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Pulling from our Southern Roots, all great places have a name. Tara. Twelve Oaks. Ours is Morgan Terrace. At Morgan Terrace, modern class merges with Tara elegance and uban sophistication. A grand place, it's more than bricks and mortor it's a concept. It's a place where all are welcome. A place where all are equal. And a place where all are respected. Come on in. The door is open.
Breaking News
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Living the Obama Rally
Check out our first-hand report of the Grant Park Rally on my blog.
More on the Obama Election Night Rally
Was that Tony on NBC?
Yes, we bumped into Kevin Tibbles moments before he went live, and Tony jumped in the background. And the facial hair? Yeah, that's new, too. Tim was busy snapping photos.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to Jessica, a.k.a. Little Mary Sunshine, who was able to get us the tickets so that we could tag along as "+1."
 Labels: Chicago, Chicagoist, Civic, Grant Park, Happenings, In The News, news, Obama, Politics
# posted by Timmy : 7:24 AM
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Monday, November 03, 2008
 Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to gather Tuesday night in Chicago's lakefront Grant Park, where Senator Barack Obama will speak from a stage facing the skyline. And we have tickets for the ticketed event in Hutchinson Field. We'll have our cameras and cell phones in hand, and will be “live blogging” via Twitter. You'll be able to follow-along on our Twitter pages:
What is the Barack Obama Rally?
What is Twitter?
Twitter is a service that allows people to stay in touch through the exchange of quick, frequent messages. Registered users of Twitter can "follow" us to have messages pushed to your own Twitter page, or even as a text message on your cell phone. Check out Twitter now. Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 6:21 PM
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Monday, September 08, 2008
"Weenie Scallopini" to be Published in Anthology
Timothy State's recently completed short story, "Weenie Scallopini" will be published in Nine Hundered & Sixty-Nine: West Hollywood Stories, set for release on Tuesday, September 23 in time for the book's debut at the West Hollywood Bookfair on Sunday, September 28.
Nine Hundered & Sixty-Nine is edited by Steven Soucy with an introduction by Patricia Nell Warren, New York Times best-selling author of The Front Runner. Fourteen stories make up the collection, which explores the unique culture of West Hollywood from a variety of perspectives.
"Weenie Scallopini" shares pages with the stories of other award-winning and celebrated authors like Felice Picano, Jameson Currier, and Shaun Levin.
The book will be available for purchase on-line later this month.
About "Weenie Scallopini"
When a male couple relocates from Des Moines to the gay capitol of West Hollywood, they're in for a bit of culture shock. Joe acclimates into a world of protein shakes, gym schedules, and elite social circles like a pro. While his partner Frank flamboyantly expresses his love through the art of the casserole.
When the two host a dinner party to meet new friends, Joe is embarrassed by their Midwestern roots, leaving Frank confused and wondering who has the better recipe for life.
Excerpt from "Weenie Scallopini"
"Ta-da!"
Frank emerged from the kitchen in oven mitts. He carried a large casserole dish, flashing it at an angle.
It was bubbling hot; the cheese had formed a black crust covering the top. Little hot dog bits swam amongst sliced celery, onions, and potatoes in a creamy sea of mushroom soup. He set it down on a hot pad at the end of the table, before a circle of silent gay men.
"This is really hot, so you're going to have to pass your plates."
David broke the silence. "Is there any, umm, salad?"
"Oh, yes, here." Frank scooped red beet salad onto David’s plate. "It's my grandma's recipe."
"Is there anything leafy without a cream base?"
Frank looked at Joe, who merely shrugged.
"Zucchini fritter?" Frank handed him a serving dish.
"Sorry, fried."
Frank had never had a guest refuse a dish back in Des Moines, or at least so overtly.
David thumped his abs. "Carbs are the enemy."
"I've been trying to tell Frank that ever since we moved. But he loves his casseroles. He's slowly killing me with cream of mushroom soup."
Frank glared at Joe, confused.
"I haven't had a casserole in years. Come to think of it, the last time was when I went to Kansas City for my grandmother's funeral. The neighbors brought over some mystery casserole topped in shredded potato chips." Labels: Gay, Gay Culture, news, Writing
# posted by Timmy : 7:44 PM
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Thursday, June 26, 2008
Long John Strives for Top Dog Status
Come out and cheer Team Long John to Victory!
MidWest Dachshund Races Arlington Park Race Track Thursday, July 3 Races start at 7 p.m.
Weighing in at 10.5 pounds, and at 11 years old, classifying for a prime position in the Senior Sausage age category, Long John Dornacher will hit the speedway for top dog prize at next week's MidWest Dachshund Races.
"We really hope that he'll cut the mustard and more than ketchup with the crowd, but set the pace," said Team Long John manager, Anthony Dornacher.
Long John has been training, doing morning laps around the block in the West Loop.
"Now that Oprah is on summer hiatus, we don't have a gaggle of Oprah fans lining up to see the show. Their 'Ooing' and 'Ahhing' and 'Is that one of those wiener dogs?'-cooing just offered up a distraction," observed his coach, Timothy State.
Manager Anthony Dornacher is concerned about the fragility of Long John's aging spine. To counteract any discomfort, State has been icing the arch of his back, giving daily massages, and providing him fish oil capsules for lubrication.
"Everything's moving faster, and I suspect he's going to do well." said State. "I mean, this dog is all rib cage and abs, suspended under one supple spine, his bottle nose breaking the wind. I dare any Oprah fan to try to catch him. Sans their gold lamé heels."
Long John Overcomes Adversity
CUE: Jim McKay 'Wide World of Sports' Sympathy Music
Jim McKay: Having recently lost his lifetime companion, Sheleata Kanatuna, to a dreadful cancer known as feline fiber sarcoma, Long John succumbed to a downward spiral of doom -- depression. For weeks on end, he failed to get out of bed.
In March, he hit rock bottom, incessantly licking his paws while longing in the bed all day.
