Abandoned - Chicago Spire

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Among all of the ambitious development projects in the early 2000's, perhaps there was none more spectacular and iconic than the Chicago Spire. A concept to fill a long vacant plot of land at the mouth of the Chicago River. The Spire was planned to be the tallest skyscraper in America and briefly in the world. However a series of financial catastrophes then ensued leaving an enormous abandoned foundation. This is the Chicago Spire.
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BrightSunFilms 2021
Media in this episode has been supplied by Getty Images.

[@BrightSunFilms]

Join the BSF subreddit! www.reddit.com/r/brightsunfilms/

[@aloelover6012]

Ha, am first

[@qomztschannel6246]

The skyline do me tantalizing tho

[@VersatileElement]

Thank you for making this video, Jake

[@Jonschrift1983]

Its LAKE SHORE DRIVE!!! DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

[@xladydriver]

@ 2:16 You call it "Lake Shore Road" It's called LAKE SHORE DRIVE or LSD !!!! There's even a song written about it by Aliota, Haynes & Jeremiah. (The ampersand is invisible like the s in Jewel(s) ). Please correct this as it makes you look uninformed about the topic on which you are speaking.

[@bjoe385]

“Construction started in 2007” Oh no, I know where this is going.

[@bne7770]

We'll soon be watching abandoned with 'Construction started in 2019'

[@bjoe385]

@@bne7770 probably.

[@backyardcamping7161]

The 2008 market crash

[@Old_Ladies]

@@bne7770 I am surprised this one retirement home is still being built. It first started in I think 2016 but it had to stop because the ground was sinking. So a year later it starts to resume but because of Trump's trade war it was hard to get the materials we needed so construction was at a snail pace. 2019 it starts to pick up again and looks like it is finally going to get all the walls and roof done by early 2020. Bam pandemic hits and construct stopped for awhile while everything was shut down. When lockdown ended it was hard to get trades to come back and material shortages happened again because of all the manufacturing plants shut down and reduced capacity globally. Looks like the job will get done late summer of 2021 but it was suppose to be done in 2018. We also built a new hotel that also had problems leading to a year over due. It got finished in 2019. So not only do the owners lose a year of revenue they also opened up and had to basically have no tourists in almost all of 2020 and probably most of 2021 as well. I would hate to be in their shoes.

[@CarlDillynson]

Exactly what I was thinking!

[@colinsweetzir3403]

“Construction started in 2007” 2008 recession: “you know the rules and so do I”

[@kevinp.h8655]

“Say goodbye”

[@crazyrabbits]

A full commitment's what I'm thinking of.

[@jonnykaykorn3060]

perfect laughing my ass off.

[@andrewzapar2585]

Gonna give you up, gonna let you down, gonna run around and desert you. Gonna make you cry, say goodbye.

[@CoolBluePlayz]

Bruh this is a copied comment with a rick roll

[@Jasa12265]

7 levels of underground parking 10ft away from the Chicago river? What's the worst that can happen?

[@SilentKnight43]

No problems...if you own an amphibious vehicle.

[@Goofy_M1dg3t]

Iceberg right ahead Guy 7 levels down: ah shit here we go again

[@tedschmitt178]

@@SilentKnight43 and scuba gear.

[@ItsBillyBoss]

Captain we need to close the bulkhead doors, the water is up to the top of the boilers.

[@ragnarragnarson9393]

That's another problem. It would have costed millions just to keep water out of the parking garages.

[@MitchellWiggs]

13:40 they really should just install the worlds largest trampoline

[@raypitts4880]

or skating lake

[@diskdem0n]

@@raypitts4880 or like a new disney quest.

[@carlsaganlives6086]

Hot tub natural spa using the river water.

[@Rainkit]

I'm a bio nerd so part of me just wants to put in a whole bunch of exotic fish and see what kind of ecosystem develops.

[@SagittariusAyy]

For the last time, they did *not* order a giant trampoline!

[@zcoop98]

It feels like every abandoned project of recent times ends up somehow tracing its issues from or through 2008. Highlights just how big an effect it had.

[@ryszard68]

2020/21: *hold my beer*

[@imblack011]

1973, 2008, and 2020 were the most unfortunate years for big projects

[@jamesdimartino6627]

2001 too. Trump tower chicago was meant to be 2x as tall but developers didn’t want it to become a target if another terrorist attack happened

[@zualapips1638]

@@jamesdimartino6627 People hate that damn tower so much, so now imagine if it had been twice as tall. It's like one of the most liberal cities being forced to wear the MAGA hat.

[@Arkiasis]

Who knows how many things will be cancelled or abandoned due to Covid.

