Spring 2007 - Preservation Chicago

Chicago’s 7
most endangered
buildings update
the
VOICE
PAGES 9-11
THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF PRESERVATION CHICAGO
ISSUE N o 3
SPRING - SUMMER 2007
THE FARWELL BUILDING
660-664 N. Michigan Avenue
Architect - Philip B. Maher, 1927
CITIZENS ADVOCATING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF CHICAGO’S ARCHITECTURE
ONE MAGNIFICENT MOCKERY
the
VOICE
PRESERVATION CHICAGO
1016 North Oakley Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60622
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
SPRING, 2007
Board of Directors
Jonathan Fine
Michael Moran
Marcia Matavulj
Kim Mickelson
Bill Neuendorf
Craig Norris
Sharon Russell
Kimberlee Smith
Laura Stigler-Marier
Jeremi Bryant
Bob Clarke
Meghan Eagen
Sandy Gartler
Eugene Kaminski
Vana Kikos
Nina Newhouser
Scott Rappe
Andy Schcolnik
Jack Spicer
Brooke Williams
A New City Council – A New Preservation Agenda
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Exec. Comm.
Exec. Comm.
Exec. Comm.
Exec. Comm.
Exec. Comm.
Board
Board
Board
Board
Board
Board
Board
Board
Board
Board
Board
By all accounts, the February 27th and subsequent April 17th aldermanic
run-off elections were a stunning rebuke to the old Chicago “Machine.”
Several longtime aldermen were knocked off in the first round: Legendary
42nd Ward alderman Burt Natarus was replaced by 34-year-old Brendan
Reilly; sixteen-year incumbent Arenda Troutman (20th) was beaten
by former police officer and community activist Willy Cochran; and
Sandi Jackson, wife of Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., trounced Darcel
Beavers. Ms. Beavers was installed late last year to warm the seat of her
father, 7th Ward powerbroker William Beavers, who moved over to the
Cook County Board of Commissioners.
The run-offs knocked off 5 more long-serving incumbents. Voters sent
pink slips to 2nd Ward alderman Madeline Haithcock, Dorothy Tillman
(3rd), Shirley Coleman (16th) and Michael Chandler (24th). They will
be replaced by Bob Fioretti, Pat Dowell, Joann Thompson, and Sharon
Denise Dixon respectively. However, one of the biggest upsets was in the
32nd Ward, where newcomer Scott Waguespack ended the 70-year reign
of the Ted Matlak-Terry Gabinski-Dan Rostenkowski political oligarchy.
A very different city council will now be doing the people’s business.
And it is hoped that part of that business will include an emphasis on
historic preservation.
ph:
773.489.0300
fax:
773.489.0874
email: info@preservationchicago.org
While all politics is local, and each race was determined mostly by
bread and butter issues, there is no doubt that over-development and
neighborhood preservation was the deciding factor in many of these races.
Several of the winning candidates made openness and transparency part
of their campaigns. Others promised more community oversight and
participation with regards to development issues in their ward. All of this
bodes well for historic preservation in the next 4 years.
EDITOR IN CHIEF:
SENIOR EDITOR: GRAPHIC DESIGNER: COMMUNICATIONS MGR.:
However, not surprisingly, every stakeholder in this election has already
drawn up their own political wish list and will all be aggressively
jockeying for their pet projects to be placed at the top of the agenda.
Contact us:
www.preservationchicago.org
Jonathan Fine
Laura Stigler-Marier
Sandy Gartler
Stacey Pfingsten
PHOTO CREDITS:
Cover: Stacey Pfingsten
Page 3: Michael Moran
Page 4: Peter DeCamp
Page 5: William Stephens
Page 6: David Audino, private collection
Page 7: David Audino, private collection
Page 8: David Audino, private collection
Page 9: Michael Moran & Chicago Housing Auth.
