Spire hole fades into Chicago history

The official groundbreaking for the 400 N. Lake Shore skyscrapers took place Monday, but it's hardly the start of the project.

The big picture: Construction crews have been underground for six months, filling the biggest man-made hole in Chicago history.

Flashback: The Spire is one of the most famous Chicago buildings that never was. In 2007, construction started on architect Santiago Calatrava's 150-floor skyscraper. The plan called for a twisted, sleek modernist design.

Yes, but: Funding dried up due to the 2008 recession and the building was scrapped, leaving behind a 76-foot hole just north of the Chicago River and just west of the DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

• The towers will feature over 1,100 condos and over 600 rental units.

• The ongoing construction was preceded by at least nine months of design and engineering, which took into account whether to build in the existing hole or around it. Related Midwest says it has so far been more of a renovation project, before new construction can start.
• The hole is expected to be filled by August.

• "It's a chance to take something that was a bit of a blemish during the Great Recession and turn it around and pronounce our skyline to the rest of the world."

Zoom in: The development will refurbish the riverfront land, which has been vacant up to this date.

• The Park District will also continue to develop nearby DuSable Park.

What's next: The first tower should be finished in early 2027. Upon completion, it will be the 13th-tallest building in Chicago. The entire project is expected to cost around $1 billion.

Get the rundown of the biggest stories of the day with Axios Daily Essentials.