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"With great sadness, I write to let you know that Pauline Saliga, former executive director of SAH, passed away on September 11 after a brief illness. Pauline became executive director of the Society of Architectural Historians and the Charnley-Persky House Museum Foundation shortly after SAH moved its headquarters from Philadelphia to Chicago in 1995.

"During her 27-year tenure, the Society became a truly international association and a leader in the digital humanities. Her legacy includes educational resources such as SAH Archipedia and SAHARA, the SAH Inclusion Diversity Equity Accountability and Sustainability initiative, new Affiliate Groups serving communities within and beyond our membership, programs supporting graduate students and emerging professionals, and an extraordinary staff who support SAH’s mission and membership.

"Pauline was beloved and valued across our community for her vision, her brilliance, and her graciousness. We will miss her dearly. Please join me in offering our heartfelt condolences to her family.

"Donations may be made to the Pauline Saliga Fund, which was recently established in her honor. The fund supports SAH’s technology expenses and recognizes Pauline’s achievements as a visionary proponent for new technologies in the digital humanities. Donations may be made online at sah.org/donate or by mailing a check to SAH at 1365 N. Astor Street, Chicago, IL 60610.

"'I have had the great fortune as president to work closely with Pauline over the last few years, and I have always been impressed by her knowledge, thoughtfulness, insights, patience, and creativity,' said Victoria Young, president of SAH and professor in the Department of Art History at University of St. Thomas. “She has shown incredible commitment to this organization from day one.”

"Saliga became the executive director of SAH in 1995 when the organization moved its headquarters from Philadelphia to the National Historic Landmark Charnley-Persky House in Chicago. Since then, she has simultaneously served as executive director of both the Charnley-Persky House Museum Foundation and SAH, a nonprofit membership organization that promotes the study, interpretation, and conservation of the built environment worldwide for the benefit of all.

"'I have been very fortunate to have worked with many creative, generous, and collaborative individuals at SAH and Charnley-Persky House, including the current leadership and staff,' Pauline Saliga said. 'I am grateful that I have been entrusted with stewarding the growth of both organizations for more than two decades. Serving as executive director of SAH and the Charnley-Persky House Museum has been an honor and the opportunity of a lifetime.'

"'Pauline Saliga’s quiet brilliance, steady guidance, commitments to equity and justice, and visionary leadership have been essential to SAH’s growth through the duration of her tenure as executive director,' said Dianne Harris, dean of the University of Washington College of Arts & Sciences and a past president of SAH. 'Her embrace of digital innovation and the development of new modes of scholarly communication have contributed considerably to expanding the audience for architectural, urban and landscape history both in this country and abroad. Under Pauline’s leadership, SAH has established a new set of standards for what a learned society can be in the twenty-first century. She is both respected and beloved by SAH members, and we all owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude for her service.'

"'I had long recognized that, with her commitment and passion for SAH, Pauline was the beating heart of our Society. But only when I worked side-by-side with her on funding and developing the SAH Data Project did I fully recognize her as the true engine behind the innovation and leadership that SAH has for decades provided for other learned societies,' said Sandy Isenstadt, professor and chair of the Department of Art History at the University of Delaware. Isenstadt served as co-principal investigator of the SAH Data Project is a past president of SAH.

"Before joining SAH, Saliga was Associate Curator of Architecture at the Art Institute of Chicago (1981–1995) and Assistant Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art (1977–1981).

"'With her wisdom, integrity, and visionary thinking, Pauline has led SAH to become one of the most respected learned societies,' said Young. 'She leaves SAH in a powerful place.'"

"The Commission on Chicago Landmarks delayed a vote on the preliminary landmark designation of the Century and Consumers Buildings during its recent monthly meeting on Thursday. The vote would’ve set up a battle between the city and the federally run General Services Administration (GSA), as they seek to spend $52 million in federal funds to demolish the towers, citing security and safety reasons for the Dirksen Courthouse.

"With an extremely thorough and detailed presentation, city historic preservation staff outlined how the two buildings each meet three landmark designation criteria, as well as the separate integrity criterion.

"The GSA provided a statement to the commission that they will be impartially conducting the Section 106 process from the National Historic Preservation Act, which directs them to consider viable alternatives to the proposed demolition. They remain officially neutral on the proposed landmark designation.

"The landmarks staff has been directed to work with the relevant city and federal agencies to identify specific safety issues that the buildings pose while the GSA proceeds with their Section 106 process. The GSA will be setting up public meetings in the next few weeks as part of that procedure. (Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 9/11/22)

"Maurice Cox, commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development, said there was little doubt the “properties are meritous of landmark status” but argued that no action should be taken without a more thorough understanding of the broader issues at play.

"Ultimately the commission’s chairman, Ernie Wong, declined to call a vote on whether to confer preliminary landmark status on the buildings. Citing the 'highly unusual circumstances' surrounding the buildings, he said additional study is needed into the specific safety issues at hand and potential solutions. (Wetli, WTTW Chicago, 9/8/22)

Preservation Chicago along with other preservation partners provided powerful testimony at the Commission on Chicago Landmarks hearing in support of the Century and Consumers Buildings. This represents the culmination of an intensive campaign to save these important buildings from demolition by securing the strong support of the public and City of Chicago. The campaign included a Chicago 7 Most Endangered designation, dozens of media stories detailing the history, circumstances, threat, and alternatives, discussion of the UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination, the Chicago Collaborative Archive Center press conference, a Change.org petition with over 23,000 signatures, a B1M short film with over 900,000 views and extensive high-level advocacy.

This preservation effort succeeded in profoundly shifting the public discourse and earning a 'spot at the table' for preservation partners with the GSA and the Federal Court to directly discuss opportunities and challenges. On September 12, 2022, key preservation leaders and Chicago Collaborative Archive Center leaders met with representatives of the GSA and Federal Court for over two hours. The meeting was cordial, constructive and comprehensive.

The ultimate outcome of these efforts remains uncertain, but the preservation effort is well positioned for the upcoming Section 106 hearings, scheduled to occur in the coming months.

The advocacy campaign has sought to anticipate and address all potential concerns. We continue to reinforce the architectural significance of the buildings, the viability of the Chicago Collaborative Archive Center and its comprehensive solutions to the security concerns, the risk to the UNESCO nomination, and the importance of these terra cotta skyscrapers to Mies van der Rohe's overall vision for the Chicago Federal Center.

The focus is increasingly shifting to the buildings' existing conditions and cost to restore. Despite 17 years of deferred maintenance during the period of GSA ownership, we believe that the buildings are in stable condition and can successfully be restored. Many examples of buildings in far worse condition have been successfully restored including the Old Chicago Post Office, Cook County Hospital, Reliance Building, and many others.

Regarding cost, we believe that if the $52 million federal earmark for demolition were reallocated to restoration, it would cover a significant portion of the rehabilitation cost. For perspective, Lane Tech is Chicago's largest public school at 607,000 square feet. It's more than double the square footage of Century and Consumers Buildings combined. In 2017, Lane Tech was comprehensively restored, inside and out, including restored parapets, replaced terra cotta, new windows, new roof, and interiors for a total cost of $52 million.

Read more at Urbanize Chicago and WTTW Chicago

"The Century and Consumers buildings, two vacant downtown skyscrapers that are shamefully rotting away and now targeted for demolition by the federal government, might soon gain a powerful advocate.

"The Commission on Chicago Landmarks has asked the city’s Department of Planning to work on creating a landmark designation report on the early 20th century buildings, located at 202 and 220 S. State St.

"This is key because, traditionally, creation of the reports is almost always a first step toward granting landmark status to a site.

"'I think there’s a lot of examination that has to be done,' the commission’s chairman, Ernest Wong, said this month at a hearing on the buildings.

"For a while now, we — along with the town’s leading preservationists — have said the federal government’s plan to wreck the buildings to create a security plaza for the Dirksen Federal Building is a senseless affront to architectural preservation, and also to efforts to make State Street more viable.

"So it’s great to see the commission and the city weigh in. Both are important voices with enough weight to possibly change the outcome for the two buildings.

"The commission requested the preparation of a landmarks designation report after a July 7 meeting on the Century and Consumers buildings.

"In the wake of the [$52 million demolition earmark], one of the leading voices for saving the buildings, Preservation Chicago, proposed turning the structures into a limited-access archives center for religious orders and other organizations.

"'There hasn’t been a space for robust conversation in the past,' Ward Miller said. 'It’s the GSA giving directives.'

"The stance by the landmarks commission, and the Lightfoot administration by proxy, represents a potential turnaround from the city’s position just three years ago.

"But hopefully today is a new day. Would a city landmark designation — on its face — prevent the federal government from razing the buildings?

"Likely not. It could lead to a standoff that ends with the federal government using its power to bigfoot over the city’s wishes.

"Or — and this is what we want to see — landmarking the buildings could bring the judges, the city, the GSA and that $52 million earmark to the table to work out something that leads to these buildings being properly redeveloped.

"That’s what Chicago and downtown really need." (Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board, 7/23/22)

Lake Street Schlitz-Brewery Tied House / formerly La Lucé restaurant, 1892, 1393-1399 W. Lake Street after neglect and vandalism on September 5, 2022. Photo Credit: Gabriel X. Michael @_GXM tweet

Board-up in progress at landmarked former La Luce, September 6, 3:20 pm. Photo credit: Lynn Becker tweet @LynnBecker

"We wanted to share this photo with you of the former Schlitz-Brewery Tied House on Lake Street, also known as the former La Luce Restaurant, and located at 1393-1399 W. Lake Street in Chicago.

"This building is now a Designated Chicago Landmark and owned by a developer, which has over the past year since it was Landmarked, has been left open numerous times and vandalized. This is absolutely shameful and illegal to have a building in this condition, which we feel is intentional.

"We at Preservation Chicago have outreached to the attorney for the developer last Thursday afternoon, as well as in the past. Also, many calls to DPD and 911, in the past, to keep people safe and out of the building, as well as reduce vandalism to this amazing structure. We’ve also outreached to the Alderman's office on Thursday afternoon, but this owner/developer needs to stabilize and restore this building, as it’s an embarrassment to the City and our Landmarks program.

"Please let us know how we can further assist in this effort. As you can see in the photo, vandals are removing the decorative copper sheet metal from the bay windows, defacing the building with graffiti and breaking and removing windows. This is unconscionable to allow to occur to a designated Chicago Landmark.

"It’s my personal opinion is if this developer/owner cannot clean-up this terrible mess and restore this Chicago Landmark building, perhaps they should be considered banned from doing business in Chicago in the future. This is unfortunate all around, but its terrible when a developer/owner allows this to occur. They need to know that this action needs to be reported to the Building Department for code and life safety violations and needs correcting or considered for court action."

The communication had the desired impact and within a few days, workmen were photographed securing the building.

Schlitz-Brewery Tied House / formerly La Lucé restaurant became a Chicago Landmark in July 2021 after a rapid response preservation advocacy effort to when its owner attempted to demolish it. Dating from 1892, this Queen Anne Victorian building is, according to Maurice Cox, Commissioner of Planning and Development, at the landmark hearing, a 'rare asset."

Preservation Chicago has long advocated for the building's preservation and will continue to advocate for it until its in a safe place.

"Parishioners are vowing to stop the Archdiocese of Chicago from removing a beloved statue from a former Catholic church in Pilsen they fought to save.

"On Friday morning, about 16 former parishioners staged a protest outside St. Adalbert Church, 1650 W. 17th St. after Rosemarie Dominguez, a member of the St. Adalbert Preservation Society, sent out a mass text Thursday night asking residents to gather outside the church gate.

