For nearly two decades, a 110-foot hole has remained at one of the most coveted addresses on Chicago's lakefront—the only remnant of what would have been the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, the Chicago Spire. Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, this 2,000-foot twisting tower was funded with $500 million but was halted by the 2008 financial crisis. This patch of ground has been central to Chicago's ambitions since before the city existed, from the fur-trading post that sparked its founding to the apartment tower that inspired the Burj Khalifa.

This video traces every generation that impacted this site and explores why Chicago, known for its ability to reinvent itself, has left its most prized real estate empty for nearly 20 years.

#ItsHistory #ChicagoHistory #ChicagoSpire

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