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RexRemus

RexRemus

Fellow Chicagoans...

I have to go downtown for work a few days this week. I'll be at Salesforce Tower (333 Wolf point plaza). Maybe it's still just "new car" apprehension but I kinda don't want to drive or park my Rivian anywhere at all downtown for extended periods... but I don't think I have a lot of options NOT to.

Is there anyone familiar with that area who knows a good place to park that they feel is relatively "safe" and easy to navigate to/into/out-of? I don't care about cost - the company will cover. I just do not want to park on the street, but I also don't trust anyone in a garage either to not smash a door into me.

Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks!!
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clownsmashd
clownsmashd
pretty sure there is a garage at Wolf Point. I'm not sure where you expect to park if you cant' on the street (impossible in that area) and not comfortable in a garage. I work at the Merchandise Mart which across the street and just take the Metra in to Union Station and walk from there. It's not very far.
RexRemus
RexRemus
@clownsmashd Was hoping for a good garage suggestion if possible. I did find something close on Spot Hero and I'm going to give that a try. This won't be a usual thing so I'm hoping I can get in/out for 2 days and not have anything stupid happen.
Mister Person
Mister Person
If it were me, and it will be eventually as I work out of the Willis Tower occasionally, I'd get a spot hero at a parking garage that has a roof you can park on, and drive all the way to the top, uncovered, parking level. People don't tend to park up there as it can take a while to get up there and down. Make sure the height restrictions will work for your R1.

An example close to wolf point is the Lake - Franklin Garage at 180 N Franklin St.
RexRemus
RexRemus
@Mister Person Solid advice, I did go with Spot Hero in the end and have a spot reserved for both days I need to be down there. It's covered/semi-private and fairly small, so I am hoping that all works in my favor to reduce the chance of a negative encounter, but if I have learned anything living in the city, it's to never underestimate the level of stupidity in a large mass of humans :D so this is just a fingers-crossed thing for the next 2 days
Techtennisone
I worked directly across the river from Salesforce tower (on N Wacker) for several years until very recently. I drive to work every day and parked in pretty much every parking garage in that area, most frequently in the garage at 180 N Franklin. I hear you on being worried about getting scratches and dings. I got my R1S in December, and I've been a ton more careful everywhere I go now for that same reason. The unfortunate thing about all the parking garages around Salesforce Tower (and pretty much all over the city) is that they squeeze as many spots as possible in these garages, so 99% of the spots that I've ever seen are super tight. I was driving a much smaller Toyota Rav4 when I was parking in those garages near where you want, and I got several scratches and dings over the years. I wish I had a great garage option for you that has lots of room for your Rivian and solves your worries. If you find an exception to this, please share here. Lots of us Rivian owners are probably worried about the same!
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RexRemus
RexRemus
@Techtennisone I ended up at: 325 W Wolf Point Plaza - Wolf Point Garage

It's right AT the Salesforce Tower. For sure the spaces were tight, but I felt like I've definitely seen worse. my strategy was just to go far enough "down" where others hadn't yet tried to fill/take the "good spaces" (only one side exposed) and pull-in/back-in depending on which way left the driver's side door available for exit and then cheat over as far as I could. What I can say is I was at least able to do that in that garage. Everything went fine though I did have a little oddity on wed when it was raining in the morning and it seemed like my driver-side front wheel was having traction problems/acting very odd on the entry (which is a moderately steep and winding ramp). I was worried the front was going to break loose fully and I'd just be sliding down. I'd have genuine concerns parking there in the winter. To be fair - I am on 22 all-seasons, but regardless, this was a drizzle and the ramp was only slightly damp, but I slid more than once just trying to get to the entrance gates. Otherwise - no dings, reasonably good rates for all-day parking (12 hours), and it was right next to my destination





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