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"A campaign to save two historic buildings on State Street from the wrecking ball took a step forward today when a city panel unanimously approved proposals to assign landmark status to the properties.

"The federal government, which owns the two early 20th-century towers — the Century Building at 202 S. State St. and the Consumers Building at 220 S. State St. — wants to tear them down to create a security buffer zone to protect the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse next door. Federal legislation approved last year included $52 million to cover the cost of demolishing the buildings.

"But preservationists have been imploring federal officials to reconsider that plan, pushing a proposal to turn the buildings into an archives center, a use they say would pose little security threat.

"'To tear them down is a disgrace and an insult to the proud history of Chicago's architectural significance,' Chicago architect Dirk Lohan — who worked on the design of the Dirksen building with his grandfather, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe — said at a meeting today of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks.

"The commission voted unanimously to assign preliminary landmark status to the two Loop buildings, but the process is far from over. And even if the buildings do become official city landmarks, the federal government has the constitutional authority to raze them anyway. But a pressure campaign could persuade the feds to change their mind.

"'This is an important step because the federal government and (General Services Administration) have not really heard clearly from the city of Chicago that the buildings are significant,' said Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago, an advocacy group that has been leading the charge to save the structures.

"'It sends a clear message to the GSA and federal government that they should be looking for alternative uses for these buildings and how important they are for the cityscape,' Miller said.

"The GSA, the agency that oversees federal buildings, says it is 'formally neutral' about the landmark proposals. Because the properties sit within the Loop Retail Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the agency is required to hold a series of its own hearings on its demolition plans. That process began last fall and is expected to wrap up in early 2024.

"The Century and Consumers buildings have led Preservation Chicago's annual list of most endangered spaces two years in a row. Designed by Jenny, Mundie & Jensen, the Consumers Building, a 22-story structure at 220 S. State St., opened in 1913. The Century Building, a 16-story building at 202 S. State St. designed by Holabird & Roche, opened two years later. The two structures represent the final years of the Chicago School of architecture, before the sleek, art deco style became popular.(Gallun, Crain's Chicago Business, 4/13/23)

"The battle to save downtown’s vacant Century and Consumer Buildings from the federal wrecking ball received some welcomed national attention Tuesday, when the influential nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation named the century-old skyscrapers to its yearly America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list.

"It couldn’t have come at a better time. The preservation group Landmarks Illinois named the buildings to its own most endangered list last week.

"And city landmarks officials last month voted unanimously to grant a preliminary designation to the federally-owned buildings, located on the southwest corner of Adams and State streets.

"'As two iconic early skyscrapers along Chicago’s historic State Street, the Century and Consumers Buildings contribute to the architectural significance of the area known as 'the Loop,'' the National Trust said in a statement.

"The buildings are on the chopping block because judges in the Dirksen Federal Building — plus the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and other agencies — believe the structures would be a security threat to the nearby courthouse if redeveloped and reoccupied as once planned.

"It’s an argument this editorial board has questioned since 2019. If the skyscrapers were wrecked, the Dirksen and the federal center still sit in the middle of downtown, where it faces other buildings and is bisected by busy Dearborn Street.

"The federal General Services Administration — which owns the site — still has the power to overrule the city and the National Trust listing and wreck the buildings anyway.

"But with all this activity, the feds must reconsider its wrongheaded plan to wreck the Century and Consumers.

"That is, if there’s any justice at all." (Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board, 5/9/23)

Chicago’s legendary nightclub “The Warehouse” was granted preliminary landmark status. Interview with Max Chavez, Preservation Chicago Director of Research and Special Projects. The Week, Telekom Electronic Beats Podcast (11 min) on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

"Barely a month after being named to Preservation Chicago’s annual list of the city’s 'most endangered' buildings, the Warehouse — aka, the 'birthplace' of House music — is on its way to becoming an official Chicago landmark.

"A monumental show of support from 'Househeads' around the world brought the building at 206 S. Jefferson Ave. to the attention of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, which unanimously approved preliminary landmark status for the Warehouse on Thursday.

"'What a magical place,' said Commissioner Tiara Hughes. 'The cultural significance here is just mind-blowing.'

"Though it’s the building’s exterior that will be landmarked, it’s what went on inside the modest three-story structure that’s notable.

"The Warehouse opened in 1977, conceived as Chicago’s answer to New York City’s club scene. Owner Robert Williams recruited DJ Frankie Knuckles to make the move from the Big Apple to the Windy City, and the rest is history.

"Picking up elements of disco, soul, jazz, funk and gospel, and adding beats, Knuckles invented what came to be known as House music — “House” a reference to the Warehouse.

"'We didn’t know what we were witnessing,' said Joe Shanahan, owner of the Metro and Smart Bar, who gravitated to the Warehouse in its heyday. 'Frankie was creating an entirely new genre ... a DJ who was shifting culture.'

"'It’s hard to overstate the influence of the Warehouse and Knuckles,' said Matt Crawford of the Department of Planning and Development, who prepared the landmark report.

"The Warehouse closed in 1982 and the building fell off the radar until it was recently sold, with the real estate listing referencing a “development” opportunity.

"It was that specter of demolition that led people like Michael Ball, who works in artist relations and runs a music studio, to rush to defend what he told the commission was like 'the Vatican, the Mecca of House music.'

"Avi Kamionski, an attorney, is one of the new owners and he assured the landmark commission that there’s no intent to tear down the building. The plan is to do an interior 'refresh' and use it for office space, including for his own legal practice. The appeal of the building, Kamionski said, is its location opposite his alma mater, the Kent College of Law.

"'We’d like to work with the commission on this issue,' he said. 'It’s cool to hear about all the history of the building.'

"While the perceived threat to the building’s existence may have been a false alarm, the attention Preservation Chicago brought to an overlooked piece of the city’s history was long overdue.

"'The Warehouse is that perfect Chicago story. Now is the time to honor Knuckles and House sound,' said Max Chavez, Preservation Chicago’s director of research and special projects.

"DJ Celeste Alexander, who counts Knuckles as one of her mentors, said Chicago is known around the world as the birthplace of House, but 'we do not have a building, a place to give a starting point of its origin. The history of House music and culture should have a designation where people can see where it all began.'" (Wetli, WTTW Chicago, 4/13/23)

"Updated plans have been revealed for the mixed-use development at 7603 N Paulina Street in Rogers Park. Located on the northeast corner with W Howard Street just north of the CTA Red Line Howard stop, the project was originally announced in 2022 with two phases involving the demolition of the Werner Bros storage building. Now Housing For All LLC is back with a revised proposal for the affordable housing project designed by Cordogan Clark & Associates.

"Originally proposed to be built in two phases starting with demolishing a collection of one-story commercial buildings to be replaced with a six-story structure, and followed by the demolition of the Werner storage building for a further expansion. However plans have now changed not too long after the 1921-built, glazed terra cotta building made the 2023 most endangered buildings list, prompting the preservation of its fanciful renaissance-revival style ornamentation once called Chicago’s most beautiful warehouse.

"The revised plans still call for a two-phase build out with the first phase still rising six stories on the corner butting up to the Werner building. On the ground floor will be 4,400 square feet of commercial space prioritized for tenants the project is replacing, as well as a community room, fitness room, laundry facilities, and bike storage. It is also worth noting that neither of the two facade options from the last proposal were advanced, instead it will be clad in beige masonry with ornamental base, corner, and parapet details." (Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 5/25/23)

Preservation Chicago applauds developer Shelly Tucciarelli of Housing For All for reconsidering the adaptive reuse of the Werner Brothers Storage Building. Additionally, we applaud 49th Ward Ald. Maria Hadden and community members who strongly advocated for a preservation sensitive alternative for this development.

"The Commission on Chicago Landmarks has approved a preliminary landmark recommendation for the Greater Tabernacle Cathedral. Located at 11300 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, the church was originally the Holy Rosary Catholic Church when it opened in 1890.

"Meeting Criterion 1 for heritage, the church traces its origins back to the early settlement of Roseland and Pullman, which were linked economically and socially. The church was the first English-speaking Catholic parish in the area, serving a congregation of mostly Irish immigrants. The congregation flourished with hundreds of member families and by 1916 celebrated being free of their debts.

"On March 4th, 1937, fire devastated the church and destroyed everything except for the exterior building structure and the bell tower, including all the interior artwork and ornamentation. The congregation rebuilt the church after the fire and the building has gone on to hold a total of three congregations - Holy Rosary Catholic Church, New Day Ministry International, and Greater Tabernacle Cathedral (since 2016).

"The building also meets Criterion 3 for its association with a significant person. From 1985-1988, Barack Obama led the Developing Communities Project as its executive director from its organization headquarters in the rectory of Greater Tabernacle Cathedral. As a faith-based organization, DCP was incorporated as a non-profit in 1986 under Obama’s lead and established programming to support the local community through job training, college preparation tutoring, and tenants' rights organizing for the Altgeld Gardens housing projects.

"With its Romanesque Revival design, the church also meets Criterion 4 for its exemplary architecture. Designed by Solon S. Beman, the church is monumental yet restrained as it features limited ornamentation and its exterior is dominated by projecting cross gable roofs, monumental arched windows, and the juxtaposition between the red brick exterior and limestone base. The church is completed with a commanding bell tower that stands 85 feet tall.

"For its standing as a work of Solon S. Beman, the church also meets Criterion 5 for its status as a work of a significant architect. Beman was a renowned late 19th century and early 20th century architect who designed over 1,300 buildings in the company town of Pullman alone. Other notable works include the Fine Arts Building, Greenstone United Church, and many others." (Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 5/26/23)

Preservation Chicago strongly supports the Landmark Recommendation of Greater Tabernacle Cathedral, formerly known as the Holy Rosary Catholic Church Complex. This church has been a community landmark since its construction in 1890, as it was designed by architect, Solon S. Beman, who was also the architect of the Town of Pullman, now known as the Pullman National Park.

"The church, with its tall iconic tower and steeple, was constructed on 'Pullman Lands,' once owned by industrialist, George Pullman, and prior to the construction of the tall railroad embankment and viaduct, must have appeared to be part of the larger Town of Pullman, directly to the east and across Cottage Grove Avenue. This was a very important feature and aspect to Mr. George Pullman as the vistas of his newly created factory town from various vantage points was meant to be overly impressive and beautiful to visitors, especially upon arrival by railroad.

"The church building’s deep-rich red brick, gabled façade, arched windows and entry, in addition to its primary façades and monolithic tower, are a great compliment to the many of the designated Chicago Landmark buildings of architect Solon S. Beman, and the Pullman National Park nearby. We therefore view this church and the adjoining Olmsted-designed, Palmer Park, along with Elam Lutheran Church (now said to be vacant), also by Solon S. Beman, along with the former Pullman Manuel Training School/now Gwendolyn Brooks Academy, as an extension of the original Town of Pullman. And therefore, perhaps also an extension of the Pullman National Parklands, which we hope will continue to attract many visitors in the future, noting its rich history.

"We also realize the great significance of the church, now Cathedral building and rectory to the career and accomplishments of former President Barack Obama, as this was the site of one of his early offices as a community organizer.

"In 2020, Preservation Chicago, listed Roseland’s South Michigan Avenue Commercial District as one of our Chicago 7 Most Endangered sites. Located several blocks to the west of Greater Tabernacle Cathedral, we encouraged the possibility of a new Chicago Landmark District, extending from King Drive westward to Michigan Avenue and including the buildings, structures and parklands along 111th and 113th Streets.

