The River North Residents Association has, as you note, not had the same boundaries throughout its existence. They're defining a coverage area for their association, not specifying neighborhood boundaries.

And, they're relative newbies to the area.

If you want to point to a neighborhood association for Gold Coast boundaries, why not go with the Gold Coast Neighbors? That group doesn't agree with you as to the boundaries of the Gold Coast.

That said, boundaries are somewhat fluid and open to change. They may flow in your direction, but I doubt that Gold Coast Neighbors will change.

Some of these projects fall in an area that's best called "Near North."

The Ritz-Carlton Residences are on Michigan Avenue - again, NOT in River North. Canyon Ranch, on the other hand, is on the border, so I'll give that a pass, but it is cancelled (and has been for about a month), so it's sort of silly to include it in a round-up.

Finally, Friedman has done many, many great things for River North, but one question I'd have for him is why his company is planning to build a large parking garage at Clark and Kinzie. River North in general, and that part specifically, is extremely walkable and very urban, with two elevated stops and two subways stops serving the neighborhood, walking distance to the Loop and to Michigan Avenue. Why diminish all that with a huge parking structure along one of the nicest historic streets in the neighborhood?

It seems they always tear down the significant ones in Rogers Park.

Renters talk of sound transfer issues. See some of their own information at:
http://www.pdl-tenants.com/conversion-agenda1.pdf

$150K for masonary? Bets that this will be much higher when association takes over.