[@worldofdoom995]

"construction was to begin in 2007." me: ah shit here we go again.

[@jaysmith179]

Will be a lot worse in 2021. Joey already cost Americans 11,000 jobs with stopping the pipe line and also cost jobs in Canada. God help America!

[@Alex-ds9on]

@@jaysmith179 you should keep replying with that I’m sure everyone really cares

[@TheDagraner4576]

@@Alex-ds9on When he gives him a childish name, it makes him feel like a man.

[@cameroncalzone8860]

@@jaysmith179 jokes on you joey is a hot guy name

[@TapYouKillYou]

@@Alex-ds9on it's a troll account, joined a month ago.

[@gregoryfritz7413]

So basically Chicago avoided having a giant drill bit as part of is skyline

[@PatrickGrosse]

Personally always thought the Calatrava design was ugly, and I tend to really like his stuff. Drill bit is definitely more kid-friendly than what I called it

[@hetaljoshi9816]

@@PatrickGrosse Did you call it a dick??

[@MrQdiddy85]

Yea now it has a giant hole instead

[@darrellcarpenter8791]

😩😭😂🤣

[@willkaporis7958]

I promise you we would’ve renamed it the Drill

[@lorddrayvon1426]

Update; it's still a hole in the ground. There's not even any crane work a year after they said this would be built. I think it's safe to say it's dead.

[@benwarped7272]

Chicago - Over Promise, Under Deliver.

[@lorddrayvon1426]

@@benwarped7272 ya can't even say they over-promised here honestly. The replacement for the Chicago Spire was horrifically generic at best. The Grenfell Tower was a bigger architectural achievement than these would have been. At this point, the city's just gonna take the land and fill in the whole so they can redevelop it themselves. A giant gaping parking structure for a never-built skyscraper on the corner of major road in your city is an embarrassment. The hole is immediately adjacent to both a motorway, the Chicago River and a trainline. Any Tom, Dick or Harry can see it without even trying.

[@wtfj4462]

Its the smallest building of all time at -100 feet 😤😤😤😤😤 put some respect on the Chicago spires name

[@petitponeydu7727]

hey jake, i'm french and i showed your videos to my cousin who's currently in highschool, apparently your videos about Detroit and New Orleans are being watched in english classes all the way across the atlantic ! your content is so cool even english teachers use it

[@BrightSunFilms]

That’s so awesome!

[@lil_lyrix]

Woah Detroit? Amazing!

[@kimberlyx4060]

Your videos have professional qualities about them. Netflix should pick them up.

[@ajvark]

@@lil_lyrix Detroit is French for strait, after all.

[@krismine99]

@@kimberlyx4060 no, I don't have a subscription

[@manfail7469]

You should make a playlist specifically for buildings that got abandoned because of the 2008 recession, there being so many of them

[@amoltandon2900]

Imagine if all these cool buildings were actually made...

[@sportsgames2713]

@@amoltandon2900 Bush happened though🤬

[@Ariel_ButNotTheMermaid]

Most the shittiest years were Under Obama. He couldn't fix it in 8 years though. Probably could have built some cool shit with Trump but o well . We can always stack the new millions of refugees on top of each other and end up with the tallest tower on earth that way 🧐

[@sportsgames2713]

@@Ariel_ButNotTheMermaid Obama fixed it greatly and we had one of the best economies ever? trump helped (then ruined it), but it was Obama and Biden (!!!)'s hard work.

[@alexcutionman4569]

@@sportsgames2713 i don’t tend to get political but i don’t think trump deliberately ruined the economy, more of accidentally making some bad choices during 2020 that made things worse

[@deandupont5503]

The shape of the Spire is a perfect analogy of the project: everyone got screwed.

[@Qualimar]

I'm Irish myself and very familiar with Anglo-Irish and Shelbourne and it's fascinating to see what was basically a side effect of a disastrous financial crisis here in Dublin. That said as someone who has visited and liked Chicago I'm sort of glad it wasn't built. It just looks too out of place with the existing skyline.

[@ArticulatedDoom]

As a Chicagoan I appreciate you calling it The SEARS Tower

[@jacobtaylor110]

Yeah, screw the Willis tower 😂😂😂

[@kiltzanm]

Yes but I smiled a lil at lake shore road.

[@LatinaChef1986]

Seriously, I hate that it’s called the Willis Tower.

[@Mother_Lover]

damn right

[@alexbueno5815]

Who the fuck is Willis and why did he steal our tower :(

[@shom7790]

I remember having a 3D puzzle of Chicago and it had the Chicago Spire as one of its buildings. Sad to see the project abandoned

[@yakamarezlife]

Yo nobody reps there state flag like us

[@krisone63]

There is no one to blame here but the mayor, she never supported this project except in words.

