The city denied an application for an art installation that would have tethered giant golden pigs to a barge on the Chicago River, temporarily interrupting the view of the sign on the infamous Trump sign.
Leonor Vivanco reports: "The plan to install four golden, pig-shaped balloons to block the Trump Tower sign in a one-day protest planned for September was deflated by the city, which denied the design company a permit, the firm said."
"The 30-foot-by-15-foot helium balloons — part of the proposed art installation called 'Flying Pigs on Parade: A Chicago River Folly' and designed by Chicago-based New World Design — were intended to be tethered to a construction barge in the Chicago River to cover President Donald Trump's last name on the tower's southeast façade," adds Vivanco.
The demonstration not only takes direct action against the president, it also digs up the ghosts of a pre-campaign kerfuffle between Trump and Chicago Tribune Architecture Critic Blair Kamin over the size and placement of the Trump sign on Trump International Hotel & Tower, located along the Chicago River.
Mathew Messner reported the news about the status of the art installation the day before Vivanco's report. Messner's sources at New World Design claim the permitting issues is only a temporary setback. "The design team is still optimistic about the future and says it is continuing the campaign to realize the project," according to Messner.
FULL STORY: Chicago deflates plan to fly giant pig balloons in front of Trump Tower
North Branch of the Chicago River Transforming Into a ‘Wild Mile’
A remarkable transformation is underway along the North Branch of the Chicago River, after being channelized and brutalized for well over a century.
New Skyscraper Added to Chicago's Skyline in Uncertain Times for Downtown Commercial Uses
A riverfront revival was well underway in Chicago. Then the pandemic hit. How can a splashy new downtown commercial development expect to fare in Covid's world?
Chicago's Tallest Office Building Since 1990 Cracks the Top 20 Tallest in the City
The Bank of America Tower is the newest skyscraper to line the Chicago River.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
In These Cities, Most New Housing is Under 441 Square Feet
With loosened restrictions on “micro-housing,” tiny units now make up as much as 66% of newly constructed housing.
Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps
New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)