Final Countdown: Children's Memorial Hospital leaving Lincoln Park

One of the cute ads at a bus stop in Lincoln Park reminding neighbor's Children's Memorial Hospital is moving to Streeterville in June 2012.

The new Children's Hospital building located at 225 E Chicago Avenue shown below is an impressive, inviting structure among mid and high-rise structures.

My wife and I recently attended a Service Awards dinner for Children's Memorial Hospital employees and volunteers. For those of you that don't know, my wife Jillian is an accomplished Registered Nurse with a Masters and serves as a Director in Ambulatory outpatient clinics at Children's. She is heavily involved in the extraordinary task of planning (and executing) the hospital move to Streeterville.

Jill's award was for 10 years of service while a couple employees received a 45 year award! This dinner was special and emotional for many. A video was played showing the many memories and faces so crucial to Children's Memorial in Lincoln Park. The new hospital move and new name (Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago) is less than one year away! Jillian and I have both worked in this Lincoln Park area for 10 years and she'll miss the many neighbors and great location!

Is there any other development going on in the city that will impact a neighborhood more? The current Children's Memorial Lincoln Park location is A+ real estate in Chicago. The loss of the hospital and pending development are anxious and exciting issues.

Check out some some Children's Memorial coverage and Lincoln Park news at YoChicago.com

Children's Hospital CEO urges neighbors support at Lincoln Park development meeting, TUESDAY January 14th

I was sent the letter below from the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago President and CEO urging support for the Children's Memorial development site plans.  The hospital site sale has been reportedly tied up in a political mess for well over a year.  Children's, now Lurie, would like to close this transaction.  In my summation most Lincoln Parkers and business owners would like to see development move ahead.

Much of that "mess" has been "cleaned up".  The latest community meeting will take place tomorrow January 14th at 6:30, DePaul Student Center.  RSVP information below.

Photo Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker

Dear Friend of Lurie Children’s and Lincoln Park resident:

 

I hope you are enjoying a safe and healthy start to 2014.

 

I am writing to remind you that in one week, a critically important community meeting will be held to review revised plans for the redevelopment of our old Children’s Memorial Hospital site.

 

In order to help move this project forward so that the hospital can close on the sale of this property, I would like to respectfully ask you to:

1.    Review the proposed plans;
2.    If your schedule allows, RSVP to join us at the Jan. 14 community meeting; and
3.    Send a letter of support for the revised redevelopment plans to Alderman Smith.

 

Thank you very much to those of you who have already sent letters of support.  To date, we have sent 45 letters of support and have collected 1,463 petition signatures. If you have already sent a letter and/or RSVPed for the community meeting, please consider forwarding this message to other friends and neighbors seeking their support.

 

Community meeting details:

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

6:30 pm

DePaul Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield

Free parking is available at the former Children’s Memorial garage on Lincoln Avenue, and paid parking is available in the Dominicks Garage at the corner of Fullerton and Sheffield.

RSVP to Ken Labok, Community Relations Manager, at klabok@luriechildrens.org

 

Thank you for considering this request, and for all you do to support our Mission.

 

Sincerely,

 

Patrick

 

Patrick M. Magoon

President and CEO

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Children's Memorial Hospital Development Meeting in Lincoln Park (and live streaming!)

CHM Redevelopment Town Hall Meeting and live streaming 
Thursday July 26th, 6PM to 8PM
WHERE:The DePaul Student Center, Rm 1202250 N. Sheffield

Photo Bob DePalma, Real Estate Broker

As you may know, Children's Memorial Hospital moved out of it's Lincoln Park campus last month in June to it's brand new Streeterville location - and changed its name to Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. The main campus and several properties of Children's Memorial Hospital is being redeveloped.

Alderman Michele Smith in the 43rd Ward (Lincoln Park) is sponsoring a series of community meetings with the Children's Memorial Hospital site developer, this one with live streaming so you may watch at home.  This is a huge property in a fantastic east Lincoln Park location. 

Children's has meant the world to the neighborhood for so many years.  Not only is development sensitive in any strong community but the emotional ties, economic impact and everyday buzz that was Children's in the Lincoln Park community will make consensus of redevelopment plans difficult.

NEW expansion to Lincoln Elementary School announced, Children's Memorial development planning to move forward

I just received this email update from Michele Smith's 43rd Ward office concerning the overcrowding of Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and the Children's Memorial Hospital redevelopment.  The school overcrowding issue has been used to stymie a larger, more dense redevelopment plan.  A community meeting will be help this November 21st with updated Children's Memorial site development plans. READ BELOW



From da Alderwoman:

The overcrowding at Lincoln Elementary has been a serious concern for our community for many years. I am proud and happy to share with you that Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that we have received funding for a new addition to Abraham Lincoln Elementary School. This addition will not only eliminate the current overcrowding at the school but will also anticipate the growing needs of our community.