[@tim3172]

@@yakamarezlife there?

[@Flirri]

That is actually really neat.

[@RC-hz6bn]

I had one like that! The 4D cityscapes one I think

[@duncanyounot]

Jake is the only reason I am happy

[@owenwyatt6933]

Omg queen

[@captivesojourner]

😅

[@oscardelgado7044]

🤡

[@blisszxc104]

You're the only reason I'm happy

[@universalsoldier2293]

I remember being obsessed with the video that the company released after my girlfriend and I visited the site (her hometown). We're both fascinated by architecture, especially in Chicago. RIP, Spire.

[@xQDawg89x]

“Lake Shore Road” Everyone from Chicago: *Triggered* “Sears Tower” Everyone from Chicago: *Calms down slightly*

[@elizabethpecina208]

I’m so happy he said ‘Sears Tower’

[@dree55]

My mind was screaming: “DRIVE!!! Lake Shore DRIVE!!!” But perfectly okay with Sears Tower. 😂 I’ll never call it anything else.

[@kiwikiwi2483]

Im not even Chicagoan (I'm from Detroit) and I will never call the Sears Tower anything other than the Sears Tower for as long as I live

[@samsecada8404]

Willis Tower???? What you talkin bout Willis??

[@huntrrams]

I agree I was like what Lakeshore Road? He should have said LSD, but non-Chicagoans will be confused on if he’s talking about the drug or lakeshore drive.

[@thehazbinpilot]

This Guy basically makes free to watch 15+ minute documentaries with super high quality! Great video(s) there Jake!

[@BrightSunFilms]

I really appreciate that, thank you!

[@TheTigero]

Omg it’s even more impressive when you remember the BSG origins... giggly Jake making videos, that was such a vibe. But you’re correct, these are amazing.

[@catmanmliolunny]

And the only payment is he asks you to sub

[@chasehalik2092]

@@catmanmliolunny a hefty price

[@julianx2rl]

Internet Historian: How you doin' fellow kids.

[@DuecePiece]

I'm not even from Chicago, but I was born in '86 and refuse to call it anything other than the Sears Tower- that's what it always was and always will be to me

[@theycallmemrclean1901]

I'll hit 60 in a few day's. I remember so many places said to be the greatest are no more . Thanks Jake

[@Thetrickyace]

Happy (pretty) late birthday

[@mrsantoyo97]

I was not expecting this one to be on here. Brings back memories when I was a kid first hearing about the spire. I thing I even did a school report on. As a Chicagoan,I think its sad it never happened .

[@yolk6851]

Indeed

[@huntrrams]

Ikr! It’s such a cool building. Atleast we have the vista buildings.

[@ZachandYoshi]

As a Chicagoan, thank you for calling it the proper “Sears Tower”. I don’t even know what a Willis Tower is. 😁

[@painexotic3757]

same. born and raised in chicago. Only tourists call it the willis tower.

[@tacocat1714]

@Brendan Donnelly Well yes that’s true, that is a stupid name for the tower. Sears is superior.

[@painexotic3757]

@Brendan Donnelly only tourists call it the willis tower. Us chiagoans still call it the sears.

[@1rockcrawford]

@@tacocat1714 Sears Tower is an embarrassing name to call it, considering how impressively Sears has imploded.

[@MilwaukeeWoman]

As a frequent, multiple times a year (at least before COVID) tourist from Milwaukee, it's the Sears tower. I bet most of 40+ Milwaukee only knows it as the Sears tower.

[@sarahjane262]

I love this channel! It’s so nice that you cover interesting (sometimes eerie) topics, but your calming voice and informative tone makes it possible for me (someone who gets scared very easily) to enjoy them.

[@evelyannepiette7090]

Watched one of your sinking cruise ship videos at 8am this morning. It’s now after 3pm and I lost count on how many of the abandoned and cruise ship incident videos I’ve seen. Really great informational and interesting videos. Thanks.

[@enigma9705]

Honest to God, abandoned is one of my favorite youtube series to watch

[@morganlimes]

stfu ✍

[@trinitijoy4968]

Me too!!!