"This was envisioned to co-join the Pullman National Monument, now Pullman National Park, and once again tie together their shared histories, and encourage sensitive reuse, restoration and reinvestment of the historic buildings of Roseland and South Michigan Avenue. The recognition and designation of the Greater Tabernacle Cathedral Complex, may be the first step towards this idea and vision, looking to the future. (Preservation Chicago Letter of Support)

Ward Miller, The Richard H. Driehaus Executive Director of Preservation Chicago Letter of Support on May 4, 2023 to the Commission on Chicago Landmarks regarding Greater Tabernacle Cathedral/Former Holy Rosary Church Complex, 11300-11312 S. King Drive, Chicago

Additionally, Ward Miller has located the original stained glass windows from the bell tower that were so cherished by parishioners of Holy Rosary Catholic Church. He has been working to have them returned and reinstalled. During the 1937 fire which devastated the church, many of the firemen who battled the were members of the parish. The Fire Chief specifically gave orders not to break out the stained glass windows in order to protect them. The bell tower and its beloved windows survived the fire but were removed recently when the use changed from Catholic to Protestant.

“One of England’s most popular restaurants, rated No. 1 on a world’s best steakhouse list, is coming to Chicago.

“Hawksmoor, which opened its first U.S. location in New York in 2021, has targeted Chicago for its next U.S. opening in early 2024. Co-founders Will Beckett and Huw Gott debuted Hawksmoor in 2006 in London and now have eight other restaurants in that city. Hawksmoor is ranked on top of the “World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants” list, published by Upper Cut Media House based in the U.K.

“After its U.S. debut, New York Times restaurant critic Pete Wells asked, “Does New York need a British steakhouse? Yes, if it’s Hawksmoor.”

“Beckett and Gott have leased the LaSalle Street Cable Car Powerhouse, a 16,500-square-foot, three-floor building at 500 N. LaSalle St. that formerly housed Gino’s East and Michael Jordan’s Restaurant. The pair plans to restore the designated landmark that dates back to 1887.

“There will be a big focus on the bar, as Hawksmoor has twice been awarded “best international restaurant bar” at the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards. The restaurant will have 220 seats across the three floors and a 150-bottle wine list; the bar will have a separate menu.

“‘Chicago is one of the great cities of America,’ Beckett said. ‘We love the restaurant scene here, and we feel inspired by the beef history. We love the building. We love bringing beautiful old buildings back to life, and this old cable car powerhouse is one such building.’

“‘Great hospitality cities are driven by passion and a desire to look after people,’ Beckett said. ‘Those two things exist in spades in Chicago, a city we associate with artisanship and hospitality. We’re trying to build a world-class restaurant, and to make it a place where people can come enjoy what we do and feel comfortable and happy when they dine with us.’ (Bendersky, Crain’s Chicago Business, 3/23/23)

“The LaSalle Street Cable Car Powerhouse is a rare surviving artifact of Chicago’s cable car system, which at its peak in the 1890s was the largest in the country, operating thousands of cable cars over 82 miles of track. The powerhouse was built by the North Chicago Street Railroad Company organized by Charles Tyson Yerkes, the leading transit entrepreneur in Chicago during the late 19th century. At the height of his influence, Yerkes controlled eight separate street railway companies and 250 miles of track in the city.

“The powerhouse was constructed to house engines that moved two miles of cable through channels laid in streets on the Near North Side and in the Loop business district. Those cables, in turn, pulled the thousands of cable cars that, at the peak of their operation, brought approximately 100,000 workers into downtown Chicago each day. The LaSalle Street Cable Car Powerhouse helped make possible the rapid development of the city’s outlying North Side neighborhoods during one of the greatest boom periods in the history of Chicago.” (City of Chicago Landmarks Division)

"Tax incentives have been approved by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks for the redevelopment of the LaSalle Street Cable Car Powerhouse at 500 N LaSalle Drive in River North. Located on the northwest corner with W Illinois Street adjacent to the recently completed 448 N LaSalle office building, the structure will once again become a restaurant from an overseas operator. London-based Hawksmoor will convert the space into a new steakhouse with an undisclosed designer.

"The Class-L Property Tax Incentive itself will last for 12-years and facilitate the restaurant’s construction; with this their building assessments are reduced to 10-percent for the first 10-years, 15-percent for year 11, and 20-percent in year 12. As the restaurant prepares to commence construction on the property, no further information has been made public on the design but we can expect an opening in the first half of 2024." (Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 6/9/23)

"A 137-year-old Near West Side church was granted landmark status Wednesday following a City Council vote.

"Greater Union Baptist Church, 1956 W. Warren Blvd., was named a city landmark at the same meeting in which alderpeople also landmarked Promontory Point on the South Side.

"The church has stood since 1886 after members of the Church of the Redeemer congregation established themselves there. The congregation was founded in 1858 by A. C. Barry and comprised mostly Union soldiers and volunteers from the Civil War, taking a staunch abolitionist stance, according to the city’s report on preserving of the church.

"Ownership changed hands in 1928 after a Black Baptist congregation bought it for about $37,400 and turned it into the Greater Union Baptist Church. The church was active during the Civil Rights Movement, staying active in the NAACP and raising funds for victims of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, that killed four Black girls in 1963, officials said. Church members also supported a boycott of Chicago Public Schools to oppose racial segregation and overcrowding of schools.

"The building was designed by William Le Baron Jenney, the creator of the skyscraper. It has been their place of worship for the last 94 years. (Arline, Block Club Chicago, 4/19/23)

Preservation Chicago strongly supported the Chicago Landmark Designation for Greater Union Baptist Church. Preservation Chicago has worked with the Greater Union Baptist Congregation, Board of Directors, and both Pastor Dr. McCray and former pastor Willie Morris of Church, for over seven years towards the designation of the church as a Chicago Landmark.

We were grateful to assist the City of Chicago’s Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Planning and Development to capture oral histories of the Pastor and many of the longtime members of the Congregation. We are extremely grateful for this opportunity to assist with the Preliminary and later Final Landmark Recommendation and bring this great honor to this amazing West Side institution.

Special thanks to the DPD-Historic Preservation Staff, Pastor Dr. McCray and the many members of Great Union Baptist Church for their help, commitment, dedication and stewardship towards this important moment in our collective history.

"Starting June 2023, the Richard H. Driehaus Museum will begin renovation work on the John B. Murphy Memorial Auditorium at 50 E. Erie, an important part of the museum campus. Upon completion in February 2024, this new project will renew 32,000 square feet of former office space to create a dynamic new Learning Center with art and maker studios, a study center with classrooms, a library and archive, redesigned office spaces, seminar rooms, and an 800-square foot outdoor terrace on the top floor.

"The magnificent design of the main auditorium space on the ground floor is being restored to its original grandeur and enhanced with cutting-edge acoustics that will make it a world-class venue. The opening of the updated building will present a full suite of new programming tied to the Driehaus Museum’s strategic vision, along with a range of activities and events, both public and private, for the community. This renovation is in line with the Museum’s strategic plan to be a more active and visible part of our community.

"According to Interim Driehaus Executive Director Lisa Key, 'It is thrilling for us to embark upon this important renovation which will create a new Museum campus, offering visitors not only an incredible museum of art, architecture, and design, but now a newly rejuvenated auditorium that will add a vital and dynamic public space to the cultural campus in Chicago that will continue to increase the historical profile of this great city of architecture.'

"The Museum will remain open during the construction, and the Murphy’s historic exterior will remain intact with the renovation work enhancing the grandeur of its soaring interior. On the main floor, the seating area will be unified by levelling the floor, and new lighting and acoustics will improve the visitors’ experience. The Museum elevator will be closed for several months at the start of the project and the Museum will be making alternative arrangements for visitors who require access during this time.

"'It was a huge relief to learn about the Driehaus Museum expanding its campus into the adjacent Murphy Memorial. There are not many options for finding an appropriate re-use that would respect the historic character of such a monumentally scaled historic building while at same time providing a positive impact on the surrounding neighborhood,' said Tim Samuelson, the Cultural Historian Emeritus of the City of Chicago.

"'The Driehaus Museum has been a thoughtful community partner and valuable neighborhood asset for the past twenty years, and its expansion into the Murphy will make something great even greater!'

"Antunovich and Associates and Bulley & Andrews, both of whom were involved in the extensive renovation of the Nickerson Mansion from 2003-2008, are the architecture and building partners for the Museum. The Museum will be updating construction progress regularly via the website and its newsletter, which can be subscribed to at this link.

"Located at 50 E Erie, the six-story, 32,193-square-foot French Renaissance-style building which houses the Driehaus Museum was built between 1923 and 1926 by the American College of Surgeons. Designed by noted Chicago architects Benjamin Marshall and Charles E. Fox of Marshall and Fox, the Murphy was used originally to host meetings and serve as a center for education in surgery. Its iconic exterior is Marshall’s interpretation of the double-columned, two-story façade and flanking entry staircase of the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Consolation (1900) in Paris.

"The building features a pair of cast bronze doors designed by Tiffany Studios at the front entrance, comprised of six panels depicting prominent figures in the history of medicine. It also has a towering, multicolored stained-glass window inside the auditorium. It was built as a memorial to founding member John B. Murphy, MD, FACS. Dr. Murphy was regarded worldwide as the greatest clinical educator of his generation, and known for performing a life-saving surgery on President Theodore Roosevelt in 1912. (Driehaus Museum Murphy Memorial Auditorium Press Release, 5/15/23)

‘Each of these magnificent structures remind us of Chicago’s incredible architectural legacy and the city’s world-renowned built environment.’ said Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago. ‘These buildings also give us insight into the past, offering a sense of human scale and attention to detail, while displaying incredible craftsmanship. They are a visual reflection of the community’s historical development over time. The preservation of these buildings is a priceless legacy to Chicago.” (Driehaus Museum press release, 6/30/21)

"The Richard H. Driehaus Museum engages and inspires the global community through exploration and ongoing conversations in art, architecture, and design of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Its permanent collection and temporary exhibitions are presented in an immersive experience within the restored Samuel Mayo Nickerson Mansion, completed in 1883, at the height of the Gilded Age. The Museum’s collection reflects and is inspired by the collecting interests, vision, and focus of its founder, the late Richard H. Driehaus." (Driehaus Museum Murphy Memorial Auditorium Press Release, 5/15/23)

Ward Miller addresses members of the Cliff Dwellers Club and the Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse regarding the history and efforts to restore lighthouse and open it to visitors. Photo credit: Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere / Chicago Sun-Times

"A nonprofit organization wants to restore the aging Chicago Harbor Lighthouse and use the landmark as a teaching tool for younger generations, as well as attract more visitors to the city.

"Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse shared its vision for the icon of the city’s maritime history at a meeting this week. They envision a three-stage plan: The first is to allow boat tours to get visitors close to the site. Second is to restore the lighthouse so it’s safe enough for boats to dock and for people to go inside. And the last phase is to preserve and 'celebrate' the lighthouse with exhibits showcasing its history, in addition to restoring some rooms to their original condition.

"Kurt Lentsch, president of Friends of the Chicago Lighthouse, said schools and other organizations could become partners with the nonprofit to teach children about the city’s maritime history by visiting the site.

"'We want to ... reach out to those communities that are underserved and bring kids down to the lakefront, board a boat, take a ride down the lake, possibly for the first time in their life, and also go into the lighthouse and learn about the impact that lighthouse has made in the development of Chicago,' Lentsch said.

