Why Chicago's Underground Marina was almost LOST | The History of Marina City

[@solomonsaintclair22]

Been living in these towers for a few years - absolutely love it. Had no idea about the history! Great video!

[@QueenRenne]

@@user-kr6jg6qb7l 😩💅🏾🤣

[@Lurch685]

I wish I could afford to!

[@JStryker7]

Owning or renting? I heard about all of the cement issues and repair costs

[@solomonsaintclair22]

@@JStryker7 I’m just renting currently but have considered buying. What’s held me back were the very things you mentioned - especially, the lifespan of the concrete. While what I could find only stated that the concrete issues were superficial and only involved the non-condo portions, the lifespan of steel reinforced concrete is only 60-100 years from what I’ve read :( the big issue is when the steel inside the concrete is exposed to the elements and starts to rust. I’ve read that you can run an electric current through it to prevent that from happening and I’ve noticed parts of the roof that have something that looks like it might be doing that but I don’t know. Guess you gotta trust the managers of the property…

[@JStryker7]

@@solomonsaintclair22 ya they had to do work on all of the balconies a while ago and I believe it was over $20k per balcony. It wasn’t covered by the HOA.

[@bamccabe1]

I remember when I first became aware of the buildings -in my mind I always thought of them as the Jetson"s apartment buildings. I'm sure they must have been the inspiration for the apartment buildings in the 1960's cartoon.

[@jbw53191]

I lived on the 50th floor of Marina City for 8 years. Absolutely loved it! Great video.

[@WhereisthatmoneyP]

How was it.? An how hard is it to get in top floors like those. An what are pros an cons staying that high. I want to stay high in the sky like that but I feel like financially you have to be prepared because you will not stay that high if your not paying at least 5k a month.

[@jbw53191]

@@WhereisthatmoneyP actually, Marina city is quite economical. I lived there for 8 years and moved out in 2012. I had a studio apartment on the 50th floor and my rent was $1,100 a month.

[@GetFitEatRight]

@@jbw53191 I've heard its reasonable for being in the heart of Chicago. I always got the vibe that is would be nice if you where single and 20-40.

[@SeymourBalz]

It seems as though you left out the collapse ! My father was working there then. Concrete fell, as they were hurrying to finish the build. The concrete wasn't allowed to harden enough, before removing forms. My father along with other crew men manually lifted sections to remove crushed workers. I remember him coming home sick from the site of crushed bodies . He quit that day, never to return. I'll NEVER forget his story. I've searched the internet . I can't find anything on what I've said...yet IT HAPPENED. I was born in 1951. So I was like 10-12 hrs old during construction of this complex . Why is this fact eliminated from history ?? It's been quite a few years, but I'm remembering. Even back then, they changed the news. Ppl would be afraid to rent there...fears of additional collapse. They changed the "story" to scaffolds. NOW, I remember dad being angry at what we then heard on the news. Credit is still deserved to the maker of this video, as he's reporting the available history. Me? I STAND my ground !! Floor/Floors Collapsed !! As far as my dad, well men loose friends in war, sad enough. But these guys were just supporting they're families.

[@floorpizza8074]

How many lives were lost? I can't imagine the trauma your Dad had to go through after seeing that. Horrible beyond words.

[@SeymourBalz]

@@floorpizza8074 It's long ago, I don't remember the count. I do remember the way dad looked. It was bloody he said. Idk 3-4 guys. (?)

[@laverneclark8191]

It was published in The Chicago Tribune [43 STORY PLUNGE! 3 KILLED-September 16 1961 page 1]. It took place the day before (Sept 15). 3-names and pictures are on page 2.

[@SeymourBalz]

@@laverneclark8191 what 43 story plunge ?? I'm not speaking of elevators or whatever. I'm speaking of building collapse . Concrete forms being removed BEFORE concrete cure.

[@floorpizza8074]

@@SeymourBalz Such a tragedy that lives are second to money. And you're spot on... this definitely should've been included in the video. IMO, it ranks as *the* most horrible accident of the tower's history; from breaking ground 'til present day.

[@MightBeAPizza]

I'm currently in Chicago for the first time. My girlfriend and I were walking along the river walk and stumbled upon these towers. She hated them, I loved them!

[@MightBeAPizza]

Update: went on the architecture boat tour, which was amazing, and she hated them even more.

[@michaelprosperity3420]

I think there cool. The marinas under them are funky to pull a boat into.

[@nedludd7622]

I agree with her.

[@nutriaoso]

She sounds judgey, careful with that proposal🤣

[@nedludd7622]

@@nutriaoso She sounds lucid.

