Marina City, Leo Burnett early choices for Wallenda

Marina City residents, commercial management kept in dark about months-long negotiations

22-Sep-14 – Marina City and Leo Burnett Building were at the top of Nik Wallenda’s list when he started searching in November 2013 for two skyscrapers in Chicago to walk between, according to 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly.

Wallenda is training in Sarasota, Florida, for the November 2 stunt in which he will walk a high wire at about 7 p.m. Central Time from Marina City’s west tower to Leo Burnett Building, come back to Marina City at street level, and then wire walk from the west tower to the east tower. The stunt will be broadcast live on The Discovery Channel to 220 countries.

After Willis Tower and Trump International Hotel & Tower were discounted because neither had nearby neighbors of comparable height, Wallenda focused on the main branch of the Chicago River and selected Marina City on the north bank and Leo Burnett Building directly across the river on the south bank.

With city approval needed, the Wallenda team went to Reilly, who suggested they first talk to representatives of Marina City.

“I figured many of the residents of that building would be not so excited about this but they embraced it, they think this is wonderful,” Reilly told the “Big John & Amy” show on AM 560 The Answer last Thursday.

(Left) 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly and “alderdog” Max at the official opening of a dog park at A. Montgomery Ward Park in River North on September 13. (Photo obtained from Alderman Reilly’s office.)

Reilly’s office told Loop North News the alderman’s only requirement of Wallenda, before proceeding with other city departments, was a letter of support from the condominium board at Marina City.

Marina Towers Condominium Association kept the negotiations a secret from residents, breaking the news to them on September 16 after The Discovery Channel made its announcement. The condo board also kept the stunt a secret from Marina City’s commercial property management, not telling Transwestern about it until “after the deal was completed,” according to a senior vice president with Transwestern.

In April, Reilly was quoted as saying Wallenda was interested in doing a special event in downtown Chicago, “in particular across the Chicago River.”

However, he referred questions to the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, which backed off from speculation that Wallenda wanted to walk across the river, saying a specific location had not been determined.

On September 18, Reilly said the Wallenda stunt would help Chicago’s tourism economy, even if it does take place on November 2, a date chosen by Wallenda.

“Granted, the footage won’t be lovely weather but our architecture is what it is and I think that alone provides value.”

With the stunt broadcast live to 220 countries by The Discovery Channel, “It’s going to bring a lot of eyes on the city of Chicago and the way the mayor’s looking at this, the way I’m looking at it is, that can only be good for the city.” (Right) Leo Burnett Building.

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