New apartment tower near Millennium Park hits the market: "The first residents of a brand-new 189-unit apartment tower steps from Millennium Park have barely moved in, and the building's developer is already putting it up for sale. The venture including Tom Roszak and Dan Moceri have hired CBRE to sell the rental units in Parkline Chicago, a 26-story building at 60 E. Randolph St. that just started leasing office in February. The property is almost completely leased, another sign that the downtown multifamily market is bouncing back." (Crain's)

Listen to CDOT Commissioner discuss Chicago's new Strategic Plan For Transportation: "The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) on Thursday released its 'Strategic Plan for Transportation,' self-billed as 'the nation's first urban transportation plan developed in the wake of the pandemic, economic and racial justice crises of 2020.' CDOT Commissioner Gia Biagi and Janette Sadik-Khan, a former New York City transportation commissioner, join Reset to discuss the bold plan." (WBEZ Chicago)

Allowing more density would help Chicago avoid a post-COVID transit death spiral: "As Chicago recovers from COVID-19, many of the scars have only begun to heal. One of those scars is on our transit system: CTA ridership collapsed during the pandemic... Denser developments near transit lines can help support a stronger transit system for everyone. People who move next to an 'L' stop or bus corridor are much more likely to be consistent transit riders." (StreetsBlog Chicago)

The Wall Street Journal review lavishes praise on Studio Gang's St. Regis tower:  "Prominently sited on the Chicago River, just west of Lake Michigan, [St. Regis] rises a full 101 stories, making it the city's third-tallest building. It is easily the most important addition to the Chicago skyline in a generation—no small feat in America's most celebrated architectural city." (Wall Street Journal)

Vista Tower.Shutterstock

Affordable housing project in Auburn Gresham will be redesigned: "After months of pushback against a $20 million affordable housing project in their neighborhood, Auburn Gresham residents learned Thursday that the controversial building would be redesigned and split into two buildings. Some neighbors, however, are still wary of the city's plans." (Block Club Chicago) 

Magellan Development's Joel Carlins reflects on his career, Lakeshore East, and building a village in the heart of the city: "The world of real estate is one of high risk and high reward, and developer Joel Carlins certainly understands the intricacies of this dynamic from his 25 years of building in Chicago." (RE Journals)

Saving the Thompson Center requires boldness worthy of its architect: "Thinking 'outside the box' made Jahn world famous. The same is needed now from those who would save his Thompson Center and make it shine in the Loop." (Chicago Sun-Times)

Locals want Promontory Point's limestone steps fixed, not replaced with concrete revetments: "Though officials intend to 'save and reuse as much of the existing limestone as feasible,' Hyde Park neighbors are concerned the city's efforts to stop lakefront erosion threaten Promontory Point's decades-old design." (Block Club Chicago)

Promontory Point.Jay Koziarz/Urbanize