[@AmigaX]

Agreed

[@nutcrusher4673]

Yeah bro I just watch like 50 videos at like 3am and all of the sudden wake up to a monkey swimming lmfao

[@ANDRESLOPEZ-kj4tu]

@@morganlimes stfu

[@brianbernhard1697]

It scares me how ancient some of these photos look considering how recent ago it was--I feel old

[@hadhamalnam]

The bad cgi makes it look super old

[@justinreid2422]

You are old🤭

[@sorrow2305]

I rewatched that one clip from Irish Banks based in the early 2000‘s and felt instant nostalgia. I can’t believe how fast time has went by. Those were truly better days and we were all younger then. Especially any years before 2007. I miss those times. There is truly a certain feeling to that era, and I am surprised that no name had been mentioned yet. The 2000 decade was different entirely and brought new sets of concepts and issues to the table. We are no different from those that miss the 80‘s or the 1990‘s - which we are more closely related to. I feel one day, not too long from now, there will be historians talking about the era and what it meant to be very young and alive then. It has already happened to our older brothers and sisters from the 90‘s. For time keeps ticking on.

[@kenneyjake]

I think some of those photos are a bit processed almost like they have a filter applied to them

[@JasonFlorida]

@@sorrow2305 It is amazing how profoundly different every decade since the 1920's was substantially different but it seems like it was a blur from 2000 to now... not much difference between those past 2 decades

[@gowrit.714]

ugh i remember following you when you were still Bright Sun Games and only had like 1k followers.... you’ve really grown man... love it!

[@BrightSunFilms]

Thank you!!

[@adamtrombino106]

My mom's best friend was 1 of those 30% that had invested in the condos. She fought for 4 yrs to get her deposit back before she passed away. Her children eventually got the $ back after 3 more yrs of litigation. Many Chicagoans and suburbanites nicknamed the tower 'The Vertical Drill Bit' based on the pictures.

[@miesteryt]

Never disappointed when Jake Uploads.

[@BrightSunFilms]

Thank you thank you

[@klevino1179]

@@BrightSunFilms nah, thank YOU

[@miesteryt]

Thank you for the entertainment

[@reewoo6220]

@@BrightSunFilms yeah he is right whenever I see that you posted I look forward to watching it😂

[@Kaiden-9226]

@@BrightSunFilms loving the content man

[@lornegolman]

As a Chicagoan, it hurt me ever time I heard "Lake Shore Road"

[@tiagoalves2996]

atleast he didn't call Sears Tower "Willis"

[@muskokamike127]

Imagine living on Whacker Ave? lol....I guess that's better than Wanker Ave....lol.....

[@MoctezumaStudios]

Yeah! There is literally a song called 'Lake shore drive' :D

[@javen69]

as a Minnesotan it hurt me as well

[@jacobtaylor110]

Bahhha well there technically is a lakeshore rd on the north side that is separate from LSD

[@1KingCoop]

This is why i love your videos Jake, they are great, entertaining, informative & high quality. I hope you and yours are staying safe during this pandemic. Keep up the good work.

[@tookay4ever]

I love the clarity in your videos man, keep up the great work!

[@techHAUS]

As a Chicago native, I clicked this so fast when it finally showed up on my page

[@BrightSunFilms]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@nylexmo9019]

I was obsessed with skyscrapers as a kid. Growing up in suburban Chicago, I was so ecstatic for this project to be completed. As you can guess, I was heartbroken when it stopped. My mind now bugles with the imagination of what could’ve been:(

[@Travelsandmore333]

Bro same here. I would watch constant videos updates on this building as a kid. Went to study architecture and now I work as one. 🥲

[@anthonyvallejo1537]

Same here!!! So sad

[@edrrrk]

same but except I grew up in a city that could not have buildings over 500 feet due to the airport, but I always liked skyscrapers

[@warloew8610]

I feel the same way.

[@johntechwriter]

What could have been, in all likelihood, was a very empty, very ugly condominium tower.

[@EJ-74]

It blows my mind how money gets thrown in the air In this case spiraled into the ground Great research Jake 🔥👍✌️

[@TheBiggestGame]

Man, I remember all the talk about this when I was a kid! A lot of the locals hated it because of how it would stick out, and I always wondered what happened to it because it kind of petered out. Now I know! Thanks!

[@thunderstorm6438]

Abandoned is probably one of the best series on youtube if not the best

[@BrightSunFilms]

I really do appreciate that

[@ryy1704]

Nah vsauce mindfield is best, but this is good too

[@blackopscw7913]

@@BrightSunFilms Can You Please! Make the original "Closed for storm" Back to public access!! I used to watch it all the time!!!

[@grabasandwich]

It's even more eco-friendly than planned!

[@cameroncalzone8860]

what’s sad is that if it weren’t for the 2008 recession, this tower would have been built

[@angelstaab2093]

@midnitesquirldog1 bush was prez in 2008

[@brennanr.697]

Honestly, if it weren't for the inflated real estate market that caused the recession, this tower never would have been conceived.

