Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Confetti Cannon Slug Takes Down Social Secretary
Blanche Dies in Smudge Stick Ritual Accident
(Chicago, Illinois) -- "Get that smudge stick away from the confetti cannon! It's loa--" were the last words of Blanche, who died last night when a confetti cannon accidentally fired during a smudge stick spirit cleansing ritual in the new unit Anthony Dornacher and Timothy State just closed on. The cannon misfired, launching a confetti slug into her chest.
"She was sprayed with confetti like an executive hunting quail with the vice president," said Dornacher, director of catering and guest relations. The slug hit with such force, it knocked her off (what in hindsight appears to be not-so) sensible pumps, and she tumbled backwards, hitting her head on an exposed brick wall, one of the features adding architectural character to the unit.
"We thought her helmet hair would have protected her," said State, director of ambiance and entertainment, who leaned over her body lying in a pool of multi-colored confetti as she gasped for her last breaths of life. "For a moment, I thought she was asking for a bourbon, straight up, with a beer chaser, but I think it was just air escaping her lungs through the holes in her chest," State added.
"She bravely took the slug for a guest," pointed out Dornacher, who hours later still wore the same Channel suit he wore to the closing, only now it was splattered with confetti.
Blanche was the former Barnes Place Social Secretary who sent out irreverent announcements, coordinated invitations and RSVPs, and tracked guest addresses.
"She was definitely old-school in her ways," said Dornacher. "But she was on the cutting edge at the same time."
Her passing marks the end of a chapter titled "Barnes Place." It was 10 years ago this month that Dornacher and State purchased a plot of land known as Barnes Place. The two saw the house, with its good bones, as a space that can be transformed in between visits of friends and family, who often flocked to learn what might happen next.
"Blanche helped make Barnes Place what it was," reflected State. "Was it the fame that brought the fans, or the fans that brought the fame?"
It was a bittersweet moment for the two, who took a moment to look back, while looking ahead. Blanche, the Porch at Flamingo Grove, comatose Barbie after her diving accident in the Aquatorium, movies and pageants in the Elvis Aaron Presley Memorial Cineplex, and always a naked mannequin form of some sort in the center of the table.
"Those are all memories preserved forever on the Internet, I'm sure only to come up some day in a future court trial," said Dornacher. "But now we have a new space, of grand proportions that is a blank canvas for new experiences."
"We can't wait to honor Blanche by putting out the welcome mat," said State.
--END-- Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 9:09 AM
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Sunday, October 15, 2006
Floorplan Posted
Now you can take a look at the layout of our unit. Labels: site update
# posted by Timmy : 9:42 PM
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Final Walk-Through
We had the final walk-through today. All the items on the list to be addressed had been addressed, and we were able to successfully light the fireplace. We received the two-inch binder with all the legal documents and rules governing the condo association, and all is in place for the closing tomorrow.
We spent the afternoon running around town, looking at new furniture and beginning to do research the the audio-visual system. After having Barnes Place wired with sound and video in every room, Tony says he's been spoiled, and we must have this in place before we move.
Counting down the days until we move... Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 6:46 PM
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Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Morgan Terrace Name May Not Stick
An interior terrace, 14-foot ceilings, a gas fireplace, original brickwork, round columns, plastered brick arches, and expansive hardwood floors are just some of the characteristics that will welcome guests to Tim & Tony's new loft unit, site of a former Nabisco bakery factory.
"Morgan Terrace may not stick," said Timothy State, director of ambiance and entertainment. "While the building is bordered by Morgan Street to the East, the terrace was going to be one of the terrific features of the unit we had hoped to buy. This unit has a completely different character to it, so I don't know if it's fair to assume the name Morgan Terrace will also apply to this space." The building is 100 years-old this year, with the redevelopment taking place 10 years ago.
"So far, the unit has not spoken to Blanche, revealing its name," said Anthony Dorancher, director of catering and guest relations. "But we anticipate once we complete the smudge stick burning ritual, we'll know for certain then."
View the listing photos.
 Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 6:53 PM
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Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Skybridge and Chicago Politics Kills the Morgan, Setting Search in Motion Again
(Lake Forest, Illinois) -- A year after the developer was to break ground on The Morgan, and after many months of being told "any day now," we received word last June the project had been cancelled, and we would be getting our deposit back.
The official word was that not enough units had been sold, despite being told in December 2005, 70 units were sold and they were about to being construction.
We've been able to piece together another story, however, that is layered with the complexities of Chicago politics. Like an onion, we'll try to peal back these layers one-by-one for our friends and family around the globe.
 In 2002, construction was completed on a 39-story, $75-million condominium building, called Skybridge. It won the architectural industry award, Distinguished Building of 2003, and has been celebrated as exemplifying Chicago's tradition of architectural excellence and innovation. Chicago Tribune's acclaimed architecture critic Blair Kamin touted, "Chicago finally has a condo high-rise that can inspire."
Word on the street has it that the neighborhood went into a panic over the striking design, which towered twenty-five stories over existing zoning regulations. "Too dense!" the Neighborhood Nazis yelled.
