Breaking News: Cowford pulls out of Southbank deal!!!

[urbanlibertarian]

I was referring to Navy Pier, a kind of combination amusement park and shopping mall erected on an old pier that juts out into Lake Michigan.  If the city went ahead and extended the Riverwalk across the front of the property they might be able get something more to draw people to the site than just a residential development with a bit of retail.

[spidey]

Navy Pier was part of the Plan of Chicago developed in the 1920s (what I was referring to above) and was a very popular gathering place.  However, by the 80s, Navy Pier was, and had been for many years, an eyesore full of derelict buildings that no one visited except for maybe to get a better view of the 4th of July fireworks over Lake Michigan.  The area around the pier was not the best place in town to be either.  In the 90s, Chicago invested about $200 million to refurbish and restore the pier into the destination and attraction that you found it be during your visit there.

Although I like Navy Pier alot, and could see that for the southbank, I also like the miles and miles of green park space along Lake Michigan, and could see that on the Southbank as well.

BTW, a liitle bit of trivia here for you:  the first skyscraper in Chicago was built in 1885!

[Steve]

My thought - if this administration is that desperate for "flex space" as their previous plans have indicated, let's just make it a park - while I think there could be a better use, but if it this or tearing up friendship fountain or metro park for "flex space", there you go.

[spidey]

I don't agree with tearing out friendship fountain.  It's part of our skyline.  Met Park, as far as I am concerned can go, even though I like to go there to concerts.  It's outdated and small.  Not sure where I'd put a new amphitheater, but I think the City can better utilize that space....and I don't mean for condos, either.  ;-)

[thelakelander]

Speaking of ampitheaters, I stopped in Columbus, OH yesterday.  Just outside of downtown, they converted a part of an old brewery into an outdoor ampitheater, then used the rest of the space for clubs, bars, restaurants and live music venues and marketed it as the "Brewery District".  We could use some of that type of creativity locally.

[Seraphs]

While I'm not totally shocked this one didn't happen, I was looking forward to see it develope.