[@aquntio]

@midnitesquirldog1 only people like you will bring politics into a unmade tower video

[@BornIn1500]

@midnitesquirldog1 Biden is even worse than the incompetent 0bama, if that's even possible. We finally got a real economically literate president with Trump and that's why the media (99% far left, BTW) launched the biggest propaganda campaign in American history against him. It was their only hope to keep their Dem sheep voting blue. They ignored the real issues and instead fake incoherent screeches of "sexist, rayyyycis, xenophobic, transphobic, homophobic, etc." in an all out media war to keep their Dems from being logical and to morph them into emotionally fragile children. Reality no longer exists on the left and it must be that way to keep their votes coming.

[@DIYlifer]

This is awesome. I actually worked the mock up of the interior spaces in the NBC building. I remember we had to lay out fresh plywood for the architect because he wouldn't walk on the floor.

[@oliviab.2374]

Ha “Spiraling in the wrong direction” that’s funny good job J

[@mrbeaks]

Brilliant quote

[@dragon_ninja_2186]

Missed opportunity to say “Spiraled out of control.”

[@kellyweingart3692]

lol

[@AluminumOxide]

It resembles a giant drill bit

[@jillsmcfarland2001]

Tartarian vortex

[@djdeadbeat4380]

I went to Chicago for summer vacation a couple summers ago and they talked about this on one of the tours we took of the city

[@lordbread2083]

Probably very proud of the plans at the time

[@sportsgames2713]

@@lordbread2083 no one is proud about the spire.

[@jonnydanger7181]

@@sportsgames2713 they should at least utilize the parking garage

[@sportsgames2713]

@@jonnydanger7181 no one is utilizing anything rn, and soon a new project will come to fruition or that double tower plan will start. If not, I when I become a billionaire will do it myself.

[@zalac153]

>Summer Vacation >Goes to Chicago Why would you do that to yourself

[@dchawk81]

Wonder how long it would have taken to be nicknamed the Drill Bit Building or Tap Tower.

[@ernestonavajr.6814]

Well done in putting this video together. I always wondered what happened to the site. Hopefully something big and impressive is built in that site.

[@collectpanda3350]

It’s always a shame when these incredibly ambitious architecture projects fall through

[@lachlanmtb7540]

truly tho

[@DFW_Productions]

Yeah

[@MrNotCreatlve]

The Spire concept images look like a giant drill bit I can't unsee

[@austinlawler3739]

In Chicago that was its nickname, The Drill Bit building.

[@RetroMMA]

Jeez, so insightful, Twatter...🙄

[@AlonsoRules]

it's a syringe

[@ryanescobar8980]

Or a Unicorn horn

[@alejandropelayo9288]

@@austinlawler3739 I remember the dirty jokes because of the shape of the building and its proximity to the "vagina building"

[@aaronsilverio2636]

You deserve a contract with Netflix or Hulu. This is top notch content!

[@CodyShell]

"where is luxury condo?!" - Niko Bellic

[@josefmuller86]

BSF: Construction started in 2007 Me: oh no

[@eliottodowd9021]

you are legitimately one of my favourite youtubers ever

[@BrightSunFilms]

Thank you so much

[@lachlanmtb7540]

Yup same

[@Mumsy_Soap]

Glad I found your channel. Here's some encouragement for today. Thanks for sharing. Keep building

[@KevinOrzel]

As a kid growing up in Chicago who loved skyscrapers, I followed the Spire project with rapt attention and let myself get hopelessly carried away each time any glimmer of hope emerged that it might actually get finished. I was disappointed again and again and again and again. It wasn't just the Spire too, the whole city just stopped building anything for years. It was bleak.

[@chicagonorthcoast]

The whole COUNTRY stopped building after the Great Bust of 2008. There were millions of homes and buildings underwater on their loans, millions more in default, our banking system was tottering, and there was a huge overhang of vacant homes and condos in every price bracket. It was a GREAT time to buy a house or condo because they were being offered at gift prices then, but there was little money available to lend, which is what killed the Spire. Its financing fell through when the market collapsed and financial panic set in across the country, just as construction was about to begin. Many projects everywhere fell through and the financial losses across the country were catastrophic.

[@KOKOBC]

Famous last words: Construction started in summer of 2007

[@stevensmith5784]

"You get a lawsuit!" "You get a lawsuit!" "You get a lawsuit!" "You get a lawsuit!" "You get a lawsuit!" "You get a lawsuit!"

[@jashanestone]

All appropriate for that this was in Oprah's Chicago 😂😂😂💯💪🏾

[@stevensmith5784]

@@jashanestone 💯💯💯

[@professionalbozo4396]

Catchin lawsuits like Pokémon

[@jordanangle9666]

Look under your seat, you get a lawsuit!

[@robbys5236]

Everybody gets a lawsuit!