The new addition will be built on the site of the current Lincoln Elementary School. It will accommodate approximately 500 additional children and keep all grades at Lincoln Elementary under one roof, unified. The additional space will allow Lincoln Elementary to offer planned pre-K programming, full day kindergarten and to provide adequate facilities for its full range of educational programming.  The current building will also receive significant upgrades. The entire community will benefit from this addition as well, as the design anticipates space for community use when school is not in session.

CPS has provided conceptual plans which you can view on our website. However, these plans are subject to change as we review them further and receive input from parents.  Some key parts of the plan:

• The addition is on the current site, allowing all grades to be in one building;
• A new ground level playground will be built;
• A new open-air play level will be built on the roof, with plenty of space for soccer and basketball.  Best-practices designs such as those incorporated at the British School and Catherine Cook School will be incorporated;
• Nineteen new classrooms will be built, allowing for the full educational program of Lincoln Elementary to thrive, including the IG (International Gifted) program, EFAC (Ecole Franco-Americaine de Chicago), ESL (English as a Second Language) and band;
• A new lunchroom/multipurpose room will be built in the annex, providing modern space for dining and flexibility to use the space for gym, recess, and other activities for younger students;
• Electrical upgrades to the existing 1874-era building will allow for window AC units to be installed;
• The entire school will be ADA-compliant with the installation of an elevator that can stop at all of the many levels of the old school. 

This dream could not have come true without the passionate commitment of Lincoln Elementary parents and community members. Over 1,300 Lincoln parents and community members wrote, called, e-mailed, met, and testified in support of expanding Lincoln Elementary. The Lincoln Local School Council engaged in a rigorous analysis of the various options to handle the overcrowding which guided our decision-making. Ward residents contacted our office with a variety of solutions. The enormous amount of input that we received is what allowed us to make an informed decision and vet all of our options accurately before arriving at this solution.

I want to thank Mayor Emanuel, Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett, and all the elected officials who listened to our community over the past two years, and who helped us to find the money from other existing state revenues that resulted in several schools receiving funding. Thank you as well to DePaul University, who offered space in their new College of Education Building to help ease the overcrowding this year.

This is a victory for all the children in Lincoln Park and Old Town. Our schools are the foundation of our neighborhood and the reason why people choose to live here. The new addition to Lincoln Elementary ensures that it will remain, along with elementary schools Alcott, Oscar Mayer, Newberry, and LaSalle, and Lincoln Park High School, a place where children receive a top-notch public education right in their own neighborhood.

What's Next?

Look forward to further planning meetings as we finalize plans for the school.  CPS tells us that we can count on having the addition ready for school opening in Fall, 2015 - just one full school year away.  In the meantime, we'll be continuing our work to find a temporary solution to the overcrowding for one more year.

What about the Children's Memorial site?

Last year, I held up further review of any proposed development at the Children's Memorial Hospital site in light of the overcrowding at Lincoln Elementary. I felt that it was irresponsible to move forward on a development that could increase the burden on Lincoln Elementary before resolving the overcrowding issue.

Since we have now reached found a solution, I am immediately directing McCaffery Interests, the developer of the Children's site, to prepare a plan that responds to the community's concerns raised about their earlier plan, chief among them height and density. We have given them a deadline, November 21st, to bring new plans to the community and have scheduled a community meeting for the presentation of these plans. I hope you will join me on Thursday, November 21st to review the plans and provide input:

Children's Memorial Redevelopment Public Meeting

Thursday, November 21st

6:30pm

DePaul Student Center

2250 N. Sheffield

Congratulations to all on this important milestone.  I look forward to working with you as we move forward.  As always, I am honored to represent such a vital and passionate constituency.

Sincerely,

 Michele Smith

 43rd Ward Alderman

Photos! Inside the new Children's Memorial Hospital in Streeterville

The new lobby at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

My wife, a director at Children's Memorial Hospital, snapped a few interior photos of the new Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.  The new Streeterville building is almost complete with modern atrium and sky gardens! Children's will officially move out of Lincoln Park and into the Streeterville facility in June of this year.

More Streeterville and Children's posts!