"Preservation architect Edward Torrez said there is also enough room at the location to create event space that could accommodate up to 150 people.

"'What we would like to do is preserve it, make it a public space for everyone, to learn about technology, engineering and navigation and the history of Chicago,' Torrez said. 'It really should be shared.'

"It’s been all but abandoned for decades. It still functions. But it’s been fully automated, no longer needing a lighthouse keeper, since the 1970s.

"The city has owned the lighthouse since the Coast Guard, National Park Service and General Services Administration signed off on handing over the deed in 2009 with an agreement the city would figure out a way to restore the deteriorating building for public use.

"But little to no work has been done on the lighthouse since. Several ideas to breathe life back into the building have surfaced in the last few years, including turning it into a luxury hotel, a museum with a cafe and a bed and breakfast.

"'It’s an important icon to the city of Chicago; we feel it should stay under public ownership,' Lentsch said, adding that city officials have expressed support for the group’s plan.

"But Lentsch said his group would most likely need to raise $3 million to $5 million to restore the lighthouse. Those numbers still need to be finalized by the preservation team, which is being assembled. The next step would be to ramp up fundraising." (Camarillo, Chicago Sun-Times, 5/24/23)

"Two more proposals to create affordable housing on LaSalle Street could get city funding.

"The proposals are part of an initiative to revitalize LaSalle Street in the Financial District by turning office buildings into residential units. Developers pitched ideas, and the city initially chose three in March — but two semi-finalists resubmitted their proposals and have been chosen to move forward and possibly get tax-increment finance funding.

"The final two picks are for 105 W. Adams St. and 30 N. LaSalle St.

"The five proposals need City Council approval to get the funding and move forward. If approved, they’ll create more than 1,600 housing units, with more than 600 of them affordable.

"The conversions could reduce upper-story commercial vacancies along the corridor by nearly 50 percent, officials said.

"'As LaSalle Street continues to evolve as one of the most distinguished and storied corridors in the Midwest, these conversions reaffirm the city’s support for innovative projects and improvements that reinforce its economic vitality for all Chicagoans,' Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a news release.

"The three other proposals are for projects at 111 W. Monroe St., 135 S. LaSalle St. and 208 S. LaSalle St. They are slated to create 1,059 apartments, 317 of them affordable, and will get $188 million in tax-increment finance funding.

"All five proposals will go through a review process with the city’s planning and housing departments, according to a news release. They will then move to the Community Development Commission and then City Council for final approval." (Mercado, Block Club Chicago, 5/9/23)

"The winning proposals total 1.6 million square feet of space and include:

Preservation Chicago encourages Chicago Landmark Designation for the LaSalle Street buildings that are not currently landmarks, including 111 W. Monroe and 105 W. Adams. Landmark designation would require a higher quality adaptive reuse, retention of the historic building features, and would help ensure these buildings qualify for millions of dollars of Historic Tax Credits.

"The Hotel Florence in the Pullman neighborhood has been in a kind of limbo since the state bought the Victorian-era landmark 32 years ago.

"Built in 1881 by railroad car manufacturer George M. Pullman to welcome guests to his new self-contained company town, the state in 1991 had plans to restore the hotel and make it a tourist attraction for the historic neighborhood.

"But the effort faced fits and starts — mostly fits — over the next three decades and was never completed.

"That could change Wednesday. That’s when the Illinois General Assembly’s Executive Committee is set to hear a bill that would allocate $21 million toward the hotel’s restoration. The bill also calls for the state to seek a private operator that would handle the hotel’s redevelopment and run the facility afterward.

"The Far South Side Pullman community has seen plenty of long-awaited successes lately. There’s the U.S. National Park Service turning the once-vacant former Pullman train factory at 11101 S. Cottage Grove Ave. into a beautifully restored visitors’ center in 2021, and the current commercial redevelopment of vacant industrial land on the north side of East 111th Street.

"Given those successes, the executive committee must follow suit and give the thumbs-up to the Hotel Florence bill, followed by the Senate and then Gov. J.B. Pritzker granting the measure quick passage and a signature.

"The Illinois Department of Natural Resources owns the Hotel Florence, 11111 S. Forrestville Ave. The state bought the building in 1991 from the Historic Pullman Foundation, which purchased the structure in 1975 to save it from demolition. In addition to the 1881 building, the hotel has a four-story annex that was built along 111th Street in 1914.

"The hotel has been open for tours on occasion. But if this latest effort is successful, guests could once again stay in the hotel, and its first floor restaurant — which had been operational off and on since the 1990s — would be revived as well. The state would retain ownership of the property.

"'With every administration, they promised and nothing gets delivered,' Smith said. 'Here we are now with an incredible opportunity.'

"If the bill becomes law, the state’s Department of Natural Resources would have the power to issue a request-for-proposals within six months, seeking a developer/operator for the hotel — including the annex — and the restaurant.

"But the end result would be a new, historic hotel and restaurant that is also a self-sustaining tourist destination that would complement the National Park Service’s efforts in Pullman. That’s good for the neighborhood, the South Side and the city itself. (Chicago Sun-Times, Editorial Board, 5/2/23)

Preservation Chicago has long advocated for the restoration and reactivation of the Hotel Florence. With all of the success of boutique hotels in historic buildings, Preservation Chicago would encourage the Hotel Florence to be faithfully restored and reopened as a highly authentic hotel or museum.

"One of Chicago’s oldest homes caught fire early Thursday, injuring a firefighter in the process. 

"The fire occurred at 631 N. Central Ave. with the roof suffering extensive damage, Fire Department officials said. The owner, civil rights attorney James Bowers, was asleep at home with his wife when the fire started. The couple managed to escape unharmed with their four cats, he said.

"Two neighbors across the street say they saw fire from the top of the roof around 1:30 a.m. Thursday, lasting for roughly an hour.

"Fire Department officials said one firefighter was hospitalized and is in good condition. No other injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is not yet known, officials said.

"The home was built by abolitionist Seth Warner in 1869 and designated last year as a Chicago landmark.

"Bowers said the home has some damage to the roof and water damage to the third floor. The family also lost some antiques and case files, he said. The home is temporarily uninhabitable due to smoke damage, but Bowers said he expects to restore it.

"'I was happy to preserve it,' Bowers said. 'After awhile, you learn it’s more about the process of meeting new people.”'

"Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago, said he is relieved the home is still standing.

"He worked with Bowers to establish the Warner House as a landmark in 2021, believing it is an important part of the neighborhood and city’s history as one of the 12 homes predating the Great Chicago Fire.

"'This was a terrible disaster, but luckily nobody was hurt,' Miller said. 'This building is so important to the community of Austin. James continues that great history.'

"Bowers said he believes the total cost to restore the home could be around $50,000. Bowers and Miller said insurance and funding thanks to the home’s landmark designation could lessen the burden.

"Miller said he hopes the block can be designated as a landmark district and will lobby with 29th Ward Ald. Chris Taliaferro and neighbors to bring about the change.

"Being a landmark in Chicago’s music scene was timely to Miller as The Warehouse, the birthplace of house music, was also designated as a landmark earlier this year." (Arline, Block Club Chicago, 6/15/23)

"While Warner built the house after the Civil War, it may be the only remaining physical reminder of his aid to the abolitionist cause, because his music hall that hosted several anti-slavery events was destroyed by the 1871 fire.

"In 1851, Warner, a blacksmith who was white, built Warner’s Hall at Clark and Dearborn next to his shop. Two years later, the hall was the site of the three-day First Convention of the Colored Citizens of the State of Illinois.

"Frederick Douglass spoke at the convention on Friday evening. The text of his speech was not preserved, but it’s likely to have been along the same lines of his speech a few weeks later in downstate Princeton, where he said, “You must abolish slavery or be abolished by slavery.”

"The hall hosted an 1854 meeting of Free Soil Party supporters to oppose the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and an 1863 meeting to encourage African-American men to join the Union Army, according to according to historical research that Preservation Chicago and the Chicago Department of Planning & Development prepared ahead of the landmarking." (Rodkin, Crain's Chicago Business, 6/15/23)

We are relived that the fire was quickly contained and damage limited. However, the damage caused from fire and smoke damage, and from water damage will require a significant effort to repair. Preservation Chicago worked diligently for many years with the homeowners Jim Bowers and Cynthia Weaver towards the Chicago Landmark Designation of the Seth Warner House. To accelerate the landmarking process, Preservation Chicago contributed to the research and writing necessary to generate the Landmark Designation Report. We will now shift our efforts to help them secure the necessary funding to restore this important early home with an incredible Chicago history.

We applaud owners Jim Bowers and Cynthia Weaver for making the decision to pursue a Landmark Designation. They have been outstanding stewards of this early and important Chicago home. Hopefully this Landmark Designation will enable them to generate the necessary funding to recover from this fire and to fully restore the building. We also hope that their leadership will encourage neighbors in Austin to consider a Landmark District to protect many of the other early homes nearby.

"The effort to turn the former home of blues great Muddy Waters into a museum got its biggest financial boost to date, a $1.1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation.

"The grant will go toward restoring the basement level, which will become the main exhibit space in the red brick two-flat at 4339 S. Lake Park Ave., and 'will catapult us to the next level in the project,' Chandra Cooper, great granddaughter of the musician and president of Muddy Waters Mojo Museum, wrote in an email to Crain’s.

"Coming from one of the nation’s biggest funders of arts and humanities projects, a foundation with a reported endowment of $6.1 billion, the money is a vote of confidence 'in this project and the importance of blues and the Muddy Waters legacy,' Cooper wrote. McKinley Morganfield, who used the stage name Muddy Waters, was 'a sharecropper with an American dream who became a worldwide, legendary singer,' Cooper wrote.

"In 2022, the museum got $366,000 in grants from the city for renovations: $250,000 for the exterior and about $116,000 for the interior. Those followed a $50,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to start renovations. The building had not been occupied for more than a decade before Cooper’s effort to create a museum began several years ago. The photo at the top of this story is from before renovations began.

"The Mellon grant 'is monumental proof that the story we want to tell and share about Muddy Waters, Chicago blues and the history of the blues is relevant and timeless,' Cooper wrote in the email. The story of a young Black man coming up to Chicago during the Great Migration and pioneering a new, influential style of music 'is not only African American history, it’s definitely a part of the American story,' she wrote.

"Mississippi-born McKinley Morganfield bought the red-brick two-flat in 1954 and lived there until the late 1970s, when he moved with his children to Westmont. It remains in the family’s hands 69 years after he bought it.

"While living on Lake Park Avenue, Muddy Waters had his biggest musical successes, including three singles that reached highest on the R&B charts: 'I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man,' 'Mannish Boy' and 'Just Make Love to Me.'

"Cooper has spent the past few years shepherding the house through the process of getting it declared a city landmark and cultivating financial support for the museum. She has not yet announced an opening date for the museum."' (Rodkin, Crain's Chicago Business, 6/8/23)

Preservation Chicago applauds 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 Ms. Cooper is receiving the recognition and support necessary to make the MOJO Muddy Waters House Museum a reality. She is a visionary and dedicated leader and we will continue to support her and this this effort until the MOJO Museum celebrates its grand opening. We're equally thrilled that the long-endangered Muddy Waters home has been recognized with a Chicago Landmark Designation and that the necessary funding support has gained momentum to make the dream a reality.