[@med6399]

Well presented!🎖🎖🎖

[@BeantownMrs]

My parents used to live in Lake Point Tower and we had an amazing view of the hole. I knew the Spire was supposed to be built there, but I never knew about the details. Thank you for explaining what happened!

[@andysorensen1737]

(Jake refers to the Sears Tower correctly) Well done young Padawon.

[@aircooledhead]

But he says “Lakeshore Road” multiple times. Lakeshore ROAD? Seriously?!

[@Moray2023]

I guess this tower didn't In-spire

[@cloed0ll]

I-

[@radial2335]

😐

[@atlas_1802]

@@cloed0ll I- what? speak child

[@bmstylee]

BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! GET OFF THE STAGE!!!!!!!!!

[@kiwikiwi2483]

Take my 💵 and 🏃

[@georgemallory797]

In the summer of 2000, I was living in Scottsdale, AZ. During a lunch break, I read an article in Popular Mechanics about a tower to be built in Chicago called (some 2 or 3 digit number) Dearborn. It was supposed to have cantilevered floors with air spaces between the floors (except near the center core) to help with airflow/wind resistance. I remember being excited, as it was supposed to be about 2000' or a bit higher. 9/11 all but killed it, it was assumed.

[@suelyons531]

As we've learned in NYC....the insane pencil towers that have popped up in the last few years have many, many problems and ruined the skyline. Chicago should be happy they dodged this building.

[@markusbrauns4274]

You guys dodged a bullet, unlike the Millenium Tower in San Francisco.

[@mudman6156]

This wasn’t one of those tiny footprint skinny towers like that built in NYC. Those (except one of them) are rather ugly. I certainly wouldn’t want to live in such a slender building as those on billionaire’s row.

[@judlinewren1711]

This is the 50th BSF video I’ve watched in less than 24 hours. Jake, you’re so good!! I can’t stop watching them!! Also a fellow Canadian/Ontarian!!

[@Marty4650]

They say that "every great American architect left a masterpiece in Chicago." And I believe it is true. Chicago has the most beautiful skyline of any major city.

[@Polack-ml9fh]

It is a beautiful city.

[@turquoise_hexagon_sun]

Just too bad it’s full of Chicagoans

[@redditstop1653]

@@turquoise_hexagon_sun ok Suburbanite

[@karld001]

@@turquoise_hexagon_sun I love your name us be nice as you shit on a who city

[@stopmakingsense9915]

A nice skyline yes, but it has nothing on NY in terms of the number and density of skyscrapers

[@_Maelgon_]

Almost 1M subs dude! Congrats! I have been subbed since 350K I think and have been watching you since about 50-100K Been a long time fan and will be for years to come!

[@BrightSunFilms]

Thank you so much!

[@sailormars336]

I love that 2020 can be a new 2008 and I can someday guarantee that every abandoned will have a “then the 2020 pandemic struck” point to explain the collapse of a project

[@tylersmith4265]

In 2021 the financial market has bounced back and home building is booming.

[@alice45-fgd-456drt]

@@tylersmith4265 2022 has entered the chat.

[@CallsignJaws]

On behalf of all Chicagoans, thank you for calling it the "Sears Tower" and not the Willis Tower.

[@redacted25353]

Why is so bad about the new name?

[@alanhawkins808]

Because, “What You talking about Sears” makes a lot more sense.

[@thelonn]

Hay, don’t say the forbidden word.

[@davidrossi1486]

It’s still Sears tower to me, and I’m Australian. If I say, I went to the viewing deck of Willis Tower no one will know what I’m talking about. The view from the John Hancock is better anyway.

[@mikemancini313]

Calling it the Sears tower is essentially just dragging the dead legacy of what Sears used to be. Quite Ironic people still call it the Sears Tower considering Sears has had some of the worst CEOs and has gone bankrupt. Bright Sun Films even made abandoned episodes on both Sears and Kmart so I'm not sure why anyone would call it the Sears Tower considering how bad of a company they have been known for in recent times.

[@nikogardeakos4534]

I live in chicago and this was literally 5 years too early if they didn’t waste so much time and money on it it would work bow

[@alexandredasilva8797]

Hello fellow Chicagoan!

[@huntrrams]

Hello other fellow Chicagoan! I agree our city spends too much on useless things.

[@nikogardeakos4534]

@@huntrrams yes our three main priorities should be to modernize the south and west side s fix the school system and probably build in that land

[@alexandredasilva8797]

@@nikogardeakos4534 if only our mayor could have the guts to actually do something. There’s a lot that can be fixed in this city but we need political powers to help us. Illinois isn’t really that state for that but hey, we’re stuck and we can change Chicago as citizens!

