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U of I scraps plans at The 78, eyes quantum technology campus at former South Works steel site

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The University of Illinois is scrapping its plans to build a $285 million research and teaching facility called the Discovery Partners Institute in the South Loop on the proposed site of The 78.

Instead it wants to split the project in two, with a presence at the new quantum technology campus on the Far South Side at the former U.S. Steel plant, and classroom and office space downtown. […]

U of I wants to take advantage of the momentum in quantum computing, which is seen as the next big leap in technology. Gov. JB Pritzker has committed $500 million to quantum, including the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, where it hopes to attract companies and research institutions with a state-of-the-art cryogenic facility. […]

“We are more optimistic about our prospects for doing something incredible on The 78 today than we have been throughout our long journey with this project,” [Related Midwest CEO Curt Bailey] told Crain’s. “While there is some disappointment in DPI choosing not to continue to build on the site, that opens up significant possibilities for something really spectacular, and we look forward to being able to pursue that with all vigor quickly.”

Go read the rest.

Thoughts?

posted by Isabel Miller
Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 8:55 am

Comments

Over/under on how many years before anything permanent gets built there? 10 years?

Comment by Sox Fan Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 9:08 am
Not entirely surprised about the change in plans. DPI locating at the 78 never made a ton of sense, and seemed to have a lot more to do with Rauner helping out a friend/the President of Start Early my creating an anchor tenant there out of whole cloth than anything else.

Without that half a billion dollar state investment in the site though, not sure what the future really holds for getting something off of the ground at that spot.

Comment by Juice Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 9:13 am
===Thoughts? ===

The 78 has been in planning and development for years and there hasn’t been a whole lot of progress made and I’m not sure to what extent the city really needs additional office space which historically has been the most lucrative side of building and development.

Being closer to the other planned development is also beneficial for the stated goal of the Institute. The sunk costs are unfortunate, but when the overall project is so delayed in actually occurring that some guy can show up and make impromptu baseball fields for publicity stunts it isn’t exactly a confidence builder.

If there’s any behind the scenes discussions related to the Sox’s goal of having a new stadium built for them, kudos to whoever is handling that if that’s part of the motivation for this happening. But again, the worst team in baseball is perhaps also not reading the room on the current attitude about building stadiums for the benefit of the ultra wealthy.

Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 9:18 am
Back in 2020 Pritzker announced that $235M in state funds would be used for the UIC project at the 78. What happens to that money now? Does it go towards a project at the new site?

Comment by Quibbler Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 9:28 am
In another “78” development, the owner of the Chicago Fire announced yesterday he was looking at that property for a new soccer stadium (along with a couple other sites.) Refreshingly, he said he doesn’t want public funding.

Comment by Simon Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 9:47 am
why is there a blind spot of teams that want new stadiums? unless its an nfl team, the $$$ asked for is too much. Northwestern fans angry all over the place with $$ for lakefront stadium tix and they don’t even have their fans to fill it.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 9:51 am
Game changer. The IQMP will be a technological hub and have access to U of I researchers, U of Chicago and IIT students, and Purdue is 2 hours away. This will be huge for the technology footprint of Chicago, and hopefully transit can be set up to accommodate the needs of people involved.

Comment by Old IL Dude Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 9:53 am
There are sites in Chicago that feel cursed and the 78 definitely feels that way. The irony is choosing the South Works which has also been in a constant state of redevelopment.

Comment by Chicagonk Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 9:53 am
I wonder what advantages the University sees in the South Works location, which will be a significant drive/train trip from the mooted downtown spaces. Are the infrastructure problems at the 78 that much worse than what would be required at South Works?

Comment by Surprised Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 9:57 am
According to teh Google, the Metra Electric line runs from Millennium Park to U of Chicago, and kinda by IIT to the 87th St stop. The infrastructure exists, which is very good news.

Comment by Old IL Dude Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 10:15 am
Not surprised. Related has a reputation for being difficult to deal with.

