The new Harper Court development is now rising out of the ground on 53rd Street. Workers for James McHugh Construction Company recently poured cement for the second floor of the 12-story office tower that is part of the mixed-use project, which is expected to open in 2013.
Harper Court will house a new Hyatt Place hotel, LA Fitness, Chipotle Mexican Grill and a 150,000-square-foot office tower, among other tenants. The project is a redevelopment of the former Harper Court shopping center and is being led by the University of Chicago and the City of Chicago.
For a project timeline and an artist’s rendering of the new Harper Court, visit developers Harper Court Partners, LLC’s website: http://harpercourtchicago.com/harper-court-project/timeline.
Hyde Park cyclists will soon have a new resource to turn to for bike rentals, storage and tours. The University of Chicago plans to open a bicycle center next to the Metra station at 53rd Street and Lake Park Avenue within the coming weeks.
The new facility will be called the 53rd Street Bicycle Center. Bike and Park, a unit of Chicago-based Bike and Roll, which has locations at Millennium Park, Navy Pier and elsewhere around the country, will run the center. The company plans to feature a fleet of several dozen bikes for rent and will offer a variety of tours in and around Hyde Park, including food tours by bike.
The bicycle center “will help promote biking among commuters, residents and visitors to Hyde Park, at a time when the whole city is aiming to become more bike-friendly,” said James Hennessy, director of commercial real estate for the University.
The 53rd Street Bicycle Center will fill a 2,000-square-foot space underneath the Metra tracks that has been vacant for 10 years. It is the latest amenity the University is bringing to 53rd Street as part of its efforts to revitalize the area. The bike center will soon join Clarke’s and Five Guys restaurants as recently opened businesses on the street. Other new businesses are coming this fall.
Read more about this on the UChicago News website.
Developer Harper Court Partners, LLC, announced today that Chipotle Mexican Grill has signed on as a lead tenant for Harper Court, which is set to open on 53rd Street in 2013.
The popular fast food restaurant will join LA Fitness, Hyatt Place Hotel and the University of Chicago as major tenants. The 53rd Street location will be Chipotle’s second on the South Side of Chicago.
“It is a nice amenity for the neighborhood and a popular choice here on campus,” said Jim Hennessy, director of commercial real estate for the University of Chicago. “It is also a sign of the enthusiasm major retailers have for the revitalization of 53rd Street and another step toward long-term economic vibrancy here.”
For more information, read Harper Court Partners’ press release.
Clarke’s 24-hour restaurant will open this Monday starting at 8 a.m. During its opening day, Clarke’s will offer a pre-Valentine’s Day special to include a 10 percent discount for each total bill until midnight.
Located at 1451 E. 53rd St., the menu choices include a variety of items such as omelets, pancakes, stir-fry dishes, sandwiches and a host of other food selections.
UChicago officials brought the all-night eatery to Hyde Park’s key commercial corridor to address the interests of students and the community for more late-night amenities.
“As we continue to work closely with the community, the City and Alderman Will Burns to strengthen our ongoing revitalization efforts, we believe adding the right mix of restaurants and retail businesses will bring added value to Hyde Park that residents have been asking for over the past several years,” said James Hennessy, director of Commercial Real Estate Operations for the University.
Established in 1986, Clarke’s has existing locations in Lincoln Park, Evanston, Lakeview and Bucktown.
“We are very proud to make Hyde Park our new home for Clarke’s as a key destination on the South Side of Chicago,” said Steve Dionysopoulos, co-owner of Clarke’s. “With the rapid growth in an important business area along 53rd Street, we believe that our 24-hour restaurant will meet the needs of both students and the community at large. We are very excited to be a part of the Hyde Park community.”
Take a sneak peek inside below.
The University of Chicago announced today it’s bringing local-based Akira apparel and shoes to 53rd Street in the former Borders building. Akira officials said the Hyde Park site is a prime location for its new flagship store.
