Trump International Hotel and Tower - Chicago - by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

[TREPYE]

I could potentially stomach a design review committee that gave height bonuses to nice buildings if it was genuinely apolitical, was efficient enough not to raise costs, and wasn't in the pocket of NIMBYs either. But yes, I absolutely believe the mayor should not be involved in awarding wealth to politically connected contributors just because they build pretty buildings.

That's a recipe for crony capitalism and subverting the will of the people to stay in power even when your city is losing its economic relevance. Chicago is a good poster child for this concept, although I guess Atlanta and Dallas should send Daley a thank you card as logistics businesses and domestic finance flee a corrupt city.

Then how come Trump did not leave when he was ordered to produce a spire? How come currently Chicago has a myriad of new developments (a hell of alot nicer than NY may I add)??

Your position does not add up unless you can provide some actual proof that this mass corporate exodus from Chicago to Dallas and Atlanta has happened because of the major. And, is it anymore than the amount of companies that leave NYC or any other major city at lower echelons'?

[investordude]

There's a difference between leaving NY and Chicago - Chicago is reasonably cheap. Not quite as cheap as Dallas or Atlanta, but the difference isn't very large. If you look at airport traffic growth, or migration of college educated immigrants, or payroll growth, these all suggest powerful trends of Dallas and Atlanta beating out Chicago, especially on logistics. I guess what I'd like to see in Chicago is an appointed design review board that isn't under the mayors thumb, if we want a design review board.

Of course Trump would stay in Chicago. The political cronyism there is a win win for both him and Daley, and for architects and people who like pretty buildings. What's wrong with Chicago is the top cops are accussed or murder, only a little while after a nationally televised incident of a cop beating the daylights out of a bartender. And crime is too high. These kinds of things normally hurt the mayor and force management improvement, but in Chicago, people are afraid Daley can punish them economically so they don't challenge his ineptitutde. Putting design in the hands of less political people would go along way to restoring good government to Chicago, and would still let it be America's architecure capital.

[TREPYE]

There's a difference between leaving NY and Chicago - Chicago is reasonably cheap. Not quite as cheap as Dallas or Atlanta, but the difference isn't very large. If you look at airport traffic growth, or migration of college educated immigrants, or payroll growth, these all suggest powerful trends of Dallas and Atlanta beating out Chicago, especially on logistics. I guess what I'd like to see in Chicago is an appointed design review board that isn't under the mayors thumb, if we want a design review board.

Why?? cuz you think he is manipulating the citizens of Chicago by throwing pretty designs at them??

Of course Trump would stay in Chicago. The political cronyism there is a win win for both him and Daley, and for architects and people who like pretty buildings.

How is it a win for Trump?? This guy could care less about design, he's all about profits. All he could think of is how much $$ he is loosing by erecting this profiteless spire. I completely disagree; Daley wins that battle but the loss is not big enough for Trump to leave because in the end the extra 5-10% spent on a spire does not impact his BL immensly. And in most development cases I dont believe it should, the difference here between NYC and Chi is enforcement; if Bloomy gave a crap enough about NYC architectural apperance he would have done the same thing.

What's wrong with Chicago is the top cops are accussed or murder, only a little while after a nationally televised incident of a cop beating the daylights out of a bartender. And crime is too high. These kinds of things normally hurt the mayor and force management improvement, but in Chicago, people are afraid Daley can punish them economically so they don't challenge his ineptitutde.

If this situation is a dire as you put it how come I havent heard about a Federal probe about this? This seems like its a job for the FBI. I find it hard to believe the things that you mentioned above would go by unnoticed by the Federals.

Putting design in the hands of less political people would go along way to restoring good government to Chicago, and would still let it be America's architecure capital.

So you are telling me that when a political figure has input and veto power over archtiectural designs it means that he is corrupt or a less responsible politician?? It seems like you are trying to put together two mutually exclusive issue together....

If he want to use his architectectural taste/influence for political gain I see nothing wrong with that. If he is as corrupt as you suggest he is then the federal govt will not look the other way because he has good architectural taste, the citzens may be fooled (per yor suggestions), but not the FBI.

[devels]

TRUMP TOWER

[BVictor1]

A few more shots from 10/21.2007

[BVictor1]

Taken 10/23/07

[Tectonic]

Possibly the best looking tower developed by Trump in my opinion.

[SolarWind]

October 29, 2007


October 30, 2007

[BVictor1]

11/13/07

[SolarWind]

November 13, 2007

[Bob]

It's probably too late in the process to resurrect the original Jetsons top, correct?

[lofter1]

Do you have a picture of that ^ which you'd like to share

[SolarWind]

It's probably too late in the process to resurrect the original Jetsons top, correct?

One of these?

[SolarWind]

November 29, 2007

[SolarWind]

November 27, 2007