By Thomas A. Corfman(Crain’s) — Combined Insurance Co. of America plans to move about 500 employees from a longtime location on the North Side to 111 E. Wacker Drive, where it has signed a long-term lease for nearly 100,000 square feet.
The company, which traces its history to philanthropist W. Clement Stone, plans to move a customer service operation from 5050 N. Broadway Ave. to the 32-story building in the Illinois Center complex, where it has signed an 11-year lease, says Brian Whiting, a senior vice-president with J. F. McKinney & Associates Ltd. who represented the building’s owner, Parkway Properties Inc. Continue Reading
Wow. I live down the street from 5050, and I used to work for Aon (downtown). This is actually kind of sad.
ReplyDeleteI would actually love to see this building purchased and immediately demolished. It, and it's adjacent parking garage, are tremendous eyesores on that stretch of Broadway.
ReplyDeleteMichael, I agree, that building is horrid. It looks like a prison or mental institution. Plus, that stretch of Broadway always seems to be teaming with shady characters.
ReplyDeleteoh shoot! now the concert goers of Aragon are going to need to find another place to park..
ReplyDeleteThis can't be good for food establishments in the area that count on these workers for lunch business. I do believe that other companies (such as Combined Insurance) still occupy some of the building, but I hate to see it sit vacant.
ReplyDeletethe two folks who wants the building and the horrid garage demolished and who say the structures bring about shady characters are short-sighted to say the least. Consider the impact of 500 people -- who buy coffee and donuts in the morning, go out for lunch in the afternoons, order out from area pizza joints when they work late, go out to a neighborhood tavern once in awhile, etc... leaving the area. How do you think that will impact you if own a business that depends on traffic from people who live and work in the area?
ReplyDeleteAnd as far as the 'shady characters,' i don't know if there is anything shady folks like more than empty buildings and vacant lots. Couple this with that empty parcel farther north where there was once a funeral home, not to mention the in-limbo Uptown Theatre, and Broadway ain't looking too good.