Preservation Chicago worked very closely with Ms. Cooper to help navigate the many steps to achieve her goals. We 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 advocated to encourage the City of Chicago to sell the adjacent vacant lot to that it could be used as a garden for the MOJO Museum.

"A Mediterranean house in South Shore has survived two developers’ demolition plans in recent decades" but may not survive this third attempt.

"In 2007, a developer planned to replace the house and another building on the site with a 19-story, 128-condo building and three attached townhouses, a plan that was scaled down from the developer’s initial plan to build a 30-story tower on the site.

"That plan fizzled, and in 2017 a different development firm proposed a seven-story building with 24 units. That plan also failed to move forward.

"In March 2023, city officials made two related moves on the property, at 6740 S. South Shore Drive, across the street from the South Shore Cultural Center’s golf course.

"On March 16, the city’s law department began foreclosure proceedings against the owner, citing code violations. Then on March 29, when the owner submitted a demolition application, the planning and development department put it on the 90-day delay list for review of potential historical or architectural value." (Rodkin, Crain's Chicago Business, 4/18/23)

6740 S. South Shore Drive was built for Hyman S. (H.S.) Flaxman in 1927 and designed by architect Roy Walter Stott.

Harold Meitus, his wife Edith, and their three children lived at 6740 S. South Shore Drive in the 1950s. He served as the vice president and a trustee of the Rodfei Zedek synagogue in Hyde Park. Meitus was the founder and president of Superior Match Company where he pioneered the idea of using matchbook covers as a miniature billboard for advertisers. Promotional matchbooks used in hotels, restaurants, resorts and all types of businesses throughout Chicago. Several other matchbook businesses were acquired over time giving Superior Match Company access to clients across the county.

With his financial success, Mr. Meitus and the Meitus Family became prominent philanthropists. After relocated to the Near North Side in 1968, Mr. Meitus donated his property and home to the Akiba Jewish Day School. He financially supported the construction of the school building on the southern half of the property, and continued to provide ongoing support for school operations. When the school eventually closed due to dwindling enrollment, Meitus supported the transition of the buildings into a school for children with special needs. This provided essential services for children that needed support beyond what Chicago Public Schools could provide at that time.

Since being added to the 90-Day Demolition Delay in late March, Preservation Chicago has been working with urgency to advocate for the building. We have conducted historic research, outreached to community partners, contacted elected and city officials, and are working towards a preservation-oriented alternative that could spare 6740 S. South Shore Drive from the wrecking ball.

The foreclosure proceedings and building code violations suggest that the owner is seeking to demolish the historic building in an effort reduce holding costs while land banking this large parcel with potential for a tall building with lake views.

Preservation Chicago strongly opposes demolition of historic structures for land banking. We have long advocated for the City of Chicago to issue demolition permits simultaneously with construction permits.

"A second home built in the 1890s on the 5500 block of South Woodlawn Avenue is slated for demolition, leading neighbors to push again for the protection of a strip of historic Hyde Park homes.

"Predating Hyde Park’s annexation into Chicago, the block was built out during the early days of the University of Chicago bringing in top faculty. Over the years, it has hosted a number of notable Hyde Parkers.

"'This is really just a waste, to see this building on Woodlawn demolished and replaced with something which oftentimes is substandard to what’s present on the site,' said Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago. Miller noted that this block of Woodlawn has been a longstanding concern for the group. 'This is a landmark district in waiting,' he said.

"The house, 5545 S. Woodlawn Ave., sold in January for $1.4 million to Champ Enterprises and was purchased with a $1.12 million mortgage, according to files from the Cook County Recorder of Deeds. A demolition permit was issued on May 17. As of press time, it was not clear exactly when the demolition would take place.

"The Woodlawn home was built in 1894 by architect Dewitt Taylor Kennard, who was trained under Joseph Lyman Silsbee, the first employer of Frank Lloyd Wright, according to preservation historian Andrew Elders. The home was built for artist Hugo Olof von Hofsten, a Swedish immigrant who worked as an illustrator for newspapers in Chicago and New York. He also excelled in portraiture and landscape painting, exhibiting works locally.

"Its most recent owner was the son of Allison Kate Hartman, a Hyde Park auto mechanic, lawyer and community activist. Hartman was a second-generation owner of the house, inheriting it from her parents, James Lea Cate and Frances Cate. James Lea Caet was a military veteran and U. of C. history professor.

"According to Preservation Chicago, the house has also hosted Enrico Fermi, the famous nuclear age physicist, and writer Saul Bellow, among others.

"The four-bedroom, 3,100-square-foot Georgian house’s interior is run down in sections, but includes many original features like its living room, staircase, wood paneling and ceiling beams, according to Crain’s. The outer facade is brick, and is topped with a pediment and medallion window. Pillars hold up a second, smaller pediment over the front stoop.

"The Kenwood portion of Woodlawn Avenue, from 47th to 51st streets, is protected from demolition or non-historic facade alterations as part of the landmarked Kenwood Historic District established in 1979. Historic homes in Hyde Park between 55th and 58th streets remain unprotected. (Kenwood is also home to another landmarked district, the North Kenwood Multiple Resource District).

"'Woodlawn Avenue is the main street of Hyde Park,' said Hyde Park Historical Society (HPHS) Preservation Committee Chair Jack Spicer. 'It’s an extremely unique three-block run of late 19th-century, early 20th-century houses. There’s nothing quite like it in the rest of the city … If the current real estate pressure increases, houses on those three blocks could begin dropping like dominoes.'

"In 2012, the Woodlawn Homeowners Association pushed to establish a landmark district, or a 'Woodlawn Avenue Corridor,' on the street. Though more than half of affected property owners were in favor of it, the proposal never reached the Chicago Landmarks Commission.

"'There’s just never never been the political will to do a landmark district within Hyde Park,' Miller said. 'Previous elected officials have frowned upon that.' Residents have reached out to new 5th Ward Ald. Desmon Yancy for his support.

"Miller said Preservation Chicago has reached out to the owners to talk to them about the alternatives to a full demolition, noting the tax benefits and other incentives associated with landmarking." (Pharo, Hyde Park Herald, 5/26/23)

"Opportunities like this don't come very often! This historical masterpiece is ready for its new owners and design. This truly is the opportunity of a lifetime. Create your dream home with this amazingly built piece of history. Built in 1910, owned by the same family for over 80 years. In the most prime location of Hyde Park, 5545 S Woodlawn has hosted some of the most famous people in history. From Enrico Fermi to authors Saul Bellow and Norman Maclean, to University President Robert Maynard Hutchins, and so many more.

"This massive 4 bedroom, 2-1/2 bath has so much opportunity. Original hardwood, woodwork, doors, and untouched layout. Main floor grand entrance allows you to feel the history rushing towards you. Both main floor and 2nd floor offer 10ft ceilings. Main floor front room can be a great office. 3rd floor attic can be dormer into another level of living. Full basement can be converted into an English basement, with current plumbing for a bathroom. Gigantic yard leads you to a newer 3 car garage. If you want history, location, and super close to the University and the Hospital, and all that Hyde Park offers, this is your next project. Home sold As-Is." (5545 S Woodlawn Ave Listing)

"May 9, 2023

Archdiocese of Chicago, 835 N. Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611

His Eminence, Blase Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago

Ms. Betsy Bohlen, COO of the Archdiocese of Chicago

Mr. Eric Wollan, Chief Capital Assets Officer of the Archdiocese of Chicago

"I am writing to you as the Alderman of the 20th Ward to express my concern surrounding the situation at the Shrine of Christ the King, one of our Ward's architectural treasures and a congregation that is a valued part of our community. As you know, my predecessors in this office have been committed to the preservation of the Shrine/St. Gelasius/St. Clara as a local Landmark and neighborhood anchor. When I was elected in 2019, I was delighted to see the continuing restoration progress underway at the Shrine, and I felt assured of the continued success of this inspiring renovation.

"Since the summer, I have been deeply concerned by your administration's decision to suppress the lnstitute's ability to operate at the Shrine. The Institute and the ever-growing congregation of Shrine faithful have been an integral part of the 20th Ward since they first arrived at the prior Cardinal's invitation in 2003. They have taken on a challenging project in restoring the Shrine and have demonstrated a remarkable capacity to attract both people and resources into an area with a very small Catholic population. While many Shrine faithful may not live in Woodlawn, we know that the Shrine is their spiritual home, and we consider them a vital pa1i of our community.

"Shrine faithful bring welcome dollars to our local coffee shops, restaurants, and small businesses. In addition, the restoration of the Shrine itself has attracted a significant amount of resources to a pa1i of our City which, as you know, is sorely underserved. It has been inspiring for my constituents to see that both individual donors and prestigious organizations like the National Fund for Sacred Places consider their neighborhood worth investing in rather than divesting from. I know they share my concern that the instability introduced into the Institute's position at the Shrine by your administration's decision last summer will deter donors in the future and cut the Shrine off from the further millions it needs to be a fully functional and operational building up to City of Chicago code.

"On behalf of my constituents, I am asking your administration to restore confidence in the Shrine's restoration by allowing the Institute to operate according to the terms of your original agreement with them. I am hopeful that the Shrine's restoration may continue to flourish.

"Sincerely,

Jeanette Taylor

20th Ward Alderwoman City of Chicago"

The Belden Stratford, 1923, Meyer Fridstein, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West. Photo credit: Alex Krikhaar, Vinci Hamp Architects

"Four and a half years after buying the venerable but fading Belden Stratford Hotel, Joe Mansueto's team is reopening it with a new look that takes it back a century, with recreated details from the lobby to the mansard roof.

"In late 2018, Mansueto Office bought the old grande dame at 2300 N. Lincoln Park West for about $105 million. In the years since, the firm has spent roughly another $100 million on the project, according to Ari Glass, the firm’s head of real estate who showed a Crain’s reporter around in advance of a June 7 grand opening.

"The work has entailed recreating gilt trim, ceiling murals and other features of the Louis XIV-style lobby, removing mirrored walls that blocked off mezzanine spaces and replacing hundreds of latter-day black-framed windows with new models framed in the same blue as some of the original terra cotta trim. A staircase that cut open the lobby to provide access to retailers in the basement was removed, reuniting the lobby as a sort of grand salon for residents. Also gone is a second floor that had been added to the old ballroom space in order to add apartments; the former ballroom is now a workout space with windows two stories high that look out on Lincoln Park.

"'We made the decision that in any space where there was no historical fabric, we went contemporary,' said Alex Krikhaar, a principal at Vinci Hamp, the firm that handled the historic preservation aspects of the building. SCB is the architect of record for the overall project.

"Restoring the lobby, whose last major renovation was in the late 1980s, involved a fair amount of 'archeological research,' Krikhaar says. Original photos of the lobby were in black & white, so colors couldn’t be determined that way. Serendipity played a part. Removing very-80s pinkish fabric panels from some of the lobby walls revealed that the original wood paneling and some other details were intact. Similarly, taking out side walls that flanked the entry stairs unearthed original marble. The architects hunted down matches for these unearthed materials.

"Designed by architect Myer Fridstein during a wave of new apartment hotels built in the 1920s this one was, according to historian Julia Bachrach, meant to be 'one of the North Side’s most elegant buildings,' with a mansard roof, or rounded roof cap, that gave it 'a distinctly French flair.'

"The mansard, it turns out, held onto some clues for a century until the latest architecture team detected them. When Mansueto bought the building, nearly all its windows had black frames. But up near the top of the building were a few where the frames showed some blue paint, Krikhaar said. Combining that clue with the sight of old blue terra cotta trim between some windows sparked the realization that all the windows had originally been framed in blue.