[@nikogardeakos4534]

@@alexandredasilva8797 yeah our political leaders are weak they are ruining our city

[@r.n501]

I remember in 2011 I went to Chicago on a school trip. I was hoping to see this massive spire. I was thoroughly disappointed when it was no where to be seen.

[@alexdreyfuss1050]

Fan request...do an episode on the Karcher Mall in Nampa, Idaho...old building from the 1960s, currently a dead mall that has only a couple anchor stores remaining...lots of changes over the last 20 years, especially recently. Definitely something you'll want to make an episode about! Keep it up, Jake 😁

[@slimylimes]

I remember the excitement surrounding The Spire. I was living in Chicago from 2006-2016 so I was following the drama as it happened. I was very disappointed when it didn't happen. I thought it was such a cool building! Chicago's very own unicorn horn.

[@XxthreedawgxX]

I remember long boarding by this 2 years ago and some how managed to sneak up to that hole. Had no idea it was this project. Crazy

[@morenofranco9235]

Thanks again, Jake - for another thought provoking presentation.

[@minecrafter0505]

How have I never found you before? These videos are awesome!

[@BrightSunFilms]

Thanks so much!

[@timg2727]

I wanted this to get built so badly. I remember being hugely disappointed when I found out it had fallen through.

[@Savanahcat211]

Can you even imagine being 7 floors below the ground in a parking garage.. sounds terrifying..

[@paulmezhir8354]

Less than 40 yards from the lakeshore and on "landfill" property, nonetheless.

[@tomrogers9467]

@@paulmezhir8354 sounds like a good basis for a disaster film: “Trapped in a Wet Volvo” (I think I spelled that correctly)?

[@1painter4hire]

Yeah, especially where it's located, I live here, Last place you want to be stuck in a 1- in 1-out situation. .

[@josiealmanza6551]

imagine being the person who has to park all the way at the bottom and there’s an emergency evacuation.. goodbye lol

[@biohazardlnfS]

I mean realistically most of this building foundations are already that deep on the first place and no most are not solid. It would be like being on the 3 floor of underground parking garages. As far as the land thats why you'd have such a deep foundation

[@ositofilms52]

You do an Awesome Job telling the background story of abandon structures, you should have a show on Discovery TV!😉

[@sssaviation9734]

Great content. I really like skyscrapers. I think you should do more. 👍

[@BHV0810]

"Spiraling in the wrong direction" *What a legend.*

[@razvandobos9759]

This should’ve been built. We needed a 2000 footer in the birthplace of the skyscraper

[@frankesposito2182]

I thought the Birthplace of the Skyscraper was Staten island!

[@iZCroikey]

@@frankesposito2182 No chicago is famous for being the birthplace of the skyscraper. Its just that New York eventually took over as strict building laws kept Chicago behind. But as a result, people had to get creative to get noticed since any more height was out of the picture.

[@xMrRAGER6]

@@frankesposito2182 what? 😂 😂 😂

[@slothbaby2104]

It makes me happy that you made a video about a building from around where I live its nice

[@loveforthegame3]

chicago truly has an awe inspiring skyline. I remember driving into chicago for the first time from i90. i was absolutely dumfounded, You can see it 50 miles away. Truly a beautiful city. I stayed at some fancy hotel downtown and order lou malnatis pizza. the whole city had an upbeat vibe it was poppin.

[@KogaInTheMoon]

From Spain, an important message: Never. Trust. Santiago Calatrava

[@mats7492]

He’s known to fail?

[@deadsec_xz1541]

@@mats7492 Nah, fuck this guy. Santiago Calatrava has designed some of the world s most amaizing buildings

[@japuchi]

@@mats7492 there's a long story of failed developments and self-destroying buildings from this guy, both in Spain and over the world. So yes, you'd better run from Calatrava.

[@KogaInTheMoon]

@@mats7492 In Spain is known for be linked with lots of failed, bad-quality and never-constructed buildings, and be involved in a few corruption cases, Valencia is the biggest case

[@frodo322]

He’s not to blame that financing stopped, he only designed the building.

[@bnbandit9082]

I remember when i first discovered your channel you had like 150k Now youre almost at one million

[@BrightSunFilms]

Isn’t it crazy?

[@blackopscw7913]

Same

@@blackopscw7913 same

[@drdewott9154]

Gotta say its a beautiful design from the outside none the less. I really do hope we see something like it, even if just at 1/3rd the scale or less, but with the same general exterior!

