Chicago Union Station renewal

[schlimm]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/29801451-418/major-changes-discussed-to-expand-renew-union-station.html#.VBdVXpRr6Sp

[dakotafred]

Better to bulldoze the Great Hall than subject it to some of these 'improvements.' Not that it isn't bad as it is, a depressing relic whose main function is to provide street access. If you're going to do anything to the Great Hall, touch up its old style so it looks closer to its former self.

The real, newer, Union Station is not worthy of the great city of Chicago. If you want to improve something, start with that.

[NKP guy]

My take on this article (hey! didn't you read about people posting articles without comments on this forum?) is similar to dakotafred's, namely this sounds lamentable, unnecessary, and poorly thought-out.  The proposed uses for the Great Hall would be as ludicrous as the indoor tennis courts that were erected in the former main concourse of the Cleveland Union Terminal for several years in the 1970's.  

A project of this scale and complexity will need lots of government funding.  Does the Chicago Union Station have landmark status?  That status itself might well make impossible any such silly Great Hall "improvements."  

Also, I sure hope they leave alone the CUS stairway that was so central to one famous scene from "The Untouchables."

[wanswheel]

I remember it resembling Penn Station some, in that it had two big impressive rooms.

[Dakguy201]

dakotafred

The real, newer, Union Station is a disgrace to the great city of Chicago.

Absolutely true.  It is also a monument to the corruption that passes as business as usual in Chicago political circles.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Chicago Union Station probably doesn't have landmark status and may not be eligible for such status due to what happened in the late 1960's.  At any rate, I don't think that widening the platforms is going to happen due to the expense and massive reconstruction that would be involved.

[richhotrain]

Chicago Union Station does have landmark status.

It has been on the official list of Chicago Landmarks since May, 2002.

http://webapps.cityofchicago.org/landmarksweb/web/listings.htm

Rich

[Buslist]

Don't forget there are baggage platforms between the tracks as well, eliminate those, slide the tracks over (yes some major track foundation work there) and the passenger platforms should be able to be widened without major structural changes to the train shed.

[schlimm]

As I pointed out last year, the baggage platforms can be eliminated.   The most important thing to do is widen platforms and get some brighter lighting.   The plans for the Great Hall (former main waiting room, now empty) should be retail spaces and open the current concourse mezzanine by relocating to the Great Hall the restaurants that are there now that make the entire area seem cluttered.