Wolf Point South Tower

Wolf Point South Tower is the tallest of three planned buildings to be developed in the Near North Side community area on the Wolf Point property at a fork in the Chicago River in downtown Chicago. The building was originally planned to be 950 feet (289.56 m) tall.[1] However, in late 2018, the naming rights (Salesforce Tower Chicago) were sold for a redesigned shorter tower of 813 feet (248 m).[2]

Wolf Point Towers
Rendering of the Wolf Point Towers plan with Wolf Point South Tower in the center
Completed
  • West Tower
  • East Tower
Under Construction
  • South Tower

Background
Map depicting Wolf Point (area owned by the Kennedy family in black, with approximate area of the historical Wolf Point settlement in red)

On January 26, 2012, the Chicago Sun-Times broke the story that the Kennedy family was planning a three-tower development at Wolf Point.[3][4] On May 8, 2012, Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly announced that a three-tower proposal for Wolf Point had been made including buildings of approximately 900 feet (274.32 m), 750 feet (228.60 m) and 525 feet (160.02 m) and that plans would be made public on May 29. The South Tower would be the tallest of these buildings.[5][6]

Location
The site of Wolf Point South Tower in March 2014

The property upon which the development was planned is historic and drew scrutiny by critics.[7] Plans for the tower development were presented as scheduled by the Kennedy family on land that they own in the River North neighborhood at the confluence of South, North, and Main Branches of the Chicago River southwest of the Merchandise Mart complex.[8][9][10] As plans for the Kennedy proposal were developing on the north bank of Wolf Point, a plan for a 45- to 50-story office building on the west bank called River Point were progressing according to Robert Sharoff of The New York Times.[11] Chicago Tribune Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic Blair Kamin felt that the initial plans presented by Christopher G. Kennedy needed some work.[12]

History
West Tower under construction

On October 30, 2012, a revised plan was presented that included more open space.[13][14] In November the responses to the revisions were negative,[15] and Reilly withdrew the proposal on November 27.[16] The Chicago Plan Commission approved the plans for the entire three-tower development that included 1,410 residential units, 450 hotel rooms and 1,285 parking stalls on January 24, 2013.[17][18]

In May 2013, opponents of the planned development filed suit in United States Federal Court.[19] On November 19, 2013, U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve ruled that the valuable and iconic views of downtown are not something that can be constitutionally protected saying "Illinois courts do not recognize property values, air, or light as constitutionally protected property interests."[20] The Wolf Point Towers broke ground in March 2014.[21] Neighboring Wolf Point West Tower had its groundbreaking ceremony on July 18, 2014.[22] The building opened for residence on January 13, 2016.[23]

In July 2015, a rumor emerged that the South Tower might exceed 1,000 feet (304.80 m) based on revised renderings.[24][25] However, October 2016 plans showed the building had been scaled back to 950 feet (289.56 m).[26][27] On November 30, 2018, Salesforce committed to a 17-year $475 million 500,000-square-foot (46,452 m2) lease in the tower commencing in 2023.[28] The lease included naming rights for redesigned building to be named Salesforce Tower Chicago with a reduced height of 813 feet (248 m).[2]

On April 2, 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the related economic slowdown that jeopardized construction projects around the world, the project secured a $500 million-plus construction loan and construction commenced within 2 days.[29]

See also

Notes
  1. "Wolf Point – South Tower". Skyscraperpage.com. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  2. Kozlarz, Jay (October 22, 2018). "Alderman pumps the brakes on Related's plan for former Chicago Spire site". Curbed. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  3. Roeder, David (January 26, 2012). "Kennedys envision 3-tower development along Chicago River". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  4. "Kennedy family eyeing 3-tower development on river's Wolf Point". Chicago Tribune. January 26, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  5. Roeder, David (May 8, 2012). "Wolf Point plan could include 80-story building, alderman says". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  6. Kamin, Blair (May 8, 2012). "Developers to present plans for controversial River North site". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  7. Kamin, Blair (May 10, 2012). "Wolf Point plan deserves scrutiny; Kennedy family and architect Pelli plan complex that includes 900-foot skyscraper". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  8. Roeder, David (May 29, 2012). "Kennedys unveil three-tower plan for Wolf Point site". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  9. Kamin, Blair (May 30, 2012). "$1 billion high-rise project proposed downtown at Wolf Point: 3-building plan, backed by Kennedys, would be biggest Chicago development since recession, financial crisis". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  10. Kamin, Blair (May 30, 2012). "First glimpse of plan for Wolf Point along Chicago River". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  11. Sharoff, Robert (July 11, 2012). "Chicago Attracts New Towers With River Views". The New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  12. Kamin, Blair (June 3, 2012). "Wolf Point proposal doesn't live up to promise of its site; Kennedy family's $1 billion development, designed by Cesar Pelli, needs substantial reworking". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  13. Ori, Ryan (October 30, 2012). "Kennedy-Hines team unveils changes to plans for Wolf Point". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  14. "Kennedy, developers revise plans for Wolf Point". Chicago Tribune. October 30, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  15. Grossman, Ron (November 16, 2012). "Wolf Point history puts scrutiny on proposed project". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  16. Grossman, Ron (November 27, 2012). "Alderman pulls Wolf Point proposal: Reilly cites last-minute changes to plan". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  17. Roeder, David (January 24, 2013). "Wolf Point 3-tower plan backed by Kennedy family wins city planners' approval". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  18. Byrne, John (January 24, 2013). "Wolf Point tower development clears first hurdle". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  19. Gallun, Alby (May 31, 2013). "Condo owners sue to block Wolf Point project". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  20. Janssen, Kim (November 19, 2013). "Judge dismisses suit by neighbors to halt development at Wolf Point". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  21. "After Years Of Planning, Wolf Point Construction Finally Begins". Curbed.com. March 21, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  22. "Construction Begins on Wolf Point West: Luxury rental units, office, retail space and possibly a hotel planned for development". WMAQ-TV. July 18, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  23. Matthews, David (January 13, 2016). "First Wolf Point Tower Opens for Residents Amid Changing Scene Around River". DNAinfo.com. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  24. Neamt, Ioana (July 16, 2015). "Wolf Point Tower Rises Even Higher". Commercial Property Executive. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  25. Guse, Clayton (July 13, 2015). "New design released for Wolf Point towers". Time Out Chicago. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  26. "More Tidbits Trickle Out About Wolf Point East (And a few about Wolf Point South)". Chicago Architecture. October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  27. Matthews, David (October 3, 2016). "66-Story Wolf Point Tower To Break Ground With New Look". DNAinfo.com. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  28. Hinz, Greg (November 30, 2018). "Salesforce to bring 1,000 jobs to riverfront tower". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  29. Ori, Ryan (April 13, 2020). "Salesforce Tower lands $500 million-plus loan; construction of 60-story office building kicks off along Chicago River despite coronavirus slowdown". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 19, 2020.


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