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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Chicago. Written by Monica Eng and Justin Kauffman.

Axios Chicago Thought Bubble

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Chicago. Written by Monica Eng and Justin Kaufmann.

Axios Chicago

We're down to the four best downtown Chicago buildings!

Another whopping day of your voting gets us to a Final Four matchup steeped in history.

The Wrigley Building stood tall over Tribune Tower in their North Michigan Avenue Elite 8 matchup.

It opened in 1921 as headquarters for chewing gum company Wrigley, becoming the city's first office building to boast air conditioning.

Before that, Chicago had no major buildings north of the river. 

The Rookery won a nail-biter over Goldberg's modern masterpiece, Marina Towers. 

Built in 1888 and designed by Daniel Burnham and John Root, The Rookery symbolized our rise from the ashes after the 1871 fire.  

Frank Lloyd Wright redesigned the lobby in 1905.

Merchandise Mart (left) and Carbide and Carbon Building. Photos: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Merchandise Mart vs. Carbide and Carbon Building

The Merchandise Mart continues to defy the odds and pulverize its competition in our tournament — this time the Smurfit Stone building. 

The Mart, built in 1930 by Marshall Field & Co, is still the world's largest privately owned commercial building, at 4.2 million gross square feet. 

In an upset, the gilded Carbide and Carbon building blew Jeanne Gang's wavy Aqua out of the water. 

Built in 1929 by Daniel Burnham's sons, the building represents art deco at its finest. 

The Carbide and Carbon Co. developed the first dry cell battery.

🗳 Final Four voting is now underway! The polls close at 4:30pm.  

The best buildings in downtown Chicago tournament: Final Four

Another whopping day of reader voting gets us to a matchup steeped in history.

Wrigley Building (left) and The Rookery Building. Photos: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

We&#x27;re down to the four best <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="downtown Chicago buildings" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/11/28/decide-best-buildings-downtown-chicago" data-vars-content-id="70a37d8f-778d-43c4-be21-f24b67e9567b" data-vars-headline="The best buildings in downtown Chicago tournament: Final Four" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/11/28/decide-best-buildings-downtown-chicago" target="_self">downtown Chicago buildings</a>!<ul><li>Another whopping <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="day of your voting" data-vars-click-url="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1N1krZ0LeKf9g9cs0KustYEn46iRNkA3aGTDXirjTtGY/edit#responses" data-vars-content-id="70a37d8f-778d-43c4-be21-f24b67e9567b" data-vars-headline="The best buildings in downtown Chicago tournament: Final Four" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1N1krZ0LeKf9g9cs0KustYEn46iRNkA3aGTDXirjTtGY/edit#responses" target="_blank">day of your voting</a> gets us to a Final Four matchup steeped in history.</li></ul>

Things to Do

We're down to the final two entries in our weeklong tournament to crown the best downtown building in Chicago. 

It's a battle of Michigan Avenue office buildings built in The Roaring Twenties. 

💭 Monica's thought bubble: I opened my first bank account at Boulevard Bank in the Wrigley Building, but I recorded my first radio story in the NPR office in Carbide and Carbon. 

💭 Justin's thought bubble: I used to stare at the Wrigley Building every night from my studio at WGN Radio across the street. 

But there is nothing more breathtaking than seeing Carbide and Carbon from high up. 

📫 The voting is open until 4:30pm. Pick a winner! 

Best buildings in downtown Chicago tournament: Finals

It's a battle of Michigan Avenue office buildings built in The Roaring Twenties.

We&#x27;re down to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="final two entries" data-vars-click-url="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O0HLRziFFQqlome-lOJcn_XFwbyrligaCUi6OYpqODs/edit#responses" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O0HLRziFFQqlome-lOJcn_XFwbyrligaCUi6OYpqODs/edit#responses" target="_blank">final two entries</a> in our <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="weeklong tournament" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/11/30/best-buildings-downtown-chicago-final-four" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/11/30/best-buildings-downtown-chicago-final-four" target="_self">weeklong tournament</a> to crown the best downtown building in Chicago. <ul><li>It&#x27;s a battle of Michigan Avenue office buildings built in The Roaring Twenties. </li></ul>

Boy, do you love your downtown buildings. Our Sweet 16 for the best Chicago building is complete, and a record number of you voted — 1,325!  

In a surprising upset, it turns out voters are afraid of heights! The Wrigley Building easily defeated Willis Tower. 

This round features the battle of two iconic North Michigan Avenue neighbors, both built in the 1920s. 

Rookery Building (left) and Bertrand Goldberg's Marina Towers. Photos: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images  

The Rookery is the lone 19th-century representative left in the tournament. The building's lobby, redesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1905, is an architectural stunner.

But Bertrand Goldberg's Marina Towers are no slouch. Plus, iconic album art! 

Smurfit Stone Building (150 N. Michigan Ave) and the Merchandise Mart. Photos: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Even though the building is no longer called Smurfit Stone (hat tip to Dennis Rodkin), the iconic diamond-shaped skyscraper is a crowd favorite, narrowly defeating the Thompson Center in the first round.  

You know what's not a crowd favorite? Trump Tower. The beautiful skyscraper may be in need of a marketing overhaul, because it got the least votes in the entire first round. 

The Merchandise Mart moves on. Maybe we don't like heights, but we love widths. 

Architect Jeanne Gang's Aqua (left) and the Carbide and Carbon Building. Photos: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

Jeanne Gang's masterpiece had little trouble winning its first round matchup against The Reliance Building. 

