Chicago Housing Bubble

Apple store at North/Clybourn story gets more details

I love when I'm right. Or should I say "I love when I post about something I read after an extensive Google search and then look really smart because it turns out to be true (and I sort of claimed it as my own)".

9 months ago, I wrote about the rumored Apple Store/new CTA station at North and Clybourn. And now - VALIDATION! Super-geek site Macrumors.com (yeah, I read it every day - what's your problem?) reports that the rumor is true. Hooray for me! The new store/station is scheduled to open in September 2010.

To celebrate, I'm posting this story. And still working/researching a question I've wondered for years: what is a half bathroom worth in the market (condo AND single family home)? Stay tuned for that answer...

New Hyatt hotel at Wrigley

As if I wanted to fight more drunk douche bags and horrible traffic on game days, it now appears that the plans are final for the Hyatt hotel that is supposed to go up on Addison near Wrigley Field.

Here's the story.

And here's a photo of Shane Victorino getting beer dumped on him by a drunky at Wrigley. Hoorah for Hyatt - now that guy will have a place to sleep before driving home to Lake Forest.

Sarcastic prediction of the day: Cubs 2010 record: 74-88.

Apple store followup

 

I was in the area yesterday and sure enough - the station has been torn down and they are clearing the site...

Rumor: new Apple store at North/Clybourn

I received a rumor from a reliable source today: firm plans exist to build an Apple store above the Red Line station at North Avenue and Clybourn. Cool!

I thought I had a big scoop on my hands about this and rushed to spread it to the 23 daily readers of CHB. But after using this new tool called Google, I was able to find proof that this news has been swirling around (in some form or another) since 2007.

For instance, here's something from ifoapplestore.com:

Halsted Street -Chicago (IL) - On June 29, 2007 ChicagoBusiness Web site said Apple was in negotiations with M Development LLC for some part of an 18,400 s.f. triangular space at the intersection of Halsted, Clybourn and North Streets on the city's near north side, about 1 mile from the existing North Michigan Avenue store. The lot was a BP service station (1560 N. Halsted St.), in the midst of an area that is rapidly being developed. On Nov. 17, 2008 the city issued a permit to demolish the gas station building under the address 801 W. North Ave., and work began the same day. updated

Sounds good. But what I heard was a little different... my source told me Apple is partnering with the CTA/Chicago to rebuild the adjacent red line station and mash it together with the newly constructed store. Apple would in essence "donate" the station for the right to have it connect/integrate with the retail space.

The strategy makes good sense - have a retail location for northsiders that is infinitely more convenient than trying to park off Michigan Avenue. I hope it's true...