Search
 

John Buck Co.'s Shops at North Bridge Opens With Expectations to Boost Mag Mile Revenues

CHICAGO-The John Buck Co.'s $160-million retail development will lift retail traffic in office-dominated south Magnificent Mile. City's first Nordstrom will anchor 386,000-sf of retail space.

By Ted Jackson | Updated on September 21, 2000

CHICAGO-The interlocking rings at the top of a sculpture at the entrance to the John Buck Co.’s new Shops at North Bridge on Michigan Avenue are meant to symbolize the unusual alliance between public and private interests that made the overall nine-block North Bridge development possible. Indeed, it’s been a long road from conception to completion for John Buck and its investment partner Morgan Stanley Real Estate Funds Inc.

“This has been the most complex project I have ever worked on,” says Greg Merdinger, the John Buck principal in charge of the project. “It took many years from idea to completion, which isn’t surprising considering you’re dealing with a nine-square block project.” The idea for the project was tossed around John Buck as early as 1984 and the company was in negotiations with Nordstrom, whose 271,000-sf store will anchor the retail portion of the development, as early as 1987.

John Buck had to overcome significant opposition to redevloping the historic Art Deco McGraw Hill Building on the Michigan Avenue frontage portion of the site. In the end, a compromise was reached in which the Art Deco front panels were removed, refurbished and put back. And critics are still complaining. In today’s “Tempo” section of the Chicago Tribune, Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin blasts the North Bridge development for its “canyon effect” and “lack of attractive public space”.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free ALM Digital Reader.

Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Unlimited access to GlobeSt and other free ALM publications
  • Access to 15 years of GlobeSt archives
  • Your choice of GlobeSt digital newsletters and over 70 others from popular sister publications
  • 1 free article* every 30 days across the ALM subscription network
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM events and publications

*May exclude premium content
Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

GlobeSt

Join GlobeSt

Don't miss crucial news and insights you need to make informed commercial real estate decisions. Join GlobeSt.com now!

  • Free unlimited access to GlobeSt.com's trusted and independent team of experts who provide commercial real estate owners, investors, developers, brokers and finance professionals with comprehensive coverage, analysis and best practices necessary to innovate and build business.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and GlobeSt events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join GlobeSt

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.