"Judy Vasquez, who also lives in Pilsen, said she was told archdiocese workers were tasked with taking down the replica of Michelangelo’s La Pietà statue that sits in the former St. Adalbert church, prompting former parishioners to protest. The archdiocese plans to move it to St. Paul Catholic Church in Pilsen, a spokesperson said.

"Now, residents plan to rotate shifts, camping outside to block the statue from being removed.

"'We don’t know if they will come at night and try to take something out [of the church],' said Maria Mendez, a Pilsen resident.

"On Friday morning, Dominguez and a Polish parishioner were the first to arrive to the church, she said. Three construction workers and a gatekeeper arrived shortly after they did, Dominguez said.

"While the two women were propping pieces of wood on the church gate on the west side of the church, the gatekeeper told them they didn’t have the right to stand in the way of efforts to remove the statue.

"Dominguez said she promptly sat down in front of the gate to block the statue from being removed.

"'I was ready to chain myself to the gate,' she said. (Cardenas, Block Club Chicago, 9/13/22)

After neighbors sounded the alarm when they discovered contractors working for the Archdiocese of Chicago attempting to break-through the east transept wall of St. Adalbert Church. Preservation Chicago arrived on scene to assist preservation partners and has been proactively reaching out stakeholders. Preservation Chicago staff camped out on site through much of the weekend of to support the human barricade of community members attempting to prevent the unpermitted demolition work.

The rectangular hole will be approximately 10’ or 15’ in height and 8’ wide, and a cut opening through the exterior masonry wall. The drilling and backhoeing of this portion of the east wall may undermine portions of the structure. This work is being done without a permit and was initiated without the knowledge of the City and the Community.

St. Adalbert Church was a Chicago 7 Most Endangered Buildings for several years, and was designed by architect, Henry Schlacks. As the building is orange-rated and city officials have promised that it would become a Chicago Landmark. The building was deconsecrated and closed three years ago by the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Preservation Chicago encourages the City of Chicago to initiate landmark proceedings for St. Adalbert before the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. If the church and rectory were to be brought into Preliminary Landmark Recommendation, it could remain in a long-term Tolling Agreement, to give the Archdiocese, the City and other stakeholders the opportunity to continue with robust conversations.

This would offer all of the protections of a true Chicago Landmark Designation, and also prohibit the removal of art glass. Tragically, all the art glass was recently removed without a permit from the orange-rated All Saints-St. Anthony Church in Bridgeport, another closed church by Henry Schlacks. St. Anthony's sanctuary was devastated by contractors working for the Archdiocese prior to transferring the property to a private developer.

In the past that this idea of a Tolling Agreement worked for St. Gelasius/St. Clara, now known as The Shrine of Christ the King, as well as the New York Life Building, now the Kimpton Hotel Gray at LaSalle and Monroe Streets. That designation of St. Gelasius, which the Archdiocese opposed, led to Cardinal George inviting another religious order from Wisconsin to move to Chicago and establish this as their national headquarters, known as the Institute of Christ the King, within the St. Gelasius/St. Clara Church building and complex. So, the Chicago Landmark Designation was a wonderful planning tool, which led to excellent outcomes.

Ald. Sigcho-Lopez files complaint against Mayor Lightfoot over rezoning of Pilsen church

"In a recent town hall in the 49th Ward, Alderwoman Maria Hadden updated community members on the future of the closed St. Ignatius church located at 6559 N Glenwood Avenue in Rogers Park. The church was built in 1917 and designed by noted architect Henry J. Schlacks. Schlacks notably started his career in the offices of Adler & Sullivan before starting his own practice.

"Parishioners from the former St. Ignatius have been working on a plan to save the church since the initial discernment process began in 2019. The current intent is to have the rectory serve as an Ignatian Mission Center. The mission center would then be leveraged as a resource center for community members. A feasibility study will soon be launched into some of the possible uses including operating an ongoing Food Pantry, offering a Community Gathering space, and Community Counseling and Immigrant and Refugee Services.

"During the town hall, ideas for the property site were shared by community members. While not exhaustive, the suggestions included landmarking the church, along with the rectory and Waldorf school building. Some suggested pursuing adaptive reuse of the Waldorf site as a performing arts center, while others still suggested converting or removing the current structures for housing. (Ricketts, Chicago YIMBY, 8/20/22)

"The St. Ignatius campus, which includes the church, rectory and Waldorf School, is set to go on the market soon. The Ignatian Mission Center, a group of former parishioners and residents, has said it would like to maintain the church and use it to provide religious, social and educational programs to the surrounding community.

"Matt McDermott, a spokesperson for Loyola, said in a statement the university has had conversations recently with the archdiocese, Hadden and the Ignatian Mission Center about purchasing the school building and said the university plans to continue these conversations in the coming weeks.

"Hadden said she held the town hall meeting to give the community updates on the site as she said there has been a lot of speculation about what the university was or wasn’t doing in regards to the building. Hadden explained that if Loyola were to go ahead with the plan to build new student housing at the site it would require aldermanic approval for a change in zoning — something she has not yet committed to.

"Justin Shady, a Rogers Park resident of seven years, has been one of the main residents speaking out against Loyola possibly purchasing the building. He has hung up fliers in the area which read 'STOP LOYOLA LOTS' and has sought to garner further community opposition.

"'I can’t in good faith let them tear down two giant buildings for nothing,' Shady said. 'If they want to tear them down and build something for the community or actually physically do something with them then great. But their track record is such that they tear things down, they fence them off, and they do nothing with them.”

"Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago, a non-profit devoted to preserving historic architecture in the city, joined the meeting to advocate for the St. Ignatius campus to receive a Chicago Historic Landmark designation. This would prevent the buildings from being demolished and he said would benefit the community.

"'These buildings are already ‘small L landmarks’ in our communities, and they are cornerstones of our communities,' Miller said. 'They provide more than just worship services, they provide community services, they are food pantries, they are childcare centers and they are counseling centers." (Krueger, The Loyola Phoenix, 8/24/22)

"Construction on a long-delayed project to turn a historical Noble Square church into condos will begin as soon as the city grants a key permit, the developer said this week.

"St. Boniface Church, 1358 W. Chestnut St., was bought in 2016 by STAS Development President Michael Skoulsky, who pledged to convert the church and an empty lot next door into dozens of residential units.

"After years of delays, Skoulsky said Wednesday he’s started submitting permits for phase one of the project, which includes the church renovation and a putting up a three-story building behind it.

"Skoulsky said he’s done interior demolition and structural work on the almost-120-year-old church.

"'It’s been a ton of work … so we’ve done a pretty good job moving past all that. Now we’re just in for permits,' he said.

"The three-story building will include affordable residential units and office space for Northwestern Settlement House, a social services provider based a few blocks north.

"Overlooking Eckhart Park, St. Boniface was the focus of a protracted neighborhood preservation battle after the Archdiocese of Chicago closed it in 1990.

"The church was designed by architect Henry Schlacks, who also designed numerous other houses of worship around Chicago. St. Boniface Parish dates back to the 1860s, according to a website dedicated to its history. The church was completed in 1904.

"Facing demolition threats over the years, West Town neighbors and Preservation Chicago launched a campaign to save the building, culminating in Skoulsky buying the building.

"Now, as units are sold and permits submitted, Skoulsky is confident the project will move forward. He said he hopes the first tenants can move into the church by fall 2023.

"'At this point, there’s no way that it doesn’t come together,' said Skoulsky, who lives a few blocks west of the church. 'It’s finally happening, and as a neighbor I’m very happy about it.'

St. Boniface Church was one of Preservation Chicago's earliest advocacy efforts in 2000.

"Woodlawn community organizers say public masses have been suspended at the Shrine of Christ the King Catholic Church, and they worry the Archdiocese of Chicago is planning to shutter the landmark.

"Mass and other sacraments at Shrine of Christ the King, 6401 S. Woodlawn Ave., were suspended on Monday, according to Jennifer Blackman, a member of the Coalition to Save the Shrine, a nonprofit organization aiming to restore the church.

"Blackman said the ban came from the archdiocese under a directive issued early this year to bring parishes and shrines in line with a papal decree aimed at limiting Mass being celebrated in Latin. Christ the King Church only celebrates Mass in Latin.

"The Coalition to Save the Shrine was formed in January of 2016 after fire destroyed the roof of the church. The organization said more than $3 million was raised to repair the damage and save the church from demolition, according to Blackman.

"Gabriel Piemonte, co-founder of Save the Shrine, said the recent developments 'are a cause for concern.'

"'We and other community stakeholders are requesting that the archdiocese be transparent in the decision-making process to ensure the future of the building reflects its highest and best use,' Piemonte said.

"The building was constructed in 1927 as St. Clara Church. It was granted landmark status in 2003 as St. Gelasius.

"Blackman said representatives from Coalition to Save the Shrine plan to speak at Thursday’s Commission on Chicago Landmarks meeting. (Heather, Chicago Sun-Times, 8/2/22)

Preservation Chicago has worked closely with preservation partners for many years to defend and protect this significant building. The highly ornate 1923 church building at 6401 S. Woodlawn Avenue was devastated by a fire in October 2015. The historic church’s interior and roof were completely lost, but the massive limestone walls survived. The estimated cost of rebuilding was $9 million dollars so the Archdiocese was left with little choice but to demolish the remains of the Designated Chicago Landmark Building.

Then something of a miracle occurred. Due to an extraordinary preservation advocacy effort, within a few months of the fire, nearly $650,000 in pledges had been received to rebuild. Ultimately, the congregation, Woodlawn residents, the preservation community, and Preservation Chicago were successful in their efforts to preserve the building resulting in a transfer of ownership from the Archdiocese to a separate Catholic order, known as The Institute of Christ the King, at no cost, but with a commitment to rebuild the building and a Catholic presence in Woodlawn.

Initial funding was used to stabilize the building with the optimism that future monies would be raised for the installation of a new roof. Over $3 million dollars were raised. The rebuilding efforts for fire-damaged Shrine of Christ the King/St. Gelasius/St. Clara Church in Woodlawn reached an important milestone in March 2018 when the first new roof trusses were installed.

"More homes and spots for businesses and shopping could be coming to Roseland as the city looks to redevelop three large sites in the neighborhood.

"The city’s Department of Planning and Development soon will open the process to pitch redevelopment ideas for the closed Gately’s Peoples Store, the former Roseland Theatre building and the site of the proposed Michigan Red Line station, a station that would be built as part of the suggested Red Line expansion.

"A request for proposals could go out as soon as the fall, officials said.

"The projects would have to build on recent investments in the Roseland and Pullman areas and create more residential options, Michael Penicnak, a project coordinator for the development department, said at a Tuesday meeting of the Community Development Commission.

"The Community Development Commission also approved a request for acquisition for properties at 11331 S. Michigan Ave., allowing the city to try to buy the property, the home of the now closed Roseland Theatre.

"The city’s development agency wants the theater’s building to be restored so it can potentially be reused in a variety of ways: for businesses and shops, as a shared kitchen and for food production, for cultural uses, as an office and incubator space, or something else, Penicnak said. Officials would also want nearby vacant land to be used, he said.

"Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) said he wrote a letter of support for those plans in exchange for development Commissioner Maurice Cox supporting a 100-room hotel in his ward." (McDonald, Block Club Chicago, 8/12/22)

"Roseland’s South Michigan Avenue Commercial District is the commercial center and heart of this Far South Side community, located approximately 15 miles from downtown Chicago. Situated on a hilltop ridge, the corridor extends between 100th Street and the viaduct just south of 115th Street, with the central core of the existing commercial district located between 110th and 115th Streets.