Page 10: Danielle Scruggs/DRFP, Sandy Gartler
and William Neuendorf
Page 11: Danielle Scruggs/DRFP
Page 12: Jonathan Fine
And Preservation Chicago will certainly be right there advocating for its
own agenda. The priorities we would like to see addressed include more
staff and resources for the Landmarks Commission, better monitoring
and protection for Orange- and Red-rated buildings, more developer
incentives to preserve historic structures, and uniform signage in our
landmark districts. But most importantly, we would like to see an active
preservation caucus form within city council that will aggressively
advocate for our city’s historical and architectural legacy.
Jonathan Fine
President, Preservation Chicago
© 2007 PRESERVATION CHICAGO
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without
permission is strictly prohibited. Preservation Chicago is
a not-for-profit organization registered as a 501c3.
PRESERVATION CHICAGO
www.preservationchicago.org
Excerpts from Jonathan Fine’s
plaque dedication statement
Sunday, April 15, 2007
HONORING THE LANDMARKING OF THE
ROBERT’S TEMPLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST
… because so many Chicago
buildings that tell the story of the
Great Migration and the AfricanAmerican experience have been
demolished, I just assumed that this
church was gone too.
COMING FULL CIRCLE IN A STORY THAT CHANGED THE COUNTRY
In the Summer ‘06 issue of The Voice, our feature article told of how the tragic
murder of young Emmett Till and his mother’s courage galvanized the Civil Rights
Movement…and how the site of Emmett’s funeral, Roberts Temple Church of God
in Christ, was granted Chicago landmark status in March, 2006 – ensuring that that
watershed event would never be forgotten.
(See http://www.preservationchicago.org/news/newsletter.html)
… The Robert’s Temple Church of God
in Christ will now be able to take its
rightful place in the story of the Civil
Rights Movement. Other landmarks,
including the Edmund Pettus Bridge,
Little Rock’s Central High School, The
16th Street Baptist Church, and the
very bus that Mrs. Parks was riding
on that day have all been recognized
as important icons of the era…
HONORING HISTORY… AND THE DESIGNATION
One year later, the landmark designation itself was given its full due: a dedication
took place on April 13th, 2007 with the unveiling of a plaque mounted on the
Church’s State Street façade. A worship ceremony was then held on Sunday,
April 15th, in the Church’s main sanctuary. Both events drew a large crowd of
proud Church members, along with members of Emmett Till’s extended family,
the Church’s leaders, Commission on Chicago Landmarks officials, members of
Preservation Chicago, and special guests from far and wide.
The events that took place in this
building as a consequence of the
courage of Emmett’s mother, Mamie
Till Mobley, are no less worthy.
Hopefully, the story of Emmett Till
will continue to be told. We as a
society have an obligation and a
duty to ensure that buildings like
The Robert’s Temple, and the history
that it holds, are not destroyed. If
we want to preserve history, we
have to preserve the places where
that history was made. We must be
able to stand where those who made
history stood. Because if you can
stand on the spot where history was
made, you can say that it happened...
AND IT HAPPENED RIGHT HERE.
At the Sunday celebration, several distinguished speakers offered thanks for the
landmark designation, one of whom was Preservation Chicago president Jonathan
Fine (see sidebar). But the ceremony’s zenith came when Emmett Till’s cousin,
Simeon Wright, stepped up to the podium. Mr. Wright was sleeping in the same
room as Emmett on the night of the abduction and murder. Standing on “hallowed
ground,” as one eloquent speaker had put it, Mr. Wright recounted fond stories of
Emmett, bringing this bright-eyed young man to life for the congregation.
BETTER TO ACT, THAN REACT.
The lessons for landmarking sites such as Robert’s Temple Church of God in Christ
are clear: That early, well-thought-out action is more effective than last-minute
scrambling in response to a demolition threat. And that by pro-actively identifying
unrecognized historic sites such as Robert’s Temple, we ensure that they are not
demolished, but rather, allowed to stand so as to educate, enrich, and enhance a City,
its people and future generations.
