What’s Happening at 1445 N. Dearborn Parkway in the Gold Coast?
For many years, I have wondered what this building was going to be at 1445 N. Dearborn Parkway in the Gold Coast.
Luxury condos with million dollar price tags, perhaps?
This picture below was taken in March 2011.
But in 2015, this building still has the “private property” and “no trespassing” signs on the front metal fence.
Here’s the latest picture:
It doesn’t appear that anyone is living there.
I googled the address but nothing comes up.
For those of you who live in the Gold Coast, what is going on with this building?
After all these years, I’m curious about it.
well 1447 N Dearborn is probably it… looks like part of the buiding collapsed and they are deconverting 27 units to 10 luxury units elevator/radiant floors are not your standard finishes
04/21/2006: Rebuild collapsed section of building and addition and deconvert from 27 dus to 10 dus to include new electrical, hvac, plumbing as per plans
06/01/2011: Install one (1) 937.50max lb.cap. 40fpm,3-stop roped hydraulic private residence elevator. must be single family residence. pursuant to plans submitted
06/15/2012: Installation of none required radiant flooor heating system with glycol per plans. note: no ele. work will be done under this permit num
08/14/2013: Reinstate permit #100085035 rebuild & deconvert from 27 to 10 d.u. at 25 % of the original permit fee’s
This sounds like novel material- a beautiful building collapses while under construction, and remains unfinished and unoccupied to this day, while the configuration and mechanical plans are changed several times, and essential work undone. You have to wonder how many mistakes and future disasters still lurk within those perfectly-embellished walls.
It is one of the most beautiful new buildings I’ve seen- the proportions and details are totally perfect, could almost pass for a 20s vintage building. But, given the checkered history of its construction, I’d be hesitant to buy, and would rather have a building that has proved it can stand for longer than it takes to get it built.
also since Bing maps is super out dated you can see a birds eye view of what it looked like in 2007ish
http://binged.it/1UBtMtz
More information- not exactly a “new” building, but an old hotel being extensively rebuilt, without proper permitting. Since it’s on the odd numbered side of Dearborn, it must have been the facade that collapsed, as it faces west, and was extensively rebuilt. Here’s an old Tribune article on the collapse:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-11-20/news/0511200352_1_buildings-department-collapsed-gold-coast
i lived down the street from 2007-2011. i always went buy this place and thought how great it would be to be able to buy in it. i dont live in the GC anymore but when i do drive by now i have the same thoughts. i could never figure out what was hapening with this place. nice to read some comments and gain some insight on why this has been sitting uncompleted for a decade.
In 2005, the trib article said “The building has been vacant for about 10 years”. That means it’s been sitting uncompleted for *two* decades.
I’ve been watching the building for years and never seen any activity. Last week was walking by in the early evening and saw an older gentleman opening the north gate (where the truck is permanently parked) and letting in another SUV to park. I’ve walked by every day since then and no activity.
Iirc this building’s been owned for 35+ years by affiliate(s) of a typical north side quasi-slumlord. Not surprised he didn’t pull city permits when beginning his conversion – the surprise is his changing it from many small units to ‘lux’ units
Ah, I always wondered what was happening here. It had a facadectomy a few years ago which is probably when it collapsed. Would love to know more about the history of it – I always thought the original condition would be cool inside.
I love that word, “facadectomy”.
The property is owned by John Brown, of JAB Realty / Belden Properties / Dearborn Parkway Realty. He got his start about 35-40 years ago buying up properties in Lincoln Park, and accrued a decent portfolio of buildings by the time the neighborhood really picked up momentum.
I could go into the experiences of those who have leased apartments from his companies, or those who have worked for him directly, but such stories can be easily found with a few quick google searches.
John had owned this building for quite some time, and with the early 2000s boom in high gear, decided he wanted to gut the property and turn it into high end condos, with an association exempt penthouse unit for himself. While doing the initial work, there was a partial building collapse. Many of the neighbors wanted the remainder of the structure torn down, which would cause the property to lapse to its underlying zoning (much less total square footage than the existing building).
John fought to keep the intact structure in place, allowing him to rebuild the rest of the building within the exact envelope of the building pre-collapse. He was able to essentially build from the ground up, utilizing existing foundations, excavating basements, and laying new foundations. In 2007 the plans were for two units per floor, with the 1st floor units being partial duplexes down. The units would be set up as an association, but with one unit, John Brown’s, exempt.
Heated garage accessed through the alley, private garage for John’s unit to be accessed from Dearborn, units ranging from (if i remember right) 2,400SF – 4,000SF, traditional layouts, high ceilings, 14 feet in the case of John’s unit, private rooftop space for John, architect at the time was Gary Beyerl or Burns and Beyerl. The project was a mess, disorganized, moved incredibly slow due to John wanting to personally oversee everything, trying to cut corners, trying to get more than what he paid for out of sub contractors and architects.
I always keep an eye out to see if the units hit the market, but after all the years I have yet to see anything. Considering how long it took to even get it built (6 or 7 years), I would have thought he would be hurting for cash. Guess not. Either way, so long as he is involved with this building, I would stay far away.
Interesting. So there is no city code preventing a property sitting in limbo for so long?
very interesting dude. thanks for sharing that.
Fascinating! I didn’t know someone could be exempt from a homeowners’ association. I wouldn’t feel comfortable having this guy as a neighbor.
Echo Jenny.
I would not buy into an association that exempted any unit, especially the largest unit, from association dues and duties, and I can’t imagine why anyone else would.
Sounds like John counted on buyers being too dumb and eager to buy, to scrutinize the situation before buying- and in 00s, he was making a safe bet. Had it not been for the building collapsing, he most likely would have been able to sell every unit in this disaster of a building, very quickly at an inflated price, and the buyers would have joined thousands of other luckless schmucks who bought into disastrously deficient buildings in that crazy time. Buildings going up or being extensively reno’d and altered at that time, were not getting any more scrutiny from inspectors and buyers, than were loans.
So – what is the current status a/f 10/01/2016? Where would one find information on what is going to happen – or not happen?
it is 2019, and nothing has been happening since the last posts in 2015. Any updates?
“it is 2019, and nothing has been happening since the last posts in 2015. Any updates?”
I walked by this building over the weekend. It looked like someone was tending the yard. There was also a permit in one of the windows but I don’t know if it’s a new permit or an old one.
Does anyone know if these are about to come on the market (either rental or purchase?)
Where’s Dennis Rodkin when you need him?
I live on the street, still vacant. They’ve done work on it in the past few years since I’ve lived here, the units are still just bare dry wall and empty. Just got curious about it and fell down this rabbit hole. Can’t believe it has been vacant so long.