March 2020 Month-in-Review Newsletter
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Sold Out 'Chicago 7 Most Endangered' Bus Tour with Chicago Architecture Center. Additional Chi 7 Tours Planned.
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Preservation Chicago 2020 Chicago 7 Bus Tour with Chicago Architecture Center at Central Manufacturing District Pershing Road Tower. Photo Credit: Preservation Chicago
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On a mild spring morning on March 7, 2020, over 100 people turned out for the first of the 2020 “Chicago 7 Most Endangered” bus tours. Due to popular demand, a second coach bus was added which also quickly sold out. Developed and presented in partnership with the Chicago Architecture Center, this tour and lecture series is in addition to Preservation Chicago’s annual 7 Most Endangered bus tours.
Since 2003, the “Chicago 7 Most Endangered” has sounded the alarm on imminently threatened historic buildings in Chicago to mobilize the stakeholder support necessary to save them from demolition.
As part of the effort to raise awareness, the bus tours are an excellent opportunity to visit many of the “Chicago 7 Most Endangered,” to learn about their history, their architecture and their value to the city’s built environment.
Additional 2020 “Chicago 7 Most Endangered” bus tours tours are anticipated in the summer and fall, but scheduling will be determined as circumstances permit.
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2020 "Chicago 7 Most Endangered" Posters &
Printed Chicago 7 Booklets Available on Sale Soon!
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Preservation Chicago 2020 Chicago 7 Poster available in a variety of sizes on sale at the Preservation Chicago web store. Photo Credit: Preservation Chicago
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Due to popular demand, the 2020 Thompson Center “Chicago 7 Most Endangered” poster will soon be available for sale on the Preservation Chicago Website.
The poster will be available in three sizes, 8x10, 16x20 and 24x36.
In addition, the previous years' “Chicago 7 Most Endangered” posters including Union Station Power House, Jackson Park, and Holy Family Church will also available.
Additionally, we will begin to offer additional Chicago 7 swag including mugs and bags featuring the wonderful Chicago 7 artwork. Please let us know what you’d like to see offered, and we can work to make it happen.
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Preservation Chicago Delivered the
2020 "Chicago 7 Most Endangered" Presentation
to a Capacity Audience
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Filled to Capacity Auditorium at the Preservation Chicago 2020 "Chicago 7 Most Endangered" announcement, February 26, 2020. Photo Credit: Serhii Chrucky
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Preservation Chicago's announcement and presentation of the 2020 “Chicago 7 Most Endangered” on February 26, 2020 was successful with a filled to capacity, standing room audience. The presentation was held at noon at the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s Gand Lecture Hall, 111 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago.
Since 2003, the “Chicago 7 Most Endangered” has sounded the alarm on imminently threatened Chicago historic buildings to mobilize the stakeholder support necessary to save them from demolition.
Reporting was robust with the following “Chicago 7 Most Endangered” coverage in the days following the event.
Misericordia now wants to sell landmark; Historic West Ridge building designed by Prairie School Architect is one of city’s most endangered buildings, Peter Von Buol, Inside-Booster/Skyline, 3/4/20
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CHICAGO 7
- Chicago 7 Coach Tour
- Chicago 7 Posters & Booklets for Sale Soon
- Chicago 7 Presentation & Coverage
ADVOCACY
- THREATENED: Chicago Town and Tennis Club / Unity Church
- THREATENED: Standard Club to Close
- THREATENED: Standard Club Art Collection at Risk
- THREATENED: Hollenbach Building to be Demolished
- THREATENED: "Adverse Effect" to Jackson Park Confirmed
- WIN: Perkins-Nordine House Landmarked
- BRAVO: Oxford Capital Contributes Historic Hotels to City’s Coronavirus Response Effort
- LOSS: Mercy Home Demolishes 221 S. Racine for a Vacant Lot
- WIN: Preservation Chicago's Neighborhood Survey Efforts in Roseland
- WIN: West Pullman Frank Lloyd Wright Home Finally Sells
- LOSS: Paul Revere Lodge/Truc Lam Buddhist Temple Demolished
- THREATENED: 90-Day Demolition Delay
- LOSS: Spotlight on Demolition
NEWS
- PRINT: Lost Chicago Buildings Showdown
- WATCH: Scaffolding In Front of Landmark Goldblatt's Building
- WATCH: What's Happening to Chicago's Neon Signs?
- PRINT: Chicago’s 10 most senseless demolitions, mapped; From groundbreaking early skyscrapers to sprawling rail terminals
- RADIO: What’s That Building? The Krause Music Store
- PRINT: The Most Interesting Historic Interiors in Chicago
- PRINT: How to Research your Chicago Home’s History Online
- PRINT: 'High Fidelity' Turns 20, and the Chicago It Imagined Is Gone
- WATCH: Chicago Jazz Artists Look for Ways to Cope with COVID-19
PETITIONS
- PETITION: Save the Chicago Town & Tennis Club/Unity Church
SUPPORT
- Chicago Brauhaus Could Return As Part of DANK Haus If...
- Minnekirken GoFundMe Campaign
- Raise the Roof! Fund The Forum! Campaign
EVENTS
- Preservation Chicago 7 Most Endangered 2020 Bicycle Tour
- Chicago Detours Hosts Free Virtual Tours During Corona Shut-In
- Docomomo US Calls for Nominations for 2020 Modernism in America Awards
LOST CHICAGO...BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
- Edgewater Beach Hotel by Marshall & Fox
SUPPORT
- Please Support Preservation Chicago!
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THREATENED: Clock Ticking for Chicago Town and Tennis Club! (Chicago 7 2020)
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Chicago Town and Tennis Club/Unity Church, 1925, George W. Maher and Son, 1925 W. Thome Avenue. Photo Credit: Eric Allix Rogers
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"The City of Chicago and Misericordia Homes have come to an agreement that would allow private developers and other interested parties to take ownership of the historic structure at 1925 W. Thome St. in Chicago’s West Ridge community area and move it to a suitable new location.
"The former Chicago Town and Tennis Club is a Tudor Revival-style building dating to the 1920s. Misecordia applied for a demolition permit for the structure in late December 2019, which triggered a 90-day review period by the Department of Planning and Development’s historic preservation staff because the building is rated Orange in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey. The organization, which provides services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, plans to use the site to expand its campus.
Preservation Chicago has been working with urgency to find a win-win solution for Chicago Town and Tennis Club. The 90-day demolition delay extension provides slightly more time to arrive at a workable solution. The current pandemic has made this already challenging preservation effort even more challenging and we request that the demolition delay be extended beyond June 17, 2020.
"ALTERNATE 4: Another option would be to physically move the historic Chicago Town & Tennis Club building from its current location approximately 300 feet due south across the parking lot into Emmerson Park. Initially, this idea seemed the least plausible due to cost, but after Preservation Chicago received multiple competitive bids for the cost of building moving that were much lower than expected, it might be the most compelling alternative.
"Although more logistically complicated, moving the historic building into the park would provide a substantial benefit to both Misericordia and the wider West Ridge community. It would save a first-class historic building and provide Misericordia with a clear site to allow more flexibility in their development site plan. Additionally, the estimated $250,000 cost of demolition would be avoided. Perhaps these savings could be used to offset a portion of the cost to move the historic building.
"Preservation Chicago has received bids from two well-established, large-scale building moving firms. Both bids are similar in size and scope. They indicate the cost to move the building into Emmerson Park to be approximately $550,000. To prepare the foundation to receive the building would likely cost an additional $550,000. Additional miscellaneous repairs, adding an elevator, and bringing the building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act are estimated at $400,000. So for approximately $1.5 million, the Chicago Park District could own a historic building that would serve as a magnificent new fieldhouse.
