Modernist park design inspires modernist residential buildings, increasing real estate values in Chicago's East Loop.
Modernist Millenium Park has transformed Chicago's East Loop area from a low-key office and commercial district into one of the city's hottest housing markets. A 2005 study commissioned by the city found that the park is responsible for about $1.4 billion in residential development and for increasing residential real estate values in the area by $100 a square foot. James Kinney, local real estate executive explains: "You've got the park, the harbor, Navy Pier, the museums and other cultural attractions and easy access to expressways and public transportation. It's a pretty unbeatable combination."
New modernist buildings contain a mix of residential uses. Aqua Tower, an 80-story high-rise by architect Jeanne Gang, will have a 215-room hotel and 476 rental apartments on the lower floors and 263 condos on top. Its design takes inspiration from Lake Michigan: "The building has a sensuous rippling facade created through the use of irregularly shaped concrete floor slabs. Ms. Gang, a protégée of the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, said the inspiration was striated limestone outcroppings that are a common topographic feature of the Great Lakes region. 'We were looking at ways to tie the building to its place and realized the lake is the biggest thing in the area,' Ms. Gang said."
FULL STORY: How a Park Changed a Chicago Neighborhood

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Idaho Data: Unexpected Vehicle Repairs Exacerbate Housing Instability, Eviction Risk
Over 21 percent of clients struggle with transportation barriers.

A Year-Long Investigation On Permanent Supportive Housing
The New York Times reveals what’s working and what’s not in the cornerstone of Housing First.
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