river walk.
3. SOUTHBANK
DESIGNERS: Perkins + Will (master plan)
DEVELOPERS: Lendlease
COMPLETION: Under construction; 10 years to complete
Across the river from the Post Office, on the east bank between Harrison Street and Roosevelt Road, is a 14-acre site that was recently divided into two developments. North of Bertrand Goldberg's 1986 River City complex is Southbank, a 7.5-acre development that will contain several residential towers. The first, a 28-story apartment building called The Cooper, welcomed residents in 2018. In addition, a park and river walk is under construction and slated to be complete in 2019.
4. RIVERLINE
DESIGNERS: Perkins + Will (master plan)
DEVELOPERS: CMK
COMPLETION: Under construction; 10 years to complete
Connecting the South Loop and Printer's Row neighborhoods to the river, Riverline and Southbank will add 3,700 residences across several towers and townhouse blocks. The area, once reserved for heavy industry, will include new retail, a public river walk, a water taxi stop and kayak launch. Wetland restoration will return native flora and fauna to the area.
5. VISTA TOWER
DESIGNERS: Studio Gang; architect of record, bKL Architecture
DEVELOPERS: Magellan Development Group
COMPLETION: Under construction; estimated 2020
The most visible and tallest new development on the river is Vista Tower on the south bank of the main branch, in the Lakeshore East neighborhood. The 1,198-foot super-tall structure will be Chicago's third tallest building, with the second highest roof in the city, when completed in 2020. It will also be the tallest structure in the world designed by a woman. Consisting of three vertical columns clad in six varying shades of blue-green glass, Vista joins Jeanne Gang's nearby Aqua Tower in showcasing innovations in natural, organic and geometric forms. It will contain 406 luxury condominiums and a 192-room five-star hotel. Destined to become a new icon on the Chicago skyline, look for the unique "blow-through" floor on the tallest stack, which will lessen wind loads and sway.
6. THE RIVER DISTRICT
DESIGNERS: Solomon Cordwell Buenz (master plan), Goettsch Partners
DEVELOPERS: Tribune Media and Riverside Investment & Development
COMPLETION: Planned. Projected 10 years to complete
Along the west bank of the north branch of the Chicago River, straddling Chicago Avenue, lies the Chicago Tribune Freedom Center. With the sale of assets by Tribune Media, this 37-acre parcel is planned to become a technology-centered neighborhood with 18 buildings each 20 to 50 stories tall, supporting 19,000 jobs and 5,900 residences. The first phase, called 700 at The River District, includes one residential building and three shorter office buildings where up to 6,000 people will work and live. One quarter of the area will be preserved for park space and a terraced river walk. The expansion of The River District to the larger 30-acre plot south of Chicago Avenue surrounding the still-operating 850,000 square foot printing facility is planned in a later phase.