"The mansard has purple tile and carved stone flourishes. The remnants of blue 'told us it had been a polychromatic building, blue with purple,' Krikhaar said. 'Polychromatic was popular in the 1920s.' All the windows are now framed in blue." (Rodkin, Crain's Chicago Business, 6/6/23)

"Movie studios and production companies that need space in Chicago to shoot their next show will soon have a new option: the Fields Studios on the Northwest Side.

"Construction of the $250 million project at a former Marshall Field's warehouse is underway, and its developer, New York-based Knickpoint Ventures, said today that the studios should open in the first quarter of 2024.

"The studios, which will include nine sound stages, will eventually employ 600 to 800 people and will improve Chicago's standing as a destination for movie studios and production companies, said Zain Kolta, founder and managing partner of Knickpoint.

"'This is a piece of infrastructure that the city and state really needed,' he said. 'We think it's an incredible economic development tool.'

"Demand for studio space has surged over the past decade or so as Netflix, Amazon Prime and other content producers ramp up production to satisfy the ravenous appetites of binge-watching consumers. They can rent space at Cinespace and other studios in Chicago, but demand is outpacing supply, creating room for new studios. In South Shore, a group led by Derek Dudley, a producer of 'The Chi' television series, is building a film studio that also would employ hundreds of people.

"Though Chicago has been a popular destination for location shooting for a long time, it needs to catch up with cities like New York and Los Angeles on indoor studio production, Kolta said. With more studios, the city's film production industry can employ more people who work on sets, a diverse workforce that includes camera operators, lighting technicians and makeup and wardrobe specialists.

"The Fields Studios are part of a much larger redevelopment of the former Marshall Field's campus, a sprawling 1.5-million-square-foot complex at 4000 W. Diversey Ave. Some of the warehouse space at the property, now called the Fields, already has been converted into apartments and office space leased to tenants including Crate & Barrel and Federal Savings Bank.

"'We've been in touch with basically every major studio in the U.S.,' Kolta said. 'The reception has been great. People love the design. They love the location.' (Gallun, Crain's Chicago Business, 5/22/23)

The Marshall Field’s Warehouse is located at Diversey Avenue and Pulaski Road on 22 acres. The 1.5 million square foot complex includes six concrete and red brick buildings. Adaptively reused in 2018, it was renamed The Fields.

“It’s a gorgeous building with 24-inch-round columns and 14- to 17-foot ceiling heights. We’re going to save as many of the original elements as we can. The building reeks of character.” said John McLinden, Hubbard Street’s Group founder and managing partner." (Ori, Chicago Tribune, 1/12/18)

The building was originally built for the Olson Rug Company in 1928, This is also the historic site of the much beloved and missed Olson Rug Park and Waterfall built in 1935. This park featured an elaborate illuminated rock garden and 35-foot waterfall, which made it a popular Chicago attraction.

The waterfall and park were dismantled in 1970 after the site was sold to Marshall Fields in 1965. It was used by Marshall Field and later Macy’s until 2008. After a period of vacancy, it was sold for redevelopment in 2014.

During the period of vacancy, Preservation Chicago was actively working towards a preservation sensitive outcome. We had numerous meetings with former 31st Ward Alderman Ray Suarez when Macy’s announced they were closing the facility to encourage possible Chicago Landmark Designation and to consider an adaptive reuse of the site for residential and affordable housing within these immense fireproof buildings.

“‘It’s a jewel on the prairie,’ Lee Bey said.

“We love the building,” said Gordon Ziegenhagen, Draper & Kramer’s senior vice president.” (Bey, Chicago Sun-Times, 7/2/22)

"Renovation work has completed for the Lake Meadows Pavilion at 467 E 31st Street in Bronzeville. The newly-modernized building, owned and originally built by Draper & Kramer, has evolved from its initial role as the Lake Meadows Professional Building to what will now be open office layout.

"Originally designed by SOM and constructed in 1959, the International Style structure functioned as office spaces for the Illinois Bell telephone company and later transitioned into professional offices for the Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center. It was previously advertised that commercial units ranging from 1,500 square feet up to the building’s full capacity of 26,124 square feet were available for lease. Now, it has been confirmed that Howard Brown Health will be the building’s leasing office tenant

"The restoration of the Lake Meadows Pavilion, managed by Johnson & Lee Architects, encompassed a variety of upgrades and modifications including a new glass storefront and a fresh white painted exterior. The project saw the incorporation of a new electrical service and distribution system, and a roof with energy code-compliant insulation. Additionally, both a through-lobby and elevator were integrated into the structure. One key feature of the restoration was the renovation of the “floating” stairs that were part of the original interior." (Crawford, Chicago YIMBY, 5/21/23)

"A long-drawn-out plan to revive the decaying Congress Theater faces another major setback as the developer could lose millions in critical city funding.

"Baum Revision is asking the city for $27 million in tax-increment financing (TIF) to overhaul the historical Congress Theater at 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave. and the surrounding retail shops and apartments. Development officials have said the city funding is crucial to pulling off the $88 million project, which has struggled for years to get off the ground for financial reasons.

"But now that key funding is in limbo because the Fullerton/Milwaukee TIF district, the source of that money, is set to expire next year, according to Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st) and David Baum, principal of Baum Revision. TIF funds must be spent on eligible projects within a certain timeframe, or the money is no longer available.

"La Spata is scrambling to save the highly-anticipated project by extending the terms of the Logan Square TIF district for another three years. The Illinois General Assembly approved a 12-year extension in late May, but La Spata said he will only request another three years on the TIF when he brings the proposal to the full City Council for final approval.

"'It is not hyperbolic to say that the Congress Theater development does not happen without the extension of the TIF,' La Spata said in an interview with Block Club.

"Tax-increment financing districts capture new property tax growth in a designated area for a set period of time, usually 20 years or more, and divert it into a special fund for projects designed to spur economic development and eradicate blight.

"Baum said an extension is necessary because they don’t have nearly enough time to do the ambitious preservation project under the current terms of the TIF, which requires all projects using those dollars to wrap by the end of 2024.

"'The approval process took us to a point where the work can’t be completed in that timeframe, and without those funds, we don’t have a project,' Baum said in an email.

Baum’s development proposal was held up for months over a “good jobs” agreement between AEG, the theater operator, and local union UNITE HERE Local 1. Then former South Side Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza temporarily blocked the proposal over labor concerns in March.

"A labor agreement has since been reached, and a key city panel is expected to vote on the plans this month, but City Council now needs to sign off on extending the TIF district for the project to move forward, La Spata said.

"'We’re not seeking any more money than what’s in the redevelopment agreement — we’re only seeking more time,' the alderman said.

"Baum took control of the project in 2021, hoping to finally restore the 2,900-seat 1920s music venue back to its former glory.

"The developer’s plans also include roughly 5,400 square feet of retail and restaurant space along Milwaukee Avenue and Rockwell Street, 16 apartments and affordable offices and work space on the second and third floors. Fourteen of the apartments would be reserved as affordable housing." (Bloom, Block Club Chicago, 6/6/23)

"A preliminary permit for interior demolition has been granted in preparation for the revitalization of the Cameron Building at 240 N Ashland Avenue in the Near West Side. Situated on the southwest corner at the intersection with W Fulton Street, the historic clocktower building has been vacant for several years and is now proposed as the new headquarters for local incubator mHUB. The non-profit organization is driving the initiative, while Gensler is now confirmed as the project architect.

"Constructed in 1926, Cameron Building was designed by Thielbar and Fugard in the Prairie Style and functioned as a manufacturing plant for the Cameron Can Company for many years. It later housed the headquarters for Crate & Barrel’s CB2 until 2019.

"mHUB plans to relocate from its current 63,000-square-foot facility at 965 W Chicago Avenue in River West to the larger 80,000-square-foot building as its existing lease is set to expire next year. The manufacturing-centric incubator has been responsible for 410 patents, 3,900 new jobs, and millions in capital raised for its affiliated companies. Today the structure remains a prominent focal point when looking west along Fulton Street.

"mHUB is expected to invest approximately $32 million in purchasing the property and an additional $14 million in adapting it to suit its requirements. This will allow for the relocation of nearly $6 million worth of prototyping equipment, 10 labs, a micro-factory, and other facilities that host over 50 entrepreneurial and technical classes for more than 600 members.

"The approved plan will allocate $17.5 million in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) from the Kinzie Industrial Corridor, as well as $9.5 million in state funds, to help realize their vision for the three-story building, including the restoration of the clock tower as reported by Crain’s Chicago.

"The interior demolition permit has listed Executive Construction as the general contractor, with this initial stage reported to cost $250,000. With mHUB having just purchased the site, the project is anticipated to be completed later this year, allowing the incubator to move in before the expiration of their current lease." (Crawford, Chicago YIMBY, 5/4/23)

"As part of this significant investment of public funds, Preservation Chicago strongly encourages the City of Chicago to consider Chicago Landmark designation for the Cameron Building / Cook Brothers Building. This building is a strong candidate for designation considering its design by notable architects and significant building history.

This is an excellent use of for this historic loft warehouse building. Preservation Chicago strongly encourages the use of city funds to restore and reactivate Chicago Landmarks and landmark-eligible buildings. We additionally encourage Chicago Landmark designation status be a requirement for eligibility for the significant investment of public funds.

"The Austin community celebrated Wednesday as construction started on the $40.9 million Aspire Center, a business development hub.

"Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) and other officials broke ground on the site at 5500 W. Madison Ave. The center will be at the former Emmet Elementary School, which closed in 2013, and it’s expected to be done in 2024.

"The center will be an advanced manufacturing training center, business incubator, community hub and spot for events, according to a city news release. It’s expected to create 50 permanent jobs and be used to train 2,000 workers in the next five years, according to the city.

"The city signed off on $12.25 million in tax-increment financing for the center in mid-April, and the state is providing another $10 million for the project.

"The center is part of the Aspire Initiative, which is focused on investing in buildings and infrastructure in Austin to revitalize its housing stock, schools, businesses and more.

"The Aspire Initiative was created by Austin Coming Together and the Westside Health Authority to build upon the Austin Quality-of-Life plan. Planners have said the project could include amenities like a café, a financial service center and a grocery store.

"Darnell Shields, executive director of Austin Coming Together, said he was a student at Emmet and its closure was an erasure of the community’s history. He is excited to extend the school’s legacy in a different way, he said.

"The project’s architect is the Lamar Jackson Collaborative. West Side Health Authority and Austin Coming Together will co-manage the facility when it’s done.

"'This project was more than just about writing checks and laying bricks,' Lightfoot said. 'Government alone can’t fix disinvestment, but we need partners in the private sector to do their part as well. If our neighborhoods are starving, we are not an equitable city.'

"A new legal squabble has erupted over the Pittsfield Building, with an out-of-town investor suing to thwart a court-approved sale of his stake in the star-crossed East Loop landmark.

"The recent sale of 30 of the 40 floors in the high-rise at 55 E. Washington St. could mark the end of a troubled era for a property that has included a bankruptcy, multiple lawsuits and aborted deals, along with an international financial scandal. Nearly a century old, the Pittsfield badly needs a makeover after suffering from years of neglect.

"A venture led by Tom Liravongsa, an investor from Grand Rapids, Mich., acquired the Pittsfield space through a foreclosure sale in late April. An unknown in Chicago real estate circles, Liravongsa is managing partner of L’Cre Partners, an investment boutique that specializes in real estate and other alternative investments, according to its website.

