Residential Towers for Chicago’s Hyde Park Neighborhood

Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood is heating up, with a 26-story apartment tower designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz poised to break ground in December 2018 at 1600 East 53rd Street and finishing touches going onto the Jeanne Gang-designed Solstice on the Park, a rental tower that also stands 26 stories at the northern edge of Jackson Park (ELEVATOR WORLD, November 2017), Curbed Chicago reported. Local developer MAC Properties is behind both projects. Replacing a parking lot, the 53rd Street tower will have 246 rental units, approximately 10,000 sq. ft. of retail and a parking garage for 173 vehicles. No construction timeframe was given.

Orlando Planners OK What Would Be City’s Tallest Building

Orlando planning officials have approved plans for what would be the city’s tallest building, Construction Dive reported in November. The mixed-use Zoi House Orlando project, set to rise 41 stories, or 467 ft., will include 300 multifamily residential units ranging from studios to three bedrooms, along with 10,000 sq. ft. of commercial/retail and 130,000 sq. ft. of office space.

The project still requires approval from the full city council and was dependent on several conditions placed on the developers: it must gain Federal Aviation Administration height approval, include any necessary upgrades to surrounding infrastructure and stormwater management systems, set aside rooftop space for city communications equipment and install a distributed antenna system, and provide public art and a roofline that “enhances” the downtown skyline.

Modernized VT Units Part of Stamford Train Station Overhaul

Modernization of 17 escalators and fi ve elevators is part of a US$22.9-million overhaul of the Stamford Transportation Center train station in Stamford, Connecticut, various news outlets, including the Stamford Advocate, reported. Described by the source as “a parting gift ” from outgoing governor and former Mayor Daniel P. Malloy, the work is being funded by a US$9.2-million federal grant and US$13.7 million from the state. Th e upgraded vertical-transportation (VT) equipment will help ensure the station operates more effi ciently for at least 25 more years. Th e VT upgrades join others such as a new parking garage, a new train lane, and lighting, restroom and communications improvements.