"Chicago Park District fieldhouses often cost $20 million or more to build new. If Misericordia pledged the $250,000 of budgeted demolition funds towards costs of moving the historic building, the difference could be paid for by the Chicago Park District, TIF funding, or private philanthropy. Given this extraordinary opportunity, it is likely that the funds would be forthcoming. For perspective, the Chicago Park District is currently spending $15 million to renovate historic Clarendon Park Fieldhouse and $1.5 million in TIF funding to upgrade heating, ventilation and air conditioning at the Revere Park Fieldhouse. Preservation Chicago is already working with foundations and individuals potentially interested in providing funds necessary to underwrite the cost of moving the building.
"The Chicago Park District already runs a robust business of renting out event spaces in historic park district buildings throughout Chicago for weddings and other celebrations. It could easily add the Chicago Town & Tennis Club to its list of offerings. This would be an amenity for the wider Chicago community and one which generates significant income for the Chicago Park District to support ongoing operations. Other than the need to provide elevator ADA access to the second floor, the historic building is in good condition. This use could be quickly implemented as it has been successfully hosting events and celebrations for decades as Unity Church.
"Preservation Chicago recognizes the demand for Misericordia's extraordinary housing and services programs and strongly supports this noble and important work. These recommendations are intended to preserve and honor Chicago's historic built environment and landmark-quality buildings, while simultaneously supporting the construction of new housing residential units for the developmentally disabled at Misericordia’s West Ridge Campus.
"We hope that all stakeholders will engage in a robust and fruitful conversation and that together we can find a win-win solution that meets that needs of all stakeholders."(Preservation Chicago 2020 "Chicago 7 Most Endangered" Write Up)
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THREATENED: After 150 Years, The Standard Club to Close on May 1, 2020
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The Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Court, by Albert Kahn in 1926, (Dearborn Street Facade). Photo Credit: Eric Allix Rogers
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"Founded in 1869, The Standard Club was long a who’s who of Chicago Jewish business leaders. Early members included Julius Rosenwald, a former Sears president who helped found the Museum of Science and Industry, and Max Adler, a businessman and philanthropist who helped create the Adler Planetarium. Other notable members over the years have included Daniel Edelman, founder of the public relations firm bearing his name; Bulls and White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf; and Gov. J.B. Pritzker." (Channick, Chicago Tribune, 3/5/2020)
"The Standard Club, wracked by operating losses and declining membership, is closing May 1. The question is whether it will survive in any form. The club said it hired commercial real estate firm CBRE to seek potential buyers for all or part of its 13-story building at 320 S. Plymouth Court."
"The nearly century-old structure, needing costly upgrades, is an albatross, according to a former club president. Someone professing knowledge of the situation said the building is worth an estimated $15 million and its artwork an additional $1 million.
"Even though the club’s debt is less, a purported $7 million, this person says, 'It’s obvious a liquidity event is necessary. The question is if anything can be worked out to save part of the facility for use by the members.'
"'A vintage building like it would lay out well for a boutique hotel, according to Michael Reschke, whose Prime Group has been converting Loop office buildings. 'It’s the hottest submarket in the city right now,' he said before the announcement. 'If they do put it on the market, we would take a look at it.'"
"The location south of the federal courthouse is solid but not 'premium Class A,' said another converter, John Murphy, who redid the Oriental Theatre and the Chicago Motor Club buildings. “As a land site it might be worth more than the building itself.” (Strahler, Crain's, 3/5/20)
This club was designed by Albert Kahn, an architect well known for his buildings linked to the automotive industry in Detroit, and one of only a handful of buildings by Kahn in Chicago. This club has an amazing history dating back to the early days of Chicago. Its exterior and interior spaces, including ballrooms, historic lobbies, murals by Sol LeWitt, and linoleum cuts of important events in Chicago history by Edgar Miller should all be protected by a Chicago Landmark Designation. We encourage The Standard Club to include a Landmark designation as part of their process moving forward to recognize its important history.
Additional Reading
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THREATENED:
Standard Club's Art Collection In Jeopardy
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Edgar Miller linoleum-cut mural of the Chicago Fire at the Standard Club. Photo Credit: Eric Allix Rogers
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"The Standard Club's pending demise puts its art collection at risk of being liquidated—literally, in one instance. The club could get cash for wiping a mural off a wall.
"The piece dominates the third-floor dining room. 'Complex Forms With Color Ink Washes superimposed,' by Sol LeWitt, is 16 feet by 27 or 28 feet.
"But the orange and earth-toned drawing of irregular shapes can’t be moved from 320 S. Plymouth Court because it's a wall drawing. A buyer would pay for LeWitt’s estate to re-create it, and the club would whitewash the 1990 original.
"The 151-year-old club, wracked by operating losses and declining membership, is slated to close May 1, "though under the circumstances we cannot provide guarantees and the situation may change rapidly," the club said last week in an email to members referencing the coronavirus." (Strahler, Crain's, 3/16/20)
Preservation Chicago's 2017 Chicago 7 Most Endangered list included 20th Century Public Art and Sculpture. We continue to advocate to protect Chicago's irreplaceable collection of public and semi-public art. Ideally, the historic building along with significant interior spaces and works of art would be protected by a Chicago Landmark Designation.
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THREATENED: Hollenbach Building to be Demolished for New Construction
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The Hollenbach Building, 808 W. Lake Street, by Worthmann & Steinbach in 1912. Photo Credit: Alex Bean / Chicago Detours
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The Hollenbach Building, 808 W. Lake Street, by Worthmann & Steinbach in 1912. Photo Credit: Debbie Mercer
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The Hollenbach Building, 808 W. Lake Street, by Worthmann & Steinbach in 1912. Photo Credit: Debbie Mercer
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Fulton-Randolph Market District Designation Report District Map. Map Credit: City of Chicago. Indication of Hollenbach Building location by Preservation Chicago.
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"The Hollenbach Building is a building at 808 W. Lake Street in Chicago's Fulton Market District, which was designed by Worthmann & Steinbach and was built in 1912. It was built at a cost of $12,000, and was owned by Charles Hollenbach, housing the Hollenbach Seed Company. An addition was proposed in 1919, to be designed by Worthmann & Steinbach, but no permit was ever issued for its construction. Hollenbach Seed Company left the building in 1958, moving to the northwest suburbs.
"In 2013, the building was sold to One Off Hospitality Group for $1.7 million. The first floor currently houses One Off Hospitality Group's Publican Quality Bread. Developer North Park Ventures plans to demolish the Hollenbach Building and adjacent buildings and build a 19-story hotel and office building."
(Hollenbach Building, Wikipedia Page)
"A Chicago developer wants to build a 19-story hotel and office building on the eastern edge of the Fulton Market District, the latest big proposal for the fast-changing neighborhood.
"Adding to a string of recent plans for commercial buildings that would drastically change the physical character of the former meatpacking district, a venture of Chicago-based North Park Ventures proposes a glassy, 228,000-square-foot structure along the 800 block of Lake Street, according to a zoning application filed yesterday with the city.
"North Park proposes demolishing a row of small properties at 800, 808 and 810 W. Lake St. and developing the new building with parts rising two and three stories and the main tower rising 265 feet, hovering over the CTA tracks at the northwest corner of Lake and Halsted streets. (Ecker, Crains, 7/25/19)
The Fulton-Randolph Market District final Landmark recommendation was approved by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks on May 13, 2015. Every building included in this district received protection against demolition. However, any buildings beyond the borders are without protections. The Hollenbach Building is a beautiful historic building that could have been a contributing building included within the district, but it was excluded for unknown reasons. Preservation Chicago worked hard to advocate for the approval of the Fulton-Randolph Market District. At the time, there were objections from certain owners who preferred financial gain over neighborhood cohesion.