[@DavidInMonroe318]

The album cover being Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

[@claudiamann7111]

Beautiful towers. I hope they can keep going strong. Thanks so much for another great video.

[@KurtE71]

Thanks Ryan! At the time I lived in downtown Chicago, I always felt they had the most unique parking garage!

[@NKsEntertainment]

Informative! Chicago is awesome city 👍. This city was in my bucket list and recently we marked it as complete.

[@stephenmoerlein8470]

Interesting that both Bertram Goldberg and Mies van der Rohe are famous Chicago architects from the Bauhaus in Berlin, yet their styles are dramatically different. Thanks for posting this engaging history.

[@mikeschroeder8356]

Love the chicago vids - keep ‘em coming!

[@randygiles845]

Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album.

[@sirenloud]

I delivered so many mattresses to those buildings think of your apartment like a slice of pizza 😂

[@stevelibby6852]

I knew someone that had an apartment there in the 80's. I was shocked at how low the rent was at the time $500. Lincoln Park would have been double or triple that minimum.

[@SeymourBalz]

That complex was nearly empty for years !! Ppl were afraid of the shoddy construction.

[@karinross66]

I learned to ice skate there as a kid when there was a skating rink there

[@maryellenaylward5457]

I love listening to all the fabulous history of Chicago and NYC you present on your show! Any plans to do any Boston stories????

[@derrickwillie4449]

Bean town is not as great as Chicago or nyc

[@jeffzimm1320]

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.......GREAT RECORD!

[@AutoReport1]

Marina City was the debtor, Edison was the creditor.

[@jonjohnson2844]

But how was the underground marina almost lost?

[@delfrickintree775]

indeed!

[@weebs2]

I think he's discussing the original planned Marina, which apparently could house around 700 boats. I'm not sure if that ever came to fruition but it's certainly not there today.

[@UCFCamaroSS]

Socash clickbait

[@damonroberts7372]

Blink and you'll miss it, just after the nine minute mark. Access down to the marina was closed, because the complex was not being properly maintained in the 1980s.

[@jonjohnson2844]

@@damonroberts7372 ah thanks, his click bait worked anyway; I probably wouldn’t have watched the video had it not been for the title. It will put me off watching future videos though.

[@SamCyanide]

12:00 that picture by David Ohmer is awesome

[@edmund6432]

First time I remember seeing these buildings was in the movie "Three the Hard Way". Blaxploitation film from 1974. I was eleven.

[@EricSocash]

I remember being a kid going to a bbq on the roof there. Beautiful buildings.

[@radicalmoderate2730]

My Aunt lived there in the 70's had a boat it was a good time to visit her lol.

[@irishmike519]

I went into high school in 1969. My PE coach lived in Marina City.

[@49shinn]

Your videos are always great Ryan. Keep it up!

[@hectoraleeyass3715]

Im in B.F.E. Southeast Missouri currently but N.W.I. by way of all around Lake and Porter counties for the majority of my 37 years on Earth and I am always STOKED when I see something new from 'IT'S HISTORY ' pop up on my feed. There's soo much I never knew about an area I've spent soo much time in. Your videos SMASH topics like EVERYONE SHOULD SMASH THAT LIKE BUTTON. Thank you for actually being interesting and not just regurgitating common knowledge for the sake of views. Great luck with the channel going forward. WE ALL LOVE IT!!!

[@kevinfinnegan310]

SEMO

[@hectoraleeyass3715]

@@kevinfinnegan310 Poplar Bluff...Missouri syphalitic cyst...u don't have to apologize...Its not ur fault...

[@stephenmoerlein8470]

Thanks!

[@thegr8winston]

The timing on this episode is amazing! I just was in Chicago to study these buildings and others by Bertrand Goldberg!

[@brandonfraley6737]

Wilco....Yankee Hotel Foxtrot love that band!!!

[@JustFluffyQuiltingYarnCrafts]

Very cool property with great views. I enjoyed my time there.

[@danichicago9140]

I worked under there on the river level running fire alarm conduit. There are trains that still run under there. I couldn't get over how nobody ever left for work. This was almost 25 year ago before work from home.

[@johniii8147]

For years it was less than half full.

[@redwemette5942]

In 1974 they had valet parking, I herd my tires burning rubber all the way up. When I got my car back the Police were there, I never paid for parking after that. 1974 Lincoln Mark lV 460 CI engine

[@SpiderCollector000]

They do not have parking attendants parking the cars anymore. I heard there is no parking elevators, and they ride a cable/rope up and down between the levels

[@mocrank5314]

1970s Mercury Records center design shows the towers on the left, Hancock on the right with Water Tower in the middle.

