Donald Trump scales back plans to build world's tallest building after Sept. 11

By The Associated Press

CHICAGO – Donald Trump scrapped his plan to build the world's tallest building after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, opting instead for a 78-story skyscraper on Chicago's riverfront.

The 1,073-foot glass-covered building, called Trump Tower Chicago, would be the city's fourth-tallest skyscraper. Trump said in July he was considering building the world's tallest building on the site now occupied by the Chicago Sun-Times building.

The tower's size was reduced after the attack on the World Trade Center, but scaling back also made business sense, said Charles Reiss, senior vice president of development for the Trump Organization.

"Tragically 9/11 telescoped a decision that probably would have been made anyway," he said. "There is just so much inefficiency in extremely tall buildings."

The New York developer briefed Chicago officials Tuesday on the office and luxury condominium tower. The skyscraper would have a total of 2.3 million square feet of space, including ground floor shops.

The project is a 50-50 partnership between Sun-Times parent Hollinger International Inc. and the Trump Organization.

Trump still has to get tenants and financing for the project, which could be difficult because of the recession and a fear some people have expressed since Sept. 11 of living in very tall buildings.

Trump would like to begin construction in 2003 and complete the skyscraper as early as 2005, said Mark Kipnis, vice president and counsel of Hollinger.

Sun-Times Editor-In-Chief Michael Cooke said Wednesday the newspaper has not decided where staff will move during construction or whether the newspaper will have offices in the Trump building. He said the news staff will remain downtown. The Sun-Times recently opened a printing facility elsewhere in the city.

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