In the case of Robert’s Temple, that enrichment can have national and international
impact. That was the goal of Preservation Chicago in initiating the campaign to
landmark Robert’s Temple Church of God in Christ. We are grateful to Rev. Cleven
Wardlow, Jr., pastor of
Robert’s Temple and City
of Chicago officials who
so actively participated in
making this landmark
designation
a reality.
– Michael Moran and
Laura Stigler-Marier
Plaque Dedication (l to r):
Commissioner Christopher Reed,
Commission on Chicago Landmarks,
Deputy Landmarks Commissioner
Brian Goeken, Alderman Dorothy
Tillman (3rd), Reverend Clevan
Wardlow, Pastor of Robert’s Temple,
Simeon Wright, Emmett Till’s cousin
CITIZENS ADVOCATING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF CHICAGO’S ARCHITECTURE
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DOWN FOR THE COUNT?
SAVING THE LAKE SHORE ATHLETIC CLUB
O
nly in Chicago. We’re ecstatic at winning the
U.S. bid for the 2016 Olympics. We dream of spending
millions to build lasting legacies to the Games. And
then, right before our eyes, allow the complete and total
destruction of not just a stellar example of our storied
architectural might ...but one that already is an Olympic
legacy. Ironic, but true: The elegant and inimitable
Lake Shore Athletic Club – a structure that has stood
prominently at the gateway of our shoreline for over 80
years – is about to take a dive.
Currently owned by Northwestern University, the property
is under contract to be sold to Fifield Realty, contingent
upon the ability to erect a new building. On April 15th,
Fifield applied for a demolition permit. But rest assured,
the newly-founded Lake Shore Preservation Group, the
Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR),
Landmarks Illinois, the citizens of greater Chicago and
Preservation Chicago are not standing idly by. The Lake
Shore Athletic Club will not go down without a fight.
ROUND ONE: THE ARCHITECTURE
– A STUNNER, FROM THE INSIDE OUT
Designed in 1924 by Jarvis Hunt (1864-1941), the Lake
Shore Athletic Club is a Georgian jewel, providing visual
variety set within the necklace of glass and steel high rises
along Lake Shore Drive. The first five stories are faced with
eye-catching, ornamented terra cotta – a striking contrast
to the neighboring Mies Van Der Rohe buildings. Hunt’s
other works in Chicago include the Saddle & Cycle Club
(900 W. Foster Avenue) and 30 North Michigan Avenue,
an intricate cornerstone of the “cliff” running along Grant
Park. Wrapping around Lake Shore Drive and Chestnut,
the Lake Shore Athletic Club remains largely unchanged,
looking much as it did when it first opened in 1927.
A TREASURE TROVE OF DETAILS
Few are the buildings constructed today that can boast
these features:
•
Public areas influenced by the Adam period, including a two-story high foyer, a carved marble fireplace and wood-paneled main lounge facing Lake Michigan; a three-story high Great Hall; and three public and over
a dozen private dining rooms with marble, terrazzo,
and wood paneling.
• Card and conference rooms, a library and 444 bedrooms and suites, each with its own bath.
PRESERVATION CHICAGO
Lake Shore Athletic Club - 850 N. Lake Shore Drive
Architect - Jarvis Hunt, 1927
• A 35’ x 75’ swimming pool, once touted as one of the most luxurious in the country.
• Handball courts and squash courts, the latter having hosted national tournaments.
ROUND TWO: A HISTORY OF OLYMPIAN
PROPORTIONS
Some of the historical highlights that took place within the
building’s walls:
• Olympic trials for the 1928 Olympics for the water
polo event were held at the club. Johnny Weissmuller
(“Tarzan” in the movies) participated in these trials and
swam in a number of other swimming matches held at the
club. Other club members who were Olympians include
Walter Laufer (silver medal in backstroke, 1928); Jean
Wilson (medal winner in 100 meter freestyle and the 400
meter relay, 1948); Ronald Gora, a former member of
“Aqua Kids” (100 meter freestyle race, 1952); Mary Lee
Stephan (medal winner in 100 and 400 meter freestyle,
1952); and Jean Stunyo (three meter springboard diving, 1956)
• The “Aqua Kids” program at the club was for many years
one of the most popular programs for kids in Chicago. (And
of which Olympian Ronald Gora was a former member.)