[@landocalrisian2014]

This was incredibly fascinating and eye-opening. Thanks for the presentation.

[@bruceleonard919]

Great show I learned a lot about Chicago washing you between Navy Pier and Marina City awesome thank you

[@Terinije]

Great video! Hope you guys do a River City video, too, as a former resident of that complex.

[@jays7523]

I went in there a couple times to fix some Internet in one of the apartments and I can say that they are absolutely terrible. Chipping concrete. Poor flooring. Old glass windows that leaked like anything. They look a lot better from the outside than inside. They'll probably be demolished in 20 years.

[@Adrian-zd4cs]

Love all Chicago history!

[@girldaddividendinvestor]

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Baaaaaaby!!!

[@erolcims6664]

In 1991-2 a studio rented for $625/month.

[@alexisbrown733]

Thx u 4 sharing

[@barryarmstrong1130]

In 1962 our second grade WEEKLY READER magazine featured the futuristic Marina City Towers in Chicago. My fellow students and I marveled and dreamed of life at Marina City in Chicago.

[@cathyt502]

I was 4 at the time, but a couple of years later, my my took my sis and I to eat in that fancy restaurant that was right above the marina. I was mesmerized sitting at a window seat and seeing the river below. Plus, they had colored sugar for one's coffee or tea.

[@barryarmstrong1130]

I loved the sweeping, curving furniture in the lobby of Marina City which was reflective of the building’s cylindrical design - very 1960’s. In the 1980’s, I had a friend who had an apartment on the 48th floor of Marina City which included two large balconies who invited me to a party for drinks and dinner one night. After serving drinks, I asked “Wouldn’t it be nice to have our drinks on the balcony?” Balconies were very uncommon features in those days in Chicago. He replied that he had never been out there! I did venture out to the balcony. But, it was then that I discovered that the higher one goes, the greater the wind velocity and the less practicality of a balcony at such a high level. I was terrified by the height and the wind and struggled to get back inside without showing on my face the terror I felt within. Exciting to remember for sure!

[@everkief8650]

​@@barryarmstrong1130 ""I was terrified by the height and the wind and struggled to get back inside without showing on my face the terror I felt within."" jeesh, that Is scary! Are you sure that's not the plot of an Alfred Hitchcock movie you once watched?

[@fastbike175]

thank you so much we desperately need more Chicago videos

[@SkylarsTerribleMemes]

6:10 that marples quote though...

[@bryantint1339]

The Hunter!

[@brianfahey2864]

My dad was a supervisor on the "L" when that movie was made. He managed all the traffic moves required for the filming of the "L" sequence. His boss was the engineer on that train.

[@indianastan]

Compared to the other buildings around the river. They are not so giant today.

[@gabexyzofficial8307]

U should do a video on Disney Quests Chicago I remember going once As a kid but I don’t really see many videos about it I love your breakdowns would love to see u dig into it

[@Pete.across.the.street]

Great timing. I was there last night to see Finch at the House of Blues.

[@garyjust.johnson1436]

I have never heard of Wilcox, nor the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album!

[@JeffersonMartinSynfluent]

Marriott with one 'r'? Interesting.

[@CharlieB.-]

I had no clue this existed! So neat looking.

[@freetolook3727]

If I lived there I would so live at The House of Blues!

[@etmccaus]

I'm the man who loves that subtle Wilco shout-out.

[@davidsmagor5077]

Yankee, Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco!

[@JohnB-we7ym]

Lived on the 37th floor of the east tower. Good times

[@oliviawright7073]

Can you do a video about the block 37 supers station?

[@skisgy]

The hunter with steve McQueen when the car flew into the river

[@abfab2517]

Edmund White had some "action" in one of its book in this buildings.

[@bronxbearbud272]

Didn't Bob Newhart's sitcom character live in this building? I think I can remember it from the opening credits and scene breaks.

[@jbw53191]

No, his character didn't live here. He simply walked by it in the opening credits. The building featured in The Bob Newhart show was on North Sheridan Road. It's still there.

[@butchkaminsky9470]

I remember when change 7 had a tower on one of its roofs. 😅

[@tmsmqwx]

Yes, CHANNEL 7

[@basshorseman998]

I was there for the switching of the transmission broadcast antenna from Marina to Sears Tower in or around 1973, the WLS-TV antenna

[@ingo_8628]

Hard to find if you dont have it in the shelf, its Chicago 13.

[@glennso47]

Weren’t the studios of Fox 32 at Marina City? I seem to remember that.

[@steveforbes4523]

Yes they were as were the studios of WCFL radio

[@haweater1555]

Disappointed that the towers were not on any album covers from "Chicago", the band. ("𝐼𝑓 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝐿𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑀𝑒 𝑁𝑜𝑤", "𝑌𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑀𝑦 𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛" etc.)

