April 7, 2008 – Despite opposition that appears to be coming from Marina Towers Condominium Association, the CEO of Dick’s Last Resort says construction of its Marina City location will resume this week and their goal is to be open in June.

Steve Schiff says the Stop Work Order, posted on February 22, was the result of the general contractor doing demolition work in the commercial tenant space being renovated for Dick’s Last Resort, and “coring,” which is drilling through concrete to put plumbing. He says an inspector “just happened on the project and called the halt.”

“The architect and [general contractor] regret the issue but see it as no big deal,” said Schiff on April 2. “Once stopped, none of our contractors have been onto the site.”

Since then, says Schiff, their construction permit application has been reviewed by all the necessary departments and he was hopeful it would be approved on April 3. On that day, fire prevention, plumbing, refrigeration, and ventilation reviews were approved by the City of Chicago Department of Buildings. However, a structural review was denied.

As of April 11, nine drawing and application reviews have been approved and one has been denied. “All permits are significant,” Schiff says, “but I believe we will pass.”

According to a note on the Department web site, it can take two business days for permit data to be posted.

“All issues have been addressed,” he says. “We are confident that we will begin construction [this] week, but will not do so until the permit is issued.”

Schiff says he called residential property manager David Gantt to discuss “misinformation” attributed to him. Gantt claimed at the March 20 MTCA board meeting that construction work had been done in the tenant space even after the Stop Work Order was posted. According to Schiff, those workers were hired by the commercial property manager and had the proper permit.

Petition drive skirts 2003 agreement

Meanwhile, a petition drive last week in the residential towers, supporting landmark status for Marina City and specifically objecting to the development of commercial space by Dick’s Last Resort, appears to have been organized by at least two MTCA board members. Although nothing prohibits individual unit owners from supporting landmark status or challenging commercial development, any direct MTCA involvement would breach a 2003 agreement with commercial property owners.

According to the agreement, “The MTCA…covenants that it will not initiate, enact, endorse or in any way give support to or voice support for any action which…seeks to have the Complex or any portion thereof designated as a landmark.”

Not only that, but at the request of the commercial property owner, MTCA must send a letter to any prospective commercial tenant, reconfirming the MTCA’s continued adherence to the agreement.

Ellen Chessick, MTCA Secretary, and Sandra Lapping, a board member, were observed soliciting petition signatures, speaking in support of landmark status and against Dick’s Last Resort.

It is believed that a Chicago Tribune reporter was contacted by residential property manager David Gantt, alerting him to the organized effort by unit owners to challenge Dick’s Last Resort from moving to Marina City.

Dick’s design toned down

Dick’s CEO Steve Schiff says the current design calls for finishes that conform to the complex. “At the presentation [to residents on September 19] there was a lot of talk about the brick color and the entrance. The brick is now stone that resembles the building color and should satisfy the [negative] comments. The entrance location must remain where it is, but we softened the look.”

To get an idea of what the Marina City location will look like, Schiff says their Dallas location is “a general…feel we will try to achieve in Chicago.”

The interior of Dicks’s Last Resort at Marina City will look like this, its restaurant in Dallas.

DLR denies installing gas valve

Uncertain at the moment is the current status of a valve installed on a natural gas line as part of renovation of the space for Dick’s Last Resort. A spokesperson for Peoples Gas said on March 24 that the valve was “perfectly safe” but they were going to remove it because it was unauthorized.

Schiff, who says they were notified of the issue by their architects, says the valve was installed by commercial management with the proper permit. “Our contractors were not part of that tap in process to the best of my knowledge.”

Residential property manager Gantt, at the March 20 MTCA board meeting, called it “kind of a scary situation and luckily the building did not have to be evacuated,” but added the work did appear to have been done professionally.

Anticipating a possible conflict with commercial property management over Dick’s Last Resort, MTCA is working on a contingency plan to create a meeting room on the 20th floor. Although Transwestern Commercial Services will continue leasing to MTCA the meeting room on the concourse level for another year, the agreement can be cancelled with 30-day notice. At the March 20 board meeting, Gantt said he will request proposals for creating the space “just in case we get into a fight with Transwestern over Dick’s Last Resort.”

Modest construction progress so far

They are not quite ready for photos to be taken, but Dick’s Last Resort CEO Steve Schiff did show off on Wednesday the humble beginnings of their new restaurant at Marina City. The floor and ceiling are bare except for work tables, uninstalled pipes, and welding equipment. A metal framework gives some idea of where the walls will be someday.

A copy of an architectural drawing will be available soon.

The main entrance will be near Dearborn Street. A host stand will greet visitors. On the left when you walk in will be the restrooms. Off to the right will be a live band. The bar and HVAC equipment will be in the southwest corner, where the large sign in the window is now located, saying Dick’s is coming to Marina City.

Perhaps the most striking change DLR will be making will be moving the windows back from the south side of the space. Beyond that will be outdoor seating.

The kitchen will be located closer to the northeast corner of the space.

Responding to concerns about the sound of a live band, Schiff points out there are noise ordinances they will have to follow. They will have some sound abatement. He also notes the nearest residents will be 20 floors up, somewhat removed from the source of the sound.

The most unique design challenge, says Schiff, has been being cantilevered over the river. “It’s a huge issue.” The 18-inch concrete floor is colder than what you’d find in most buildings.

Schiff says the last time the space was used was for a steak house operated by Johnny Lattner, a Chicago native who won the Heisman Trophy in 1953. This is confirmed by numerous sources.

It was Lattner’s second restaurant. The first one burned down in 1968. The fire also destroyed his Heisman Trophy but it was replaced and went on to sit at the piano bar at the Marina City location.

According to Schiff, what attracted Dick’s to the space was the river, view of downtown, and access to River North.

Schiff says they will be “great neighbors.” He points out the current location of DLR has never been cited for violation of city ordinances, and they pay their rent on time. But he doesn’t want to get into a war of words. Instead of talking about how they will fit in at Marina City, he says, “we’ll just do it.”