The Hollenbach Building should be preserved and incorporated as part of the larger development. At a minimum, the facade should be retained and integrated into the new construction. There is a successful example of a façade adaptive reuse a few blocks away at 905 West Fulton Market. In that case, the condition was more deteriorated than at 808 W. Lake Street, yet it was successfully incorporated into the new development and provides a sense of character and authenticity to the new construction. Preservation Chicago urges North Park Ventures and the City of Chicago to pursue this direction.
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THREATENED: Federal Highway Authority Confirms "Adverse Effect" to Jackson Park from Proposed Obama Presidential Center
(Chicago
7 2020)
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The proposed Obama Presidential Center’s 235-foot-tall museum building looms over the Museum of Science and Industry and Jackson Park. Rendering Credit: Obama Foundation
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"The Federal Highway Authority (FHWA) has asked the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) to review the authority's finding that the construction of the Obama Presidential Center (OPC) and associated changes to Jackson Park will have no adverse effect on the Jackson Park Terrace Historic District.
"The FHWA is reviewing the OPC plans with the National Park Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In January, the authority found that adverse effects would befall the Jackson Park Historic Landscape District, the Midway Plaisance and the Chicago Park Boulevard System Historic District, but not the Terrace Historic District.
"The assessment of effects (AOE) found that, while the OPC Museum Building will be visible from the apartments, 'the property’s setting with the visual and physical relationship between the property and Jackson Park and the Midway Plaisance will be maintained,' thus not endangering its listing on the NRHP.
“Contrary to the findings in the AOE, it seems abundantly clear that the proposed OPC campus would completely alter the visual relationship between the historic district and Jackson Park, given that, since the time of its construction, the Jackson Park Terrace complex has enjoyed uninterrupted views into the relatively flat, sylvan setting directly to its east, across South Stony Island Avenue,” the Cultural Landscape Foundation commented.
"The ACHP, an independent federal agency, will review the Highway Authority's Jackson Park Terrace finding. Adverse effect findings must be mitigated by some means before the federal reviews of the OPC plans conclude and construction can begin" (Gettinger, Hyde Park Herald, 3/23/20)
Preservation Chicago has been an active participant in this process and sent a letter in response to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation on March 30, 2020 which confirms that the Jackson Park Terrace Historic District would be adversely effected by the proposed Obama Presidential Center.
In addition, we listed many equally important core issues which are directly impacted by the proposed OPC in Jackson Park and which clearly fall under the review of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, but have absurdly been ignored or deemed beyond scope of the assessment. For a legitimate process, all facts, no matter how inconvenient, must be considered and addressed. Highlights are included below.
"Preservation Chicago is hopeful that the ACHP not limit its review to this narrowly defined single issue and explore the extensive concerns raised by all the Consulting Parties to this Section 106 review. To recap Preservation Chicago’s response to the January 2020 updated Assessment of Effects:
- When it assigned the City of Chicago as the project facilitator for this process, the FHWA created a significant conflict of interest having the Project Sponsor be the same as the Project Facilitator.
- We continue to object to the assessment that the Midway Plaisance, already a park, be used as UPRR-required replacement parkland.
- We object to the outright destruction of the Women’s Garden, designed by landscape architect May McAdams in 1937 in honor of the Women’s Building from the World’s Fair designed by Sophia Hayden.
- There is a false equivalency of replacement park being planned inside Jackson Park itself. Any recreational areas in and around the proposed OPC in Jackson Park will not be equally accessible as regular parkland – with restrictions during large events held at the privately managed presidential center.
- We strongly disagree that redevelopment of the Midway Plaisance parkland will be publicly discussed and considered after the completion of the Section 106 review process. Such conversations are critical to this overall project and should take place as part of the Section 106 review process.
- In its review of itself, the City of Chicago has not demonstrated real effort in identifying replacement parkland in and around the Woodlawn community.
- The 235-foot block/tower that is the proposed Obama Presidential Center will have a significant negative visual impact on every single historic property or district within sight of it. Historic viewsheds created by Olmsted and Vaux will be impacted from nearly every visual vantage point in Jackson Park and looking/extending eastward on the Midway Plaisance.
- The combining of the Jackson Park Golf Course and the South Shore Cultural Center Golf Course into one PGA-level course is in fact a reasonably foreseeable effect and should be evaluated as a part of this Section 106 process.
- The road impact analysis does not offer a complete review of essential data to determine traffic and road closure impacts.
- The current OPC plan does not adequately address loss of existing street parking opportunities.
- Tree removal was not included in the visual impact analysis done by the City on behalf of the City.
- We dismiss the assertion by the City that allowing these devastating changes to the Olmsted-designed Jackson Park allows for “evolving expressions” and “21st Century Analysis and Perspective.” Parks can evolve and grow to meet 21st Century needs without destroying their historic integrity.
- We disagree with the City’s argument that since Lake Shore Drive is already the widest road in the area, it will not be a problem to make it wider. With rising lake levels and sensitive natural areas like the South Shore Nature Sanctuary around it, making more progressive planning decisions about Lake Shore Drive is essential.
- Modification to the cultural landscape – individually and cumulatively – will have a substantial impact on its historic integrity.
- The City’s assertion is flawed that widening Stony Island will not be a negative impact because it will retain its “association of the road with the sidewalk and setting of perimeter topography and vegetation.”
- Cornell Drive can be modified to quiet car traffic, improve accessibility for bicycles and pedestrians, and restore the original character of this roadway without removing it entirely.
- Need vs. want. The Secretary of Interior standards clearly distinguish between need and want. The requested changes to Jackson Park are wanted by the OPC to make the Obama Foundation’s vision for the Center a reality. They do not demonstrate that this is the one and only site for its Center and therefore needed to make the project successful.
- The AOE continues to dismiss avoidance and minimization as important strategies. Going forward, this process should put high priority on avoidance first.
- The impact on the Chicago Park Boulevard System Historic District will be devastating to have an entire segment of that District irreparably altered."
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WIN: Perkins-Nordine House Receives Preliminary Landmark Designation!
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Perkins-Nordine House, 6106 N. Kenmore, Pond and Pond, 1902. Chicago DPD Twitter Announcement Image Credit: Chicago DPD
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The historic home at 6106 N. Kenmore, designed by the noted architectural firm of Pond & Pond, was the long-time residence of radio personality and vocalist Ken Nordine. After his passing in 2019, the house was listed for sale. Multiple offers were received for the property including some from developers looking to demolish it and preservation-oriented buyers looking to preserve it.
Preservation Chicago was able to identify a qualified purchaser of substantial means who is ready, willing and able to purchase the home for use as a single-family residence.
Despite an outpouring of concern from the Edgewater Historical Society and other community members regarding the fate of the home, the intent of the sellers was made known on December 23, 2019 when the application for a demolition permit for the building was submitted.
Because of the Orange-rated status of the home on the Chicago Historic Resources Survey, the application for a demolition permit triggered the start of a 90-day demolition delay which would have expired on March 12, 2020.
Fortunately, the dedicated advocacy of the Edgewater community, the Edgewater Historical Society, Preservation Chicago, Landmarks Illinois, along with the support of 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman, the City of Chicago Commission on Chicago Landmarks and Landmarks Staff, created the circumstances to allow the Preliminary Landmark designation which was approved on March 5, 2020. This designation protects the historic building against demolition.
Preservation Chicago advocated with urgency to help bring about this outcome and is thrilled with this potential preservation win.
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BRAVO: Oxford Capital Designates Five of its Chicago Hotels for the City’s Coronavirus Response Effort
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Hotel Julian, 168 North Michigan Avenue, Benjamin Marshall, 1912. Photo Credit: Oxford Capital
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"Chicago hotel owner Oxford Capital Group is turning over 1,100 downtown hotel rooms to the city as part of a push to provide temporary housing for people who need to be isolated to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
"Oxford said it will house guests without virus symptoms, including first responders, at one downtown hotel it manages, Hotel 166, and four that it owns: Hotel Cass, Hotel Essex, Hotel Julian and Hotel Felix. The company has signed on to a plan that city and state officials unveiled March 23 to rent thousands of hotel rooms to reduce the burden on area hospitals as the coronavirus spreads.
