A new dome on the vacant "Riverside Park" site south of Roosevelt has intrigued the South Loop since it went up in early March.
It now appears to be a presentation pavilion where owner Related Midwest can showcase their site for visiting Amazon executives looking at various cities for Amazon's "Headquarters 2." They'll be visiting Chicago in late March.
The Teflon fabric-covered geodesic dome sits atop a 15-foot-high stage structure, which offers a view out over the 62-acre site between Clark and the river, as well as a view of the Loop skyline less than a mile to the north.
The development site is one of four that Chicago has put forward for Amazon's consideration, along with an undisclosed package of public aid to lure the online giant here.
Related's plans for the project have not been publicly disclosed, though they did have to provide intersection locations to the city, which will be constructing the Wells-Wentworth Connector through the site this year.
TIF money to fund the new road expires at the end of the year.
Related is also expected to move the Metra Rock Island tracks west, away from Clark Street, to improve access into the site.
Riverline
North of Roosevelt, the partners developing Riverline, the big project both north and south of River City, have 
decided to divide the property.
Chicago developer CMK will continue development south of River City under the Riverline name.
Lend-Lease, a big international REIT, will use a new name as they develop the land north of Polk.
The first building in that area, named Ancora, is topped-out and largely enclosed.
Ancora is 29 stories with 420 apartments.
The land right at the corner of Harrison & Wells is owned by a yet another developer, who are said to be planning two 14-story buildings there with a total of 346 apartments.
The project needs no rezoning approvals, and developer Wood Partners, who developed Alta Roosevelt at Polk and Financial, hopes to begin construction next month.
