Main Post Office Auctioned, Future Still Unclear

Yesterday, the Main Post Office was auctioned to an unknown global company, International Property Developers North America. The company purchased the national historic building for a whopping $40 million, a far cry from the starting bid at $300,000. The building future is still unclear, the unknown developers have not stated what the old building will be converted into. Although, the company affirmed, "We are not prepared at this time to discuss our redevelopment plans, but we are looking forward to working with the mayor, the alderman and city staff to ensure the success of this project...to paraphrase Daniel Burnham, let me assure you we shall make no small plans."With that said at least the developers have respect for Chicago visionary, Daniel Burnham. Here's a video from the bid.

Friends of the Chicago Portage invite you to discover the hidden places where Chicago was born.

If you are interested in learning and visiting the places where Chicago was born, you should take the Discovery of Chicago Bus Tour. The tour will be held on Saturday, September 19th and will begin at 10 am at Portage Woods Forest Preserve in Lyons, IL. Following the historic Portage Creek, the tour visit the places where Joliet and Marquette took their boats out of Mud Lake and then continues downtown to visit the Centennial Fountain's symbolic portrayal of the Chicago Portage. The tour will then stop near the location of the first trading post in Chicago....get as close as the public can get to the site of DuSable & Kinzie's cabin.

After a lunch break near historic Wolf Point and the "The Forks", the tour will follow the development of Chicago at the site of the orginal terminus of the I&M Canal before returning to Portage Woods Forest Preserve. The tour will conclude before 3:00 P.M.

The cost of the tour is $40.00 for adults, 35.00 for students and seniors. There is a $5 discount for Friends of the Chicago Portage members. For more information, go to the Chicago Portage website, http://chicagoportage.org/.

Final Race to Chicago 2016

">

We now have less than 37 days until the decision will be made on the 2016 Olympic bid. Whether one is against or for the Olympics in Chicago, most people can agree that if the city secures the bid then the city’s neighborhoods have the opportunity to flourish. More specifically, the city will develop innovative and sustainable buildings and recreational space. If Chicago secures the bid, it will be highly likely that construction will restart on the Spire and that the city will reinstate the auction of Chicago Main post office. I’m looking forward to Chicago winning the Olympic bid, because it will inspire Chicagoans to continue to make this city into a world-class city.

Chicago River's Transforming Ecology

In recent days, the Chicago River’s ecology has made news from the potential threat of the Asian Carp to the present threat of the alligator found in Bubbly Creek. Historically, the river was toxic and marine life could not sustainably populate in the river. Although, the river remains polluted, after the reversing the flow of the river in 1900, the Chicago River became cleaner and habitable for marine life. It is still recommended that the fish should not be eaten; particularly, the invasive silver and bighead carp, which population has exponentially increased in the past years. Ecologists are concerned about the carp invading the Chicago River like it has destroyed marine life in the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. The high-flying carp is a threat to Chicago River and the Great Lakes, because the fish can grow to be up to 100 pounds, 4 feet long and it can reproduce at rapid rate. Unfortunately, the carp would wipe out resources and endanger other marine life like the Pacific salmon and lake trout. As for the alligator, the verdict is still out on how the reptile made its way to the once very polluted Bubbly Creek.

">

Chicago, the Beautiful

A lot has changed in Chicago since 1948, but for the most part Chicago architecture has remained untouchable. Although, the city’s skyline is full of modern high-rises and several building names have changed, Chicago remains picturesque and breathtaking as it was in 1948.

This classic video produced by legendary documentary filmmaker, James A. Fitzpatrick highlights the architecture wonders post WWII: the Wrigley building, Field Museum, Soldier Field, Tribune building, the Stevens Hotel (renamed as the Hilton), Civic Opera, and Merchandise Mart just to name a few. Additionally, the video highlights comprehensive mass transportation, boats on the Chicago River and the railway system.

In a time period, when people were not able to travel as efficient and rapidly as today, Fitzpatrick was able to bring the modern majectic city to cinemas all over the United States. Chicago, the Beautiful is a great record of our city’s architectural history.

">

One World Trade Center

Since September 11^th is only a few weeks away, I would like to take today’s blog to remember the national tragedy by giving an update on One World Trade Center. One World Trade Center, also referred to as the Freedom Tower, is the first building to be constructed on the actual World Trade Center site. Three other high-rise buildings will be constructed around and pay homage to the World Trade Center Memorial.

Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill LLP is designing the tower. Construction began in 2006 and is not expected to be completed until 2018. The tower will have over 2.6 million square feet of office space, retail, on observation deck, parking, and access PATH and subway trains. Here’s an animation video of the expected tower and Memorial site.

2009 US Hall of Fame Inductees Mural in Millennium Park

Last week, the US Olympic Committee unveiled a mural of the 2009 US Hall of Fame inductees in Millennium Park. The three-dimensional mural was designed by chalk artist, Tracy Lee Stum, who holds the Guinness World Record for the largest chalk painting by individual for her piece, “The Da Vinci Code’ in 2006.  The mural depicts the inductees achieving excellence in their respective sports in the Olympics. The mural pays homage to inductees: Clyde Drexler, Michael Johnson, Picabo Street, Teresa Edwards, Willye White, Sarah Will, Andrea Mead-Lawrence, and Mary T. Meagher.  Drexler, Edwards, Will, and Meagher viewed and signed the mural.   

So who are the inductees?

•   Mary T. Meagher won a bronze medal in 1988 Seoul Olympics, but won 1984 Los Angeles in Swimming.
  
•  Teresa Edwards won a bronze medal in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, but won a gold medal in 1984 Los   Angeles, 1988 Seoul, 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney Olympics in basketball. 
  
• Clyde Drexler won a gold medal in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in basketball.
  
•  Sarah Will won 12 gold medals in the Winter Paralympics 1992 – 2002.
  
• Michael Johnson won a gold medal in the 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics in   Track & Field. 
  
• Willye White who won a silver medal in 1956 Melbourne and 1964 Tokyo Olympics in Track & Field,  went on to win a gold medal in the 1963 Olympics in the Long Jump.
  
•  Andrea Mead-Lawrence won a gold medal in 1952 Oslo Olympics in Alpine Skiing.
  
• Picabo Street won a silver medal in 1994 Lillehammer Olympics and then won a gold in 1998 Nagano Olympics.