The OUT Chicago receives support from Boystown business leaders following latest makeover
Sat. July 13, 2013 11:08 AM by Anthony Morgano
the out hotel rendering, july 2013
photo credit // koo and associates
The OUT Chicago's third design calls for 8-story hotel in Boystown
Chicago, IL -
Plans for The OUT Chicago, a new "straight-friendly" boutique hotel proposed for the 3300 block of Halsted in Boystown, are moving forward after the Northalsted Business Alliance voted in favor of the project Thurs., July 11.
The decision is a victory for Ian Reisner of Parkview Developers, founder of the The Out NYC, who has been trying to address neighborhood concerns since he first proposed the project in April.
"The North Halsted Business Alliance voted in favor of The Out Chicago hotel project after reviewing their modified hotel plans that addressed many of the neighborhood and community issues," Reisner told ChicagoPride.com. "Mainly [by] reducing the height of the building and shifting the massing of hotel to the corner of Buckingham and Halsted, with an iconic cantilever design that should be an architectural attraction for Lakeview."
While his original proposal for the 112-room hotel featuring a fully enclosed glass courtyard for receptions, a gym/spa, "bOUtique retail space" and an upscale restaurant initially received support from local business leaders like Paul Cannella, the owner of Scarlet and Taverna 750, neighbors voiced worries about increasing traffic and congestion in the neighborhood in addition to concerns about the height being disproportionate to the surrounding buildings.
Reisner's original plans featured a 12-story building, but the neighborhood concerns sent him back to the drawing board. A 10-story version presented in May was also rejected.
"I have a lot invested. My personality is 'failure is not an option' in everything I do," Reisner told Lakeview Patch after proposing the 10-story building in May. "I'm negotiable, but failure is not an option. So as long as I'm alive and ticking as an active businessman, this is my goal, my business plan and my passion. It's right for community, it's right for my career, it's right for my partners."
After working with designers Koo and Associates, Reisner released the current 8-story model, which the Northalsted Business Alliance voted forward two weeks ago. In addition to reducing the height of the hotel, the eighth floor has also been set back from the road to give the illusion of seven floors and the balconies to individual rooms have been removed to address noise concerns voiced by neighbors. The hotel's facade has also been changed from the bright white shown in May back to the original black exterior.
The new design no longer builds over Sidetrack, but will incorporate Minibar and Mark's Chop Suey, with the iconic cantilever being built over the building that houses the restaurant Wood.
As a result of their vote, the Northalsted Business Alliance is sending a letter of support for the project in its current state to 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney.
Alliance Board President Drew Knecht told ChicagoPride.com, "There are several outstanding issues, including the displacement of one of our retailers that we will continue to seek clarity for as the project moves forward."
The next step for The OUT Chicago is a presentation at the Belmont Harbor Neighbors Association's monthly meeting on Tues., July 23.
The decision is a victory for Ian Reisner of Parkview Developers, founder of the The Out NYC, who has been trying to address neighborhood concerns since he first proposed the project in April.
"The North Halsted Business Alliance voted in favor of The Out Chicago hotel project after reviewing their modified hotel plans that addressed many of the neighborhood and community issues," Reisner told ChicagoPride.com. "Mainly [by] reducing the height of the building and shifting the massing of hotel to the corner of Buckingham and Halsted, with an iconic cantilever design that should be an architectural attraction for Lakeview."
While his original proposal for the 112-room hotel featuring a fully enclosed glass courtyard for receptions, a gym/spa, "bOUtique retail space" and an upscale restaurant initially received support from local business leaders like Paul Cannella, the owner of Scarlet and Taverna 750, neighbors voiced worries about increasing traffic and congestion in the neighborhood in addition to concerns about the height being disproportionate to the surrounding buildings.
Reisner's original plans featured a 12-story building, but the neighborhood concerns sent him back to the drawing board. A 10-story version presented in May was also rejected.
"I have a lot invested. My personality is 'failure is not an option' in everything I do," Reisner told Lakeview Patch after proposing the 10-story building in May. "I'm negotiable, but failure is not an option. So as long as I'm alive and ticking as an active businessman, this is my goal, my business plan and my passion. It's right for community, it's right for my career, it's right for my partners."
After working with designers Koo and Associates, Reisner released the current 8-story model, which the Northalsted Business Alliance voted forward two weeks ago. In addition to reducing the height of the hotel, the eighth floor has also been set back from the road to give the illusion of seven floors and the balconies to individual rooms have been removed to address noise concerns voiced by neighbors. The hotel's facade has also been changed from the bright white shown in May back to the original black exterior.
The new design no longer builds over Sidetrack, but will incorporate Minibar and Mark's Chop Suey, with the iconic cantilever being built over the building that houses the restaurant Wood.
As a result of their vote, the Northalsted Business Alliance is sending a letter of support for the project in its current state to 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney.
Alliance Board President Drew Knecht told ChicagoPride.com, "There are several outstanding issues, including the displacement of one of our retailers that we will continue to seek clarity for as the project moves forward."
The next step for The OUT Chicago is a presentation at the Belmont Harbor Neighbors Association's monthly meeting on Tues., July 23.