Demolition work has commenced on the redevelopment of the lower levels of Newberry Plaza at 1030 North State Street in the Gold Coast. Located on the corner with West Maple Street, the 1973-built skyscraper sits atop a three-story podium across from Mariano Park. Said podium is being reimagined by 11 East Partners and Blackbird Investment Group.
Rendering of Newberry Plaza redevelopment via Leopardo Construction
The structure’s base has long sat underutilized, with limited visibility and a vehicular drop-off loop along one of the busiest retail corridors in the city. Additionally, longtime staple Dublin’s Bar & Grill has occupied a single-story independent structure on the northeast corner of the property, which will remain.
Rendering of Newberry Plaza redevelopment via Leopardo Construction
To address this, the team plans to demolish the majority of the exterior street-facing walls and extend the floor plates outward, which will then be wrapped in a new multicolor brick facade with large window bays, new signage, and awnings. In total, the project will redevelop 75,000 square feet of commercial space across all three floors and a basement level.
Rendering of Newberry Plaza redevelopment via Leopardo Construction
Ahead of this, two major leases have already been signed. A nearly 16,000-square-foot ground-floor space will become a new Anthropologie store, while another 13,600-square-foot space will go to Canada-based restaurant chain Moxie’s for a new outpost. With demolition underway, we can expect a quick buildout by Leopardo Construction within the next year.
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My gf almost got into a fight with some lady at Dublins last year
😂
Dublin’s is a classic bar in Chicago
Canon Chicago experience
Only bar I’ve ever been kicked out of (it was the fault of the people I’d gone there with, but was definitely time for me to call it a night). They have good food.
Big improvement, the base of that building is just the worst of the 70’s.
I’m sure some architecture buffs will complain about the loss of the ‘Brutalist’ design, but the tower is still intact. In the end, at street level this thing and some of the buildings around it (the townhomes just south of it and Hugo Frog Bar across the street) are just terrible at street level.
Whenever I go near that I always fell like it is yelling at me “go away”. LOL
Also, “oh noes, a classic example of late 60’s Brutalist architecture is being torn down for capitalist needs”. I do wonder what it is like living in those townhouses, does it feel like a castle up there?
Very good improvement! There’s nothing more important to get right for good urban design than active street level facades. Otherwise it’s just a block to pass through and avoid, it’s not a “place”.
Nice little Viagra shot for this aged building. Fitting for the neighborhood.
No one should complain about this do-over. It has always been a dull, life-sucking building in a vibrant area. Love the pun, WAK.
Kind of surprised they are not doing housing on portions of the upper levels of this expansion. Tt seems like they have leased out the ground floor, but based on other similar buildings leasing the upper floors to retail uses will be a much heavier lift.
This is great. I was so bummed when Trader Vics didn’t make it there. It was hidden behind all of the brick. Now retail and restaurants will be visible which will help them succeed. Moxies are in Southern Florida and are killing it. Perfect addition for the Viagra Triangle.
It’s a shame they didn’t go further, and rearrange the parking garage to (1) allow the building to come closer to the street, and (2) allow storefronts along State St. where there’s just a blank brick wall.
There’s one other huge job this project requires: the floor level along Maple has to be dropped to sidewalk level – it’s presently a couple feet above the sidewalk, not acceptable for high end retail. That’s going to be quite an undertaking.