“As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout our community, we wanted to do our part to provide a sanctuary for those who need it during this difficult time,' Oxford Capital Group founder, President and CEO John W. Rutledge said in a statement. 'We’re proud to help the city combat this crisis and allow our brave medical professionals to focus on their most critical patients in their hospitals." (Gallun, Crain's, 3/25/20)
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LOSS: Mercy Home Demolishes Beautiful Historic Building at 221 S. Racine for a Vacant Lot
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221 S. Racine. Photo Credit: Eric Allix Rogers
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221 S. Racine. Photo Credit: Eric Allix Rogers
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221 S. Racine. Photo Credit: Eric Allix Rogers
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Mercy Home purchased 221-225 S. Racine and is in the process of demolishing the building.
Despite dating from 1892 and having a highly intact, beautiful limestone façade, it is not Orange-rated because this building was overlooked by the Chicago Historic Resources Survey.
Without any protections, Mercy Home was able to receive a same-day demolition permit without any delay, oversight or approval. The permitting and demolition have proceeded rapidly.
Mercy Home claims the historic material will be salvaged and reused at some future time. Preservation Chicago remains skeptical of this statement as we've found that in circumstances such as these, facade reuse rarely occurs without a written, enforceable reuse agreement with the City of Chicago.
Per Mercy Home in a letter to Preservation Chicago dated March 4, 2020, “ We currently do not have plans for future development of the site at this time.”
Preservation Chicago anticipates this rare building type of fine carved limestone will be replaced with a vacant lot or paved parking lot.
Mercy Home claims that the building is unsafe and required an emergency demolition. Yet, contrary to their claim, Preservation Chicago was unable to find any evidence of an emergency court-ordered demolition. Furthermore, the building code violations that can be found in the public record are generally modest in nature and easily repaired. Some example of building code violations include:
• Repair or replace defective window sash. (13-196-550 B)
• Post address of building in conspicuous place on or near entrance with figures at least 3 inches long for residential, or 6 inches long for commercial building. (10-4-050, 10-4-090, 10-4-100)
• Remove accumulation of refuse and debris and keep premises clean. (13-196-580, 13-196-630)
• Repair or replace door hardware. (13-196-550)
• Equip exit door with door lock hardware so door opens without key from side of egress. (13-160-260)
• Install and maintain approved smoke detectors. (13-196-100 thru 13-196-160)
The building’s brick side and rear walls appeared to be in good condition and aerial photography suggests that the roof has recently been replaced.
Preservation Chicago had reached out to stakeholders and the City of Chicago to request a temporary Stop-Work-Order or a revocation of the Demolition Permit to allow for time to better assess the true condition and find alternatives to demolition. However, the stakeholders took no action to prevent the demolition.
In additional to the loss of the historic building, Chicago is experiencing an affordable housing shortage with some reports estimating 120,000 units needed. This building has provided 10 units of rental housing for Chicagoans for 128 years. Its a shame to see these units lost and replaced with a vacant lot.
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WIN: Preservation Chicago's Neighborhood Outreach and Survey Efforts Prime South Michigan Avenue in Historic Roseland for Reinvestment
(Chicago 7 2020)
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Roseland’s South Michigan Avenue Commercial District Survey Maps. Image credit: Preservation Chicago
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Roseland’s South Michigan Avenue Commercial District is the commercial center and heart of this Far South Side community. Once referred to by local residents as “The Avenue,” the street’s vibrancy as began to deteriorate and fade in the mid-1970s. A significant number of historic buildings along South Michigan Avenue in Roseland have been lost over the past 50 years, and much of what remains is in fair to poor condition. Without the necessary investment and maintenance, the surviving historic buildings are at risk of demolition by neglect.
With 300,000 visitors expected to visit the nearby Pullman National Monument annually, Chicago has an extraordinary opportunity for strategic investment in the commercial corridor to revitalize the remaining historic buildings and develop vacant lots so that they complement that historic character. The corridor extends from 100th Street and 115th Street, with the central core of the existing commercial district located between 110th and 115th Streets.
Since 2014, Preservation Chicago has worked closely with the Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce, 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale and other community partners to conduct neighborhood surveys and tours. In the summer of 2019, Roseland community members and Preservation Chicago conducted an extensive electronic survey of buildings and parcels along Michigan Avenue through a survey initiative of Preservation Chicago.
The survey initiative objective was to assess the buildings that remained along the corridor and to develop a plan to stabilize and revitalize those with historic character. Out of the 602 parcels surveyed by volunteers, surveyors noted that 124 buildings had historic character. Approximately 30 historic properties were identified as in good or excellent condition by volunteer surveyors, which could be inspirational for other historic buildings along the commercial corridor.
PlaceEconomics, a national organization that conducts local preservation impact studies, notes that historic preservation is an excellent tool to stimulate commercial revitalization. Heritage tourism increases property values, creates jobs and promotes greater incomes in the jobs created. Investing in historic buildings has proven to create more positive economic impact than other available strategies. PlaceEconomics’ research has determined that “heritage tourists” spend more for lodging, transportation, food/beverage, retail purchases, and recreation as compared to average tourists.
It is time to use historic preservation as an economic development driver along South Michigan Avenue in Roseland. Of the original 17 buildings listed on the Chicago Historic Resources Survey, only 12 remain today. Without swift and effective investment, the deterioration and demolition will continue.
Sadly, during the course of planning and surveying properties along South Michigan Avenue, the iconic Gately’s People’s Store was lost to fire in June 2019, another reminder of the fragility of these buildings and the urgency to develop effective strategies for revitalization. We have identified least 12 historic buildings in the commercial corridor that are in extremely vulnerable condition. In February 2020, two historic structures along South Michigan Avenue were lost to emergency demolitions due to life safety and public safety concerns.
First priority should focus on the preservation of existing historic structures and legacy businesses. Beautiful facades are obscured beneath subsequent remodeling. The restoration of these historic buildings along South Michigan Avenue has the potential to inspire and catalyze a wider revitalization along the commercial corridor.
“We realize this kind of transformation will take time, but Roseland is ready to start now,” said Andrea Reed, Executive Director of the Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce.
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WIN: West Pullman Frank Lloyd Wright House Is Sold
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Foster House and Stable, 12147 S. Harvard Ave, by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1900. Photo Credit Coldwell Banker Residential
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"In West Pullman, an architecturally unusual—but characteristically slow-to-sell home—designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is finally under contract to sell after spending three years on and off the market.
"Known as the Foster House and Stable, the South Side property was designed in 1900 as a summer residence for local real estate attorney Stephen Foster. Unlike the flat roofs, overhanging eaves, and broad horizontal lines of Wright’s better-known Prairie School style, the Foster House features a Japanese-influenced design with a steeply pitched roof with upturned corners.
"Although the structure was designated an official Chicago Landmark in 1996, the five-bedroom residence is a bit of a fixer-upper and will likely need some TLC. It also appears to have little in the way of original interior details—save for an arch-shaped brick hearth and wood trim in the living room, dining area, and foyer.
"Like many Wright-designed homes, the Foster House has been slow to sell after hitting the market in April 2017 for $239,900. It reduced its asking price no less than seven times before finally settling at $145,000 in early March of this year. (Koziarz, Curbed Chicago, 3/20/20)
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THREATENED: 90-Day Demolition Delay List
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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.
Additional Reading
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Jeffrey Theater Building Complex, 7054 S. Jeffery Blvd./1952 E. 71st Street by William P. Doerr in 1923. Photo Credit: Preservation Chicago
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Jeffrey Theater Entrance, 7054 S. Jeffery Blvd./1952 E. 71st Street by William P. Doerr in 1923. Photo Credit: Preservation Chicago
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Jeffrey Theater Ornament, 7054 S. Jeffery Blvd./1952 E. 71st Street by William P. Doerr in 1923. Photo Credit: Preservation Chicago
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#100850960
Date Received: 02/11/2020
Ward: 5th Ward Alderman Leslie A. Hairston
Applicant: Spirit Wrecking & Excavation, Inc.