"Once referred to by local residents as 'The Avenue,' the street’s viability as a commercial corridor began to deteriorate and fade in the mid-1970s. Over the decades, some historic buildings have been remodeled and covered with new facades, and many other notable and significant commercial buildings, which further helped to define the district, have been lost to demolition.

"However, it is important to protect, restore and reuse the remaining structures, many of them noteworthy in their overall design and materials. This would honor the legacy and history of this remarkable community and encourage a holistic approach to further promote economic revitalization along the South Michigan Avenue commercial corridor." (Preservation Chicago)

"A big, empty building on State Street in the Loop is hitting the market again, a property that could attract interest from developers that want to tear it down and build a high-rise in its place.

"The Sterling Organization, the owner of the 112,000-square-foot building at 209-227 S. State St., has hired Chicago brokerage Greenstone Partners to sell the property, the home of a Woolworth’s store for many years. The building has been vacant since Foot Locker closed its store there in 2020.

"Not surprisingly, Greenstone plans to market the property as a redevelopment candidate, accentuating its size and generous zoning that could accommodate a tall building on the site. A new apartment building would be the most obvious option for the property, given the strength of the downtown multifamily market.

"'There are so many different ways you can cut it from a development standpoint,' said Greenstone CEO and Managing Partner Danny Spitz. 'It’s very rare to find something like this on State Street.'

"Demolishing or repurposing the existing building to create something new also makes sense given State Street’s current retail struggles.

“Apartments make a ton of sense (for Sterling’s property), whether it’s adaptive re-use or ground-up,” Spitz said.

"The existing building, which rises as high as seven stories on its north end, sits on a 20,300-square-foot parcel with current zoning that could accommodate a project as large as 325,000 square feet, according to Greenstone. A developer also could seek a zoning change that would allow for a larger building on the property.

"A developer also could preserve and reuse the existing art deco building, which is about 100 years old, according to Spitz. The property is not a landmark or included on the city’s list of historically significant buildings.

"Should the city step in to save it? Chicago preservationist Ward Miller isn’t ready to take a stand on that question.

"'This is a nice example of a fine-quality building that should be preserved,' said Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago, an advocacy group. 'Is it landmark quality? I think we’d have to look into it further.'

"Miller is more focused on saving two historic structures directly across the street: the Century and Consumers buildings, which the federal government wants to tear down to create a security perimeter around the federal courthouse complex next door. In July, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks asked city staffers to prepare a report on the buildings, a possible first step toward a landmark designation that would block the demolition plans." (Gallun, Crain's Chicago Business, 8/29/22)

"When Carl Schurz High School was granted city landmark status in 1979, the report making the case for the designation listed other architecturally significant Chicago schools designed by the North Side edifice’s noted architect, Dwight Perkins.

"The list included the now-former Trumbull Elementary in Andersonville, Cleveland Elementary in the Irving Park community and others designed by Perkins when he was chief public school architect from 1905 to 1910.

"Absent from that roll call, however, was Schurz’s twin, James H. Bowen High School, 2710 E. 89th St. In addition to being omitted from the designation report, the school — designed by Perkins and opening the same day as Schurz — has never been landmarked by the city.

"Bowen alum Marc Edelstein wants to change that. The 1968 graduate began circulating an online petition recently in a bid to seek enough popular support to nudge city officials to finally landmark the 112-year-old South Chicago neighborhood school.

"'Architecturally, it’s a gem,' Edelstein told us.

"He’s right. And it’s high time to correct the 40-year-old oversight.

"Edelstein is vice president of the Bowen High School Alumni Association. He said the group’s main purpose is awarding scholarships to the schools’ deserving seniors, but Edelstein began championing for Bowen to have landmark status five years ago.

"'The petition is our most recent attempt to get greater public support and hopefully make an impact on the landmarking decision-makers,' Edelstein said.

"'As a landmark, the building will be preserved and maintained, which will help the economy of the hard-working South Chicago neighborhood residents,' said one signer.

"'Preserving SE side treasures is vital to the preservation of the community!' wrote another.

"'[Its] bold Mission, Prairie, and Chicago School elements speak to Dwight Perkins’ gifts,' Edelstein said. 'His use of natural lighting and sophisticated hygiene systems — imagine, indoor bathrooms on every floor — were unique for the time.'

Schurz High School, 3601 N. Milwaukee Ave., was designed with the same features and has been rightfully lauded for them. In addition to being a city landmark, Schurz has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1987.

A city planning department spokesperson says the agency’s historic preservation staff believes Bowen and Chicago Vocational would meet landmark criteria. But there’s no word on when — or even if — the buildings would be brought before the landmarks commission for approval.

"Classic public schools are among the finest buildings in Chicago, yet they are unrecognized in a city that’s rightfully proud of, if not downright boastful about, its architecture.

"It’s time to landmark Bowen and bring more architecturally significant school buildings into the fold." (Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board, 8/30/22)

Preservation Chicago has been working closely with Marc Edelstein and the Bowen High School Alumni Association to help protect and landmark Bowen High School. We contributed to the report for future inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. We would volunteer our services pro bono to the City of Chicago to prepare a Chicago Landmark Designation report for Bowen High School.

"We urge the Chicago Public School Board, 7th Ward Ald. Greg Mitchell, and the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to advance a Landmark nomination for Bowen High School, located at 2710 E. 89th Street. Landmarking will preserve and protect this architectural treasure for future generations of Chicagoans.

"James H. Bowen High School is a Chicago public school which opened in 1910. It was designed by famed architect Dwight H. Perkins, and is a prime example of the Chicago School and Prairie style of design. Bowen High School has a twin sister school - Carl Schurz High School on the North Side of Chicago – that was designed and built by Perkins the same year. Schurz High School was Landmarked in 1978. It is past time for Bowen High School to receive the same Chicago Landmark designation.

"Equity in Landmarking – what’s Landmarked on the North Side should be Landmarked on the South Side as well. It is overdue for this remarkable architectural asset in South Chicago to get the same recognition as its twin building on the North Side."

Preservation Chicago has been working closely with Marc Edelstein and the Bowen High School Alumni Association to help protect and landmark Bowen High School.

"Students attending a private Christian school will start the year in a renovated building that used to be Francis Scott Elementary School until CPS shuttered it nearly a decade ago. Now the building will house pre-K through eighth grade students attending The Field School.

"'We’re so excited to be in the Austin neighborhood, in part because our original launch plan was to be in Austin,' school head Jeremy Mann said. “So, to be now in 2022 opening our doors just a block away is a dream come true.'

"In a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for Monday, Aug. 22, parents, students, teachers and school administrators will see the renovated interiors of the north building, an upgraded playground and refinished parking lot, the first phase in their renovation plan. (Garcia Hernandez, AustinTalks, 8/21/22)

"Located in the South Austin neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, the building was originally home to the Francis Scott Key Public School. Built in 1907, the building was designed by Dwight Perkins when he was the chief architect of the Chicago Public Schools.

"The Key School originally served 300 students in kindergarten through 8th grade. As the neighborhood desegregated at the end of the 1960s, enrollment increased to nearly 800. The school remained overcrowded for decades, with the teachers’ lounge and several closets used as classrooms at one point.

"Through the early 2000s, the school district added several charter schools and other educational options to the area and the school’s enrollment began to drop. Within a decade, the school’s enrollment had been declined by half. In May of 2013, the Chicago Board of Education announced that it was closing 49 of its schools, the largest single wave of closings in the history of the United States.

"Using 'low enrollment' as the primary determining factor, the district flagged nearly half the schools in the system as under-capacity, including the Key School. The school closed in 2013 and has remained vacant since. Now, the doors will open once again to serve students of the South Austin neighborhood. (National Trust Community Investment Corporation)

Preservation Chicago encourages decisionmakers to pursue a Chicago Landmark Designation for the former Francis Scott Key Public School. Additionally, we encourage ownership to pursue a Adopt-a-Landmark funding for exterior renovation of this remarkable Dwight Perkins structure.

Preservation Chicago encourages the City of Chicago and the Chicago Board of Education to accelerate the speed at which these former school buildings are returned to a community use through adaptive reuse including community oriented uses such as affordable housing. There are more than a dozen former Chicago Public School Buildings that remain vacant awaiting possible sale or reuse. Gyms, pools and auditoriums could be reused as community centers and school kitchens could be repurposed to serve meals to those most vulnerable within our communities.

"The Muddy Waters MOJO Museum could get a new garden to host outdoor performances — if the city allows the owner to buy an adjacent lot.

"Museum founder Chandra Cooper and her team unveiled plans for the empty lot during an Aug. 30 community meeting. They hope to transform the lot next door to the 131-year-old house museum, 4339 S. Lake Park Ave., into an urban oasis with greenery, seating and a stage. A mural of the iconic blues legend would grace the exterior wall.

"Waters and his family lived on the first floor of the home for nearly two decades. It was built in 1891 and has been transformed into the museum through the efforts of Cooper, his great-granddaughter, and other supporters.

"But the museum will need the city’s OK to buy the vacant lot and make the garden plans come true.

“We’ve been using the vacant lot with no problems over the past two years for small performances in the early afternoon during the summer months,” Cooper said. “We’ve also used it as a healing space.”

"Cooper envisions a communal space where visitors can practice yoga and meditation one day and take in an intimate live show the next. Community organizations would be welcome to host events, and a gate would be installed at the front of the lot. The back of the property would be 'closed off' for safety, Cooper said.

"Edward Torrez, the architect overseeing the project, said he’s looking for input from residents to create a garden everyone can enjoy, with design elements reflecting the city’s blues history.

"The city’s planning department is in talks with the museum team to sell the vacant lot, though a price is yet to be determined, a spokesperson said.

"Cooper said she hopes the museum will get a fair shake from the city.

"'What we’re doing is adding cultural value,' Cooper said. “I hope [the city] takes that into consideration.'(Nesbitt Golden, Block Club Chicago, 9/7/22)

Preservation Chicago encourages the City of Chicago to sell the vacant lot to MOJO Museum for $1 in recognition of Chandra Cooper's dedication in face of adversity and her fierce love for this important part of Chicago’s cultural heritage.

We're thrilled that the long-endangered Muddy Waters home is finally receiving the financial support it needs to be restored. We will continue to support this effort until the MOJO Museum celebrates its grand opening.

Preservation Chicago has worked very closely with neighborhood preservation partners and has played a strong role in supporting the effort to protect and landmark the Muddy Waters home. Additionally, our petition with nearly 33,000 signatures and other advocacy efforts played a decisive role in publicizing the proposed House Museum Ban ordinance that would have been devastating for emerging house museums like the Muddy Waters home, and scores of arts and cultural centers across Chicago.

We continue to advocate for a Chicago Jazz, Blues, and Gospel Thematic Landmark District that would recognize and protect the places and spaces where Chicago musicians made history.

"Bishop Louis Henry Ford, the influential Black pastor who saved a noteworthy 1830s house from ruin and rehabbed it over the course of decades, may be honored with more than simply renaming the house.

"City officials 'are looking at ways we might amplify the story' of Ford buying the Greek Revival house when it was about a century old and fixing it up with his congregation at St. Paul Church of God in Christ, Erin Harkey, commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, said at a community meeting yesterday about the remaking proposal.

"'It’s clear we’ve reached a critical point in the history of the house,' Harkey said. Owned by the city since 1977 and officially known as the Henry B. Clarke House after the Chicago pioneer who built it in 1836, the house has recently been held up as an example of whiting out Black history.

