Regents Park (Chicago)

Infobox Skyscraper
building_name= Regents Park (North and South Towers)


caption= Regents Park from 51st Street Lake Shore Drive overpass
preceded=
year_built=
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location= Chicago, IL
flagicon|USA United States
status= Completed
groundbreaking=
constructed= 1974, 1972
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opening=
destroyed=
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roof=
top_floor=
floor_count= 36, 37
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architect= Dubin, Dubin, Black & Moutoussamy
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owner= Cresent Heights

Regents Park is a 1,026 unit, upscale apartment complex in the Indian Village section of the Kenwood community area of Chicago in city-state|Cook County|Illinois, United States, and adjacent to the Hyde Park community area border. Bordering Harold Washington Park, its two parallel towers are just west of Lake Shore Drive, Burnham Park and Lake Michigan with clear park and lake views to the east and south. The 37 floor Regents Park South Tower was completed in 1972 and the 36 floor Regents Park North Tower was completed in 1974.cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/cx/?id=101494|accessdate=March 17|accessyear=2007|title=Regents Park|publisher=Emporis.com] The South Tower is the tallest building in Kenwood,cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=regentsparksouth-chicago-il-usa|accessdate=March 17|accessyear=2007|title=Regents Park South|publisher=Emporis.com] and overlooks Lake Michigan and Burnham Park to the east and Harold Washington Park to the south. ]

Description

The complex is located on the site of the former Chicago Beach Hotel, a 12-story resort built in 1921 which had been used since World War II as the 5th Army Headquarters. ] ] The South Tower is located on the site of the former hotel and the North Tower is built on the site of the north lawn of the Hotel.cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=regentsparknorth-chicago-il-usa|accessdate=March 17|accessyear=2007|title=Regents Park North|publisher=Emporis.com]

The buildings fell into disrepair soon after their construction in the early to mid 1970s, and by the mid 1970s, they were known for their slum-like conditions, rising violence (including murder), and high vacancy rates. [ [http://www.hydepark.org/historicpres/urbanrenewal.htm#regents Regents Park] ] HUD had taken control of the buildings. In 1981, developer Bruce Clinton and The Clinton Company bought the property from HUD, [ [http://www.hydepark.org/historicpres/urbanrtimeline2.htm Urban Renewal -Hyde Park Timeline Part II] ] ] as an agreement had been made earlier with HUD to acquire the property after managing, renovating, and improving the property over five years. The renovations and improvements continued to progress after the acquisition, and Clinton eventually won the support of Senator Carol Mosely-Braun, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, Mayor Richard M. Daley, University of Chicago (U of C) law school dean Douglas Baird, and U of C Vice President of Community Affairs Jonathan Kleinbard. [ [http://www.hydepark.org/historicpres/urbanrenewal.htm#regents Regents Park] ] The U of C had previously advocated the demolition of the slums, but its position had changed as it witnessed Clinton's redevelopment successes. In 2002, the U of C-funded South East Chicago Commission honored Clinton for his contributions to the Hyde Park-Kenwood community. Regents Park was sold again in 2005.

The original main entrance was on the east side of the building. ] The towers thus retain Lake Shore Drive addresses (5020 & 5050 South Lake Shore Dr.) although the main entrance is now on the west side of the building. The towers were renovated in approximately 1990. ] A significant proportion of the residents attend the University of Chicago, especially the graduate business school. ]

Awards

The building has been the recipient of numerous apartment industry awards including the Mayor’s Landscape Award, and the 2006 National Association of Homebuilders Multi-family Development Firm of the Year Award. [cite web|url=http://www.regentsparkchicago.com/|accessdate=March 18|accessyear=2007|title=Regents Park Luxury Apartments]

External links

: [http://www.regentsparkchicago.com/ Official webpage] : [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/cx/?id=101494 Emporis.com]

Notes