Owner: South Shore Commercial Properties, LLC
Permit Description: Demolition of a 3-story masonry commercial building.
Status: Under Review
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11314 S. Michigan Avenue. Demolished February 2020. Photo Credit: Google Maps
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Address:
11314 S. Michigan Avenue (Roseland's South Michigan Avenue District, a Chicago Most Endangered 7 2020)
#100863125
Date Received: 02/18/2020
Ward: 9th
Ward Alderman Anthony Beale
Applicant: Alliance Demolition and Excavation Services, Inc.
Owner: City of Chicago
Permit Description: Demolition and removal of a 2-story brick building.
Status: Released 02/19/2020 [Per Administrative Order issued by the Department of Buildings to address dangerous and hazardous conditions.]
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1733 N. Mohawk Street. Photo Credit: Google Maps
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Address:
1733 N. Mohawk Street, Old Town
#100863643
Date Received: 02/20/2020
Ward: 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith
Applicant:
Platinum Homes Development
Owner: Gisela E. Heinecken
Permit Description: Demolition and removal of a 2.5-story brick, multi-family building.
Status: Under Review
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600 N. Pine Avenue, photo from 2015. Demolished February 2020. Photo Credit: Google Maps
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Address:
600 N. Pine Avenue, Austin
#100863125
Date Received: 02/20/2020
Ward: 37th Ward Alderman Emma Mitts
Applicant: Sciortino Group, Inc.
Owner: City of Chicago
Permit Description: Demolition of a 2-story residential frame building.
Status: Released 02/21/2020 [Per Circuit Court of Cook County Order and an Administrative Order issued by the Department of Buildings to address dangerous and hazardous conditions.]
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LOSS: “Spotlight on Demolition”
3726 N. Lakeshore Drive, Buena Park
Jefferson Pk Hospital, 1414 W Monroe, West Loop
2251 S. Wentworth Ave., Chinatown
4822 S Martin Luther King Dr., Bronzeville
634 W. 37th St, McKeon Funeral Home, Bridgeport
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“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.
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3726 N. Lake Shore Drive. Demolished March 2020. Photo Credit: Ward Miller
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3726 N. Lake Shore Drive. Demolished March 2020. Photo Credit: Ward Miller
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Jefferson Park Hospital, 1414 W Monroe. Demolished March 2020. Photo Credit: Gabriel X. Michael
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2251 S. Wentworth Avenue. To Be Demolished April 2020. Photo Credit: Serhii Chrucky
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2251 S. Wentworth Avenue. To Be Demolished April 2020. Photo Credit: Noah Vaughn
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4822 S. Martin Luther King Drive. Lost to Fire in March 2020. Photo Credit: Google Maps
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634 W. 37th St, McKeon Funeral Home. Demolished March 2020. Photo Credit: Google Maps
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READ: Lost Chicago Buildings Showdown
on WTTW Chicago
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Lost Chicago Buildings. Photo Credit: WTTW Chicago
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"As anyone who’s met a Chicagoan knows, you can’t get us to shut up about our city’s architecture. From the bungalow belt to the Magnificent Mile, Logan Square to the Loop, our buildings not only dazzle and delight us, they tell our city’s story. We’ve built boat, bike and foot tours around our architecture, innumerable books have been written about it, and at least one guy at WTTW seems to be really into it. So yeah – it’s definitely a thing.
"But if there’s anything else we like to talk about, it’s our city’s mistakes – and there have been plenty of mistakes when it comes to architectural preservation. We’ve picked 16 buildings – government palaces, spectacular railroad stations, sports citadels – that through neglect, politics, or just shortsightedness, we’ve regrettably lost forever. Think about it: if you could have just one great building back, which would it be? Would you rather marvel at the Chicago Federal Building’s 100-foot-wide gilded dome, or have a beer at Midway Gardens? Walk in Gwendolyn Brooks’ footsteps through the Mecca Flats, or see the scoreboard at old Comiskey Park explode again?" (WTTW, 3/16/20)
1. Chicago Federal Building
2. Chicago Stock Exchange
3. Garrick Theater
4. Mecca Flats
5. C&NW Wells Street Station
6. Palmer Mansion
7. Comiskey Park
8. Midway Gardens
9. C&NW Madison Street Terminal
10. Home Insurance Building
11. Illinois Central Station 1893-1972
12. Prentice Women’s Hospital
13. Masonic Temple
14. Chicago Stadium
15. The Coliseum
16. Michael Reese Hospital Campus
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WATCH: You Paid For It: Scaffolding In Front Of Landmark City-Owned Building In West Town Has Been There Since 2015
on CBS Chicago 2 News
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You Paid For It: Scaffolding In Front Of Landmark City-Owned Building In West Town Has Been There Since 2015. Image Credit: CBS Chicago 2 News
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"It’s ugly, it’s been there for years, and you paid for it. The 'it' in question is construction scaffolding that surrounds the old Goldblatt’s Building at 1613-35 W. Chicago Ave. CBS 2’s Steven Graves talked Thursday with neighbors who are sick of it and want to know why the city is dragging its feet.
"CBS 2 reached out to two other scaffolding companies that estimate the bill to put up the canopy in front of the old Goldblatt’s building running $12,000 to $15,000. The canopy would also cost $1,000 to $3,000 a month to rent.
"And this particular scaffolding canopy has been up since 2015 – all on the taxpayer’s dime.
"Preservation experts want to see more attention paid to jewels in the city like the old Goldblatt’s building, which was constructed between 1921 and 1928 and was the first location for the regional department store chain founded by Maurice and Nathan Goldblatt.
"'I don’t think the city of Chicago would find this acceptable if this was owned by a private owner with these kinds of issues,' said Ward Miller of Preservation Chicago. 'So we want to encourage the city to work on this.'
"CDOT said weather delayed work in the past. The scaffolding is slated to come down at the end of this year, unless the weather delays things more." (CBS 2, Graves, 3/5/20)
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WATCH: What's Happening to Chicago's Neon Signs?
on WGN 9 Chicago
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Ward Miller interviewed regarding Chicago’s neon signs by Mike Lowe on WGN 9 Chicago. Image Credit: WGN 9 Chicago
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"Dylan Thomas once wrote: 'Rage, rage against the dying of the light.' He wasn't talking about Chicago, but he could have been when it comes to this city's disappearing neon signs.
"These signs have added such a warm glow to Chicago over the course of decades, so Dana from Oak Park had to ask: what's happening to Chicago's neon signs?
"According to Ward Miller of Preservation Chicago, the neon sign as we know it today gained popularity starting in the 1920s, and continued into the 1960s. Signs include the 'blade' variety that sticks out perpendicular from a building, and mounted signs that adorn the outside.
"'Now that we've only got a handful of these left, sprinkled in neighborhoods, sprinkled in the Loop, they really are special,' Miller said.
"A long list of iconic signs in the city include Wrigley Field's landmark marquee, Margie's Candies on Western Avenue, and the Congress Hotel downtown. The Drake Hotel had its own iconic neon sign for decades, but it was eventually replaced by cost-efficient LED lights.
"'We sometimes forget that these are craftsmen that make these signs, and you know... it's a lost art,' Miller said." *(Mike Lowe, WGN 9 Chicago, 2/27/20)
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PRINT: Chicago’s 10 Most Senseless Demolitions, Mapped; From groundbreaking early skyscrapers to sprawling rail terminals
in Curbed Chicago
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Chicago’s 10 most senseless demolitions, mapped; From groundbreaking early skyscrapers to sprawling rail terminals, Jay Koziarz, Curbed Chicago, 2/6/20. Image Credit: Curbed Chicago
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"For a city that prides itself on its architectural legacy, Chicago has a mixed track record when it comes to saving its significant buildings. The city’s historic preservation movement didn’t always exist. It took the work of dedicated pioneers like photographer Richard Nickel to document what was being torn down and shock the public and city officials into taking action. “Great architecture has only two natural enemies,” said Nickel. “Water and stupid men.”
