The planned Chicago Spire, the twisting 150-story lakefront skyscraper that will be the nation’s tallest building, announced that construction on the tower’s foundation will begin “within weeks.”

The skyscraper, planned to house 1,200 condominiums, was thought to never get off the ground due to the state of the nation’s housing market.

 Developer Garrett Kelleher made sure it did, though originally he had hoped to begin construction June 30. His goal isn’t far off though. Construction equipment is already present on the 2.2 acre site, located on the north bank of the Chicago River just west of Lake Shore Drive.

Estimated cost: $1.5 billion (at least)

Estimated completion: late 2010 - just in time for me to move back to Chicago from Atlanta (coincidence? I think not)

Units are rumored to be up for sale in September. The sales center is located on the 18th floor of the NBC tower, 454 N. Columbus Drive.