"Now, the question is whether Liravongsa has the creativity, fortitude and money to get the job done. He already faces one obstacle: a lawsuit by the former owner of the space, a venture led by Chinese-Canadian business mogul Xiao Hua “Edward” Gong. Filed in Cook County Circuit Court in early April, before the sale closed, the complaint asks a judge to block the transaction, alleging it was improper and accusing the court-appointed receiver who arranged it of a variety of shenanigans.

"Judge Celia Horan did not step in to stop the sale, but case is proceeding. If the suit drags on, it could stall any redevelopment plan, leaving the Pittsfield in its current state of disrepair.

"For now, however, Liravongsa’s venture owns all but floors 13 through 21 in the Pittsfield. The former office space is mostly gutted, waiting to be redeveloped. Previous developers proposed a hotel and residential units for the space; given the continued strength of the apartment market, rental housing could make the most sense there now. Apartments fill the other floors in the building, which are owned by Chicago-based Marc Realty.

"It will take a major investment to turn around the Pittsfield. Designed by Graham Anderson Probst & White in a hybrid art deco and Gothic style, the high-rise was the tallest building in the city when it opened in 1927. It is 'one of Chicago's finest 1920s-era skyscrapers, built during the decade when the city's distinctive tower-pierced downtown skyline first began to take shape,' according to a 2001 report recommending a landmark designation for the property." (Gallun, Crain's Chicago Business, 5/15/23)

"A Far South Side arts group is hoping to repurpose a long-vacant, dilapidated historical home in the Dan Ryan Woods as their new headquarters, as neighbors push to stop the building from being torn down.

"The Eugene S. Pike House, inside the National Register-listed Ridge Historic District at 1826 W. 91st St, has been vacant for years. Landmarks Illinois listed it as one of the state’s most endangered properties last year, saying it needs an outside investor to bring it back to life.

"It was originally built in the late-19th century for Eugene S. Pike, a prominent Chicago real estate developer who was instrumental in rebuilding the city after the Great Chicago Fire. Its architect, Henry Hale Waterman, was a noted prairie school architect who worked with the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright, George Maher and other prominent house designers of the late 1800s and early 1900s.

"The agency issued a request for expressions of interest, a more informal solicitation than a traditional request for proposals, in April 2022 as a way to potentially prevent demolition.

Far South Side historical and preservation organizations are pushing to keep the house standing.

“The Pike House is a unique structure with its red sandstone and adds a lot of presence and character to the neighborhood,” Debbie Nemeth, president of the Beverly-based Ridge Historical Society, told Block Club.

"Pike House Foundation, a separate entity from the Ridge Historical Society and Beverly Area Planning Association, previously teamed up to organize to preserve the house. Mati Maldre, a board member, was among a group of people invited to tour the building when its preservation came into greater focus in recent months.

"The Beverly Area Arts Alliance wants to use the building as a 'home base,' complete with artist galleries and events. The Pike House Foundation is working with them on finding the funding to renovate and maintain the building long-term.

"'The Pike House is an excellent location to host artists, musicians and writers in residence, and invite the community to gallery exhibitions, workshops, concerts, readings and more. The Alliance can serve as an arts partner, activating the space to coincide with and support other uses as well, such as a special event space, yoga studio, rehearsal space for musicians or educational or community gathering space.'

"But the primary motivation of the Forest Preserve is to preserve open space, and a structure like the Pike House doesn’t necessarily fall into that category.

"'When the Forest Preserves of Cook County acquires land, we understand that some properties include buildings that have a history,' Carl Vogel, communications director for the Forest Preserve, said in a statement. 'That said, the mission of the Forest Preserves is to protect and preserve natural open space for public use, education and enjoyment. We are not able to spend deeply on building restoration that does not align with this mission.'

"This time around, Vogel said the Forest Preserve appreciates 'the enthusiasm in the community to restore the Pike House. We have worked and continue to work to find a way to preserve this building while investing within our mission.'" (Moran, Block Club Chicago, 6/7/23)

"The city has signed off on a developer’s plan to replace a Wilson Avenue retail building with an apartment complex, the third time a developer has tried to build on the site.

"The Zoning Board of Appeals on Friday approved plans to replace the single-story retail strip at 1359 W. Wilson Ave. with a 28-unit apartment building. With the vote, the project has final approval after years of developers eyeing the property.

"Plans call for a five-story building to be erected at the corner of Wilson Avenue and Dover Street. There will be a mix of one- and two-bedroom units and a first-floor parking garage with 25 parking spots and 18 bike racks.

The project did not need a rezoning, but developers Ayman Khalil and Kareem Musawwir sought zoning variances to build closer to the property lines and increase the maximum height allowed from 60 feet to 66 feet, records show. The Zoning Board of Appeals approved those variances Friday.

"Because the project did not need a rezoning, it will not be required to include affordable units. The city’s affordability requirement only kicks in when a rezoning is required, if it was a former city-owned lot or if the project gets financial support from the city.

"The existing building at 1359 W. Wilson Ave. — known to neighbors as the Happy Wash building — is home to The Mukase African Restaurant." (Ward, Block Club Chicago, 4/26/23)

Preservation Chicago and community preservation partners strongly oppose the demolition of the ornate terra cotta building at 1359 W. Wilson Ave. In return for the zoning approval, the developer should have been required to retain and incorporate the historic one-story terra cotta façade into the new construction.

"Our Lady of Victory, located at 5212 W. Agatite Ave, is the oldest Catholic parish on the Northwest Side, said Susanna Ernst, the president of the Northwest Chicago Historical Society. She is also the president of Save OLV, the organization that fought to overturn the archdiocese’s decree.

"Ernst, who has been a parishioner at Our Lady of Victory since 2006, said the deep community ties to the church and the fact that the church was solvent and not in debt made the decree “a hard pill to swallow.

"'There were people that were sobbing' when the church closed, Ernst said, 'because they’d been going to the church for generations — their parents, their grandparents, their great-grandparents, sometimes their great-great-grandparents.'

"When the archdiocese decreed Our Lady of Victory would be closed, parishioners began appealing to save their church as they knew it. First, they appealed the consolidation of Our Lady of Victory with other local churches, which was denied by both the Archdiocese of Chicago and later the Vatican.

"The last Mass at Our Lady of Victory Church was celebrated in November 2021.

"After the later decree that the church would be deconsecrated in addition to being closed, the parish tried again. They were denied by the Archdiocese of Chicago, but were ultimately successful at the highest level — the Vatican.

"'We went through the decree, and we refuted every line,' Ernst said of the appeal to the Vatican. The decree cited factors like declining attendance and financial woes.

"On April 11, the archdiocese announced the initial decree was revoked for now. Archdiocese spokesperson Susan Thomas told the Sun-Times the matter will be revisited next month. The decree was revoked because the meetings to discuss the fate of the church took place over Zoom, not in-person.

"Ernst added that Our Lady of Victory, which was built in 1906, is more than just a house of worship. It is a historical landmark in a neighborhood that has few remaining.

"'The idea that one of the few beautiful, wonderful historic spaces that we have could see the wrecking ball, that is devastating to me,' Ernst said.

"If the decree is reinstated, Ernst said, the historical society will pursue landmark status for the building." (Odom, Chicago Sun-Times, 4/24/23)

"The Sears department store at 4712 W Irving Park Road in Portage Park continues to undergo a significant transformation, as the $90 million, six-story mixed-use redevelopment project takes shape. Led by Novak Construction as both developer and general contractor, the project will offer 50,000 square feet of retail space and 206 residential units. According to a February article by Block Club Chicago, Target will be the anchor tenant for the retail component.

"The reimagined building will feature various residential layouts, ranging from studios to two-bedroom units. Many of these units will boast high ceilings and loft spaces. In compliance with the city’s ARO guidelines, Novak will provide six on-site affordable units and contribute $2 million to the Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund. Additional amenities include a rooftop lounge, an outdoor pool deck, and 275 parking spaces for residents and retail patrons.

"The original Sears department store, built in 1938, was designed by the Chicago-based architectural firm Nimmons, Carr & Wright. To maintain the building’s historical character, Novak Construction and architecture firm MG2 have worked together to preserve many of its Art Deco elements. The updated exterior design will incorporate glass, brick, metal accents, and refurbished concrete paneling, along with the addition of a fifth floor and new ground-up wings of the building. A revamped pentagonal glass enclosure at the six corners intersection will also provide greater structural integrity. (Crawford, Chicago YIMBY, 5/1/23)

"An affordable housing development on the Southeast Side with space for small businesses is advancing after alderpeople approved a zoning change for the project during the new City Council’s first meeting.

"The Galleria 89 development would bring 58 affordable apartments to one new building and one existing structure at 8840-8854 S. Commercial Ave. The City Council on Wednesday approved a zoning change for the site from a commercial zone to a Residential Business Planned Development zone.

"The new, five-story building would replace city-owned structures at 8848-8854 S. Commercial Ave. with 46 one- to three-bedroom apartments and two shops. The new building’s design will reflect “South Chicago’s history as the epicenter of the steel industry,” city officials said.

"A three-story brick building at 8840 S. Commercial Ave. will be rehabbed to house 12 apartments and 1,900 square feet of retail for two shops.

"The buildings will be connected by an open-air, public courtyard with art installations. The development team, led by 548 Development, consulted with South Chicago institutions SkyART and Nine3 Studios to showcase murals and sculptures by local artists inside and outside of the building.

"Galleria 89 is a transit-oriented development next to a bus stop and within a 10-minute walk of the 87th Street Metra Electric stop. Officials also plan to build a Divvy bike station as part of the development.

"Project costs were estimated at $36.4 million in November, up from an estimated $23.5 million when the proposal was selected as an Invest South/West initiative finalist in 2021.

"Galleria 89 coincides with a $43 million project to upgrade Commercial Avenue and 92nd Street in South Chicago with street resurfacing, raised bike lanes, curb extensions to shorten street crossings and more over the next few years." (Evans, Block Club Chicago, 5/25/23)

"Edgar Miller’s Kogen-Miller Studios is one of Chicago’s most idiosyncratic and astonishing architectural sites. Lately, though, it has been ensnared in a disagreement that has shut down public access and programming, as one set of owners of the condo complex in the Near North Side Old Town neighborhood are pushing for landmarking as a way to protect its historic integrity. Founded in 2014, Edgar Miller Legacy (EML) for years hosted tours, residency programs for artists, and other public programming at the Kogen-Miller Studios, one of the best works of Chicago artist and architect Edgar Miller. Designed and built by a rotating cast of early-20th-century bohemian designers, artist, and craftspeople, the Kogen-Miller Studios showcase Miller’s virtuosity across nearly every design medium: stained glass, painting, sculpture, architecture, interior design, and more. The mélange is indicative of a richly representational and often overlooked countercurrent to the dictates of the International Style that were seeping across the Atlantic Ocean from Europe in the 1920s and ’30s.

"The Kogen-Miller Studios feature nine units arranged around an internal courtyard. One, the Glasner Studio (restored in late-1920s period-appropriate detail and the main focus of EML’s past programming), is owned by Zac Bleicher, executive director of Edgar Miller Legacy, and his mother, Julie Bleicher. Julie inherited the unit from her brother, Mark Mamolen, who was a close friend of Edgar Miller. Two units are owned by Ronald Cieslak (who declined to comment for this story), and six units are owned by Glenn Aldinger.