"From its humble roots as a riverfront trading post to an industrial boomtown, Chicago’s been in a constant state of change. One downside to the city’s reinvention has been at the expense of the significant early skyscrapers, ornate theaters, gilded mansions, and grand rail halls lost along the way.
"It might seem inconceivable to discard works from the firms of architectural icons Louis Sullivan, Dankmar Adler, or Daniel Burnham, but that wasn’t always the case. Even today, debates continue over what can and should be saved—especially when certain styles, like 1980s postmodernism displayed by buildings like the threatened Thompson Center, fall out of fashion.
"With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, it can be frustrating to see what has been so callously discarded. A loss is even more painful if the replacement is a building of lesser value or—in the case of the Old Chicago Mercantile Exchange—nothing at all. There are lessons to be learned to avoid past mistakes."
"The senseless demolition of so many historic Loop buildings during the so-called “urban renewal” period of 60s and 70s certainly stings. But the more recent loss of the 1927 Chicago Mercantile Exchange in 2003 is borderline inexcusable. Designed by architect Alfred S. Alschuler, the building was in good shape and essentially fully occupied when its owners abruptly decided to tear it down. At the time, Preservation Chicago feared the location would “become yet another surface parking lot for the foreseeable future, in place of this landmark-worthy structure.” Thirteen years later, the site at 130 N. Franklin is still a fenced-off lot filled with gravel and weeds. The outrage caused by the destruction of the Mercantile Exchange led the city to adopt a 90-day demolition hold for historic and architecturally significant buildings that don’t have landmark protection." (Koziarz, 2/6/20)
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RADIO: What’s That Building?
The Krause Music Store
on WBEZ Chicago
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What’s That Building? The Krause Music Store. Photo Credit: WBEZ Chicago 91.5
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"Tucked away on a busy section of Lincoln Avenue sits a remarkable building that has made people stop and stare since 1922.
"Today, it’s up for sale by owners Pooja and Peter Vukosavich — but only by someone who’ll cherish the history of the building. In the past, it’s been used as an office, a funeral home, art gallery and architectural gift shop.
"The Krause Music Store’s facade was designed by famous Chicago architect Louis Sullivan and follows his slogan “form follows function.” In this case, the form is a richly-ornamented, gray, terra cotta façade that sets off a big central window made to display pianos.
"Like a stage, the large window is surrounded by a frame of lights, flowers and color.
"After the Vukosaviches bought the property in 2005, they embarked on a $1.2 million rehab of the stunning facade and interior. They added a serene Japanese garden out back and rented out the second floor apartment where original owner William Krause lived.
"The building is currently up for sale for $2.9 million. The Vukosaviches, who paid $665,000 for the building, want to find somebody who will appreciate, treasure and protect the building as they have.
"The Krause Music Store is a beautiful last act in Louis Sullivan’s long career, but it also has a sad history." (Rodkin, 3/30/20)
On September 20, 1977, the City of Chicago recognized the historic significance of the Krause Music Store and it became a Designated Chicago Landmark.
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PRINT: The Most Interesting Historic Interiors in Chicago
in Curbed Chicago
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The Most Interesting Historic Interiors in Chicago. Image Credit: Curbed Chicago
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"From afar, Chicago’s architecture dazzles. But get up close to the city’s historic lobbies, atriums, and libraries? It’ll be hard not to wonder what’s on the inside of the next steel-framed or terra cotta-clad building you see. We all know and love the old favorites like the Tiffany-glass dome at the Chicago Cultural Center or the handsome Palmer House Hotel lobby. So with this list, we took the opportunity to suggest a few historic landmarks that might be under the radar for their interiors.
"We’ll continue to add to this list of beautiful and interesting interiors in Chicago—by no means is this an exhaustive list. So go ahead, share your favorite interiors in the comment section." (Freund, Curbed Chicago, 2/27/20)
1. The Brewster Building
2. Reebie Storage Warehouse
3. The Delaware Building
4. City Hall
5. Garfield Park Gold Dome Field House
6. Field Building
7. Fine Arts Building
8. Blackstone Library
9. South Shore Cultural Center
10. New Regal Theater
11. The Yale
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PRINT: How to Research your Chicago Home’s History Online
in Curbed Chicago
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Chicago Two Flats. Photo Credit: Eric Allix Rogers
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"Chicago is the home of well-read architectural styles like Prairie School and Miesian Modern but it also features vernacular designs like simple workers cottages and bungalows. There’s no question the place you live tells a story—so how do you find out more about it?
"In fact, there’s a lot you can learn just through different sources on the internet (which is perfect while we’re all spending more time at home for a while). We’ve gathered some advice about how to start researching your home, or any building you’re wondering about, according to an expert.
"Matthew M. Wicklund is an expert at researching homes in Chicago—he’s a preservation planner and architectural historian. Since 2012, he’s written over a dozen Chicago landmark designation reports and several nominations for places on the National Register of Historic Places.
“'Every building has its own story and it can tell the history of Chicago from its early days to the present,' he said. 'It’s not so much about the building type—condos, cottages, two-flats—they’re all interesting. There’s so much to think about like the context of the neighborhood, the owners of the buildings, and what it all might mean for the people living there now, he said.'" (Freund, Curbed Chicago, 3/16/20)
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READ: High Fidelity Turns 20, and the Chicago It Imagined Is Gone; A writer reflects on the vanished city the movie immortalized
in Chicago Magazine
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High Fidelity Turns 20, and the Chicago It Imagined Is Gone; A writer reflects on the vanished city the movie immortalized in Chicago Magazine. Photo Credit: Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune
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"It would be an exaggeration to say watching High Fidelity persuaded me to move to Chicago nearly two decades ago, but it didn’t hurt. Stephen Frears’s film adaptation of Nick Hornby’s 1995 novel showed me a world I fervently wanted to live in, a place of funky shops, laid-back concert venues, and a culture scene inextricably tied to alt weeklies. It’s not that I wanted to be Rob Gordon, John Cusack’s lovable-loser antihero, but I longed to enter his orbit. Championship Vinyl, his fictional workplace, was my dream version of a record store: deeply stocked, disorganized, and staffed by clerks who, if they decided they liked you, would point you in the direction of the best music you’d never heard. This was not the Chicago of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off or The Fugitive, two movies that had shaped my early imaginings of the place. This was something better.
"By the start of the 2000s, I’d made enough visits to the city to know that, no, you couldn’t buy LPs at the corner of Milwaukee and Honore, which is where Championship Vinyl was ostensibly located, but you could, as Rob points out, see a movie where John Dillinger was shot and then cross the street to catch a band at the Lounge Ax, where Rob befriends the alluring singer-songwriter Marie De Salle, played by Lisa Bonet. You could also see live music at the Double Door, where Jack Black’s character sings “Let’s Get It On” in the movie’s climactic scene. And to judge by my friends who already lived in the city, you could definitely rent the sort of impractically designed, meaningfully cluttered apartment that Rob inhabited. That turn-of-the-millennium Chicago — with its Beta Band soundtrack, Pavement posters, and smoky clubs — was there for me if I wanted it. After High Fidelity came out, I wanted it bad." (Phipps, Chicago Mag, 3/16/20)
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WATCH: Chicago Jazz Artists Look for Ways to Cope with COVID-19
on Chicago Tonight
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Chicago Jazz Artists Look for Ways to Cope with COVID-19, Marc Vitali, WTTW Chicago Tonight, 3/25/20. Image Credit: WTTW Chicago
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"The city of Chicago named 2020 the Year of Chicago Music, and this week was supposed to be Cabaret Week.
