"There was no forum for discussion at the City Council vote," says Bess Demopoulos, spokesperson for the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR). "We were not allowed to speak. They just voted and that was that."

SOAR contends the building will significantly block afternoon sunlight at Ohio St. Beach, which is directly across from the development site. SOAR had hoped to be able to show new shadow studies, conducted for the group by a University of California astrophysicist, that contradict developer shadow studies showing minimal afternoon shadows cast by the building.

The City Council's vote was the final approval step for Atlantis Properties, which is developing the site. Howard Robinson, principal at Atlantis, was unavailable for comment. Atlantis plans on starting construction in the spring on a 30-month completion schedule.