The famous Chicago Spire cofferdam continues its fade into oblivion, as the concrete core for the North Tower at 400 Lake Shore has cleared the top of the former hole in the ground. The core got some help, of course, in the form of a severe haircut for the concrete-and-steel cofferdam, which is being cut away piece by piece. The iron ring that appears in the photos below will be removed, leaving only the lowest portions buried deep in the ground.

There is still some cutting to do, as crews from general contractors LR Contracting and BOWA Construction continue to excavate around the old cofferdam. There’s a concrete “floor” around the still-rising core, and the cofferdam will need to be cut away until it sits even with the height of that floor. And then, the Chicago Spire Hole will be no more. Fare-thee-well, Streeterville Eyesore. We barely knew you.

The other spectator sport happening at 400 Lake Shore these days is the rebuilding of the access ramp off southbound Lake Shore Drive. The old ramp got lopped off mid-decent into the construction site, and concrete contractor Goebel Forming and crews are building forms and setting rebar for another big concrete pour at the foot of the sawed-off ramp. The ramp got its own building permit from the city back in May.

As a reminder, Related Midwest’s development at 400 Lake Shore, designed by the Chicago Office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill with David Childs, will bring two new towers to the Streeterville neighborhood. The North Tower, being constructed now, will rise 72 stories and contain 635 residential units, 127 (20%) of which will be considered affordable and included on site. Related Midwest is partnering with the Chicago Park District to build out DuSable Park as part of the North Tower phase.

Find out more at Chicago YIMBY