"Chicago Tonight visited a few jazz and cabaret folks to see how they’re coping. Here’s a small window into a vast music scene that’s currently singing the blues.
"It was a roadhouse when it opened in 1907 and later an Al Capone hangout. Performers over the years have included Billie Holiday and Al Jolson. But the neon lights of the Green Mill in Uptown will be dark tonight. Inside, the heat isn’t on but a veteran local musician brings his own kind of warmth.
"Longtime owner Dave Jemilo has run the jazz lounge for 34 years. Dave Jemilo, owner, Green Mill: Well, we’re closed so it’s kind of weird. There’s absolutely no income coming in, you know, and you’re still paying your bills, there’s liquor bills due every week and things like that so it’s tough. And I feel most for my employees and all the musicians, this is what they do for a living so they can’t work, so it’s tough on everybody.
"The steady ones are the ones that are missing their weekly gig, and then the ones coming from out of town — I was supposed to have singer Sheila Jordan here this weekend with strings. I mean, this is a big, big gig, you know? And we can’t do it." (Vitali, WTTW, 3/25/20)
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Chicago Town and Tennis Club/Unity Church, 1925, George W. Maher and Son, 1925 W. Thome Avenue. Photo Credit: Eric Allix Rogers
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Preservation Chicago recognizes the need for Misericordia’s extraordinary housing and services. We strongly support this important work, and we believe it is possible to both meet the high demand for Misericordia housing and repurpose the historic Chicago Town & Tennis Club building at 1925 W. Thome Avenue in the West Ridge neighborhood of Chicago.
We encourage the City of Chicago to work with Misericordia to achieve a zoning density and site plan that can accommodate housing for at least 150 Misericordia clients, while keeping the historic building intact either for adaptive reuse by Misericordia or to sell to a preservation-minded developer.
PLEASE sign the petition today to support this approach that allows for the housing units so desperately needed by Misericordia’s clients while also saving an important historic Chicago asset.
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Chicago Brauhaus Could Return As Part Of DANK Haus If It Meets $50,000 Fundraising Goal
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Chicago Brauhaus, 4732 N. Lincoln Avenue, closed on Dec. 11, 2017. Photo Credit: Alex V. Hernandez, Block Club Chicago
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"The storied Chicago Brauhaus could make a return in Lincoln Square.
"Brauhaus closed its location at 4732 N. Lincoln Ave. in December 2017 — but the DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
is now raising $50,000 on GoFundMe for a remodel. If the group meets its goal, it would use remnants of Brauhaus’ interior to recreate the restaurant’s famous red bar on the second floor of its center around the corner from the original spot.
"The room, which would be dubbed the Brauhaus Room, would have the bar and “architectural elements” of the restaurant, including the restaurant’s original front doors and chandeliers, according to a news release. Fans would be able to come in for beer and pretzels at Brauhaus’ bar." (Bauer, Block Club, 3/6/20)
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Minnekirken GoFundMe Campaign Launched for Restoration Project
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Minnekirken Restoration GoFundMe Campaign. Photo Credit: Erin Brown
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"For the Next Century, For det Neste Århundre"
"Over the past 108 years, The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church (aka Minnekirken) has been sitting proudly on Logan Square. The physical structure of 'The Red Church' has also been exposed to the Chicago elements, and it is now in need of restoration.
"Visual assessments by local architects and engineers led to the hiring of several restoration professionals in the fall of 2019 to closely and thoroughly examine the structure. The façade of the church was stabilized with masonry repairs, and it was determined that further structural maintenance and restoration is imperative to ensure the long-term stability of the church.
"This restoration project comes at a critical time, when the Logan Square traffic pattern in front of the church is planned to be redirected, and there is addtional work upcoming at nearby CTA properties. With heavy, earth-moving machinery expected to operate not far from the church's doorstep, there is an increased sense of urgency to further stabilize the physical structure of Minnekirken."
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Raise the Roof!
Fund The Forum!
Fundraising Campaign
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The Forum, 318-328 East 43rd Street, Samuel A. Treat of Treat & Foltz Architects, 1897. Photo Credit: The Forum Bronzeville
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"Fund Bronzeville’s future by helping us repair a piece of its past.
"Before its decline in the late 20th century, The Forum served as a hub of Bronzeville commerce, culture, and community. It included one of the most significant assembly spaces on the South Side, hosting politicians, unions, social clubs and fraternal organizations, above first floor storefronts that provided the commercial core of the 43rd Street retail corridor.
"The imposing brick building contains Forum Hall, Bronzeville’s first assembly hall and home of possibly the oldest hardwood dance floor in the city. This is the floor upon which musical luminaries like Nat King Cole, Captain Walter Dyett, and Muddy Waters performed, and national civic movements such as the Chicago Council of the National Negro Congress, Stockyard Congress of Industrial Organizations, and Freedom Riders organized.
"Since 2011, Urban Juncture Foundation has worked in partnership with the owner of The Forum to stabilize the building and rehabilitate it as a community venue that will once again host weddings, political meetings and musical performances, as well as provide an abundance of retail amenities. In July 2019, we won a $100,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to replace The Forum’s decaying roofs. However, this generous award falls $50,000 short of our requested amount, meaning we can afford to replace only one of two roofs this spring.
"Help us raise the roof and fund The Forum! By contributing to this campaign, you not only help preserve a unique monument to Black history, but also help fund a future where commerce, culture and community once again thrive in Chicago’s historic Black Metropolis."
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Preservation Chicago 7 Most Endangered 2020 Bicycle Tour
Scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2020*
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Preservation Chicago 7 Most Endangered 2020 Bicycle Tour. Image Credit Biketropolis and Preservation Chicago
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Join Biketropolis and Preservation Chicago for a Biking Tour of the "Chicago 7 Most Endangered" Sites for 2020 and a few Chicago 7 sites from years past.
Link for ticket sales.
Sat, June 13, 2020* (Tentative due to Covid-19)
8:30 AM - 4:00 pm
James R. Thompson Center, 100 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL, 60601
Since 2003, Preservation Chicago has announced its annual "Chicago 7 Most Endangered" list to draw attention to important Chicago historic resources threatened by demolition due to development pressure, neglect, or a lack of resources. Once included as a Chicago 7, a historic building or resource remains an advocacy priority of Preservation Chicago for as many years as it takes for it to be saved or demolished.
This tour is curated with Preservation Chicago's staff and Executive Director Ward Miller to give riders a first-hand account of why buildings are on the 2020 list and share some past Chicago 7 success stories and some tragic losses. We will ride through several different neighborhoods, have access to the interior of some of the sites, and learn about the historical and architectural importance of each location. Preservation Chicago has identified approximately 100 historic resources through its "Chicago 7 Most Endangered" program, enjoyed many wins, and suffered some tragic losses to Chicago's built environment. Enjoy biking through some of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods and learn more about the "Chicago 7 Most Endangered" program and efforts.
What to Bring: reliable bike, lock, hydration, snacks, camera, cash for food, spare inner tube/patch kit, and binoculars (if you own a pair).
- Date: Saturday, June 13th, 2020*
- Time: 8:30 am to 4:00pm
- Cost: $35 (Includes donation Preservation Chicago)
- Departure Location: Thompson Center - 100 W Randolph Street, Chicago IL 60601 (Near The Monument with Standing Beast)
- Lunch: The Empanada Bike
- Distance: Approximately 25 Miles Round trip
- Average Speed: 10-12 MPH with rest stops planned along the way.