PHOTOS: Children's Memorial Hospital building in Lincoln Park slowly demolished

The main driveway and lobby area that exited onto North Lincoln Avenue. Photo Eric Rojas, Bob DePalma Kale Realty

The long awaited demolition and re-development of the Children's Memorial Hospital campus in Lincoln Park is upon us.  Demo crews started tearing down the main hospital building yesterday.  My wife worked at Children's Lincoln Park as a floor nurse than manager. Now she is a Director in Streeterville at the newly built Lurie Children's Hospital (same company) completed in 2012.

Looking northwest at the corner of Lincoln and Orchard. Photo Bob DePalma on 6/7/16

My Facebook page was filled with posts of friends who worked at the old hospital (most still with Lurie Children's now). Several swung by to take photos like the one below:

Photo from the parking garage across the street.

Story: Lincoln Park businesses brace for Children's Memorial Hospital move

 A good article by Tyler Davis at ChicagoTalks.org addresses the business impact of the Children's Memorial Hospital move.  It's a good primer on the hospital move and features some useful links to neighborhood groups involved.

Main campus building for Children's Memorial Hospital at Lincoln and Orchard.

The relocation and redevelopment of the Children's Memorial Hospital site is a concern in Lincoln Park any way you cut it.  My wife is a 10 year RN and now Director at the hospital.  My office is located a couple blocks away.  We've been going to the area restaurants, bars, booking holiday parties and using nearby services for many years due to the Children's location. Many employees also choose to live very close to the hospital as well and go to area businesses every day.


It will be years before new retail and residential housing adds population density. My wife and I will have new routines and visit more businesses in Streeterville and less in Lincoln Park as a result of the hospital move. The hospital has had a large impact on the residents, employees and businesses and it is really an unknown how its absence will impact each individual.


More Lincoln Park information, stats and tours here

Streeterville group doesn't like Children's Memorial Hospital; Hates sick kids

Okay, I admit that the title of the post is a little sensational, "Your Honor! Leading the witness!" I'm trying to spice up the site. I'm also in full swing campaign attack mode... too much CNN.

But Crain's has been following the opposition to the ground breaking of the new Children's Memorial Hospital in Streeterville by a local neighborhood group Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR). They feel the information and planning by Children's Memorial has been inadequate and want further clarifications concerning traffic, parking, noise etc...
Maybe, but the city has been okay with the project to my knowledge.

Read the story here:

Sorry, SOAR, but I think Children's has meant more to Chicago than you and will get the nod for full speed ahead (I thought I woke up in Chicago... not a democracy). If the new 42nd Ward Alderman has any wits, he'll take a pass on this fight or face further sensational blog posts about turning his back on sick kids. Hey SOAR, maybe you should move to the North Side by me... Its quiet, parking is okay and it's not freakin' downtown.

Full disclosure... my wife works for Children's Memorial at it's current Lincoln Park location. The move is not necessarily advantageous to her commute or to our lifestyle. We like working in Lincoln Park.

Bottom line, even if there is an explosion of congestion and noise... welcome to the new downtown...not your father's ghost town anymore.

Read this past story on the subject

Demo, demo, demo at old Children's Memorial in Lincoln Park

You have to visit the site to get the full effect of the eerie Children's Memorial demolition in the heart of a busy Lincoln Park neighborhood. I took a few more photos last week after visiting 444 West Fullerton. The large hospital structure is almost entirely gone and the site lines driving west up Fullerton are striking.  Here's a look at the over-all development plan.

I can't help but double take when I approach the open space at the corner of West Fullerton and North Orchard in Lincoln Park.  The tedious demolition of the former Children's Memorial Hospital nears completion.

This terra cotta structure at Fullerton and Lincoln is the latest victim of the re-development plan of the multiple sites at Children's Memorial. 

It will be a relief when this part of town is put back together.

Photos! Touring the new Children's Memorial Hospital in Streeterville

Packed house for the tours!

 Last Saturday our family toured the new Children's Memorial Hospital as part of the Employee, Physician and Volunteer Open House (newly named Ann & Robert H.Lurie Children's Hospital).  The new Streeterville location is at 225 East Chicago Ave.

Here's a few photos from the day...wish I got more.  It was a really well run event and probably emotional for the many employees who have been both doing their jobs at Children's and planning the new hospital move (not to name names, but like my wife Jillian, both an RN and Director of out-patient clinics).

CT scan room...under the sea

One of the operating rooms

Many interactive areas for kids and families

Interesting views all around the hospital

The views are great, but hopefully you will never have to see them from these rooms!