Comment by Southside Markie Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 10:16 am
They just want to be where the action is. This whole Quantum project is significant not just nationally, but internationally as well.

Pritzker isn’t playing for pennies.

Comment by walker Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 10:28 am
@Surprised: the South Works site is also slated to host a massive quantum research park anchored by PsiQuantum. It makes all the sense in the world for U of I to move their research there. See https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/07/25/former-south-works-site-to-host-quantum-computing-campus-psiquantum/

In particular, quantum computing requires cryogenic equipment to make the computers work; PsiQuantum is already planning on building a cryogenic facility, so it makes sense to piggyback on that investment.

Comment by Benjamin Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 10:29 am
I’ve thought from the beginning that the whole project was a DCEO development crack pipe fever dream. Millions spent in “development” is feature not bug. At this point I think development is the racket to be in. The race to be involved in “the next great thing” is a narcotic used to lull the taxpayers and politicians into forking over vast amounts that could be better used in other ways to help our state.
Say things like “quantum”, “innovation centers”,”bio-cryogenic whatever” and a huge subset of the wealthy and privileged go into an Onanistic trance.
Solve hunger, education, homelessness, inflationary price gouging rather than spend untold millions in a race that is more fictional and scam, than a valid quest for science.
To me these are vanity projects like the current billionaire space race. Real problems like poverty and an increasingly poorly educated populace are more likely to be the downfall of our state.

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 10:36 am
The 78 is Chicago’s version of Springfield’s Y-block, just with more hope and disappointment.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 10:40 am
Literally just yesterday I was at a luncheon talking about how Chicago is really becoming a global life sciences innovaation hub right before our eyes but there is a huge need for more coordination. I am torn. I’ve been to the quantum facility in Humboldt Park but it has limits. The South Side site can really become a destination. But the Loop and near Loop needs all the help it can get in terms of revitalization. Man I wish Rahm was still mayor to work with JB on optimizing this. It’s great news and opportunity that we need to parlay.

Comment by levivotedforjudy Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 11:05 am
Wherever DPI needs to land to be successful. Get it done.

I’m guessing the quantum facility could make use of Lake Michigan for possible cooling of the computers and facility? Otherwise that site is being built in one of the more troubled areas of Chicago, and I have real doubts (but hopes) that much improvement spills over to the Bush, South Shore and South Chicago neighborhoods.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 11:45 am
This is a serious question. Will somebody please explain to me how the South Works site will be accessed from the North?

We actually were thinking about moving down there when it was going to be a residential development. But driving down Lake Shore/South Shore, it’s only one lane each way through a historic neighborhood, and we thought it would be a disaster to try to get there during rush hour.

I know there have been discussions of light rail, etc., but that doesn’t necessarily get you where you want to go if you’re not heading to the Loop.

What is the plan?

Comment by Soccermom Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 11:56 am
There is a reason Honeybear is a former golden horseshoe winner. What the Chaplain wrote is a golden example.

Been too long since they posted. Missed their biting commentary.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 12:22 pm
RE: cursed development locations

I blame Chicago politics to a large extent. Everyone wants their cut for any large project to go through. The many many ways different interest groups and political actors can hamstring a development project in this city basically all but ensures nothing big can get done in a timely fashion.

No alderman will ever suffer political consequences for bricking a project and saying they need more “community input” or “this doesn’t help [insert disadvantaged group of choice]”

Comment by Homebody Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 12:28 pm
“”go into an Onanistic trance”"

Honeybear wins phrase of the day.

Comment by walker Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 12:57 pm
If Related was proposing more family friendly housing such as you find directly east in Dearborn Park, they would get universal approval. Absolutely true there have been numerous proposals for this area over the past 40 years. This is the old Rock Island rail yards so basic infrastructure like sewers and sidewalks need to be built.

Comment by low level Friday, Oct 18, 24 @ 1:24 pm