Aqua may have a harder time with this round's opponent, the Carbide and Carbon building, which surprisingly dispatched the skyscraper formerly known as Hancock Tower with ease. 

🗳 Elite Eight voting is now underway! Polls close at 4:30pm. 

The best buildings in downtown Chicago tournament: Elite 8

Boy, do our readers love Chicago's downtown buildings.

Tribune Tower (left) and the Wrigley Building. Photos: Robert Knopes/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

Boy, do you love your downtown buildings. Our <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sweet 16" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/11/28/decide-best-buildings-downtown-chicago" data-vars-content-id="b4690765-3775-4190-a9e9-55919c3ec7bf" data-vars-headline="The best buildings in downtown Chicago tournament: Elite 8" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/11/28/decide-best-buildings-downtown-chicago" target="_self">Sweet 16</a> for the best Chicago building is complete, and a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="record number of you voted" data-vars-click-url="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/17sPBMQasR4yfEaRIGZKNZ_kAuAni_iZQ6RoPBcVpalk/edit#responses" data-vars-content-id="b4690765-3775-4190-a9e9-55919c3ec7bf" data-vars-headline="The best buildings in downtown Chicago tournament: Elite 8" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/17sPBMQasR4yfEaRIGZKNZ_kAuAni_iZQ6RoPBcVpalk/edit#responses" target="_blank">record number of you voted</a> — 1,325! <ul><li>Now it&#x27;s time for the Elite Eight. </li></ul>

News

Powerful yet embattled Ald. Ed Burke is not running for re-election in the 14th ward.

He did not turn in his signatures by the deadline.

Why it matters: The longest-serving city alderperson had signaled he was going to run for re-election despite being indicted on corruption charges.

Context: Burke has served in city council for more than 50 years.

At the age of 24, he was the youngest person ever elected to City Council. 

He was once head of the powerful finance committee. 

Burke was a leader of the "Vrdolyak 29," a group of white aldermen who blocked then-Mayor Harold Washington's initiatives in Chicago's City Council. 

Yes, but: In 2019, Burke was indicted on a slew of corruption charges, including allegedly shaking down a fast-food restaurant in his ward. He pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial, tentatively set for autumn 2023.

Yesterday during a court filing, attorneys revealed there are 90 video recordings of meetings made by ex-Ald. Daniel Solis that have been turned over to the feds in this case.

The intrigue: The news coincides with the retirement of his wife, Justice Anne Burke. Her last day on the bench is tomorrow.

Of note: Burke becomes the latest alderperson to not seek re-election in 2023.

Ald. Ed Burke not running for re-election

The embattled alderperson has served the 14th ward for 51 years.

Photo of a man answering questions from a reporter. 

Ald. Ed Burke in 2018. Photo: Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Powerful yet embattled Ald. Ed Burke is not running for re-election in the 14th ward.<ul><li>He did not turn in his signatures by the deadline.</li></ul>

Politics

Source: Cook County Treasurer; Map: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals 

The Cook County Treasurer's Office released a scathing report this morning explaining why property tax bills have gone through the roof.

Why it matters: The report says Chicago homeowners' median tax bill went up nearly 8% since 2020. 

Many residents already felt the sticker shock when bills went online in November, but others haven't yet seen them. 

The bills are being mailed to homeowners today. 

The intrigue: In stark contrast to Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi's promise during election season, most residential properties saw tax increases — while most commercial properties saw decreases. 

The Assessor's Office blamed the higher tax bills on reversals at the Cook County Board of Review in a report. 

Another factor, according to the report, could be that Kaegi erroneously assessed properties lower during the pandemic when home values actually rose, leading to higher reassessments by the Board of Review. 

By the numbers: In the city alone, taxes went up by about $468 million with homeowners picking up about 60% of it.

CPS raised its tax levy by $114 million, the city received a new $94 million, and an extra $141 million went into Tax Increment Financing districts (TIFs).

What's more: Taxpayers are also paying more under a new law allowing local governments to "recapture" from the public any money it refunded to property owners who won appeals. 

The law, being called "an annual tax increase" by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, added $131 million to bills across the county this year.

Zoom in: Gentrifying Latino areas, including Hermosa and Avondale, were some of the hardest hit.

Taxes in the area around Pilsen surged 45%. 

North Side lakefront neighborhoods saw taxes rise at a faster pace than elsewhere in the city.

Yes, but: Many Black neighborhoods on the South and West sides saw their residential property tax bills drop dramatically, some by as much as 55%. 

"There are still inequities in our property tax system and we need to straighten it out,” Pappas said in a press release.  

Why Chicago's property tax bills are so high

A new report says homeowners' median tax bill went up nearly 8% since 2020.

The Cook County Treasurer&#x27;s Office released a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="scathing report" data-vars-click-url="cookcountytreasurer.com/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=1624" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="cookcountytreasurer.com/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=1624" target="_blank">scathing report</a> this morning explaining why property tax bills have gone through the roof.Why it matters: The report says Chicago homeowners&#x27; median tax bill went up nearly 8% since 2020.

Justin Kaufmann

Featured stories

Best buildings in downtown Chicago tournament: Finals

Why Chicago's property tax bills are so high

The best buildings in downtown Chicago tournament: Final Four

Ald. Ed Burke not running for re-election

The best buildings in downtown Chicago tournament: Elite 8