The developer whispered into the city's ear, "If you let us build it, we'll make sure a full-service grocery store is in the ground floor."
If you build it, they will come, the city said. The lack of a full-service grocery store is what has been missing from lighting the residential market in the Loop and near-Loop neighborhoods on fire. And so, against the wishes of the neighborhood that now shops in the Dominick's located in the building they did not want, Skybrige was built.
The tallest building west of the Kennedy Expressway, its striking design sores above the West Loop. While the design has been celebrated, the actual construction has not. When we toured Skybridge, we were struck by the sloppy work. Floor tiles were not spaced evenly, bathroom mirrors were not level, finishes were glamorous, but manufactured cheaply. The windows leaked the sound of the Kennedy Express way some twenty-floors down as if you were on the second floor. Who would pay $400,000+ for such crummy construction?
We were not alone in our opinion. Years after Skybridge was completed, it sat, only 50% occupied. Tales of lawsuits against the developer from those who bought pre-construction fill the streets of the neighborhood.
Much to the delight of the Neighborhood Nazis, who circled their wagons and proclaimed, "See, told ya so!" new, strict zoning regulations were put in place for the West Loop Neighborhood. No building could exceed five stories, and parking had to be underground, with the entire street frontage storefront retail. While it would prevent buildings like Skybridge from ever being built again, it is a recipe for high-priced units that also squashes diversity, and hampers true retail from developing.
The Morgan, at 11-stories, had been grandfathered. The plans were already underway when the new zoning was put into place. We were able to get a steal because of a timing loophole.
But with a high-profile project half-full, and Neighborhood Nazis gaining momentum, the City needed to get Skybridge filled so they could proclaim, "See, told you there was a demand."
It is this last political detail that killed us, bringing the wrecking ball to our Morgan Terrace hopes and dreams. By slowing the pace of development and denying any zoning variance (much to the pleasure of the Neighborhood Nazis -- "Finally, the city is doing its job. See what our lawsuits accomplished!"), and dragging its heals on issuing permits, the city created an artificial demand.
The Morgan, designed for efficiency, did not need any zoning variance. The Morgan, designed for efficiency, went lot line-to-lot line. The Morgan, designed for efficiency, was all pre-fab construction, pieced together on-site by a crane. There was no place for the crane on the lot, though. The developer thought the alley would be the logical place. The City said, "No." The sidewalk, "No." The owner of an auto shop next door declined to give up a corner of his lot for a fee during the 13-month build-out.
After months of wrestling, the developer threw in the towel mid-June and The Morgan was dead.
And thus, the search started over.
Oprah Heals All as Market Bursts
We expanded our search, exploring other neighborhoods, but ultimately, were drawn back to the West Loop neighborhood. Bustling with loft conversions and new construction, this neighborhood is quickly becoming an eclectic mix of urban realities, if not already. Here, we can step out our door, and indulge in a bite to eat at an urban sidewalk cafe, where indigenous prairie grasses and flora bloom in planters under someone else's care. These bustling pots of nature attract colorful avian species. A delicate balance of nature and city that allows us to enjoy a hot green tea while appreciating a bird with mites in a simulated setting--more than enough nature for us.
In late-August, we found a unit that met our criteria, with a dynamic common area, thoughtful kitchen, smart bedrooms, and appropriate storage and baths, with the bonus of a dramatic view. We made an offer, and after only three days of hot-and-heavy bidding, we were $2,000 apart.
And then the market burst.
News articles proclaiming a buyer's market were being published daily. We waited for the sellers to call us back, hoping they'd come to their senses over $2,000, but our phone sat silent.
In the following two weeks, we saw properties we had looked at come back with $20,000 to $30,000 price reductions. We had been looking at 1,000 to 1,200 square feet, but with the price adjustments, we were quickly coming to afford 1,400 to 1,700 square feet. A new reality began to form.
We were on the trail, and it was hot, and Oprah was just around the corner.
 We found ourselves returning to the same buildings again and again, with each visit bringing us a step closer to what we considered ideal. In our third visit to the 1000 West Washington Loft complex, next door to Oprah's Harpo Studios, we found perfection in Unit 314. Grand vista, plenty of light, large, spacious kitchen, dramatic living area, smart storage and bathrooms, two parking spots, and a motivated seller paying two mortgages.
Our initial offer was countered within minutes. A bidding war ensued, and before lunch, we came to $7,500 apart. And then the Chicago Tribune ran an article proclaiming the real estate bubble has burst. Prices are dropping for the first time in 11 years, and they're dropping as much as 10-percent across the country.
"Let's look at other units," Tim said, when the final counter offer came in. Appointments were being made, and routes mapped when the seller's agent called.
"I'm taking them to see other units," our agent said. "You and I both know this could be on the market for another sixty to ninety days, and with two mortgages, there's your $7,500. By the way, did you see that article in the Trib?"
Within minutes, the seller had come down to our last offer. The deal is now on its way to getting done. The inspection is behind us, the paperwork signed, and should all things fall in place, we will close in less than one week, on Tuesday, when we will begin, just over two years after moving back to Chicago, to plan the move into what will become our permanent housing.
--END-- Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 5:34 AM
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