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Naperville
Friday, March 29, 2024

Real News – Let it snow

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The unofficial United States Post Office creed, inscribed on The James A. Farley Post Office Building (the main United States Postal Service building) reads: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

Being in the real estate business, I can’t help but think that the builders of that 1912 building might have served as some sort of inspiration for that inscription. And as we head into the winter season, I am often amazed at how much construction work actually gets done during a time when most of us seek shelter indoors.

A project to keep your eyes on this winter is development of the Water Street District in downtown Naperville. While a lot of work has gone on this summer, and it seems like structures are rising out of the riverbank, much more work needs to be done.

By the end of this year the parking deck will be complete. Marquette, the developer and its construction team, lead by Lend Lease, will focus on the hotel building, which will wrap around the parking deck. Most of the foundation concrete work was done this summer and that will allow the team to build during the winter.

Steel is starting to go up at the north edge of the site which will be home to the first retail building. Yet much like the Post Office creed, only precipitation and severe cold, due in part to safety concerns, will slow the development of Water Street. Given that most of the construction is precast and assembles like an erector set, developers anticipate a late summer completion of the main buildings, pushing most of the weather dependent work to the summer. Once the structure is up, they will temporarily seal the building, putting heat into the structure and allowing workers to work safely.

Chris Hume, Vice President Project Executive with Lend Lease is the construction manager over Water Street and is a 15-year Naperville resident. He is very excited and proud to be part of this development in his hometown,

Chris said, “The addition of the boardwalk will connect the south side of downtown to the Riverwalk and will be a destination, much like Dandelion Fountain did when it was first built.”

Though inclement weather might not have come into play during the construction of that amenity.

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Paul DeKruiff
Paul DeKruiff
Paul DeKruiff is married, father of three daughters and a 17-year resident of Naperville. Contact him at pauldekruiff@comcast.net or (630) 446-0049.

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