- Skill level: Moderate ride / No drop
- Gear: bike, lock, helmet, hydration, snacks and a camera
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Chicago Detours Hosts Free Virtual Tours During Covid-19 Shut-In
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Chicago Detours Begins Virtual Tours. Image Credit: Chicago Detours
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"Instead of the real-life walking tours Chicago Detours usually offer, right now you can join Chicago Detours on 20-minute talks as a “Historic Happy Hour for Curious People” on weekdays and 40-minute live, virtual tours on weekends. These online talks and tours are free, with a $5-15 suggested donation to support our small business. Public tours are currently suspended. Past talks are viewable on Youtube for a limited time."
“HISTORIC VIRTUAL HAPPY HOUR FOR CURIOUS PEOPLE” – 6:00pm-6:30pm
Mon, Apr. 6 – “Chicago Architecture Crash Course in 20 Minutes”
Tues, Apr. 7 – “Demystifying the Chicago Pedway” –
Wed, Apr. 8 – “Neighborhoods vs. Community Areas Explained”
Thurs, Apr. 9 – “The Wonders of the 1893 World’s Fair”
Fri, Apr. 10 – “Six Classic North & South Side Restaurants”
Mon, Apr. 13 – “A Deep Slice of Chicago Food History”
Tues, Apr. 14 – “Chicago Music and the Roots of Jazz and Blues”
Wed, Apr. 15 – “Step Inside a Turn-of-the-Century Skyscraper”
Thurs, Apr. 16 – “A Walk Down Madison Street”
Fri, Apr. 17 – “Da Beers: Chicago Drinking History Pt. 1”
Mon, Apr. 20 – “Best Architectural Styles Since Sliced Bread”
Tues, Apr. 21 – “Fun in Chicago’s First Theaters”
Wed, Apr. 22 – “Five Badass Women of Chicago History”
Thurs, Apr. 23 – “Chicago History Crash Course in 20 Minutes”
Fri, Apr. 24 – “Da Beers: Chicago Drinking History Pt. 2”
Mon, Apr. 27 – “LGBT History of Chicago Beyond Boystown”
Tues, Apr. 28 – “A Century of Contrasts in the South Loop”
Wed, Apr. 29 – “Marshall Field’s Trailblazing History of Shopping”
Thurs, Apr. 30 – “The Story of Starting a Small Business”
VIRTUAL TOURS – 1:00pm-1:50pm
Sat, Apr. 11 – “Neighborhood Detour: Pilsen, Chinatown, Greektown, Little Italy”
Sun, Apr. 12 – “Hidden Neighborhood Architecture in Noble Square and Wicker Park”
Sat, Apr. 18 – “Neighborhood Detour: Hyde Park, Washington Park, Woodlawn, South Shore”
Sun, Apr. 19 – “Hidden Neighborhood Architecture in Fulton Market”
Sat, Apr. 25 – “Neighborhood Detour: Logan Square, Avondale, Bucktown and the 606”
Sun, Apr. 26 – “Hidden Neighborhood Architecture in Rogers Park”
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Docomomo US Calls for Nominations for
2020 Modernism in America Awards
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Calling Nominations for the 2020 Modernism in America Awards. Photo Credit:Docomomo US
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Nominate a project that inspires for the 2020 Modernism in America Awards. Now in its seventh year, the Awards celebrate the documentation, preservation and reuse of modern buildings, structures and landscapes built in the United States or on U.S.territory.
The Awards recognize building owners, design teams, advocacy groups and preservation organizations that have made significant efforts to retain, restore and advocate for the aesthetic and cultural value of such places.
Docomomo US is pleased to announce that they are now accepting nominations for the 2020 Modernism in America Awards in the following categories:
- Design (Residential, Commercial, Institutional)
- Inventory/Survey
- Advocacy
Early nominations are due by April 30, 2020, and all nominations must be submitted by May 29, 2020.
Winners will be announced in September and recognized at an awards ceremony set for November 12th at the Design Within Reach Third Avenue showroom in New York City. The jury will be announced in the following weeks.
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LOST CHICAGO...BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
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Edgewater Beach Hotel
by Marshall & Fox
Built 1916 & 1923
. Demolished 1971.
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Edgewater Beach Hotel, by Marshall & Fox, 5543-5555 N. Sheridan Road, Built in 1916 and 1923. Demolished in 1971. Historic Photo Credit: Art Institute of Chicago Ryerson & Burnham Archives, Archival Image Collection, Architecture Postcard Collection, Rigot, Max, Selling Co. [Chicago]
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Edgewater Beach Hotel, by Marshall & Fox, 5543-5555 N. Sheridan Road, Built in 1916 and 1923. Demolished in 1971. Historic Photo Credit: Art Institute of Chicago Ryerson & Burnham Archives, Archival Image Collection, Architecture Postcard Collection, Grogan Photo
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Edgewater Beach Hotel, by Marshall & Fox, 5543-5555 N. Sheridan Road, Built in 1916 and 1923. Demolished in 1971. Historic Photo Credit: Art Institute of Chicago Ryerson & Burnham Archives, Archival Image Collection, Chicago Architectural Photographing Co. [Chicago]
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Edgewater Beach Hotel, by Marshall & Fox, 5543-5555 N. Sheridan Road, Built in 1916 and 1923. Demolished in 1971. Historic Photo Credit: Art Institute of Chicago Ryerson & Burnham Archives, Archival Image Collection, Architecture Postcard Collection, Process Photo Studios [Chicago]
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Edgewater Beach Hotel Illustration from 1927, by Benjamin H. Marshall, 5543-5555 N. Sheridan Road. Historic Photo Credit: Art Institute of Chicago Ryerson & Burnham Archives, Archival Image Collection, Chicago Architectural Sketch Club Collection
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Edgewater Beach Hotel Advertisement for Edward Hines Lumber Company from 1924, by Marshall & Fox, 5543-5555 N. Sheridan Road. Historic Photo Credit: Art Institute of Chicago Ryerson & Burnham Archives, Archival Image Collection, Chicago Architectural Sketch Club Collection
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Edgewater Beach Hotel
Architect: Marshall & Fox
Location: 5543-5555 N. Sheridan Rd
Built: 1916 and 1923
Demolished: 1971
"Benjamin Marshall’s greatest hotel accomplishment was arguably the Edgewater Beach complex (1916-28), of which he was president. Contract books show that, as with several of his other hotels, and even some large houses like the Eckhart mansion, Marshall Field & Company provided all the furnishings, from the silverware and china to the chairs and carpets, it being customary at the time for large department stores to have comprehensive decorating services.
"The two hotels – an eight-floor, X-shaped building from 1916 and an eighteen-story tower from 1923 – along with an adjacent apartment building/hotel built in 1927-28, encompassing more than 1,000 rooms, as well as a private beach, exotically detailed theme restaurants the Polynesian Room and the nautical Yacht Club, gardens, a golf course, radio station WEBH, motor coach services, and even airplane rides. These elements all combined to create a resort in the city, with the likes of Xavier Cugat, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Hoffa, and Babe Ruth as guests and participants in this urban theater.
"The Edgewater Beach was so well known that it had its own cookbook, Arnold Shircliffe’s popular Edgewater Beach Hotel Salad Book (1926). Sadly, nothing of either hotel survives today, except for the Edgewater Beach Apartments."
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Please Support
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Demolition of American Taxi Service building, built 1928, at 5608 S. Stony Island Avenue. Demolished November 2019. Photo Credit: Eric Allix Rogers
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THANK YOU from your friends at Preservation Chicago!
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Preservation Chicago is committed to strengthening the vibrancy of Chicago’s economy and quality of life by championing our historic built environment.
Preservation Chicago protects and revitalizes Chicago’s irreplaceable architecture, neighborhoods and urban green spaces. We influence stakeholders toward creative reuse and preservation through advocacy, outreach, education, and partnership.
For larger donors wishing to support Preservation Chicago, please contact Ward Miller regarding the Preservation Circle details and a schedule of events at wmiller@preservationchicago.org or 312-443-1000.
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