Gorgeous stained glass at the chapel

Eclectic art can be found throughout the hospital

The sky garden

The Zen Garden

Then...we ate!

Median rent for a two bedrooms apartment in Lincoln Park, Chicago is $3,000/ month

Lincoln Common in Lincoln Park (shown here on Monday of this week) is a sexy rental and retail development on the former Children's Memorial site.  All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

The median monthly rent for a two beds apartment in Lincoln Park over the last twelve months is $3,000. A three bedrooms apartment has a median rent of $4,200.

I was in Lincoln Park this past week looking at relatively higher-end rentals for a client moving to the city. We passed the Lincoln Common Apartments entrance at 2345 N Lincoln Avenue, Chicago IL 60614. Rents at Lincoln Common Apartments are listed from $2,600 to $12,500 a month on Apartment.com. Affordable apartments are also offered to qualified candidates based on income and other factors.

I've written about the Lincoln Common development several times in the past. It was built on the former Children's Memorial site. The old Children's Hospital and location is near and dear to our hearts... my wife has worked with Children's (and now currently named Lurie Hospital)  for over 22 years. My old office was around the corner.  We loved our time in Lincoln Park.

To buy, sell or rent in Lincoln Park and most Chicago and near suburbs please contact my team at erojas@kalerealty.com  

Visit my business page for recent posts, off market listings and more www.facebook.com/chicagorealestatelocal

Children's Memorial redevelopment in Lincoln Park: Next community meeting December 14th

Children's bus stop advertisement. Photo Bob DePalma and Eric Rojas, Real Estate Brokers

I just received an email update from the 43rd Ward Alderman's office in Lincoln Park stating the next Children Memorial Hospital community meeting is this Wednesday, December 14th at 6:30PM in Bigler Auditorium 2300 Children's Plaza (hospital is near at Lincoln/Fullerton/Halsted intersection)


More information and updates on the redevelopment of the hospital site can be viewed HERE


See past posts on Children's Memorial Hospital HERE and Lincoln Park HERE

Children's Memorial development saga close to an end in Lincoln Park

The last community meeting led to "intense negotiations" for the stalled Children's Memorial Hospital site sale and development in Lincoln Park.  According to Michele Smith, 43rd Ward Alderman, the new plan is being submitted to the Chicago Plan Commission on February 20th. 

There are several changes listed that scale down the development again...which I find disappointing for this location.  Another stinky change: "Tenants and owners at the new development will be ineligible for residential or guest permits, thus preserving the limited street parking for existing residents".  This creates two classes of citizens.  NEW renters in existing properties get parking permits but new development owners and tenants (who could have lived in the permit zone already) will be excluded.  There's a lesson for all you new to Chicago city planning. 

Way to go. Here's the update letter below we received from the 43rd Ward Alderman's office:

Peaceful city views from Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier

 It's quieter out there in the big city than in here.  There are several nice views of the city and lake from various exhibits at the museum.

Looking out from the "Water Works" at the Children's Museum, Navy Pier.

Check out information on the Children's Museum HERE.  You may also get half-off admission with a membership at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. An afternoon at either place guarantees the kids will be sleeping by 7:00PM that evening..

Starting the year in Streeterville (and a look at condo sales)

A very nice plaza view looking from The Children's Museum at Navy Pier. The nearly completed Vista Tower sits just across the river from Streeterville in the Lakeshore East development.  

We've had a busy December and start to the New Year. I'm going to try and post a LOT more (like the old days) about our daily business adventures a observations while working around town.

I've really enjoyed the Streeterville neighborhood over the years. My wife works at Lurie Children's Hospital (formerly in Lincoln Park) and we've taken advantage of the dining and entertainment and cultural events in and around the area. It's also a favorite place for Bob and me to show condos! Bob is a former resident of several Streetrville buildings.

556 condo units sold over 2019 with a median price of about $325,000.  That relatively affordable number for the primo location does not take into account high monthly building assessments. They can easily reach $800 to $1,000 a month on a two bedroom unit. The vast majority of condos at or under the median price are one bedroom units.

The real Streeterville... this view from Lurie Children's Hospital. Mix of old and oldish high-rise buildings in the heart of the neighborhood.

Our current first-time buyer has a budget in the median price range (max $330,000 depending on taxes and assessment). Streeterville is their near work.  The "must haves" are two bedrooms and in-unit laundry. Not the easiest thing in the world to find in the neighborhood on a budget! Our client will have to look in buildings most likely built in the 60s and 70s.