“We are delighted to create a unique, flagship store in the heart of Hyde Park to offer women’s clothing and stylish footwear to add to customers’ fashion sense,” said Eric Hsueh, co-owner of Akira. “Our research has shown that many of our current clients drive in from Hyde Park and the surrounding communities to shop with us throughout Chicago. That’s why we believe Akira will bring added value to the neighborhood.”
The grand opening is planned for this fall.
Get the rest of the story here: http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2012/01/27/uchicago-brings-akira-clothing-store-former-borders-building-53rd-street
Akira owners Eric Hsueh, Erikka Wang, and Jon Cotay (left to right).
Akira in Bucktown location
The soon-to-be opened Clarke’s restaurant is in its final stages of construction. The new exterior façade, storefront windows and signage have been added to the 24-hour eatery. In the next few weeks, architectural metal screening will be installed on the brick, which will help complete the new look.
Once the warmer temperatures settle in, the entire glass storefront of Clarke’s will open to the street to complement the outdoor seating.
News about the grand opening is expected next month.
More than 5,000 people packed 53rd Street and Nichols Park during the second annual Celebrate Hyde Park Oktoberfest. Several area food, jewelry, clothing and a host of additional vendors were on hand to greet the crowd and introduce their products to festival visitors.
"We are excited about the continued outpouring of support from the entire community as we continue to strengthen our Celebrate Hyde Park festivals," said Wendy Walker Williams, Executive Director of the South East Chicago Commission. "We are already beginning to prepare for next summer's huge event and welcome input from the community, civic organizations and leaders to help us make our festival series a major destination for the South Side of Chicago."
Celebrate Hyde Park events are a series of festivals that occur throughout the year to showcase the Hyde Park community. The events are designed to bring people of all ages to 53rd Street and Nichols Park to enjoy a wide variety of entertainment, products and food from the many local shops, restaurants and musical talent in the community.
The Celebrate Hyde Park festival series is sponsored by the Hyde Park Vitality Committee, a partnership between the University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement, the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, the South East Chicago Commission and various other area organizations.
Anyone interested in volunteering for next year’s Celebrate Hyde Park Summer Festival can call the South East Chicago Commission at 773.324.6926. Ideas to enhance the festival experience are also welcomed.
Construction has begun on the home of the soon-to-be Clarke’s restaurant. The building for the new 24-hour eatery, located next to T-Mobile at 1451 E. 53rd St., will have a new façade, signage and storefront glass that opens to the street.
Clarke’s is aiming to open in January 2012. Check back for more updates soon.
If you love jazz, then the Hyde Park Jazz Festival is designed with you in mind. Now in its 5th year, the fest has expanded to two days on Sept. 24 - 25 and will showcase more than 150 musicians in 13 venues on 15 different stages throughout the neighborhood. For those interested in preferred seating at most indoor venues, Jazz Passes are available for purchase.
On the eve of Saturday Sept. 24, 53rd Street will become the home to two acts at the Hyde Park Bank. Starting at 6 p.m., saxophonist and composer Adam Kinner will perform along with drummer Marc Riordan and bassist Daniel Thatcher. At 7:30 p.m., Diane Ellis and The Jazzy Ladies will take the stage.
Find out more information about the schedule, Jazz Passes and volunteering. A free shuttle bus is also available.
Image courtesy of Michelle Olson, 2008
Harper Court Partners, LLC, the team that is redeveloping Harper Court, is hosting a conference for minority- and women-owned businesses and local contractors next Thursday, Sept. 15 from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
The Harper Court Opportunity Conference, held at the Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave., is free and open to contractors or suppliers interested in opportunities associated with the project. Alderman Will Burns will provide opening remarks at 9:30 a.m.
On Sept. 21, Harper Court Partners, LLC will host a Local Union Job Fair. All attendees must have a union card. The job fair will be held from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the Hyde Park Art Center, with Alderman Burns speaking at 9:30 a.m.
“We encourage minority- and women-owned businesses as well as local contractors, suppliers and union workers to participate in these events,” said Chris Dillion, a partner with Harper Court, LLC. “This is an exciting project that is poised to stimulate economic growth in the Mid-South communities and the South Side of Chicago."