[@positively_broad_st3780]

'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' album by the band Wilco, which is based in Chicago...

[@garfixit]

It's sad that the dangerous condition of buildings are not enforced more

[@davegeorge7094]

What album cover, I'm curious. CTA aka Chicago band?

[@elmeramuro]

mang, it be that drake album cover i think, shig idk mang

[@DavixDevelop]

Love the architecture of the towers, but there's just one thing bothering me. Why the hell does the garage only have a low fence? Couldn't they at least put a thin netting if they wanted a view into the garage from the outside?

[@el_covfefe]

Where are those lost amenities located?

[@rossmeldrum3346]

Rent now is from $1500 to $2500 per month no pets and you pay $250 a month for garage fees. For something built in the 60's

[@QueenRenne]

Yikes 😬 😮‍💨

[@jetsons101]

Funny: I always thought the towers were designed and built in the early 70's.

[@michealklee8844]

And yes it’s union built ✊🏽🇺🇸

[@freetolook3727]

Gotta love that flameless electric heat! 😂

[@NickelPlateTweety]

when i was very young back in the 60s i thought they where giant cookie stacks well at least i know they were not lol

[@delawarepro3539]

Chicago 13 (released 1979 🎶)

[@Ryansssssssssssss]

My Grandpa worked on the towers and he said an air tank was ruptured and shot through several of the floors.

[@culcune]

I don't believe stunt-persons actually drove cars off the towers. I recall a behind the scenes documentary of a film, the names of which I forget (the film's name and the documentary of the behind the scenes name), and they used a special cannon to literally shoot the car off the tower and into the river as if the car had inadvertently driven off the parking lot during a chase.

[@seanbatiz6620]

Maybe either a mission impossible or a 007?

[@culcune]

@@seanbatiz6620 It was either late 80s or early 90s. Too early for 'Mission...' and I do not believe there was ever a Bond film that had anything to do with Chicago. Edit: It was the film 'The Hunter' filmed in 1979, Steve McQueen's final film.

[@seanbatiz6620]

@@culcune Oh dang! I have that one on VHS… probably haven’t watched it since early 90’s; might pop it in & rewatch now, thx 👍🏼

[@jeromevital9737]

One movie was The Hunter in 1980 starring Steve McQueen.

[@carlkettler1629]

@@seanbatiz6620 I don't remember which film, but I always remembered the scene from a 007 movie with the car going over the edge.

[@Bhembca]

Wilco!

[@tvviewer4500]

I've always wanted to live under the marina city

[@jbw53191]

I lived on the 50th floor there for eight years. The balconies were fantastic!

[@Mike-DuBose]

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

[@rogerpenske2411]

Yes another rube Goldberg project designed by Bertrand Goldberg!

[@WayneJensen-d4t]

I heard that Barbara Eden had once lived there. Don't know if it's true or not.

[@jhonatanalvarez05]

So I share on Facebook a beautiful shot i took from the river on my boat and now I'm here from a YT recommendation... So much for freedom, we're all just a byproduct

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

Goings-on

[@curtusw]

It would be nice to hear about Wisconsin things

[@RichB0330]

Wilco

[@coleweese8989]

Stewart Hicks,,, Is that you??

[@shelleyswan535]

We were living in Highland IN when these opened.

[@johniii8147]

I looked at couple of condos in both towers but ruled it out as an option. The buildings now are very outdated and really show their age. Didn't seem a good investment.

[@rob5894]

The Marina is not underground,. It's at the level of the river which is not under the ground.

[@0fficialdregs]

i always thought marina city was just two large parking garages lol

[@jsayz2365]

Could you do a video on The Empire State Plaza

[@johnmc67]

Still no Polish history?

[@UCFCamaroSS]

What's underground here?

[@82spiders]

Thirty years ago, Marina Towers had rats the size of cats. I suppose rat infestations can be addressed.

[@ericpopovic7124]

Wilco, Yankee, hotel, foxtrot.

[@tangyorange6509]

Wtf is this punctuation lol

[@ericpopovic7124]

@@tangyorange6509 you tell me spelling queen!

[@jasonhanson6563]

Houses of the Holy?

[@davidurban6813]

Any hauntings ? Just wondering. May the fourth be with everyone 🖖

[@allenmorgan6847]

Are you familiar with H H Holmes Ryan?

[@skisgy]

It just had a fire in the steak house recently

[@GH-oi2jf]

Not a safe design if you can drive off the building.

[@toddforhetz]

ROACHES !!!! Once ONE apartment gets em....everyone gets em !