Renovation on Monroe

[john_denver]

Are they not going to put that nice red brick trim between the sidewalk and curb?

[GRDadof3]

I think after the bad grade the city got on its "accessibility" rating downtown, I think I read that they are getting away from the brick ribbons because they crumble and mess with wheelchairs and walkers.

[sparky05]

[Allison Slater]

I'm really liking that skywalk section now

[sparky05]

looks like the sidewalk is opened up, at least partially:

[DwntwnGeo]

When I was there yesterday, the sidewalk from the North (National City side) was open in front of all the businesses . The path is closed when you reach the area betwen the two buildings to the South.

[NorthEnder]

I think after the bad grade the city got on its "accessibility" rating downtown, I think I read that they are getting away from the brick ribbons because they crumble and mess with wheelchairs and walkers.

[sparky05]

Today:

A little panorama action:

[john_denver]

Today:

[jwazzz]

The building is going to look great when they are done - please tell me they aren't going to mess it up poorly designed signs. That big Subway sign looks ominous.

[jwazzz]

I meant to say "...mess it up with poorly designed signs." The perils of hitting send before editing.

[sparky05]

The building is going to look great when they are done - please tell me they aren't going to mess it up poorly designed signs. That big Subway sign looks ominous.

[GRDadof3]

Referring to the picture above, does anyone know if they will continue replacing the old plexi-glass on the tunnel with the new stuff? Maybe next spring they will resume?

The tunnel off to the left looks like crap...it's just old and needs replacing.

I like the new look.

[sparky05]

I doubt it. The "ugly" portion of the tunnel is connected to the AGP parking ramp and not the building being renovated. Unless Amway decides to do some major renovations to their parking ramp.

[Greedo]

The Founders Trust Building encapsulates the area above and East of the skyway. The AGP-owned property is west of the skyway.

If there are any renovations of the nasty-a$$ part of the skyway or the ramp, I imagine it will most likely come after the JW walkways are installed.

[sparky05]

One's too dark, one's too bright. Put 'em together and you might get some idea of what it looks like in there.

[joeDowntown]

It doesn't seem all that different than it was 8 years ago when I worked in the Campau building. Not that it looks terrible, it just looks the same. At least there isn't the stinky Arby's smell anymore (or maybe there is. Some stink goes straight to the studs).

Joe

[dtown]

Any more recent photos?

[quoteme3]

This project epitomized some of the problems downtown - for what got done it took just too da*n long. I bank at founders, so I saw the thing crawl along... ditto for Erics project kitty corner from there (pearl and monroe), the contractor was a year off his projection. The developer pays for this, but moreso the little retail schmo on the ground floor gets slaughtered. Add to this a TOUGH inspection dept and what seems like endless street work and assinine timing of the street work and its not suprising downtown retail is the last place mom n pops look to go.

[sparky05]

A few quick shots from today:

I was in the subway a week or so ago having lunch and got into a discussion with some of the folks that worked there about the project, how long it took, and what it did for their business. They're naturally all very relieved that it's done, considering that they lived for something like 9 months behind a plywood facade. But the most interesting tidbit from that conversation is that the owners of the building approached the shops down on Monroe about extending their space out to the new front of the building (there's about a 5 foot gap between the original glass front of Subway and the new glass front of the building - it's like a little hallway on the sidewalk), but stipulated that the shops would have to pay for the expansion and would also have to pay more for the additional space as part of their lease. Hence, Subway (at least) will not be expanding.

[GRDadof3]

This building looks so much better with transparent glass.

Allows interior fixtures to be highlighted...

And allows a peek at some of the interior design features (like the ceiling)

Outdoor patio

[NorthEnder]

This building looks so much better with transparent glass.

PICS

[joeDowntown]

I like the lights in the atrium. I saw them yesterday afternoon. I bet they'll look cool at night.

Joe

[dtown]

Such a great improvement. Veeeery sleek and modern, now we just gotta do something about that ramp behind it.

[mpchicago]

Transparency is the future! Great facelift.