Street level
living on the edge of Roosevelt Road
04/14/2012 0:55 AM
I've been wondering and wondering and wondering about those tall buildings on Roosevelt Road east of Indiana ever since they were built. And not because they're broke and can't sell the high-end units. I've been wondering whose bright idea it was to put a low floor of condos right out there on Roosevelt Road. So close to the sidewalk that even someone out of shape and overweight and not that young could cross over the railing and climb right onto someone's balcony.
Don't get me wrong. I think this is just about the coolest thing I have ever seen in the South Loop. Here's this major thoroughfare that links Michigan Avenue to the outer drive at Roosevelt--lots of traffic going to and from LSD out these units' windows. And tons of crowds going to and from the museum campus and all the happenings in Grant Park and Soldier Field, etc. The idea that these units are so close to Roosevelt that passersby can very clearly see all the way to the far walls of the rooms at eye level, is truly unbelievable. The throngs that walk by are just a few feet away from the living rooms and bedrooms of these units-just the way they would be if they were walking down a quiet street in any middle class suburb. The throngs can look into a big picture window of a Museum Park condo the same way they could through a big picture window of, for instance, a house built in the 1950s in Park Forest. These buildings have made Roosevelt Road just west of the outer drive an interactive little street between the residents and the outside population. Something that an urban planner might find quite quizzical.
Whoever ends up living in these units will have no privacy whatsoever unless they leave their blinds down or their drapes drawn at all times. But if you did that, why buy a unit that has a nifty overview of Grant Park framed by the Michigan Avenue street wall, East Randolph Street on the north, and the Navy Pier area to the northeast. All unobstructed. Whoever ends up living there just better not care about lots of short-lived company outside and lots of prying eyes. In other words, privacy has to be a low priority.
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By Susan Ohde from Printer's Row
Posted: 04/14/2012 4:52 PM
I agree. The only reason that would be cool is if a street fair was going on there and you had all your friends on your patio. Unfortunately, you would have the whole street fair on your patio. That sounds icky too.