One unit that meets our criteria is 222 East Pearson Unit 609, Chicago IL 60611 closed at $292,500. The two beds, one bath unit has in-unit laundry, in building parking, gym, 24 hr doorman and great location.  The assessment in this example is relatively high at $733.00 a month but the sale price range would make it work in the budget.

Currently there are only two Streeterville condo units listed active for sale that have at least two bedrooms, in unit washer and dryer and priced under $350,000! If you are looking for a home this season downtown, Streeterville, North Side or even the near suburbs contact us.

Children's Memorial development meeting: Tonight!

A group called The Children's Memorial Hospital Coalition is hosting a community forum tonight at 6:30PM at St. Vincent DePaul Center. They advocate affordable housing for the massive re-development of the current Children's Memorial Hospital in Lincoln Park.

The information I was given is as follows:
Tuesday, January 25th, 2011 St. Vincent DePaul Center 2145 N Halsted 6:30PM to 8:00PM (Doors and free parking open at 6PM, enter lot on Webster)

Confirmed Forum Speakers:

§ Nick Brunick, Affordable Housing Attorney, Author, and Advocate

§ Jonathan Fine, AIA, Executive Director, Preservation Chicago

§ 43^rd Ward Aldermanic Candidates

§ Your neighbors

Invited Forum Speakers:

§ Hospital representatives

§ Elected officials

§ Your neighbors

Please call Mary at Lakeview Action Coalition at 773-549-1947 x385 for more information or to RSVP. Also, visit www.lakeviewaction.org/childrensredevelopment.htm.

No developers? Leave your tomatoes and ire at home! Ha!

Arts and crafts at Chicago's Children's Museum, Navy Pier

Learning how to work with clay in the Children Museum's classroom last week.

We still enjoy the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier after nearly 10 years of visits.  With four kids now from 9 1/2 yrs old to 15 months we utilize a lot of the family friendly institutions and public parks around the city.  We've asked grandparents, aunts and uncles to think about museum memberships for gifts rather than "plastic stuff".  The Children's Museum and surrounding area offers us a lot of bang for the buck.

The water feature is a hit and allows for some outdoor fun along with the museum.

We can usually get some guests in on our passes and bring our kids' friends to keep everyone busy.  Navy Pier has been going through a lot of renovations and the public park with water feature is a great activity to run the kids tired.  The Streeterville neighborhood at Navy Pier offers a lot of great places to eat along with Olive Park and Ohio Street Beach more outdoor fun.

After the museum we often stop at Ohio Street Beach right near the pier.

Photos: A ghost town near the old Children's Memorial, Lincoln Park

I took a few shots of the shuttered, and former, Children's Memorial Hospital site in Lincoln Park a couple weeks ago (after a dentist appointment across the street...no cavities).  The new development of the site has run into a fresh set of problems as reported by Crain's.  No one said it was going to be easy, but they didn't say it would be this hard either.

I digress.

The eerily empty hospital driveway.  We'd spent many years dodging cars and pedestrians coming out of this drive.

The hospital closed and moved permanently to Streeterville in June.  However, the vacant site has taken on a new melancholy as we move into cold and grey fall days. It feels a little more vacant now.  As some of you know my wife worked at the old hospital for about 10 years (and continues to work at the new hospital). My old office was a couple blocks away.  A lot of time was spent around the hustle and bustle of this location.

The mostly empty parking structure.

One of the largest concerns of the hospital closing was the affect of the hospital move on local business.  Dissipated are the lunch crowd, work parties, employees, parents, kids...it's a pretty dramatic blow. 

Lunch staples like this Potbellly Sandwich shop are feeling the pinch.

North Lincoln Avenue by the old hospital site was pretty quiet for this Thursday afternoon lunch hour.

More Children's and Lurie Hospital posts HERE

The new Children's Memorial Hospital closer to completion

We swung by the brand new construction Children's Memorial Hospital building on Sunday for a few photos (now the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital).

It's a high profile location at 225 E. Chicago in the Streeterville.

The hospital features an amazing atrium and sky garden. The garden is the glassy box on the east side of the building.

Check out the time lapse construction video

First renters move into mega development Lincoln Common this week in Lincoln Park

The two large towers of Lincoln Common on the old Children's Memorial Hospital site.  All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

Crain's reported the first renters have moved into the Lincoln Common development in Lincoln Park. It will be awhile until all the buildings are completed and the whole site pulls together.

Apartment rents range from $1,800 to $6,300 at their site.  If you need an apartment in Lincoln Park, contact me for various options.


Past posts on Children's Memorial site here.