"'[Edgar Miller Legacy’s] goal was, first, to try to secure the building like my uncle had hoped from these other people and, if it were under one ownership, convert it to a cultural site, like a museum or artist residency,' Zac Bleicher told AN. But much of this has been on hold since 2020, when Zac filed suit against Cieslak and Aldinger for ignoring maintenance needs at the condo complex. Cieslak and Aldinger made the counterclaim that Zac was illegally operating a business from his unit after having soured on the public access offered by EML.

"Zac initially felt that his co-owners were allies in EML’s mission. A letter of intent signed by Aldinger and Zac in late 2017 laid out a process and timetable for a sale of Aldinger’s units to EML. The years of tours and events EML hosted seemed to indicate that the complex’s other owners had waived the prohibition against running a business in the condo bylaws. At times, they seemed supportive and even enthusiastic about the public programming. In 2017, Aldinger arranged for the condo association to be added to EML’s insurance policy as an additionally insured party. Also in 2017, emails reviewed by AN show Aldinger telling Zac that he would be willing to forgo a rent hike for one tenant (who had concerns about tours and public programming) to keep that person onboard with public access.

"But over time, Aldinger said, he objected to the tours because of their 'intrusion, frequency, [and] volume.'

"Zac told AN that Aldinger’s support of EML diminished after a 2018 appraisal of the condos by Property Valuation Services. The estimate returned was $3.1 million, which Aldinger said was 'so low it was laughable,' and the appraisal couldn’t accurately judge the value of the complex because the appraiser never entered any of Aldinger’s units, since 'I was never asked,' said Aldinger. However, in emails from January 2018, a personal assistant to Aldinger told Zac and Aldinger that they could show Aldinger’s units to the appraiser, and Aldinger told Zac that he had informed tenants about the upcoming appraisal.

"A sale to EML never materialized. By July 2018, Zac said the organization had moved its offices out of the Glasner Studio (where he still lives), and the final tour of the Kogen-Miller Studios was in February 2020. Meanwhile, Zac grew concerned about the lack of maintenance at the complex.

"For Zac, an acceptable end to this legal drama would be for the Kogen-Miller Studios to 'be preserved and shared with the public,' he said. Aldinger has a different take: “The building’s lost its joy,' he said. 'I’m ready to sell now. I just want to make sure I sell at market rate.'

"But EML and Zac may be the only interested buyer until the dueling lawsuits are resolved. 'The building has a ton of deferred maintenance, hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more,' Zac said. 'It’s totally dysfunctional. I’m not sure who would want to buy into a condo association in the middle of litigation.'" (Mortice, The Architect's Newspaper, 4/7/23)

"It may look like a museum and library, filled with architectural artwork and volumes of history. But if Preservation Chicago's office holds on to the past, it is only with an eye to the future.

"The organization's goal is to save as much of Chicago's storied heritage as possible, before it all becomes just stories. Fortunately, that includes the city's long Jewish story.

"Having saved the Agudas Achim North Shore Congregation building from demolition--it exists as housing, if not a house of worship--Preservation Chicago now focuses on finding new homes for its Jewish elements. The organization's representatives say they hope another congregation or Jewish institution will incorporate its vibrant stained-glass windows and striking Ner Tamid (eternal light) fixture.

"Working with the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois, they also saved the bronze plaques bearing the names of the congregation's deceased members. They cleaned and documented each one.

"'It would be great for families to be rejoined with these memorial plaques,' said Ward Miller, Preservation Chicago's Executive Director. 'Of course, many may not be claimed. As they were all meant to be displayed together as a united community and congregation, [maybe] these could be displayed together somewhere now.'

"Miller has led Preservation Chicago since 2013--he single-handedly saved Agudas Achim's Ner Tamid, personally carrying it down flights of stairs, into his car, and into his Loop office.

"After working as an architect for 20 years, at Vinci-Hamp Architects in Chicago, he co-authored 2010's The Complete Architecture of Adler & Sullivan, and curated architectural photos for The Art Institute of Chicago. Now, his goal is to save more than just photographs of Chicago's architectural treasures.

"Agudas Achim is a case study for Preservation Chicago's work. After the decades-long effort to save the congregation failed, the organization worked tirelessly to match the building with a preservation-sensitive developer. They found one in Cedar Street Companies, whom Preservation is urging to secure landmark designation for the primary façade. The grand foyer and staircase, however, were preserved.

"Already, one of its windows has found a new home. Beth Kraemer, who lives in Deerfield, retrieved a window memorializing her great-grandfather, Mandel Schwechter. She wasn't just pleased that the window was available, she said, 'I was excited it still existed!'

"And she is very glad to have it back in the family. 'Preservation Chicago had it cleaned, mounted, and restored. They really went above and beyond. It's very special. I never met [Schwechter], but I have relatives who did,' she said. 'This window was meant to preserve his memory, and it still will-- l'dor v'dor (from generation to generation). It's a piece of our family's legacy.'

"Preservation Chicago is now working to save The Standard Club building--which may become a hotel--to support the Chicago Loop Synagogue, and to renovate Illinois' oldest synagogue, KAM Isaiah Israel." (Wieder, Jewish Chicago, 5/25/23)

Preservation Chicago was able to save many of the beautiful decorative, art glass windows from the once magnificent Agudas Achim Synagogue in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood and are hoping to find good homes for them. Built in 1922 and designed by Dubin & Eisenberg, Agudas Achim was described as “the last grand Chicago synagogue” and was able to accommodate 2,200 congregants. Agudas Achim was a 2015 Preservation Chicago Most Endangered which played a significant role in ensuring it being saved and adaptively reused for residential apartments.

 

Preservation Chicago worked hard to save the Agudas Achim building from demolition. We were successful at saving the building exterior, and just before the historic interior was demolished for redevelopment, we were able to save many of the art-glass windows. Windows include the casement windows from the main floor, and smaller casement and arched windows from the balcony.

 

We were also able to deconstruct and save the massive arched window behind the ‘ahron hakodesh’. The mosaic ‘ahron hakodesh’ was saved. In addition to the windows, we were also able to save many plaster Lion of Judea column capitals, the eternal lamp, and the most of the ‘yahrzeit’ plaques.

 

Our hope is to find Chicago area synagogues or Jewish schools or Jewish institutions or Jewish philanthropists interested in ‘adopting’ these windows and other elements that are a beautiful legacy of Chicago’s Jewish community. Our plan is to donate the windows to interested Jewish congregations or organizations who commit to valuing and appreciating them. Our hope is for a donation to Preservation Chicago to cover our costs for removal and storage.

 

Per the agreement with the developer, the windows and other artifacts will be “donated by Alex Samoylovich, in honor of his co-founder in Cedar Street the late Jay Michael and Boris Samoylovich”.

"The city’s iconic Ebony test kitchen, which developed some of the magazine’s popular recipes in African American cuisine, has found a permanent home in Washington, D.C.

"The slice of Chicago history is headed to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., where it will be a part of the permanent collection, the museum announced Tuesday.

"Landmarks Illinois, which acquired the kitchen in 2018, saving it from demolition, donated it to the museum. The kitchen will hopefully be on display in the museum next year, the organization said, but in the meantime it will undergo conservation work.

"The 26-by-13-foot Ebony test kitchen was built in 1972 and was previously housed on the 10th floor of the Johnson Publishing Co. building at 820 S. Michigan Ave.

"The Johnson building was designed by John Warren Moutoussamy, who became the first Black architect to design a building on Michigan Avenue when it opened in 1971. Johnson Publishing Co., with its Ebony and Jet magazines, inspired countless Black people around the world.

"After the Johnson Publishing Co. building was sold in 2010, the threat of demolition loomed as developers had plans to convert it for residential use. But thanks to a grassroots effort, the building was designated a Chicago landmark in 2017 and saved.

"However, the designation didn’t protect its interior, and the kitchen was still at risk of being lost. In 2018, Landmarks Illinois purchased the kitchen for $1 from the developer after receiving a tip from Chicago architecture critic Lee Bey, now a Sun-Times editorial board member. The kitchen was carefully removed piece by piece, restored and put in storage.

"The space was designed by Palm Springs-based interior designers William Raiser and Arthur Elrod of Arthur Elrod Associates, according to the Smithsonian. The visual aesthetic of the test kitchen has been described as 'Afrocentric modernism,' 'psychedelic' and 'bold.' (Camarillo, Chicago Sun-Times, 6/6/23)

"Gathering the News," "Printing the News," and "Transporting the News", Murals by John Warner Norton, at the Chicago Daily News Building / Riverside Plaza from 1928. Photo credit: Ryerson and Burnham Archive

"Gathering the News," "Printing the News," and "Transporting the News", Murals by John Warner Norton, at the Chicago Daily News Building / Riverside Plaza from 1928. Photo credit: Ryerson and Burnham Archive

"The piece in question is the monumental mural about the gathering, printing and delivery of the news that once adorned the vaulted ceiling of the concourse in the old Chicago Daily News Building at 400 W. Madison St. Its crisscrossing geometric forms perfectly captured the energy of Chicago's Front Page newspaper era in the Roaring '20s.

"For 64 years, following the completion of the Daily News Building in 1929, the 180-foot-long by 18-foot-wide canvas delighted discerning commuters who craned their necks to see it as they passed through the concourse on the way into and out of the Chicago & Northwestern railway station.

"Then, in the fall of 1993, after a panel of the mural had come loose because of a leaky roof, the entire canvas was stripped off the ceiling and taken to a Milwaukee-area company, Conrad Schmitt Studios Inc., that restores the interiors of historic buildings. Several art restorers and conservators objected, saying the Schmitt firm lacked experience in renovating historic murals and that the mural should have been kept in place because removal typically causes additional damage.

"But Sam Zell, who controls a partnership that owns the old Daily News Building (now known as Two North Riverside Plaza), defended the move. 'We hired [the Schmitt firm] to restore it, and we want them to put it back up into the building,' he told Tribune reporter William Mullen. 'We think it's a treasure and a very valuable part of the building.'

"Here's what happened (or, more accurately, what hasn't happened ) since then: The Milwaukee-area firm never restored the mural, reportedly because Zell's firm considered its bid too high. The artwork sits in a Near Northwest Side art storage warehouse. It's been nearly 11 years since the mural was removed. [written in 2004]

"'It's still being discussed. It hasn't been forgotten,' says Terry Holt, a spokeswoman for Equity Office Properties, which manages Two North Riverside Plaza and has its offices in the building.

"Five years ago, an Equity spokesperson mouthed almost exactly the same spiel to Jeff Huebner of the Chicago Reader: 'No plans have been made at this point . . . The mural has not been forgotten.'

"Designed by a master of mural art, Chicago artist John Warner Norton, the mural has been hailed, for good reason, as Chicago's equivalent of the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

"The design broke decisively with static classical murals, which relied on allegorical figures and beaux-arts imagery. Instead, it served up the same sort of machine-age dynamism that inspired streamlined trains and the zigzag motifs of Art Deco office buildings: A panoply of typewriters, telegraph machines and airplanes arranged on a field of criss-crossing diagonals.

"These diagonals, which suggested airplane beacons knifing through the sky, lined up perfectly with the pilasters, or flattened columns, along the walls of the concourse. Like banner headlines, big blocks of type spelled out the three sections of the mural: "Gathering the News," "Printing the News" and "Transporting the News."

"The result was an extraordinary integration of art and architecture, a grand gateway into Chicago.