"Signage and other information about the house 'has been light on the role Bishop Ford played in the preservation' of the house, said Ald. Pat Dowell, whose 3rd Ward encompasses the Chicago Women’s Park & Gardens, where both this house and the Glessner House stand. 'We have to be authentic about the people who gave their blood, sweat and tears” to rescue and repair the house,' Dowell said.

"Harkey said the house will likely be renamed the Clarke/Ford House, but that in a larger way, 'we are considering the future of the house.' The time is right, she said. The city begins a $1 million renovation of the house in September.

"Renaming and repositioning the house to acknowledge Bishop Ford is one piece of Chicago's nation-leading Black house movement, a grassroots push to memorialize momentous Black figures in the homes where they did their work, outside mainstream institutions. In recent years, the homes of Emmett Till and his pioneering mother, blues icon Muddy Waters, entrepreneur S.B. Fuller and others have been part of the movement.

"After stewarding the house from 1941 to 1977, Ford wasn’t invited to the city’s rededication of the house as a museum in 1982, said Elizabeth Blasius, an architectural historian and principal of Preservation Futures, which has been working with Ford on the effort to better recognize his father’s history with the house.

"Bishop Ford saw his church’s work with the building as symbolic of the Black community’s efforts elsewhere. In 1969, he told the Chicago Tribune that 'here in the ghetto, grass is growing all around, and flowers. So many people think the black community is supposed to destroy everything. Destroy everything? Here we have preserved the oldest house. This is our message.'

"In 1965, an architect who had supervised the creation of a list of historic buildings in Chicago in the 1930s told the Chicago Tribune that 'Bishop Ford and his congregation deserve a great deal of credit for preserving this home.'" (Rodkin, Crain's Chicago Business, 8/24/22)

"It’s time to give up on the moribund plan for a professional-caliber South Side golf course, stuff it into the golf bag along with the broken tees and go home.

"Instead of keeping the plan alive, the Chicago Park District should bring the nine-hole South Shore and 18-hole Jackson Park golf courses up to par by fixing drainage and other issues. That would cost much less and make more golfers happy.

"Proponents of the new course, which would be near the Obama Presidential Center, want to replace those two courses with a single top-quality 18-hole course. They envision the course, designed by Tiger Woods, attracting high-quality players from all over and hosting tournaments.

"But there are just too many reasons not to do it.

"After five years of fundraising, there is a mere pittance in the piggy bank for the project, whose estimated cost is said to have risen from $30 million to $70 million to $80 million. Maybe more money will come in after donors finish chipping in for the presidential center, but that could be years away. The presidential center itself is behind on its fund-raising goals. Meanwhile, as golfers wait, the Jackson Park and South Shore courses need more investment. And taxpayers would have to have every reason to worry that if fundraising falls short, they will wind up paying for much of the Tiger Woods course.

"Opponents of the new course say building it would require chopping down hundreds of trees, at a time when the city is struggling to rebuild its urban canopy. Not all of the trees that would come down are high-quality, but many are. Some 800 trees already have been removed to make space for the presidential center. Chicago has promised to plant new replacement trees, but the city has a bad habit of chopping down more trees than it plants. It’s time to stop.

"The new golf course layout would decimate the invaluable South Shore Nature Sanctuary, which just celebrated its 20th birthday. The sanctuary’s more than six acres of dune, beach, wetland, pond, woodland, prairie, savanna and shrub land are a much-needed habitat for wildlife, including butterflies and migratory birds. The golf course planners say they’ll replace the lost wildlife acreage, but so far, they appear to be counting spaces between fairways, for example, as part of the replacement greenery. Other unsuitable pockets of natural areas have been vaguely discussed as well. Small areas of greenery would do little to benefit wildlife, which would have to put up with people rooting around for lost golf balls. And they would do nothing for people who like to wander along the sanctuary’s looped trail system for a little quiet and peace in an urban setting.

"The original Jackson Park course, designed in 1899 by the Olmsted Brothers firm, was the first public course to be built west of the Allegheny mountains. Losing that course would be losing a piece of city history.

"The new golf course’s larger footprint, longer distance between holes and longer fairways would likely require many people to rent a golf cart, which drives up the cost. For some, that would mean playing less often, or not at all. Some golfers worry they will end up being priced out just by higher greens fees.

"Other cities have rejuvenated worn-out municipal courses, turning them into popular success stories. Charleston, South Carolina, for example, put $3.5 million of public and private money into a public course, fixing flooding, unmanaged tree growth and other problems. That attracted many more golfers, who can walk the course for $20." (Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board, 8/17/22)

"There used to be a teacher’s desk in each classroom at the old Elizabeth Peabody public school building on Augusta Boulevard in Noble Square. Now each one has a kitchen island.

"The Peabody school, one of dozens of Chicago Public Schools buildings shut down in 2013, is getting a second life as apartments at the hands of a company that has converted two other closed school buildings.

"In the rehab, Buffalo Grove-based Svigos Asset Management is creating one apartment in each former classroom and the principal’s office. Rents for the one- and two-bedroom apartments, some with ground-level outdoor spaces and indoor parking, run from $3,000 to $4,200, said Nick Vittore, Svigos' vice president of real estate.

"'Some of the things we’re obsessed with now, like high ceilings and big windows for lots of light, were obsessions for the people who built these schools in the 19th century,' Vittore said.

"Fourteen-foot ceilings and tall windows were necessities in 1894, for daylighting classrooms and keeping sooty furnace smoke up above students' heads. Now they’re part of what keeps the apartments feeling bright and spacious.

"The historical features of the Peabody School Apartments don’t end there. Svigos has restored or re-created transom windows, wainscoting and handsome old cabinetry throughout the 40,000-square-foot building. Outside, they’ve replicated a wrought iron fence design that was common to Chicago schools in the 1890s but had been removed by the time Peabody closed.

"Authenticity, Vittore said, is a guiding principle. In one apartment, he noted that the laundry room door is a standard pre-hung item that the developer gets for $225, while the main interior door is a hefty wood original, refinished.

"'That one cost us about $1,500,' Vittore said, 'but we would do it again. It’s part of preserving the historic character of these buildings.'

"Svigos has a portfolio of about 250 apartments, mostly on the city’s North Side, including 81 in a trio of former CPS schools. In 2017, the firm completed conversion of the former Mulligan School on Sheffield Avenue in Lincoln Park into 24 apartments. In 2019, Svigos reopened the former Motley School (aka Near North Elementary) as 36 apartments.

"Reminders of the Peabody School’s previous incarnation are everywhere in the nearly finished project. They include an old cafeteria table that was refinished and now stands beneath a pergola on the rooftop deck and chalkboards in every apartment. Some are less obvious. Look closely at the refinished original maple flooring, and a series of screw holes might be visible. The screws were used for fixing old desks in place." (Rodkin, Crain's Chicago Business, 8/23/22)

"The Elizabeth Peabody Public School Building is a handsomely-designed and detailed public school building, a significant building type in the context of Chicago history. With its crisp geometric forms, paired with boldly-contrasting red pressed brick and stone walls, it exemplifies Chicago architecture of the 1890s, embracing both tradition and innovation in design. The building has finely-detailed and crafted ornament in stone, molded brick, terra cotta and decorative metal, reflecting the late Victorian love of detail in architecture.

"The building was an early design by W. August Fiedler as newly-appointed Architect to the Chicago Board of Education. During Fiedler's tenure, the Board Architect position became an integral part of the Board of Education staff with greater professional support on design matters made readily available to the Board through Fiedler and his fellow architects.

"The Peabody Public School Building occupies several lots on the north side of west Augusta Boulevard in Chicago’s West Town community area on the Near Northwest Side of Chicago. The school was built in response to the growth of the area’s primarily Polish and German immigrant population. Thousands of immigrant families arrived in the area during the turn of the nineteenth century, and West Town became home to the largest Polish population outside of Warsaw. Peabody relieved older, over-crowded schools and gave the neighborhood a new educational 'landmark' which would serve Chicago school children for roughly 120 years." (Peabody School Landmark Designation Report)

Read the full story at Crain's Chicago Business

"One of Chicago’s iconic pieces of public art will be getting a new home.

"French artist Jean Dubuffet’s sculpture 'Monument with Standing Beast,' in place in front of the Thompson Center since the building opened in 1985, is moving to a different spot in the Loop.

"With the state of Illinois selling the building to Google, the sculpture, once dubbed 'Snoopy in a Blender,' will move to the former BMO Harris Bank building at 115 S. LaSalle St. That building was recently purchased by the state to replace some of the office space lost with the Thompson Center sale.

"Cathy Kwiatkowski, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services, said no date is set for the sculpture, owned by the state, to arrive at its new home.

"The 29-foot, 10-ton fiberglass sculpture was inspired by Dubuffet’s 1960 series of paintings called 'Hourlope.' In 1984, the late Ruth Horwich, art collector and one of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s founders, donated the sculpture in memory of her husband, Leonard Horwich. It was unveiled outside the still-incomplete Thompson Center in November of that year.

"'Monument with Standing Beast' has four elements, meant to represent an animal, a tree, a portal and a monument.

"Rolf Achilles, an art historian and professor at School of the Art Institute in Chicago, would prefer the sculpture stay in front of the Thompson Center. It’s a high-profile spot, he said, unlike its future location.

"'The Dubuffet deserves better than standing in the shade,' Achilles said. 'It won’t have the impact it has now; in other words, Dubuffet is going to be in exile.' (Perkins, Chicago Sun-Times, 7/31/22)

'The Monument with Standing Beast' sculpture located in the Thompson Center’s public plaza was created by one of the world’s most noted Modernist artists, Jean Dubuffet. It was a gift to the citizens of Chicago and Illinois and must be protected. We have seen important works of 20th century Chicago public art removed (Henry Bertoia’s Sonambient and Yaacov Agam’s Communication X9), destroyed (top surface mosaic of Marc Chagall’s Four Seasons), placed in storage (Alexander Calder’s The Universe) or sold at auction (Henry Moore’s Large Internal-External Upright Form). 20th century Chicago public art was a 2017 Chicago 7 Most Endangered, so it is imperative that this great Dubuffet sculpture be protected.

Preservation Chicago urges the City of Chicago with the support of The Prime Group and The State of Illinois to designate the Thompson Center as a Chicago Landmark. A Landmark Designation could protect this building, plaza and public sculpture ensuring that these will be retained in any redevelopment of the site. Jahn’s career began in Chicago and is now celebrated around the world. Much like the Sony Center in Berlin (which was modeled on the Thompson Center), this is a building of the people, built as a monument and open to all, with many public spaces that should be forever open to all, and efforts to both protect its architecture and vision and activate the building should be implemented.

"As a real estate project, the property marketed as The Terminal in West Humboldt Park reveals itself slowly — so slowly that it’s hard for passersby to appreciate.

"Walk by the two-story building at 1334 N. Kostner Ave. and you see a handsome example of industrial architecture from a century ago, but there’s much more behind it. The frontage along Kostner is part of a three-building complex covering nearly 7 acres. It contains soaring old factory space the owners believe is perfect for a cadre of innovative young companies.

"Developer Gary Pachucki, founder of IBT Group, is accustomed to conducting tours of the raw space, inviting prospective tenants to let their imaginations fill in the blanks. Backed by billionaire Joe Mansueto, founder of Morningstar, Pachucki sees the place attracting brainy entrepreneurs who want room to grow outside of the popular, expensive neighborhoods. They also want the satisfaction of seeing job growth in a community prioritized in Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Invest South/West program.