It was during this period that Manager Dornacher left town for for a business trip with his new job. For two weeks, he was in Macon, Georgia, with parachuting Elvi (the plural of Elvis) and Miss Georgia, where Dornacher grand opened an upscale shopping center. Irony aside, Long John was left at home to care for State.
When State forgot to eat, Long John was forced to take charge. With vivacious energy, Long John circled the block. He ran freely, ears flapping in the breeze. A liveliness not seen since before the days of Sheleata Kanatuna's sudden demise.
They say that the body heals through motion. They say that the body heals the mind. And so, through motion, he healed his mind, and his depression. Long John, he runs. He runs like the wind. To be free again.
But he had such a long way to go, to make it to the border of Mexico. So he runs like the wind.
And then injury.
While Manager Dornacher was schmoozing Georgian Beauty Queens, Long John's rear right foot was consumed by the building's entry door in a tragic morning walk accident. What was left was skin, flapping in the breeze. In a role reversal, State scooped up the hobbling wiener, whisking him away to the emergency vet where a team of medial experts patched his foot back together, ironically, by applying glue to his hoof.
CUE: Jim McKay 'Wide World of Sports' Rebound Music
Long John worked through his inner depression through taking to the streets. His hoof now healed, he's back, and he's stronger than ever. Next week, will he take the title in the Senior Sausage category? Will he achieve a dream only Sheleata could have hoped for?
# # #Labels: Animals, news
# posted by Timmy : 9:07 PM
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Monday, March 17, 2008
Long John Banged Up
 Long John got in the way of the door this morning -- as it was opening. Another dog barked, and he turned into the door to bark at him, his foot getting stuck underneath the door. The resulting flesh wound wasn't too bad, but the flapping scrap of skin and fur about made me vomit, especially when he plopped down after eating his breakfast to lick the wound. So I scooped him up and we were off to a 6:30 a.m. visit to the animal E.R. I won't tell you what they did, but here you can see his new look with the lampshade and a coordinating gauze bow. I'm concerned that tomorrow's Oprah fans are going to eat him for breakfast, he looks so cute. Labels: Animals, news
# posted by Timmy : 9:14 PM
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Saturday, February 16, 2008
Better Late Than Never: Annual Report to Caregivers Now On-Line
Our Annual Report for Caregivers is now available on-line. For the past several years, we've found ourselves in transition around the holidays, which have made it difficult to send out holiday greetings and our annual summary of all things Morgan Terrace. And this year, Sheleata Kanatuna's illness and passing delayed the announcement. We had some down time over the holidays to pull together an update on the animals, quick links to trip photos and stories, and a feature new this year: "Is This Thing On?" podcast, featuring the Best Voicemail Messages left us in 2007. It's now all posted and ready for your browsing. We hope you'll check it out. Our very best for a prosperous year: may it be filled with love, laughter, and healthy living. All our love, Tim & Tony Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 12:25 PM
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Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Remembering Sheleata Kanatuna
 Earlier this evening, Sheleata Kanatuna, Tiger Prince of Barnes Place and then Morgan Terrace, peacefully succumbed to feline fibrosarcoma, an invasive cancer in the connective tissue. He was nearly twelve.
Mr. Kanatuna was diagnosed in August and underwent an exorcism to remove the demon tumor that had appeared in the roof of his mouth. There was a chemotherapy and radiation treatment option, and his medical team suggested an air lift to Purdue University where he could have been attached to a machine.
Always noble and not one for travel, Mr. Kanatuna opted for the less-invasive home hospice care. On his last evening, he dined on chicken liver, surrounded by family and the books he so loved, purring loudly as he gazed from his perch one last time.
Not one to follow another agenda, Mr. Kanatuna scratched at the face of death in his final moments before crossing over to a place of peace. Continue Reading Sheleata Kanatuna's Biography
Remembering Mr. Kanatuna
Mr. Kanatuna is survived by Director of Catering and Guest Relations Anthony Dornacher, Director of Ambiance and Entertainment Timothy State, Long John, and Buster Highmen.
In lieu of flowers, fans of Mr. Kanatuna are encouraged to make a donation in his memory to the Atlanta Humane Society, or Chicago's Anti-Cruelty Society.
Dornacher and State will be hosting a wake for Mr. Kanatuna on a date in March, still to be set. More information on Sheleata Kanatuna's wake will be available at www.MorganTerrace.net. Labels: Animals, news
# posted by Timmy : 8:58 PM
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Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Dornacher Accepts Employment Offer
Months of keying recipes into the computer, swapping grocery store novels over the internet, and dozing off mid-afternoon while reading the Wall Street Journal have come to a close for Anthony Dornacher. Since March when he was right-sized (for the forth time) after 13-years of service with American Express, his sole title in life has been Director of Catering and Guest Relations. Today, he took on a new role, reporting to the corporate headquarters of General Growth Properties as their Manager of Gift Card Technology.
Dornacher will oversee the technology components of the gift card program to be implemented at General Growth's 200-plus shopping centers around the country.
The position taps into his account and project management experience, and technical oversight. It represents a venture into the quickly expanding industry of gift cards, and a departure from the shrinking industry of travel management.
"This is a huge adjustment for all," said Timothy State, director of ambiance and entertainment, referring to Dornacher reporting to an office after working out of the house for nearly 10 years. "I suspect the animals will start behaving better, now that they will not be held, stroked, and coddled throughout the day."
At the completion of his first day, Dornacher brought home stories of "the ladies at the office," observation from the cube farm that is his new surroundings, and a keycard that provides access to the toilet. Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 8:17 AM
1 comments
 
