An artist's impression of architect Calatrava's planned Chicago Spire.
Developers behind what would the US's tallest building - a twisting, lakefront tower in Chicago - will this week discover whether they have crossed one of two final hurdles before proceeding with their record-breaking plan.
The city's planning board last week endorsed a plan for the 150-storey building,
known as the Chicago Spire.
This week the plan goes before the city's zoning committee and if that gives the green light, the full council is due to vote early next month.
"This is a wonderful project, and everyone is very enthused," Constance Buscemi, spokeswoman for the city's planning department, told the Associated Press.
If built, the 2,000-foot tower featuring 1,200 residences, would top the city's 1,451-foot Sears Tower and become the tallest building in the US.
It would soar above the 1,776-foot Freedom Tower that is currently being constructed on the site of the World Trade Centre, destroyed in the 9/11 attacks.
The Chicago Spire was designed by Santiago Calatrava, the Spanish-born architect known for designing the Milwaukee Art Museum addition and the Athens Olympic sports complex.
It is being developed by Irish developer, Shelbourne Development Ltd.
Shelbourne executives have declined to say how much the development cost is.
Estimates by local media have placed it at around US$1bn, though some have suggested it could be as much as US$2bn.
Currently the tallest building in the world is the Taipei 101 tower in Taiwan, which measures 1,671 feet and has 101 floors.
A tower in Dubai now under construction is anticipated to reach to 2,300 feet and have more than 160 floors.
Garrett Kelleher, chairman of Shelbourne, has said he intends to market the tower's residences internationally with help from British estate agents Savills and that he anticipates interest from potential buyers in London, St Petersburg and Madrid.
"I have absolutely no doubt this project is going to sell out," Mr Kelleher told city officials last week.
The developer, whose company has purchased and built hotels, apartments,stores and small office buildings in the UK, has previously said he will contribute 30 per cent of the project's cost himself.
Dublin-based Anglo-Irish Bank will reportedly provide the remaining70 per cent.
- INDEPENDENT