"'We can offer them cost-effective space in a great neighborhood. This will be a campus' for businesses engaged in research, he said. Intensive manufacturing isn’t part of the plan, although Pachucki said he’s had discussions with a brewer — and having factory-fresh beer on-site might draw more tenants.

"Nick Farina, CEO of EeroQ, a quantum computing company, stands next to equipment used for their work and research at a leased office at 1334 N. Kostner Ave in new a development called the The Terminal in West Humboldt Park, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. The Terminal is looking to house offices and startups in it’s multi-space facility.

"EeroQ, launched near Michigan State University, has moved into 9,600 square feet at The Terminal. The company is trying a new approach to quantum computer development by floating single electrons on liquid helium.

"The work is unimaginably exacting, and CEO Nick Farina said he brought the 10-worker company to The Terminal because the building, solid and with no basement, doesn’t vibrate. Other properties have trucks or trains rumbling by. Being in Chicago made sense, he said. 'Chicago has a deep bench of quantum computing talent,' Farina said.

"For Pachucki, landing EeroQ validated the concept. He still has about 220,000 square feet to fill and hopes to have a couple more tenants soon. Working with Ratio Architects and the construction firm Arco/Murray, Pachucki has the largest of the three buildings ready for tenant improvements, while renovations continue on the other two. He said the investment in the property could hit $70 million. The project involves no public money.

"The renovation has added windows just beneath the high roofs so sunlight can brighten the space below. Tenants will have the option of adding space on a second level. Pachucki said the plan calls for outdoor gathering space, a spot where food trucks can park, and he’s considering an exercise room and bike storage. The property has on-site parking and easy access for equipment deliveries." (Roeder, Chicago Sun-Times, Aug 8, 2022)

"Founded in 1897 by Royal C. Vilas, the Pyle National Company became popular for its Pyle-O-Lytes, one of the most popular locomotive headlights which were introduced in 1913. Due to a federal mandate requiring all trains to have headlights in 1915, the company grew rapidly and in 1916 moved into the new plant. By the 1930’s Pyle had provided the lighting for many Chicago icons including Soldier and Wrigley Fields before departing the city in 1992. Most recently, the Davidson & Weiss designed building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2021." (Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 11/2/21)

"Developer GW Properties has come back to the community to propose a new plan for the rehabilitation of the Hollander Building. Located at 2422 N. Milwaukee, the building stands just north of the intersection of N. Milwaukee Ave and W. Fullerton Ave. The rear of the Hollander Building turns to front W. Fullerton Ave, with the rest of the site backing up against the public alley and Blue Line CTA L tracks.

"Designed by NORR, the updated plan would rehabilitate the Hollander Building and build a new five-story addition that will replace an existing parking lot and one-story structure. Rising 74 feet, the project would add 4,500 square feet of retail to the base of the Hollander Building and there will be 5,000 square feet of retail in the new addition. According to the developers, Guidepost Montessori and a salon have already signed onto the project.

"The site has gone through multiple zoning changes since its first version, with an approved plan from 2019 calling for a five-story addition to convert the building into offices, retail, and commercial space. In 2021, the developers came back to remove the addition, use the existing one-story building as an extension of the ground floor commercial space, and put 9 apartments and office space into the Hollander Building. (Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 9/6/22)

Preservation Chicago had been in communication with developer, former owner David Hollander and aldermen's offices to encourage a preservation-sensitive reuse of the building and to promote a potential landmark designation. All were receptive to the concept. Preservation Chicago encourages the developer to consider landmarking the Hollander Warehouse building and its highly decorative and intact lobby.

A different building with similar name, the Hollander Fireproof Warehouse located at Milwaukee, North and Damen avenues was renovated in 2016 as part of the Northwest Tower/ Robey House Hotel project.

"With Dirk Denison Architects and Gilbane Building Company, the Illinois Institute of Technology has recently completed a $70 million housing project that has restored three Ludwig Mies van der Rohe buildings. With the completion of the Carman Hall residential facility, the three-building project has renewed Illinois Tech’s front door as it prepares for its highest recorded enrollment numbers—more than 25% higher than last year.

"Located at the campus entryway and offering views of the Chicago skyline, all three buildings were designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a pioneer of modernist architecture. Historic preservation was a top priority for the project, along with ensuring energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

"'It was rewarding for students to have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills as part of this iconic project located on their campus,' Denison, founding principal of Dirk Denison Architects and professor and MCHAP Director at Illinois Tech, said in a statement.

"'It’s particularly gratifying to help deliver projects that acknowledge the timeless quality of modernist architecture and the value of preserving them. IIT has a respectful commitment to its Mies legacy and has led the way to recognize the original intent of the buildings by bringing them back to life through thoughtful reuse and sustainable strategies.'" (Parsi, Building Design + Construction, 8/18/22)

Preservation Chicago encourages the Illinois Institute of Technology to consider a Chicago Landmark Designation for many of the buildings of its campus designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. 

"A food pantry in Pilsen has been operating out of a former church for the last two years.

"The founder is hoping to buy the building but says she is running into obstacles with the Chicago Archdiocese.

"For the last two years, the pantry has been operating out of a former Catholic church.

"Evelyn Figueroa is one of the founders of the Pilsen Food Pantry and is a family doctor in the neighborhood. She originally ran the pantry from her health clinic. And in 2020, relocated inside former Holy Trinity Croatian Church.

"'We went from a 600 sf space to a floor that was over 3,000 sf. So it really gave us the space to grow into the organization that we wanted to become,' said Figueroa

"Figueroa says she wants to buy the property in hopes of expanding their services. The pantry even raised money to purchase the building and made an offer. But now she says the problem has been communicating with the Archdiocese of Chicago. The last time she heard from an Archdiocese representative was in August 2021 where she said she was told she could expect a counter offer.

"'We submitted a written outline, a business plan of what we wanted to do with all of the space and its wasn't indicated to us that there was something afoul with what we had submitted. So we were handed keys two months later, which to me was a verbal agreement that we would be able to move forward with leasing to own the property and then a couple months later ran into a lot of snags with our representative of the Archdiocese,' said Figueroa

"Pilsen Food Pantry is open five days a week serving about 350 people weekly. We're told losing this space would mean they wouldn't be able to operate in the capacity they do.

"'I think it would have a heavy blow on the community," said Steve Wiley

"We meet with Ward Miller with Preservation Chicago to learn more about the challenges organizations say they face when wanting to purchase a closed church from the Archdiocese.

"'We've found that lately, especially with the closure of so many churches in the Archdiocese of Chicago's portfolio, that its even more challenging. Its almost like the community versus a developer often times,' said Miller.

"In recent years, Miller says the organization found more than 70 church closures, many without landmark status. Without landmark status, developers can essentially do what they want with the property.

"'Sometimes the historic building is given to a developer, or sold to a developer and the developer demolishes the building. We've seen this numerous times, especially with the Archdiocese in recent years. Its tragic because its really pulverizes the story,' said Miller." (Hernandez, WTTW Chicago, 8/27/22)

"On a recent sunny morning, Goudy Square, the small park in the heart of the Gold Coast at Astor and Goethe Streets, was alive with dozens of little children in the company of their parents, grandparents or nannies.

"You could hear their carefree and playful noise across the street where Adam and Victoria Bilter were standing and talking. A sincere and passionate duo, they live on the top floor of the building at 1300 N. Astor but are busy bringing back to life the 8,120-square-foot space that occupies the basement.

"'We want to preserve the history of this special place,' says Adam. 'We are both deeply appreciative of the past and want to be part of the future.'

"This building rose in 1962, the work of revered architect Bertrand Goldberg, who is most famous for creating that iconic structure that is Marina City. This was the Astor Tower Hotel, where The Beatles, among many famous folks, once stayed.

"The basement space became a restaurant through the efforts of the architect’s bright, ebullient wife, Nancy, who opened Maxim’s as an homage to Maxim’s-de-Paris in France, which had opened 70 years before.

"It was as opulent a restaurant as this city has ever known, a stylish Art Nouveau-inspired space, all dim lighting, plush furniture and artful design. It served meals that earned it a place on Life magazine’s list of the top six gourmet restaurants in the country. But it also housed what was then the city’s first discothèque and as late as 3 a.m. some nights, you could find people playing backgammon in its Bagatelle Room.

"It was very popular and a gossip column staple — thanks to high-profile guests and customers including Hollywood royalty and local high-society figures — until closing in 1982. It carried on for a few years, as Nancy let other restaurateurs move in, including the late, hard-to-forget George Badonsky. Nancy died in 1996, her husband the following year, and in 2000, their heirs gave Maxim’s to the City of Chicago.

"A couple of years ago, the Bilters, who then lived a few blocks away, were walking their dogs and 'We wondered what was beneath that revolving door, down that spiral staircase. We convinced the building engineer to show us and we were amazed,' says Adam. 'The more we researched the more we fell in love with the idea that we might be able to bring this place back to vibrant life.'

"Flash forward a bit to earlier this year, when they became the space’s new owners (at a cost of $680,000). They have since been in the process of turning it into the Astor Club, a private club scheduled to open later this year.

"The couple has many ideas for their club: live music, guest chefs and mixologists, charity events, cooking classes, fashion shows, guest speakers, art events. “We are always thinking of something new that we might try,” says Victoria.

Will this work? That’s difficult to say. The Bilters remain optimistic. Walking with them through the space last week, one could see the care they are taking. The massive kitchen has been remade, the other spaces polished and refurbished. They show a visitor the plates and silverware that remain from the past, and lovingly display some of the photos, menus and other materials they have received from former patrons.

“It has been so nice to learn how much people loved Maxim’s,” says Adam. (Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 8/10/22)

Preservation Chicago submitted recommendation for Chicago Landmark designation for both Maxim's Restaurant interior and Bertrand Goldberg's Astor Tower building.

"Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants to sell off an abandoned industrial site in Chicago best known as a backdrop for the 2014 Hollywood blockbuster 'Transformers: Age of Extinction.'

"The state will accept bids this fall for Damen Silos at 2900 S. Damen Ave., along the South Branch of the Chicago River, a 23.4-acre property familiar to drivers on the Stevenson Expressway for its towering old grain silos.

"Officials said selling Damen Silos will relieve the state of a financial burden, and a buyer could transform it into a data center, telecom facility, cannabis business or an industrial complex, giving surrounding neighborhoods an economic lift.

"'The sale of this surplus property will generate significant economic opportunities in Chicago’s Lower West Side and McKinley Park communities while also saving the State the cost of annual operating expenses,' said Anthony Pascente, acting director of the state’s Central Management Services, in a prepared statement.

"It may not be an easy property to unload. The state tried to auction off Damen Silos in 2014, but officials ended up canceling the potential deal, according to Mike Senner, an industrial expert and executive vice president at Colliers International.

"Selling Damen Silos is part of Pritzker’s initiative to rid the state’s real estate portfolio of properties either obsolete or too expensive to maintain. The administration sealed its most prominent deal in that effort earlier in the summer when Google agreed to buy the James R. Thompson Center, which state officials estimate will save taxpayers nearly $1 billion over 30 years.

"The Illinois Department of Transportation took over Damen Silos from a railroad nearly a century ago, eventually using it to mix road construction materials. But in 2005, department officials said they had no more use for the property and transferred it to the state’s Central Management Services for disposal. By 2013, 'Transformers' director Michael Bay was using it to set off fiery explosions.