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Breaking News: Cancer Confirmed in Sheleata
Another phone call during the dinner hour confirmed that Sheleata Kanatuna's tests came back positive for Feline Fibrosarcoma, a malignant (invasive) cancer originating from fibrous connective tissue. It can spread to other parts of the body. Sheleata has a follow-up appointment scheduled for next week, and more details will be available at that time.
Labels: Animals, news
# posted by Timmy : 11:15 PM
1 comments
 
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Sheleata Kanatuna Diagnosed with Potential Cancer
Sheleata Kanatuna, tiger prince of Morgan Terrace, has been diagnosed with oral spindle cell sarcoma. Dr. Scott called this evening to follow-up on tests run following last week's removal of a growth in Sheleata's mouth. The growth was discovered by Director of Ambiance and Entertainment Timothy State when he found the cat sitting in the bathroom sink.
"He appeared to be panting," said State, who noticed a pink tongue-like appendage sticking out of his mouth a week ago last Saturday. "I yelled to Tony to turn on the air conditioning. I figured the cat was practically passed out, panting in the porcelain sink. But then I noticed it was his upper lip that was pink."
Sunday, the pink appendage, Demarris, was large enough to name, and when the the vet examined Sheleata on Monday morning, its grotesque proportions caused the vet to cringe and dry heave. "I've never seen anything like this," she said as she whisked Sheleata away for a second opinion. Within the hour, Sheleata was under the knife. Director of Catering and Guest Relations Tony Dornacher sat in the waiting room as the exorcism was performed. Extracting Demarris from his soul, the growth and a bad tooth completely removed.
When State returned home from the office, Sheleata was stumbling around the house like a drunk frat boy. He sat on the counter, admiring the kitchen knives before making love to them by rubbing against them repeatedly. He's recovered comfortably this week, and all was well until tonight, when the phone rang -- bad news always comes when the family has just sat down to dinner.
More tests need to be run. It might be cancerous, it might not be. We just don't know. There's a machine at Perdu University we could hook the cat up to and it would do something, but the machine is not working right now. If it is cancer, we can sit down with a cat oncologist and discuss treatment options. The cat jumped up on the dinner table and lounged like Elizabeth Taylor in a Turner Classic Movie, Demarris just a distant memory. Tony hung up the phone. Sheleata's tail fanned the table.
"Depending on cost..." Dornacher's voice trailed off as he ate some applesauce.
"I say we put Buster down," said State, cutting a pork chop. "Let's let the cat live his final days in peace."
There are many unanswered questions. But truth lives no farther than the internet, particularly once one figures out how to spell. Spindle cell sarcoma is a type of connective tissue cancer where the cells take on a spindle shape. "Oral" is attached to indicate it's found in the mouth, or oral region. Google knows all. Labels: Animals, news
# posted by Timmy : 8:10 PM
1 comments
 
