Thursday, March 15, 2012

The future of Navy Pier

Blair Kamin today writes about the selection of the firm chosen to make plans for the revitalization of Navy Pier, Chicago's number one tourist attraction. It would appear from the drawings submitted by a team led by landscape architect James Corner, that there are no earth shattering plans to alter the Pier, just subtly improving what's already there. In other words, keep the good, throw out the bad, something I suggested almost exactly one year ago.

The authority that controls the Pier is not obligated to go with any particular design but the selection of this team is a sign that they are on the right track.

Corner and his team are responsible for the design of New York's High Line, the successful park built from the converted remains of elevated railway rights of way in Lower Manhattan. Coincidentally, plans were just unveiled for a similar venture on Chicago's West Side called for now at least, the Bloomingdale Trail. I know this stretch of rail lines well as I grew up less than a block from it in Humboldt Park.

More good news indeed.

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