• Near the end of his illustrious career in 1967, Jack Dempsey
refereed two rounds of a boxing match at the club.
• Throughout the years, club teams carried off National
and Central AAU swimming championships. World
swimming records were also set at the club.
• During World War II, the Club opened its athletic facilities
to members of the military.
www.preservationchicago.org
• The club was also the site of many business and
professional meetings through the years, and throughout
the 1920’s and 1930’s, it was the venue of choice for
many debutante galas, dances and engagement parties.
The club also had a radio station, a 175 member men’s
glee club and a Red Cross chapter.
In the 1970’s, the building was acquired by Northwestern
University and used for student housing until 2005. Since
then, it has remained vacant.
ROUND THREE: THREATENING A KNOCK-OUT
The Lake Shore Club is not a landmark. Despite community
and preservationist outcries to grant it landmark status,
Alderman Natarus (42nd Ward) took no action, leaving
the building vulnerable to demolition. In the February city
election, Natarus was defeated by Alderman-elect Brendan
Reilly, who has taken office on May 21st. It was during
this in-between period of “aldermanic limbo” that Fifield
applied for the demolition permit. However, the building
is rated “Orange” – the second highest listing on the
Chicago Historical Resources Survey, subjecting it to a 90day demolition hold while the city reviews the proposed
project.
1…2…3…4…THE COMMUNITY RISES UP
What this area does not need is yet another hulking,
undistinguished high-rise – the kind that seems to be taking
over the once unmistakably Chicago skyline. Which would
be the outcome if Fifield gets its way with the demolition.
Hardly the desire of the community, let alone preservationists
and citizens, city-wide. In reaction, they’re rising up. Resident
Pam Jameson founded the Lake Shore Preservation Group
(LSPG) and has been working with neighbors to make their
sentiments known to city officials. In conjunction with
LSPG, Preservation Chicago is formulating plans for an
all-out petition drive and protest rally.
Grand Staircase
THE COUNT CONTINUES
It’s a no-brainer. This centerpiece of Lake Shore Drive – a
structure with such architectural and historical significance
– should not be allowed to fall. We invite everyone to
jump in the ring and help us save it. The gloves are off.
And we’re going for the gold. To help, please contact:
info@preservationchicago.org
– Laura Stigler-Marier
Main Lobby
Swimming Pool
CITIZENS ADVOCATING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF CHICAGO’S ARCHITECTURE
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ONE MAGNIFICENT MOCKERY: SELLING THE SOUL OF MICHIGAN AVENUE
T
he latest insult to befall North Michigan Avenue was
officially validated at a special hearing of the Commission on
Chicago Landmarks on March 8, 2007. After an expedited
presentation by Prism Development, little discussion by
the commissioners, and brief statements from the general
public, eight of nine members of the Commission voted to
allow the Farwell Building, a designated city Landmark, to
be skinned of its limestone and demolished.
The architectural components of its east and south façades
will be preserved off-site, restored, and then reapplied
to the base of a new 40-story condominium tower, four
stories of which will house a parking garage. The architect
is Lucien LaGrange.
Although an earlier version of this project was rejected
by the same commission in January and sent back to the
drawing board for minor tweaks, the end result will be the
same: The Farwell will no longer function as a building.
Its skin will simply be grafted on to a section of a larger
structure, setting a dangerous precedent for North Michigan
Avenue as well as for other designated city Landmarks.
