Fordham Spire Originally proposed as the Fordham Spire in July 2005, the design called for 115 stories. Chicago developer Christopher T. Carley of the Fordham Company was spearheading the project. The building was planned to include a hotel and condominiums and also featured a tall broadcast antenna mast. On March 16, 2006, the initial design of the building passed unanimously during that day's meeting of the Chicago Plan Commission and on March 23, 2006, the same happened at the city's Zoning Committee meeting. On March 29, 2006, The Chicago City Council also approved that design. As part of the approval process, the council passed a measure that raised the height limit on structures at the site to accommodate the 2,000-foot tower. There was widespread support for the original design of the building among both the residents of the immediate neighborhood and the city of Chicago as a whole, partly because the building would block less sunlight and obscure less of the skyline than would the uses for which the land was originally zoned. Chicago Mayor Daley said he approved of the design, stating that it was environmentally friendly. Chicago's 42nd Ward Alderman Burton F. Natarus, who was the local ward alderman when the building was announced, said: "This is a very unique opportunity for the city of Chicago. This building belongs to Chicago and should be in Chicago." Opposition from some neighborhood residents originated from concerns with increased congestion. Donald Trump immediately voiced opposition to the building, stating that the structure would be a target for terrorists and did not seem to even be a project. His current project, however, the Trump International Hotel and Tower, is also a skyscraper that is currently under construction just a few blocks west of the Chicago Spire site and would be in direct competition with the Chicago Spire as the tallest residential structure. After several months of development, Carley failed to obtain sufficient financing for the construction of the building. Irish developer Garrett Kelleher, executive chairman of Shelbourne Development Group, Inc., stepped in and acquired the land, at 400 North Lake Shore Drive. It was announced that he would fund the development. With Kelleher taking over the project, much of the uncertainty of its development was greatly diminished because he was putting up 100 percent of the equity, something Carley had been unable to do. He also had financial backing to acquire the land, something Carley lacked. Kelleher stated he would consider using Carley's services on the development and that "Carley will be paid an unspecified sum for his involvement in the deal so far." Kelleher later renamed the project "Chicago Spire" after shortly going by "400 North Lake Shore Drive", as it was no longer a Fordham project. In October 2008, the tower's architect, Santiago Calatrava, placed an 11.3 million dollar lien on the construction site. All I gotta say is we will probably piss off new york a great deal if this ever gets finished.
I read about this in Science Illustrated (yeah whatever). It seems like a really cool and innovative design, but in a few more years after that it will be beat by some building in Dubai, or something. And then sometime after that they are building a 3,000+ feet tower and then a 4,000+ feet tower. It's really amazing what construction and skyscrapers have come to.
I going to point this out right now before anyone else does to get it over with. It looks like a dildo. Now on to actual building. I think if they were to make this it would take quite some time considering its awkward spiraling shape. But in the future I would love to go check it out. I'm sure the interior design would be pretty fascinating. Also, I'm sure there are going to be a lot of new innovative skyscrapers appearing around the world. Actually there are already a lot right now.
Gotta laugh at The Donald's comment that "It'll be a target for terrorists!", when he's conveniently building a tower that will be in direct competition with the spire. Plus, he's basically implying that we should NEVER do or build anything unique again because it might piss off some fundamentalist pricks. I hope the tower gets finished- jabs aside that it looks like a dildo, it's actually a pretty nifty design.