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Introducing Bernadette

We heard from many of you when Blanche kicked the bucket. Or, rather, took the confetti slug in the chest. We were sad that day, too.
But now we've discovered Bernadette, who has a sleek, stylish urban look fitting for loft living. Help us welcome our new Social Secretary, Bernadette. Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 8:50 PM
1 comments
 
Dornacher Photo Published
 A snapshot by Tony Dornacher of the fish motels in the Chicago River is included in The Chicago River: A History in Photographs, by Johnathan Grenzen and just released by Westcliffe Publishers. The photo, on page 83, is part of a photo essay closing the book which portrays the revitalization of the Chicago River as a natural and recreational habitat.
Astonishing tales and stunning photographs fill this book to guide the reader through the continually-evolving relationship the city and its river from 1600 to present day. Historical maps and drawings paired with black and white and color photos illustrate the starring role which the Chicago River plays.
"The story of the Chicago River is in many ways the story of Chicago itself--a narrative of a city, its people, and the struggle between urban development and the natural landscape." -- Johnathan Grenzen
Dornacher's photos was published on his Flickr account where the author found it and asked for permission to include it in the book. Dornacher is one of several accomplished photographers who had pictures of the river included.
The book is available for purchase on-line. Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 7:14 PM
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Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Everything Goes - The Move is Complete
"What all in here moves?" the mover asked us on Friday morning as we packed the final things in the office.
"Everything," I said.
"Everything?" he asked.
"Everything."
"No," Tony interrupted. "Not everything." He gave me the glare of death only a crazed lunatic can shoot your direction just moments before he tells you the apocalypse is coming. "We're taking the computer equipment."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because, we didn't get that much insurance." Tony stretched packaging tape across the top of a box.
"It's in its original boxes. With Styrofoam. We could drop-kick it off a loading dock and it would be fine."
"No. We're taking those."
"Tony, how do you expect us to fit it in the car? The car is full."
"We'll come back for it."
"So we're paying movers thousands of dollars so that we can run back and forth between here and Chicago because you don't want them to touch something that's in the original packaging protecting it on its way across the Pacific and the Western United States?" I turned to the mover. "Everything goes."
"No, it stays."
"Everything goes. Take it all."
"No, it's all staying."
The mover stood there, his head bobbing back and forth like he's watching suburban housewives volley a tennis ball before hitting the mimosas.
"So I need to know what you want us to move in this room?"
"Everything."
"No!"
"Don't listen to him. He doesn't know you're movers."
It only took three trips between Lake Forest and our new Chicago pad, but all is moved and we are now in the process of unpacking. While things are coming together, the greatest challenge appears to be transitioning from a six-room house where living functions were divided by walls. Figuring out how those functions now blend together into one large open space is proving more complex than we anticipated.
Mention nothing of the items that used to live in the basement or the attic. Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 7:08 PM
1 comments
 
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Grandma's Sofa Arrives Soon
We're counting the hours. We move on Friday. We also receive delivery of Grandma's sofa on Friday afternoon. We decided to take this opportunity to have it recovered. Not that we were offended by the orange and red rose pattern, but I think we got the equivalent of thirty years of wear in the seven or so years we've had the sofa.
We had the two sections picked up about a month ago, and when they flipped them over to put them in their truck, the upholsterer got super-excited. Apparently, the sofa is a flex steel sofa, which uses a spring system that is one piece of steel. It was a patented technology, and the company is no longer in business and never sold the patent, so you cannot get a sofa anything like this anymore.
"It will be an honor to recover this sofa," she said. The process strips the sofa down to its frame. The frame and springs are checked and repaired as needed, and it's basically rebuilt from scratch.
They called today to confirm delivery. They're so proud of the work and how it looks, they put the sofa on display in the front window of the store. It's been there for only a few days, and they have already had people come in to inquire about the sofa.
I wish I could remember what fabric I picked out. But words I used to describe what I was looking for to the design consultant were, "modern, retro, contemporary, bold, classic, it belonged to my grandma." Those words, on the surface, might seem to contradict themselves, but, if I recall correctly, I think we picked a fabric that blends in a wonderful balance of visual energy.
I'm sad to report, however, the console stereo system is not making the move with us. After years of trying to get the turntable to work properly, we are throwing in the towel. The irony is that now people are questioning us for leaving it, and when we took it, we were questioned for taking it. We've taken apart the turntable a number of times, and were even able to get it working like new for a short while. Unfortunately, the moving parts just gum up when it sits, and unless we use it daily, we just can't keep it working. We're hoping to find it a home that someone will truly appreciate it for what it is, but that seems to present a challenge. We will, however, keep the record collection (which we have added to), and I think we may even work to digitize the entire collection. Of course, the advantage is that we will be able to string tracks together for a continuous, multi-hour Muscatine soundtrack. Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 7:04 PM
1 comments
 
