View from the Wells St. Bridge: Next Stop, Merchandise Mart

Google moving Motorola Mobility to Downtown Chicago (Crain's)

"It's not clear how many employees would make the move downtown, but the size of the space under consideration suggests that most of Motorola Mobility's approximately 3,000 workers would be leaving the company's Libertyville headquarters."

Though there maybe no net increase of employment in the metro area due to this move, it's certainly a victory for Chicago to potentially bring 3,000 jobs downtown rather than have them leave for Austin or San Diego. If Moto Mobility restores the old Fulton Cold Storage Warehouse near the new Green Line Stop at Morgan, the near West Side is sure to see a huge increase in activity.

In related news. Moto Solutions, the other half of Motorola, is also coming downtown - starting with 100 employees moving into the Daniel Burnham designed Sante Fe Building - where I work. There's been some controversy this week over a their proposal to change the historic 'Sante Fe' sign to 'Motorola.'