"It's not just the intrusion of everyday things into the cathedral-like space, like ear-piercing whine of mixing machines from one of the food and drink emporiums that line the concourse, but what has been done to the space itself from the addition of faux-art deco sign banners to the subtraction of the mural. Now there's only a plain white barrel vault -- sickeningly neutral.

"Without the mural, the concourse looks jarringly incomplete, like a baseball player without a cap or the Chrysler Building without its crown. The narrow, tall-ceilinged space retains a hint of its old grandeur, but, basically, it has all the grace of a carnival midway.

"Obviously, the mural should go back where it was. But what kind of shape is it in? And how much would it cost to restore it?" (Kamin, Chicago Tribune, 8/15/04)

"Construction continues on the mixed-use development at 1954-1956 W North Avenue in the heart of Wicker Park. Located at the heart of the neighborhood on the six-corner intersection with N Damen Avenue, the historical preservation and redevelopment will revitalize the corner structure which has sat vacant for many years now. The team at Ernst Development is working with local architecture firm Hirsch MPG on its design, which aims to bring back some of the building’s original details after buying it in 2021.

"Dating back to around the 1870’s, the two-structures were built to serve the quickly growing neighborhood, though they looked much different than they do today. After many of its neighboring pieces were demolished, the two had their decorative cornices, mansard roofs, and corner turret removed in the 1960’s as the area continued to change. Most recently they held Wicker Park Tavern and Cafe Absinthe but have sat vacant since 2017 when a Capital One cafe that never materialized was announced.

"Now construction is in full swing combining the two into nine-residential units with over 5,000 square-feet of commercial space at the base. While the unit mix isn’t known, the work will also include a new elevator, stairs, roof deck, and rebuilding missing floors that were demolished over the years. Perhaps the most exciting piece of the project is the reconstruction of the corner turret and cleaning up the existing cornices, unfortunately due to the recent cell towers on the roof the missing final floor with ornate dormers cannot be rebuilt." (Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 5/5/23)

"The Chicago City Council has approved the residential development at 3731 N Sheffield Avenue in Wrigleyville. Located just north of the intersection with W Waveland Avenue and Wrigley Field itself, the proposal will replace an empty lot and incorporate the adjacent existing three-flat. Originally revealed in February, developer Mangan Builders is moving forward with the Jonathan Splitt Architects-designed structure.

"The existing building at 3733 N Sheffield Avenue was originally erected in 1900 with a stone facade and black ornamentation on its parapet, all of which will be preserved in the new development. Units will be rehabbed and new openings created along the northern wall to create a connection to the adjacent expansion. The expansion will include a one-floor addition to the existing structure as well as the new adjacent four-story, 49-foot-tall development." (Achong, Chicago YIMBY, 5/1/23)

Preservation Chicago applauds the developer for incorporating the historic facade into the new construction. This maintains the historic material, scale, and streetscape, while investing in a new, higher density residential building.

"The third-generation owner of Margie’s Candies died last month, ushering in a new chapter for the beloved neighborhood institution.

"Peter George Poulos died of cancer April 26, his family said. He was 86.

"Poulos had run the old-fashioned ice cream and confectionary shop for decades, hand-dipping candy and joyfully helping customers just as his mother, Margie, had for years before him.

"Now, Poulos’ son, George, is taking the reins as fourth-generation owner and operator, carrying on the family legacy.

"George Poulos said he plans to keep Margie’s the exact same, from the menu to the old-school kitschy decor. He sees himself running the ice cream shop for years and passing the business down to his children when he’s older. He has a 5-month-old son, Kai.

"The plan applies to both Margie’s: the original shop along the Logan Square-Bucktown border at 1960 N. Western Ave. and the Ravenswood outpost at 1813 W. Montrose Ave.

“My dad’s wish was always to keep everything the same that his mom had it, so I’m just following the way,” George Poulos said.

"Peter Poulos’ father and grandfather opened Margie’s Candies — then called Security Sweet Shop — in the 1920s at Armitage and Western avenues. The shop was known for its homemade ice cream and candy, and as the kind of place the whole family could cram into a booth and share a massive sundae.

"Peter Poulos’ mother took over the restaurant some 30 years later after her husband died of an ulcer.

"Margie Poulos was a “visible figure” at Margie’s for years, according to an old Reader story. When she wasn’t helping make ice cream and candy, she sat in back and watched a little Magnavox TV.

"The family renamed the business after the matriarch.

"'In 1933, when I got married, everything in the neighborhood was 'Security,'' Margie Poulos told the Reader in 1987. 'The real estate people used to be called Security Real Estate, the bank used to be Security Bank. Since 1933, we’ve been Margie’s. After my husband and I bought it from my father-in-law, we thought for candy a woman’s name would be best.”

"Margie’s has a long and storied history: Al Capone, The Beatles and Aretha Franklin have all reportedly patronized the old-school ice cream spot.

"'Obviously, there’s a lot of pressure. I still want to make sure I live up to my dad’s expectations,' he said. 'I’m excited about it. I just want to keep everything going.'" (Bloom, Block Club Chicago, 5/5/23)

"The former Sears headquarters in Homan Square and other buildings and land around it are up for sale.

"Indianapolis-based Royal Pine Properties is selling the properties — which amount to almost 1 million square feet — though it has not shared a selling price. It bought them in 2018 for $3.25 million.

"The properties include the former Sears Administration Building at 3333 W. Arthington St., the former Allstate office building at 3245 W. Arthington St., a large parking structure at 3240 W. Arthington St. and a developable land site 3201 W. Arthington St. It does not include the 14-story Sears Tower at 906 S. Homan Ave., renamed Nichols Tower, which was redeveloped into a community hub for nonprofits and economic enterprises in 2015.

"Chicago-based real estate company SVN Chicago Property Management is facilitating the sale of the Sears properties. Assistant Vice President Adam Thomas said they hope to find a buyer to redevelop the buildings, with the most realistic proposition being to convert it to housing. Other potential uses are for office and commercial property development, Thomas said.

"'It’s hard to put a price on it, because how do you put a price on history?' Thomas said. 'This company was basically what Amazon was 100 years ago. It is an incredible, huge project, but it is one of a kind.'

"The Sears building was built in 1905 and was the company’s headquarters until 1973, when it moved into Sears Tower. It was designated a Chicago landmark in 2002 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

"The Administration Building is five stories, 239,000 square feet and takes up the majority of its block. It has a classive revival face but has 'undergone extensive demolition and is ready for new interior buildout,' according to listing information.

"The former Allstate Headquarters is an 11-story shell building with 292,000 square feet of space, while the land at 3201 W. Arthington St. covers 167,000 square feet. The parking structure is a 3.5-story garage with 247,000 square feet.

"Thomas said the designation of the building means its historic features and facade must be preserved regardless of who buys it." (Arline, Block Club Chicago, 4/24/233)

"We are pleased to present for sale this beautiful Church and Rectory House. Located on the northwest corner of Bryn Mawr Ave and Glenwood Ave in the heart of Andersonville, this beautiful red brick Church and Rectory has been a fixture in the neighborhood since 1909.

"The Church operated for many years as the Edgewater Covenant Church, but has been operating as the Iglesia Del Pacto Belen Covenant Church since the mid 1990's. The total area of the parcel for both the Church and the Rectory measures 59'6" wide by 138' deep. The Rectory House faces Glenwood Ave. and sits on a portion of the lot that is approximately 25' wide and 59'6" deep. The Church faces Bryn Mawr Ave and sits on the remaining portion of the lot, which would be 59' 6" wide by 113' deep.

"According to the measurements we had taken, the Church has an interior space of 12,193 s.f., including the finished basement. The ceiling height of the Church is approx 35' 6" from the main floor to the peak of the roof (as measured in front of the alter). It slopes down from it's peak by design (E to W) to about 24' 3" above the main floor at both sides of the Church. The main floor itself slopes towards the alter by design(S to N), and this has the result of the basement ceiling varying in height from 8' 11" to 14' 3". The Church has seating for approximately 158 on the main floor with an additional 148 seats in the balcony, for a total seating capacity of 306.

"The Rectory House has been tastefully remodeled and updated with a contemporary kitchen and bathrooms. The spacious first floor has a Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, and bathroom. The 3 bedrooms and 2nd bathroom are located on the 2nd floor. The basement is unfinished. The total interior space of the House is approximately 2,811 s.f. Please see Additional Information Tab for Floorplans of both Church and Rectory House." (1400 W Bryn Mawr Ave Listing)

"In the 1930s, when a Marshall Field’s executive tapped an innovative Chicago architect to design apartments for a site on North State Parkway, he very likely didn’t suspect that what resulted would be one of the city’s finest examples of Art Moderne architecture. But he did reserve the biggest unit for himself.

"At the Frank Fisher Studio Houses, as they were known when they opened in 1938, architect Andrew Rebori used curving white plaster walls, modern designs in stained glass and carved wood and a building material that was futuristic for its time — glass block — in artful ways that still stand out today.

"'It’s really magical,' says Greg Gochanour, who with his wife, Lynne Gochanour, bought the unit Frank Fisher originally kept for himself. Set at the rear of the lot, with views over the courtyard that the other units line, Fisher’s former home has a curvaceous staircase, hand-carved wood ceiling beams and walls of glass block, one of them two stories high.

"The Gochanours, who are both attorneys, bought a package of Fisher’s unit and a smaller one above it, and connected them with a new staircase that matches the sensuous curve of the original.

"Now looking for 'another architecture adventure,' as Greg Gochanour puts it, the couple will put the three-bedroom unit on the market in the next few weeks. Priced at a little over $1.28 million, it’s represented by Brad Lippitz of Compass." (Rodkin, Crain's Chicago Business, 2/16/23)

"One of the city's finest pre-World War II modern designs, this is an exceptional-and rare-example of the Art Moderne style of architecture, which was influenced by European modernism. The unique layout of the 12 units and their common courtyard--which, together, occupy an extremely narrow site running perpendicular to the street--has contributed to their desirability as residential apartments. Further distinguishing the building is its handcrafted ornamentation by prominent artist Edgar Miller. The building was commissioned by Frank Fisher, Jr., an executive of Marshall Field & Co." (Chicago Landmarks)

"This one-of-a-kind property is a work of art by Edgar Miller and Sol Kogen at Carl Street Studios.

Nestled behind a secure iron gate in a picturesque courtyard in the heart of historic Old Town, Studio 2 of Carl Street Studios stands out as an artistic gem. This property, one of only thirteen condos converted from a Victorian home in 1927, is a true masterpiece that has been carefully modernized for contemporary living, while still preserving its original artistic charm.

"The property boasts a dramatic two-story living room and a wealth of intricate embellishments, including mosaic and stained glass windows, Art Deco tiles, carved doors, parquet floors, and painted ceilings.

"The property also features a tremendous hosting kitchen and breakfast room, a spacious dining area, three bedrooms, two full baths, two half baths, a second-floor sitting room, and a large private roof deck. Just off the main living space sits a separate 745 square foot duplex studio, makes for a perfect guest suite or in-home office, is also available for purchase. With its unique blend of contemporary comfort and timeless artistry, Studio 2 of Carl Street Studios is truly a one-of-a-kind property, a work of art in its own right."

155 West Burton Place 2 at Carl Street Studios

$1,095,000

3 Beds 4 Baths 4,500 SqFt

This One-of-a-kind Property Is A Work Of Art By Edgar Miller And Sol Kogen At Carl Street Studios..