Sunday, December 03, 2006
New Paint
We have less that a week until we move, and the new pad has been painted and is ready for our arrival. Here's how the color plan worked out:





 Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 9:52 PM
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Thursday, November 02, 2006
Color Plan Finalized

We've finalized the color plan for painting, and have scheduled the painter. The work should be completed by the time we're back from vacation. Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 10:59 PM
1 comments
 
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
2 comments
 
Sunday, October 15, 2006
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
1 comments
 
Monday, April 17, 2006
Crane Delay Dampens Cosmopolitan Style
Suburban Living Not All Guns and Rose-Print Wine Bags
(Lake Forest, IL) - With the huge demand for construction equipment and supplies directed to the Gulf Coast, and a massive construction boom of high- and mid-rise buildings in Chicago, groundbreaking of The Morgan has been delayed by a crane shortage. Until delivery of the unit former Barnes Place Co-Directors Anthony Dornacher and Timothy State purchased, both are living a suburban lifestyle in Lake Forest, Illinois, which is placing a significant crimp on their hip, cosmopolitan ways.
"In December, we learned the construction company obtained the financing and were working towards one more permit allowing the relocation of a traffic light," said Dornacher. "We've now heard they have everything in place except for a crane."
"We've been told it's a thirteen-month build-out once they break ground," said State. "They'll deliver units on the lower floors as they complete the finishing on the upper floors. Since we're on the fourth floor, we should be among the first owners to move into the building."
The Morgan was expecting to break ground in June 2005. Now, almost a year behind the original schedule, Dornacher and State anxiously await the announcement that construction has begun. In the mean time, they're reluctantly embracing a suburban lifestyle.
This past fall, both Dornacher and State graduated from the Lake Forest Citizen's Police Academy, and Dornacher recently signed up for a sewing class to learn a new skill and meet new people.
The Police Academy was very similar to State's experience in the Atlanta Citizen's Police Academy.
"The one difference," said State, "is that we got to shoot guns."
Both learned to shoot Sig Sauer P220 .45ACP handguns in addition to learning about the challenges of delivering police service to a wealthy suburb. "I've been packing heat for years," said State, "but this is the first time I've handled a gun."
Following graduation from the Citizen's Police Academy, Dornacher registered for a sewing class at the local Gorton Community Center, which offers a variety of classes in the domestic arts.
"I'm the only man she's ever taught," said Dornacher referencing his sewing instructor. Dornacher is perfecting the structure of the wine bottle gift bag. Simultaneously, he is receiving lessons in the language of lunching ladies.
Suburban living is not all guns and rose-print wine bags, though.
"It can be very isolating here," said State. Lake Forest hides behind a veneer postured as a quaint, rural community unchanged by time. Hyper-manicured lawns sprawl before McMansions, with suburban tanks parked in front ready to shuttle people from location to location. Pearls, baby strollers, designer handbags accessorize the landscape.
The first issue State and Dornacher received of Forest & Bluff magazine, the local society magazine covering people's holiday parties, featured a cover shot of a local housewife in a lace camisole and a fur coat, promoting an article on "Fashionable, Fabulous Fur!"
"In this society of unspoken expectations, I've come to realize we're living in what the South always aspired to be, but failed," said State.
"That's so academic," said Dornacher. "I just miss the simple things. Like adult servers. You ask for a mixed drink by name or a recommendation on wine, and the teenager has to get his manager."
--END-- Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 1:44 PM
1 comments
 
Thursday, March 30, 2006
No Broken Ground Yet
Upon drive-by, the site still looked the same.
 Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 7:44 AM
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Friday, December 16, 2005
Groundbreaking Near
We've received word that The Morgan is 70-percent sold, the developer has the financing, and with only one more building permit to be acquired, there will be a groundbreaking soon. Hopefully, this time next year, we'll be packing and getting ready to relocate to the City. Labels: news
# posted by Timmy : 9:12 PM
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