The Weekend Desk Report

"After years of grand plans and empty promises, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is moving to seize control over a giant civic embarrassment: the vacant Main Post Office that hovers over the Eisenhower Expressway," the Sun-Times reports.

"British developer Bill Davies, who purchased the dilapidated hulk of a building eight years ago, was notified Friday of the city's intention to use its sweeping condemnation powers to acquire the building and solicit bids to redevelop it."

Good. I'm with Rahm on this one - at least at first blush. Davies has had his shot.

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"The 'request for proposals' for the entire building - not pieces of it - is expected to be issued this spring with a winner chosen this summer. The designated developer will be required to bankroll the city's acquisition of the property and develop the project without tax-increment-financing (TIF) or any other city subsidy, said Planning and Development Commissioner David Reifman."

Again, good.

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You know what would be cool there? A giant newsroom.

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Here are a few other ideas, from the archives.

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Then the Old Post Office became a sphinx.

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"Davies, who lives in the tax haven of Monaco, could not be reached for comment on the city's actions.

"He bought the building for $17 million in 2009 after defaulting on his winning auction bid of $40 million."

Oh, Chicago.

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It's like the Block 37 of post offices.

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"Last fall, Zoning Committee Chairman Danny Solis (25th) made it clear his patience was wearing thin.

"He threatened to strip Davies of the coveted zoning approval he won in July, 2013 after learning that Davies had twice turned down offers of $150 million from other developers."

I guess a $133 million return wasn't enough.

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We'd be better of with any one of these Bill Davies owning the building.

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The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #90: Up The Toffees!
The Blues, The School of Science, The People's Club. Plus: The Bread Man & Barack; Secord Still Sucks; Bulloney, Pitchers, Catchers, Cynics Report; and Jim's Last Chicago Fire Comment Ever.

Fresh and relevant to our Bulls discussion:

* Doug McDermott's 30-point Night Brings Attention To Where He Stands In The 2014 Draft Class . . . And It's Not Bad.

* "Fred Hoiberg said after Thursday's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers that Derrick Rose asked to come out of the game in the 3rd quarter because he was winded," ESPN Chicago reports.

"Before Friday's game against the Toronto Raptors, Hoiberg was asked why Rose's wind wasn't where he needed it to be more than halfway through the season. 'A lot of it [is he's] in and out of the lineup, coming back from All-Star break.'"

* E-mail exchange:

TOM CHAMBERS: Not to counter, but Coach Coffman, we do know about this Bulls team. They stink! And at those prices!? Oy Vey!

RHODES: I think the team isn't a good fit for the coach. They changed the coach to change the style of play, but did not change the players. His knees are shot, regardless of what happened to his shoulder. And Derrick Rose is holding this team hostage with his (un)availability.

Then again, you can't change the players in a single year, that's why I keep arguing that this is a transition year and anyone who expected more was fooling themselves. Still, I figured they had a shot at the conference final. But keeping Gasol (and Noah) seems absolutely nuts to me.

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The Sound Opinions Weekend Listening Report: "Music played an essential role in uplifting, motivating and uniting people during the Civil Rights era of the 1950s and '60s. In honor of Black History Month, hosts Jim and Greg explore the powerful music of the Civil Rights Movement, from Mahalia Jackson to Curtis Mayfield and beyond."

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Weekend BeachBook

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Leasing information.

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Recruitment video for Any American University.

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Lesson here for journalists who came at subjects/topics with pre-conceived and well-worn narratives.

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Weekend TweetWood

Pitchfork to Riot Fest: We will see your No Doubt and raise you a Carly Rae Jepsen.

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 20, 2016

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When to call 911 and when to post on Reddit: https://t.co/MdOHMBlaLj

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 20, 2016

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Why is "how long have you lived in Chicago" something that people who live in Chicago love to ask other people who live in Chicago?

— Kate Byrne (@katebyrnepower) February 20, 2016

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Wow, I just saw a flyer for Chicago Open Air and Baby Metal is above Killswitch on the bill... wtf?

— Brittany Paige (@BrittanyPaige14) February 20, 2016

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@daveweigel @allinwithchris When you get there, tell Gutierrez he's a sellout and my mom doesn't want him over for coffee anymore in Chicago

— Wendy Perez (@WendyTPerez) February 20, 2016

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Glad to see you're proud to have the mother of all truthers supporting your cause! https://t.co/Ctr1CL5TTw https://t.co/OKQgmzLe2E

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 19, 2016

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The Weekend Desk Tip Line: Melting steel daily.

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