[@dannymorrisii4197]

My favorite part on this is how they did the 3-D model of the foundation I am so in love with construction But either way if they build the spiral or if not I am still good I am totally fine with those brand new twin buildings too

[@alyssarouso]

I grew up not far from Chicago, and I remember constantly hearing about the Spire drama during middle school and high school. I remember even seeing that silly model of it in person. I always wondered what came of the whole thing. Obviously, I knew it was abandoned, because I went to college in Chicago proper, and it wasn't in my field of vision on a daily basis, but I'm glad to finally know the story in full.

[@ChairmanMeow1]

Im still kind of sad this didn't ever get built. As a chicagoan I would have been so proud.

[@stclairstclair]

Chairman Meow, Yeah they could have used it as another excuse to raise taxes and tolls, You can drive the entire country and find only a few shitholes that toll you like Shit-Clogged-O.

[@peter455sd]

Shitcongo

[@AyeCarumba221]

There’s no other reason to have pride in your city? Sad state of affairs my friend.

[@ChairmanMeow1]

@@AyeCarumba221 ...what? Every major city has landmarks that the citizens take pride in. You must live in a shithole.

[@johnsmith-cw3wo]

@@ChairmanMeow1 CHI-town have many landmarks

[@theunpretentiousvegan8593]

Me starting this video: I've never heard of this. I wonder what happened? Narrator: They broke ground in 2007. Me: Oh no...

[@cameroncalzone8860]

soon the same thing will be true of buildings that broke ground in 2020

[@andrewhepp3896]

I recalled visiting Chicago back in 2010, walking down the streets of downtown and my family coming across a board on a nearby building that held various buildings and lots for sale. One of which I immediately recognized as the Spire. At the time I had no idea the project was in such trouble, but I assumed then that something as ambitious as the Chicago Spire would be worked on an completed. Now about a decade later it was obvious it wasn't gonna go very far.

[@KiloOne]

I'm SO glad you're talking about this. This is something that not many know much about, and thanks to you, we get a spotlight of something that could've been great. Thank you Jake, keep up the great work

[@raul2934]

Love how it was referred as “Sears Tower”

[@drkatel]

I’ve given up. My brain is always going to default to calling it the Sears.

[@LovelySteph]

It will always be the Sears Tower to me.

[@ellisz5972]

It was Sears tower so long. It's hard to get your head around "Wilton Tower".

[@VegasMilgauss]

I’ll just correct you. It’s called the willis tower.

[@raul2934]

@@VegasMilgauss you’re not from Chicago are you ?

[@DeadRBLX243]

i love these abandoned videos they r epic!

[@caamronreasonover]

Lmao I remember going on tours in Chicago during its construction and the tour guides still hyping up a a hole saying it was gonna be greatest thing in Chicago

[@kissthesky40]

Now it’s called “Hoffa’s Hole”. Don’t get too close kids.

[@guynorth3277]

He's in some I-75 off ramp foundation. They had tons of work going on at that time.

[@Perdoct]

it was constructed in 2007 way past hoffas death

[@kissthesky40]

@@Perdoct Omg it was a joke.

[@thebestchannel5456]

That's Detroit's guy lol

[@jonathantan2469]

Kids these days wouldn't know who Mr. Hoffa was... :D

[@aleksatodorovic9506]

Imagine this actually being built and then being abondoned, WHOLE FCKNG SKYSCRAPER A B O N D O N E D

[@michaellovely6601]

An example of this would be the Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea.

[@hadhamalnam]

The thing is, that wouldnt happen. If the building was near completion and running out of finances, it would be super easy to get new investments because investors would be confident that it would get completed and thus that they would get a return. After the building is completed, relatively speaking its incredibly cheap to start selling condos and raking in a cash flow.

[@ChavanAr]

There were quite a few of those in Asia, having been built just before the Asian financial crisis. Most of them had found tenants now, though.

[@emjayay]

@@michaellovely6601 And a high rise in Venezuela that was half finished and occupied by squatters. Because Venezuela.

[@michaellovely6601]

@@emjayay Venezuela is just as bad if not worse than North Korea.

[@kastro4460]

Chicago dodged a bullet there. Calatrava is quite the infamous guy here in his native Spain, just have a look at his history. Almost every single big project he's designed has not only been over budget, but also filled with structural issues, and remained problematic even long after finished. His name is always accompanied by laughs

[@iwouldliketoorderanumber1b79]

That was a beautiful tower drill bit or not, I wish someone would pick it back up. It was a nice gem at the mouth of the river.

[@dustingibson9078]

"30% of the condos have already been sold." The ultimate in preorder hype that won't pay off.

[@dylanmontealegre1914]

Anyone in the early 2000’s: we should build the largest (anything) to show our engineering prowice! 2008 recession: allow me to introduce myself

[@nixonhoover2]

*Prowess.

[@momoroyale4782]

The concept of the spire still looks timeless today.