"The state is selling the property in 'as-is' condition, and initial bids, which must be a minimum of $3.25 million, are due by Oct. 19. Officials will choose the winning bid by November, according to a marketing flyer from commercial real estate firm JLL." (Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 8/15/22)

"Built in 1906, the tallest structure reaches 15 stories tall and used to be served by a massive network of interlocking grain elevators, all combined the silos had a capacity of 400,000 bushels of grain. They were originally constructed by the Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, which was founded in 1859 and was headquartered in Chicago. It eventually grew into one of the largest railroad companies in the nation before being merged with Burlington Northern in 1995 to form the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway, or BNSF as it is more commonly known." (Achong, Chicago Yimby, 8/23/22)

"Preservationists were able to safely remove rare ghost signs that have brought people from across the country to a Lakeview building just days before it was set to be demolished.

"Chicago-based sign painters rallied and set up a fundraiser so they could rescue decades-old painted ads that were found on the building at 3609 N. Ravenswood Ave. when its siding was removed in July. The building and its long-hidden ads were set to be destroyed as developers transform the property.

"But this week, the painters got on scaffolding and pried each nail from the nearly century-old wooden boards and gently took down the massive ads. On Friday, as the team removed the two-story-tall Shell ad from the building, they labeled the planks and stacked them in a truck. They’ll be stored until a permanent home is found.

"Another ad on the building — the Ward Soft Bun Bread sign — was removed Wednesday and taken to the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati by its founder.

"More than 200 people have donated so far to find the ads a new home where they can preserved. The campaign has raised more than $12,800, but it has a goal of $20,000. The money will be used for removing, moving and storing the ads.

"'It’s been overwhelming,'” said Kelsey McClellan, the sign painter who started the GoFundMe. 'We’re just incredibly grateful and thankful of people just being interested in supporting. … We wouldn’t have been able to do this' without them.

"'I think it’s really sentimental to them because it’s a part of their neighborhood, and they’ve seen their neighborhood change so much,' McClellan said. 'I think they’re thankful that part of that history is going to be preserved.'

"People have come from around the United States to see the ghost signs, and they’ve been shared widely on social media.

"Local experts dated the ads to the late 1920s and early ’30s. They were painted directly onto wood panels as opposed to the common practice of painting onto brick, adding to their rarity.

"McClellan is taking inspiration from the preservation work of Chicago architect John Vinci, who helped save artifacts of legendary architect Louis Sullivan. She sees the ghost signs as a history lesson for Chicago, she previously said.

"'It’s an interesting look into how people were able to build their lives in Chicago as immigrants and develop businesses and provide to the community,” McClellan said. 'It’s kind of like uncovering a time capsule.'"(Boyle, Block Club Chicago, 8/12/22)

"Construction is set to begin on the Covent Hotel redevelopment this September after years of planning and approval hurdles. Originally proposed back in 2016, the project at 2653 N. Clark will reuse the existing Covent Hotel building while adding a new building to the parking lot behind the building.

"Planned by The NHP Foundation, the conversion of the Covent Hotel will see its 64 SRO units renovated into 30 small affordable studio apartments. Designed by Weese Langley Weese Architects, the historic building will front N. Clark St with 4,700 square feet of retail space and a new residential lobby. The building will have no parking spaces.

"NHP Foundation originally bought the Covent Hotel for $7 million back in 2016 and the project will be financed through a HUD FHA loan as well as tax-exempt bonds, LIHTC financing, and historic tax credit equity. (Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 8/2/22)

“The Covent Hotel dates to 1915, when it was built to accompany an adjacent theater, which was demolished in the 1960s. The surviving three-story building has long served as a single-room occupancy, but it fell into disrepair after its previous owner died, city officials said.

“Ald. Michele Smith (43rd), who has supported the project since before it went to the city’s Plan Commission in 2020, said it was a 'very difficult project to bring to fruition because of the high cost in our community.'

“‘It was very important to me and the surrounding community that we preserve this [single-room occupancy], which has been used in this fashion since just past the Depression,’ Smith said. ‘We couldn’t be happier.’

“The hotel’s renovation will also involve replacing doors, windows and elevator systems, as well as converting its eight ground-level commercial spaces into four larger retail spaces, said Mecky Adnani, senior vice president at NHP.

“‘This is what the community wanted,' Adnani said. 'These kinds of rental units are needed in the Lincoln Park area, and we’re really glad we could preserve the building while creating these 30 great studio apartments.'"(Wittich, Block Club Chicago, 2/22/22)

“The Covent Garden Theater, opened in June 1916 for the Lubliner & Trinz circuit, could originally seat 2,684, and was one of the largest theaters in the Lake View neighborhood of Chicago. It featured vaudeville and stage shows as well as motion pictures. The theater was taken over by the Balaban & Katz chain on December 22, 1932 and was renamed Covent Theatre. It was remodeled in 1934 by the firm of Pereira & Pereira.

“The theater was part of a complex which also included the Hotel Covent, or Covent Hotel. It was closed in 1958. When the theater was demolished, only the auditorium was razed, replaced by a parking lot. The hotel remains today.” (Krefft, Cinema Treasures)

"The man who expanded Chicago restaurant Pizzeria Uno into a national chain has sold the River North buildings that house the original location and its sister spot, Pizzeria Due, back to the company for $2.3 million and $4.2 million.

"The plan is to keep the buildings unchanged—except for a few cosmetic changes—and let the restaurants continue slinging deep-dish pizzas as they have for the better part of a century, said CEO Erik Frederick.

"Investment firm Newport Global Advisors, which has fully owned the company since 2017, bought the buildings from former CEO Aaron Spencer.

"'Aaron’s now 91,' said Frederick, who spoke on behalf of Spencer. 'He wanted to leave the restaurants in good hands.'

"Texan Ike Sewell founded Uno in 1943, and it has been operating out of the building at 29 E. Ohio St. since. Pizzeria Due opened in 1955 a block away at 619 N. Wabash Ave.

"Though many deep-dish joints claim to be inventors of what has become known as Chicago’s signature dish, Uno’s claim is the most widely recognized by accounts and news articles. The story goes like this: Sewell, being from Texas, wanted to open a Mexican restaurant with partner Ric Riccardo but got sick after sampling some of the food. He scrapped the idea and turned to pizza but wanted something more substantial than the thin-crust appetizer. Riccardo futzed with the recipe and ended up with deep dish.­

"Uno’s kitchen has also spawned a slew of other deep-dish establishments. Lou Malnati’s dad was a bartender there, and one of the founders of Gino’s East worked in the kitchen." (Mariotti, Crain's Chicago Business, 8/16/22)

"Renovation and construction work are rapidly taking shape for Fulton Market’s new Guinness Taproom. Coordinated by developer Fred Latsko, the project is an adaptive re-use of the former Pennsylvania Railroad Terminal Building at 375 N Morgan Street. A former destination for street art, the converted beer hub will yield a 10-barrel brewery, a pub, and a restaurant with local chef cuisine.

"Much of the original brick and interior structure has been retained, while the updated facade will consist of a chocolate-colored brickwork, warehouse-styled windows, and copper metal paneling. The interior will be lined with brick walls and beams, a chandelier, and a large glass wall system for visitors to gaze upon the craft at hand." (Crawford, Chicago YIMBY, 8/25/2)

"Guinness Chicago Taproom is expected to open in Fulton Market in early 2023, and more specifically — and hopefully — by St. Patrick’s Day, the iconic Irish brewer announced Tuesday.

"Jay Sethi, chief marketing officer of Diageo Beer Company, USA — a branch of Guinness’ parent company, London-based Diageo — called Chicago a 'natural choice' from a historical and business standpoint.

"'The history of Chicago, in general, fits our values, beyond just the Irish history,' said Sethi, who was born in the city and attended the University of Chicago. With Guinness, 'you see a lot of a lot of resilience in our history. Chicago has seen a lot and there’s a lot of resilience in its history.'

"Sethi said Guinness picked the trendy West Loop for its accessibility for both city and suburban residents and its architecture. In fact, the selling point for Sethi was the site: the former Pennsylvania Railroad Terminal, 375 N. Morgan St., which he called an 'X factor.'

"'I remember seeing it, being like, ‘Yep, this is it.’ Because it’s this awesome, A-line, old building that just felt like I was walking into a little bit of what a building would have in Dublin. You know, that was old, but we could make it beautiful again — something I think we do really well in Guinness,' Sethi said.

"The new pub and brewery will offer revolving menus of food and brews — including some beers available only in Chicago and others imported from various Guinness locations. However, Guinness also will continue to import its famous stout from its original brewing location in Dublin.

"'Overall, it’s diverse. It represents so many different communities that we want to reach,' Sethi said. '... Chicago is very much just a huge Guinness city.'" (Kenney, Chicago Sun-Times, 9/21/21)

"An extraordinary report from Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas reveals what happens when government not only doesn’t get out of its own way, but instead adds to the poverty and inequity that has plagued Chicago and the south suburbs for decades.

"In essence, the report details how those neighborhoods never had a fighting chance to attract investment, which remains the crucial problem undermining progress today.

"You would think, then, that a Scavenger Sale program would help spur investment in those blighted areas. But that’s not the case. As the report shows, the bulk of Scavenger Sale properties never receive a bid. And only a few of the bids result in the actual transfer of property to new owners or see taxes paid off.

"The Cook County Land Bank Authority, which also competes with private bidders for properties and in many cases has an advantage over private bidders, took ownership of properties in less than one in 10 Scavenger Sales between 2007 and 2019. And many of the properties cycle through again and again on the sale list.

"'Because the majority of the properties at the Scavenger Sale are vacant lots or abandoned businesses or homes, the sale’s inability to make anything but incremental change allows swaths of unused, deteriorating land in economically struggling, mostly minority city neighborhoods and suburbs to continue deteriorating,’’ the report concludes.

"Why the dismal track record? The county’s Scavenger Sale makes acquiring distressed property difficult. As the report states, it can take up to three years in some cases for private buyers to win a property outright. And bidders often must compete with the county and Land Bank, which are not on the hook to pay off delinquent taxes.

"Sound arduous? Maybe that's why Cook County is the only county in the state that still conducts this kind of Scavenger Sale.

"Instead, most counties have moved to a cleaner trustee program, which allows counties to obtain tax liens on properties that aren’t sold at regular tax sales. If taxes and penalty fees aren’t cleared up by the owner, the property then goes into a trust where the liens are cleared, and the property goes up for sale. Any proceeds from an eventual sale are then distributed to the taxing bodies." (Crain's Chicago Business Editorial Board, 7/25/22)

"Bronzeville probably would look very different today if it weren’t for the passion of Harold Lucas.

"Mr. Lucas, the son of a Pullman porter and grandson of a renowned chef who brought tastes of the world to the family table, knew all about Bronzeville’s glory days and never stopped educating people about them. Other activists and community leaders say his outspoken advocacy contributed to the preservation of some of the most historic buildings in the South Side neighborhood once known as the Black Metropolis.

"'My heart,' he once said, 'has a vision of Bronzeville restored.'

"The longtime Bronzeville resident died Aug. 9 at the Estates of Hyde Park. He was 79.

"'He was a giant,' said Shannon Bennett, executive director of the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, who called him the 'foremost proponent' of efforts to see Bronzeville recognized as 'the Black Harlem of Chicago' and ensure that its brick-and-mortar past survived.

"Bennett said Mr. Lucas’ legacy includes helping get city landmark status for the Overton Hygienic Building at 36th and State streets — once a hub of Black commerce — and for the former Eighth Regiment Armory building at 35th Street and Giles Avenue. The nation’s first armory built for a Black regiment, it’s now home to the Chicago Military Academy.

