Chicago to Develop Lakefront Harbors

Park board seals deal to develop lakefront harbors
$871,000 CONTRACT | Planner of London Olympics gets job

September 13, 2007
BY ANDREW HERRMANN Staff Reporter aherrmann@suntimes.com
Plans for a pair of new Chicago harbors that could be used if the city hosts the 2016 Olympics sailed forward Wednesday, as the Chicago Park District Board OKd a contract that includes design of the sites.
The $871,600 contract for developing new harbors at 31st Street and Chicago Gateway, south of Navy Pier, was awarded to the firm that is the "master planner" for the London 2012 Games.

The 31st Street lakefront has been marked as the site of sailing competition for the Chicago Olympics. The Olympic rowing venue would be at Monroe Harbor, and Gateway could help accommodate boat owners displaced from Monroe, officials say.

The district wants to build 830 slips at 31st Street for $42 million and 300 to 400 slips at Gateway for $24 million.

Park officials say that even if Chicago doesn't win its bid for the Games, demand for harbor space will make the sites successful. Slip revenues from pleasure boaters would cover construction costs, parks Supt. Timothy Mitchell said.

Harbor fees have been a growing revenue source for the district -- this year, they are projected to raise about $20.4 million.

Construction could begin in 2008, with completion in 2010, said Rob Rejman, director of lakefront construction for the Park District.

The contract was awarded to EDAW Inc., a San Francisco-based firm that is the leading infrastructure and landscape design firm for the London Summer Games. The firm is also working on the 2008 Olympic Aquatic Park in Beijing and has Olympic experience in Salt Lake City; Sydney, Australia, and Atlanta.

See Chicago 2016 Olympic Animation - Videos - WMAQ