"Mr. Lucas also helped gain city landmark recognition for the building that housed Supreme Life, 3501 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., the first Black insurance company in the northern states.

"'As you walk and drive around Bronzeville, Harold’s works are everywhere,' said Nathan Thompson, author of “Kings: The True Story of Chicago’s Policy Kings and Numbers Racketeers.”

"'None of the work would have been possible without him being the drum major,' said Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd).

"Mr. Lucas also fought against demolition of the South Shore Country Club.

"In his later years, he led bus tours of Bronzeville. He’d tell people how, in the days of the Great Migration, Bronzeville pulsed with Black industry, ambition and creativity. Racism and restrictive real estate covenants circumscribed home ownership in most of Chicago. But in Bronzeville, Black people headed businesses and produced sublime music and works of literature.

"'Harold made the history come alive for us,' Bennett said. 'He made you think you were in one of the speakeasies or hearing the great jazz musicians from the Savoy Ballroom or Gerri’s Palm Tavern.' (O’Donnell, Chicago Sun-Times, 8/26/22)

The Demolition Delay Ordinance, adopted by City Council in 2003, establishes a hold of up to 90 days in the issuance of any demolition permit for certain historic buildings in order that the Department of Planning and Development can explore options, as appropriate, to preserve the building, including but not limited to Landmark designation.

The ordinance applies to buildings rated red and orange in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey (CHRS), but it should be modified to include all buildings included in the survey. These buildings are designated on the city's zoning map. The delay period starts at the time the permit application is presented to the department's Historic Preservation Division offices and can be extended beyond the original 90 days by mutual agreement with the applicant. The purpose of the ordinance is to ensure that no important historic resource can be demolished without consideration as to whether it should and can be preserved.

Preservation Chicago is advocating to extend the existing Demolition Delay Ordinance to at least 180 days or longer, in order to create the time community members, stakeholders, decision makers, and elected officials need to conduct robust discussions regarding the fate of these historic buildings and irreplaceable Chicago assets. The support of the Mayor and City Council is necessary to advance this effort.

#100981484

Date Received: 08/18/2022

Ward: 47th Ald. Matt Martin

Applicant: Longford Design, Development + Construction C/O Brian Connolly

Owner: 3914 N. Lincoln

Permit Description: Demolition of a three-story masonry building.

2109 W. Wilson Ave., Ravenswood. Photo Credit: Google Maps

#100970047

Date Received: 08/10/2022

Ward: 28th Ald. Jason C. Ervin

Applicant: Alliance Demolition and Evacuation Services, Inc.

Owner: City of Chicago

Permit Description: Wreck and remove a three-story, masonry residential building and garage.

#100960059

Date Received: 07/05/2022

Ward: 39th Ward Ald. Samantha Nugent

Applicant: Hanna Architects, Inc.

Owner: 3244-50 Bryn Mawr, LLC C/O Igor Michin

Permit Description: Partial demolition of an existing 1-story commercial building with a new 4-story addition.

Status: Released 08/11/2022 [Per an Administrative Order issued by the Department of Buildings to address dangerous and hazardous conditions.]

#100955534

Date Received: 07/01/2022

Ward: 1st Ward Ald. Daniel La Spata

Applicant: IR Design Firm, Inc. C/O Hemal Purohit

Owner: 1535 N. Maplewood Apartments, LLC C/O Gregory M. Fordon, Jr.

Permit Description: Partial demolition of a masonry two-flat to accommodate a new one-story rooftop addition.

#100975594

Date Received: 06/10/2022

Ward: 43rd Ward Ald. Michele Smith

Applicant: Quality Excavation, Inc. C/O Grainne Keane

Owner: GrowCor, LLC C/O Charles Grode

Permit Description: Wreck and removal of a 2.5-story, masonry, multi-family residential building.

Status: Released 07/28/2022

#100970938

Date Received: 05/17/2022

Ward: 47th Ald. Matt Martin

Applicant: Demox, Inc. C/O Vitalii Grygorashchujk

Owner: Jerald and Pamela Kreis

Permit Description: Wreck and removal of a 2-1/2 story frame residential building.

1325 W Carmen Ave, Chicago, IL 60640

$899,000

Sale Status: Contingent

"DEVELOPER ALERT! ATTENTION DEVELOPERS, INVESTORS AND REHABBERS! Unique and Exceptional opportunity on one of the best blocks in the area. Coveted 40x136, RT-4 zoning, in exceptional residential area. Outdated property best suited for teardown or rehab project. Bring your ideas to transform this vintage home with incredible potential, or tear down and build a multi-unit condo development. Originally built as a three-unit, property was converted into single-family home. The home's current condition needs updating and repairs throughout. SOLD AS-IS."

#100946230

Date Received: 12/3/2021

Ward: 40th Ald. Andre Vasquez

Applicant: Alpine Demolition Services, LLC

Owner: Doris Eneamokwu

Permit Description: Opening of closed existing windows, install new window frame and glazing, repair existing glazed brick as needed (tuckpointing) [removal of ornamental masonry panel]

"As of September 2, 2021 it seems that the beautiful terra cotta face that has looked down over Devon Avenue for more than 100 years is no more. No one is quite sure what happened, but there was scaffolding on the building and someone was chipping away at it in the morning, and it was gone by the afternoon. And the Assyrian American Association name is no longer on the building either.

"The New Devon Theater, with its distinctively austere glazed block façade featuring a large arch and a large bust of a woman’s face, was built in 1912, and was quickly eclipsed by the nearby Ellantee Theater. It disappears from news listings after October, 1917.

"By 1923 it had been converted to a Ford dealership. By 1936 it had become an American Legion hall. In the 1950s it operated as a radio and TV store. Since 1963, it has served Chicago’s Assyrian community as the home of the Assyrian American Association of Chicago." Cinema Treasures.org

“It’s an old, common cry in a city where demolition and development are often spoken in the same breath, and where trying to save historic homes from the wrecking ball can feel as futile as trying to stop the snow. My Twitter feed teems with beautiful houses doomed to vanish in the time it takes to say ‘bulldozed.’ Bungalows, two-flats, three-flats, greystones, workers’ cottages. The photos, posted by people who lament the death of Chicago’s tangible past, flit through my social media feed like a parade of the condemned en route to the guillotine,” mused Mary Schmich in her Chicago Tribune column on July 12, 2018.

Preservation Chicago had worked with the owner for months to encourage saving the historic terra cotta façade. When it became clear that demolition was inevitable, we encouraged that the terra cotta be salvaged and donated to the Illinois Railway Museum. Unfortunately, all but a handful of terra cotta pieces were lost.

"Richard Nickel was nothing if not a man of his word.

"'I’m afraid our days of adventuring, salvaging, avoiding the cops, etc. in the cause of Sullivan will soon terminate. For me, anyway, since I plan to marry Carol sometime this early summer,' the photographer and activist wrote to his friend Tim Samuelson in 1972.

"'Sullivan' meant Louis Sullivan, the visionary behind ornate, turn-of-the-century buildings that, at the time, were swiftly becoming an endangered species. For nearly two decades, Nickel and his compatriots petitioned the city to preserve Sullivan and Dankmar Adler’s oeuvre. When they failed — as they usually did — Nickel led risky expeditions to save what he could from the condemned buildings’ crumbling infrastructure. He documented it all with his camera, capturing their Olympic grandeur while caressing their craftsmanly details.

"Nickel’s oft-repeated mantra was that these artifacts were a pale substitute for the buildings themselves. Watching scores of them nonetheless reduced to rubble, he was exhausted and ready to plot his exit when he embarked on one last mission, scouring for ornaments in the Chicago Stock Exchange on April 13, 1972. His final letter to Samuelson ended up being prescient. Nickel had arrived early to comb over the Stock Exchange trading room, a space he once called 'a holy room.' He likely died there, when a section of the building collapsed around him.

"'Capturing Louis Sullivan: What Richard Nickel Saw,' which opened recently, spotlights his photography and salvage collection in no less fitting a space than the Richard H. Driehaus Museum, a restored Gilded Age mansion itself narrowly saved from destruction — twice. The shift in public consciousness that drove its namesake philanthropist to save the mansion owes much to Nickel and the preservationist movement of 50 years ago.

"'His death really mobilized people. Landmarks laws had been strengthened before that, but then along came the Stock Exchange, and obviously, the landmarks laws weren’t strong enough to save that building. So they became even stronger,' says exhibit curator David Hanks.

“I think people were very quick to recognize the loss of the Stock Exchange. Pieces of the building are in museums all over the world — a staircase is at the Metropolitan Museum, there are fragments all over Europe, and the trading room and arch is with the Art Institute,” he says.

"Nickel, were he here, would probably scoff and say those relics are no substitute for the real deal. He’d be right, of course. But the Art Institute’s 1977 reconstruction of the trading room likely wouldn’t exist at all without the pieces Nickel salvaged, and the determination of his friends and allies. That room might have lost the original’s sanctity, but it’s the closest thing to a public memorial to both Adler and Sullivan’s lost works and their most ardent pilgrim.

"If that’s not a little holy, too, I don’t know what is.

“Capturing Louis Sullivan: What Richard Nickel Saw,” until Feb. 19, 2023, Thursdays and Sundays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Richard H. Driehaus Museum, 40 E. Erie St.; admission is $20, more information at driehausmuseum.org" (Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 8/31/22)

"A tale of two stories is taking center stage at the Richard H. Driehaus Museum.

"A new exhibition, 'Capturing Louis Sullivan: What Richard Nickel Saw,' explores the work of architect Louis Sullivan and a photographer on a literal life’s mission to capture his impact.

"'We’re moving both narratives forward throughout the whole exhibition,' said guest curator David Hanks. 'It’s like an opera. The music goes forward, and then the drama. So we have two stories we’re trying to tell.'

"It’s a story of an architect and photographer. Two artists connected through their work, but never in life. Born four years after Sullivan’s death, Nickel was committed to documenting Sullivan’s architecture, as both a photographer and preservationist. It was a decision he made when learning about the architect while a student at the IIT Institute of Design.

"'Richard Nickel was trying to record the buildings, one through taking photographs of them, and then second by salvaging architecture ornament. The ornament was important to Sullivan’s idea of adding beauty and aesthetic dimension to his houses,' Hanks said. 'So the exhibition is not only photographs that Nickel took, but also the artifacts that he salvaged.'

"Chicago buildings created by Sullivan, and his partner David Adler, were being destroyed in the 1960’s and 70’s. A preservationist, Nickel saw it his duty to document everything from behind the lens.

"'He was a documentary photographer, and told it as it was, warts and all,' Hanks said. 'He showed the building in a documentary fashion, not to make them the most beautiful but to document to show the buildings.' (Idowu, WTTW Chicago, 8/29/22)

"The African American Heritage Water Trail is encouraging people to reflect on history from a different perspective.

"'It uncovers at least 180 years worth of history. So, it ranges from the Underground Railroad to the civil rights movement to the birth of the environmental justice movement,' Lillian Holden, education outreach coordinator for Openlands, said

"The conservation non-profit developed the 7-mile route from Beaubien Woods to Robbins, exploring key sites along the Little Calumet River.

"'We want to expose people to the history and to get people more familiar with the area to feel more comfortable with engaging with the spaces,' Holden said. “It’s really to bridge inequities and get people in the water so they can be advocates for nature.'

"In this WGN-TV Cover Story, Gaynor Hall and photojournalists Michael D’Angelo and Steven Scheuer report on one of the highlights of the trail, the secret past of Chicago’s only Black-owned marina." (Hall, WGN 9, 9/1/22)

"It’s easy to miss a building on the southeast corner that has a significant historical distinction: The money to build it came in part from the sale of Abraham Lincoln’s original, handwritten version of the Emancipation Proclamation.

"Now an office building owned by the Catholic Archdiocese and called the Cardinal Meyer Center, the building has several additions to the original 1864 structure, which was a hospital and rest home for Civil War soldiers. That part is on the northeast corner of the blocklong building, the four-story part you see first if crossing the pedestrian/bike bridge from the east. The T-shaped part there is four stories high, its arched windows hooded and its roof supported by carved brackets.

"This was the Soldiers’ Home, designed by William W. Boyington, who also did the Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station, the Joliet Prison, the old Illinois State Capitol, the Iowa Governor’s mansion and many other noteworthy buildings. Funds to build the Soldiers’ Home were raised by the Great Northwest Sanitary Fair in 1863. At the time, “sanitary commissions” were something like the Red Cross — civilian volunteer groups providing health care and other support to Civil War soldiers.

"In Chicago, the sanitary fair was organized by two women, Mary Livermore and Jane Hoge. The two women met while taking care of Union soldiers in 1861 at Camp Douglas, which was adjacent to this site and later became a POW camp for Confederate soldiers. Livermore and Hoge visited military hospitals in southern Illinois and Kentucky, and in 1863 launched the idea of a sanitary fair to raise $25,000 to build a sanitary home for returning soldiers.

"They had an audacious idea. On Jan. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation, in which he declared all enslaved people in the Confederate states 'are and henceforward shall be free.'

"Ten months later, Mary Livermore wrote to Lincoln to ask for a donation to the fair. 'The most acceptable donation you could possibly make,' she wrote, 'would be the original manuscript of the proclamation of emancipation.' Rep. Isaac Arnold, a Chicago congressman and one of Lincoln’s strongest supporters in Congress, seconded the idea.

"Lincoln agreed and sent his handwritten copy of this already-historic document. In the letter he sent along with the document, Lincoln wrote, 'I had some desire to retain the paper, but if it shall contribute to the relief or comfort of the soldiers, that will be better.'" (Rodkin, WBEZ Chicago, 9/1/22)

"A pizza party Friday in the basement of the Thompson Center had one purpose: saving postmodern architecture — and Sbarro pizza.

"About two dozen of the 'Sbarro Urbanists,' as they call themselves, gathered in the center’s atrium to get a slice and enjoy the famed building. They hope its unique architecture will be preserved as the building is being sold to Google, which will transform it into offices.

"'Is everyone here for the nerd convention?' Garrett Karp, architecture and urban history enthusiast, said as he approached the tables of pizza and Thompson Center ephemera.

"The pizzeria chain even got in on the fun. Sbarro saw the tweets about the gathering and sent company swag: socks, yo-yos and canteens.

"And though the Sbarro Urbanists have a love for pizza and the building’s food court — which has long inspired a strange devotion among Chicagoans — their main focus is on the Thompson Center itself.

"'It really shows that people love the Thompson Center like they have really, very well-utilized public space: the affordable lunch, the bathrooms, the CTA station,' Elizabeth Blasius said at the pizza party.

"Google has agreed to buy all of the building for $105 million after it is renovated by other organizations. The Thompson Center will be 'entirely redeveloped' into an office suite for Google’s workers as part of the deal, Gov. JB Pritzker said at a July news conference.

"The sale saved the building from the wrecking ball — but preservationists hope it doesn’t see too much change under new ownership.

"'There’s no reason that a building of this scale the size, exterior square footage and everything else that it’s got can’t be made to perform a function like you would hope a new building would,' architect Gunny Harboe said." (Boyle, Block Club Chicago, 8/19/22)

"A tucked-away street on the city's South Side is a time capsule from the days before the neighborhood was even part of Chicago.

"Geoffrey Baer has the story of Hyde Park’s Rosalie Villas in this week’s Ask Geoffrey.

"'I grew up in Hyde Park on a stretch of Harper Avenue where most of what appear to be the original frame houses are still standing. We were told that when the homes were built, the nearby train tracks were at ground level. We were even told that the original homeowners were allowed to have boats and could drag them across the tracks onto the beach. Is any of this true?' — Julia S., Hyde Park

"These charming homes on Harper Avenue in Hyde Park between 57th and 59th streets were part of the neighborhood’s first planned community known as Rosalie Villas, built way back in the 1880s.

"Remarkably, almost all of these Queen Anne and shingle-style homes are still standing almost 140 years later, albeit with some remodeling and restoration.

"The development was established by Rosalie Buckingham, a wealthy heiress whose name Chicagoans will likely recognize from Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park, named for Rosalie’s cousin, Clarence. The Buckinghams were one of early Chicago’s wealthiest families, having made their money in the grain elevator business, among other endeavors.

"The houses on Harper Avenue were designed to attract the middle- and upper-middle class professionals of the 1880s. Some are thought to have even been marketed as lakefront vacation homes.

"This was back when Hyde Park was part of the larger Hyde Park Township – a huge swath of the South Side that was not yet part of Chicago. It was annexed to the city in 1889. (Myers, WTTW Chicago, 10/27/20)

"Richard Nickel (1928-1972) was a Polish-American architectural photographer and preservationist. Nickel first encountered the work of Louis Sullivan (1856-1924) as a student, when photographing the architect’s buildings for a project at the IIT Institute of Design. In the 1960s and 1970s, many of Sullivan’s buildings began to be demolished to make way for new development—part of the “urban renewal” movement of the period—and Nickel became an activist. He picketed buildings designated for demolition, organized protests, and wrote letters to news media and politicians in the hopes of saving them from destruction. Realizing that his efforts were futile, he embarked on a mission to meticulously document the buildings in various stages of destruction.

"Today, Sullivan is well-known as an influential architect of the Chicago School, the 'father of modernism,' and as a mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright. The fact that we have a comprehensive overview of Sullivan’s Chicago architecture today is largely thanks to Nickel’s tireless efforts to document Sullivan’s design philosophy and to preserve the architect’s legacy. Focusing on Adler & Sullivan’s Chicago buildings of the 1880s and early 1890s, the exhibition will explore the firm’s architecture through the lens of Nickel’s photography, which provides a detailed record of these buildings and, in particular, Sullivan’s signature ornamentation. The exhibition will highlight the integral role Nickel played in preserving Sullivan’s legacy—the photographer’s work is all that remains of many of Adler & Sullivan’s major buildings—while ultimately losing his life in an effort to salvage artifacts during a demolition.

"Featuring around forty photographs as well as a selection of over a dozen architectural fragments from The Richard H. Driehaus Collection and loans from other private collectors – many initially saved by Nickel himself – Capturing Louis Sullivan: What Richard Nickel Saw will be on view at the Driehaus Museum from August 26 through February 19, 2023. The exhibition is curated by David A. Hanks.

"'Capturing Louis Sullivan: What Richard Nickel Saw is the last project initiated by the late Richard H. Driehaus, who founded the Driehaus Museum and served as its board president for more than a decade before passing away unexpectedly last year,' said Anna Musci, Executive Director of the Richard H. Driehaus Museum. 'Just as Richard Nickel dedicated his life to documenting and salvaging Sullivan’s architecture, Richard H. Driehaus dedicated his to preserving significant architecture and design of the past, most notably the 1883 Nickerson Mansion, a home for his beloved Chicago community to be inspired through encounters with beautiful art. Presenting this exhibition is a celebration of both Chicago’s architectural legacy and those who have gone to great lengths to ensure that its beauty and cultural heritage are preserved for future generations.'

"Capturing Louis Sullivan: What Richard Nickel Saw"

August 26, 2022 to February 19, 2023

The Richard H. Driehaus Museum

40 East Erie Street

"Monthly clean-ups are Sundays, 10:30am. We need pruners, excavators and picker-uppers. We provide tools and supplies. Please join us! We meet at the National Register plaque on the east side of the tunnel. We will be: 

"We will provide tools and equipment including trash bags, gloves, masks, loppers, soft and hard rakes, shovels and buckets. Please wear work clothes and bring a mask. If you have an orange Save the Point Again! workshirt, please wear it. If you don't, pick one up. 

"Walking tour of Art on the Revetment with Bill Swislow

Bill Swislow will conduct a walking tour of Promontory Point on Sunday, October 9, 11:30am. Please meet at the table by the National Register plaque, east side of the tunnel underpass. Tour the 150+ vernacular carvings on the limestone promenade and steps at the Point. Learn about Swislow's research into these carvers and the history of art on the revetment in Chicago.

"Point2Point  Promontory Point Conservancy is now taking online donations on its new website. Read below what we're up to and how you can support our work to protect and preserve Promontory Point

Chicago History Museum Presents a screening of The History of South Streeterville; a film by Gail Spreen and Dennis Downes

"Created by Streeterville community members Gail Spreen and Dennis Downes, The History of South Streeterville is a documentary that explores the history this Near North Side neighborhood through the eyes of the local leaders who helped shape it. Join us for a film screening, reception, and panel discussion with:

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

5:30–8:00 p.m.

Chicago History Museum

1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60614

Free to all; CHM members receive preferred seating.

"To RSVP, please email Gail Spreen at Gail@StreetervilleProperties.com"

"The Progressive City is the Conservancy’s third Chicago conference, the first there in fifteen years. Chicago around 1900 was a laboratory of progressive reforms addressing widespread social inequality, public health crises, and lack of access to education, nature and affordable housing. Morning education sessions will focus on the efforts of Wright, his peers and collaborators to improve the city through innovations in architecture, urban planning, parks, public health, education, social services, and housing.

"We will revisit must-see favorites from our past tours including Unity Temple and the Frederick C. Robie House (both a part of The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright World Heritage inscription and restored since our last visit), as well as the Bradley House, The Rookery, Wright’s Oak Park Home & Studio, Emil Bach House, and more.

"We will also have the opportunity to visit homes never before toured during in-person Conservancy events: the Jessie and William Adams House, Foster House, Baker House, Kathryn and Lloyd Lewis House, and others. Evening events will provide fellowship, support the Conservancy’s mission, and celebrate the recipients of the 2022 Wright Spirit Awards. The Conservancy’s Annual Meeting will take place on the morning of Thursday, October 20. We hope you will join us in Chicago – or online!"

Monday, October 17

Silent auction bidding opens online

Wednesday, October 19

9 a.m. Pre-Conference Tour: Bradley House, Jessie and William Adams House & Foster House

6 p.m. Opening Reception: The Rookery

7:30 p.m. Leadership Circle Dinner: Glessner House

Thursday, October 20

8:30 a.m. Conservancy Annual Meeting

9 a.m. Education Sessions

12 p.m. Conference Tours: Wright Home & Studio, Unity Temple & more to be announced

6 p.m. Benefit Dinner: Unity Temple

Friday, October 21

9 a.m. Education Sessions

12 p.m. Conference Tours: Emil Bach House, Baker House, Dorothy and William Ross House & more to be announced

6:30 p.m. Homeowners & Public Sites Dinner

Saturday, October 22

9 a.m. Education Sessions

12 p.m. Conference Tours: Robie House, Heller House & more to be announced

6 p.m. Silent Auction Reception

7 p.m. Gala and Wright Spirit Awards

10 p.m. Silent auction bidding closes online

Sunday, October 23

9 a.m. Post-Conference Tour: Kathryn and Lloyd Lewis House, Willits House & more to be announced