WE ALWAYS HAD PARIS
In 1909, legendary urban planner Daniel H. Burnham
envisioned Michigan Avenue as the Champs-Elysées of the
Midwest. That vision became a reality after 1920, when
the Michigan Avenue Bridge was opened to traffic. The
Roaring Twenties saw a rapid transformation of the block
from a sleepy residential street to Chicago’s signature
high-end shopping district. Landmarks like the Wrigley
Building, Medinah Athletic Club, and the gothic-inspired
Tribune Tower dominated the south end of the block while
the Drake Hotel and Art Deco Palmolive Building anchored
the north end.
In between were numerous smaller-scaled buildings,
many designed by architect Philip B. Maher, whose best
buildings were the Women’s Athletic Club (built in 1928
at 626 N. Michigan Avenue) and the 11-story Farwell
Building, located one block to the north.
The Farwell Building represents one of the few remaining
structures left on Michigan Avenue from the 1920’s, the
period that transformed Pine Street into “The Magnificent
Mile.” Its delicate scale elegantly anchors the prominent
northwest corner of Erie Street and Michigan Avenue. (Not
of little significance is the fact that for the last 30 years, the
Farwell Building was home to Hanig’s Footwear, the last
street-level business remaining on North Michigan Avenue
that was born and bred in Chicago. With the new plans,
Hanig’s will be ousted.)
Originally built as a speculative office tower, it was
purchased in 1987 by the Terra Foundation to house its art
museum. The Farwell Building was granted city landmark
status in 2004 with the owner’s consent, but the museum
closed its doors later that same year. At that time, the fate
of the Terra Museum remained in doubt. However, it was
assumed that the Landmark designation would at least
guarantee that the building that once housed its famous
art collection would remain for generations to come. But
now, even that guarantee seems to be meaningless.
The Farwell Building
Architect - Philip Maher - 1927
PRESERVATION CHICAGO
www.preservationchicago.org
THE CHANGING FACE OF NORTH MICHIGAN
AVENUE
Starting in the late 1940’s, numerous plans were drawn
up to revitalize North Michigan Avenue. One such plan
even included the demolition of the Water Tower. Luckily,
that plan was never implemented. In 1967, construction
began on the John Hancock Building. Set back from the
street and rising to a staggering 100-stories, the building
became the second tallest building in the world at the time,
and completely changed the scale of Michigan Avenue.
Its sunken open-air plaza was a radical departure from
the other buildings on the street, all of which uniformly
abutted the public sidewalk, and redefined the concept of
a public urban gathering space. After almost 40 years, it
still remains a popular destination. Although controversial
at first, the city soon embraced the Hancock Building as a
modern architectural masterpiece.
Situated one block south of the Hancock, Water Tower
Place opened in 1976 and incorporated an enclosed
shopping mall and theater complex, surmounted by a
condominium, hotel, and office tower. Unlike the Hancock
plaza, however, Water Tower Place presented a more
foreboding appearance. Because the vast majority of its
retail space was above the ground floor, the street level
façade lacked any significant ground floor presence. This,
coupled with its virtually windowless façade, inadvertently
weakened the pedestrian experience along North Michigan
Avenue. Its covered arcade, however, has since become
an impromptu stage for street performers, enlivening the
sidewalk by giving a reason for passers by to stop and
congregate.
the famous Jacques Restaurant. It was designed by
Jarvis Hunt in 1927. Its replacement has been described
as a “postmodern homage to the Viennese Secessionist
architecture of Otto Wagner.” However, regardless of
one’s opinion of the architecture, there is no doubt that
the monumentality of buildings such as the Marriott and
Bloomingdale’s have forever altered the scale of Michigan
Avenue.
The battle for North Michigan Avenue continued throughout
the 1990’s with two very prominent historic preservation
debates. The first began in 1995 when the John Buck
Company proposed to demolish the entire 600 block and
replace it with an enclosed shopping mall. Preservationists
mobilized to try to save the block, including the old Arts
Club, which was remodeled in the early 1950’s by Mies
van der Rohe and contained his signature switchback stair.
Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin popularized the
term “background building” to describe the pleasantly
detailed but otherwise unobtrusive structures doomed by
the redevelopment. Ultimately, the preservationists lost,
although the Mies staircase was relocated to a new Arts
Club on East Ontario Street. Sadly, the development that
ultimately replaced the 600 block has been deemed a “25
year” building, meaning that it, too, will be demolished
once it no longer serves an economic purpose.
THE DECLINE AND FALL OF A ONCEMAGNIFICENT BOULEVARD
The beginning of the architectural decline of the boulevard
can be traced to 1978 with the completion of the hulking
Marriott Hotel located at 540 N. Michigan Ave. The
demolition of the Diana Court Building, designed in 1930
by famed architects Holabird and Root, is still mourned by
those who can remember its lobby, which was influenced
by Art Deco ocean liners and contained Carl Milles’ statue
of Diana, goddess of the hunt. Its unfortunate replacement
was one of the most criticized buildings in Chicago up until
that time. Ironically, it was designed by the firm of Harry
Weese, a fine modernist architect and one of the founding
fathers of the Chicago preservation movement. Sadly, a
vulgar 1999 remodeling made the building even uglier, and
set off a new round of criticism.
Another significant loss was the demolition of the old 900 N.
Michigan Avenue in 1985 to make way for the Bloomingdale’s
Building. The original 900 N. Michigan was an elegantlyscaled cooperative apartment building and once housed
Women’s Athletic Club Building at Michigan & Ontario
Architect - Philip Maher - 1928
CITIZENS ADVOCATING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF CHICAGO’S ARCHITECTURE
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The second confrontation erupted in the 500 block in 1999
and involved the McGraw-Hill building, an Art Deco gem
designed by the architecture firm of Thielbar and Fugard,
and accented with incised limestone panels by artist Gwen
Lux. The John Buck Company again proposed to demolish
an historic building, but presented a radical “preservation”
idea. The plan was to strip the entire building of its limestone
panels, store them during the construction of a new building
that would house a shopping mall and gateway entrance
to a Nordstrom’s department store, and then reinstall the
panels on the exterior of the new structure. The goal was
to “return” the McGraw-Hill Building to Michigan Avenue
as if it had never been gone, but preservationists cried foul.
Although some expressed skepticism that a building of that
size could actually be dismantled and seamlessly put back
together again, the preservationists’ main objection was the
precedent that it would set for other historic buildings.
THE AGE OF FACADISM BEGINS
Located at 814 Michigan Avenue directly across from
the historic Water Tower sits the former studio of the
architecture firm of Perkins, Fellows, and Hamilton.
Dwight Perkins was one of the most influential of the
Prairie School of architects and the studio he shared with
his partners was Landmarked in 1993. However, when
the Park Hyatt Hotel, just to the south, was redeveloped a
few years later, the developers and their architect, Lucien
LaGrange, decided they wanted a little bit more room
than their current footprint allowed. A little noticed and
often overlooked decision by the Commission on Chicago
Landmarks with regards to this project ushered in the age
of “Façadism” in Chicago. The Commission allowed the
entire studio building behind the façade, including Perkins’
drafting room, to be demolished. Although the façade was
restored, all of the space behind it now is attached to the
hotel. Perkins’ studio, now completely subsumed by The
Park Hyatt, has a pasted-on appearance and reads more as
an architectural mutation of the larger structure, rather than
a separate individual building. The danger of “Façadism
is that it allows the whole of an historic building to be
reduced to considerably less than the mere sum of its parts,
robbing that building of its function, but more importantly,
robbing it of its soul.
DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN
The fate that befell the McGraw-Hill Building and Perkins
studio will soon be visited upon the Farwell Building.
Landmarking has always been the preferred choice for
ensuring the preservation of historic buildings, but these
latest developments are now making a mockery of the
entire Landmarking process and calling into question the
Ordinance itself. As the economic pressure to redevelop
North Michigan Avenue intensifies, especially if
Chicago is granted the right to host the 2016 Olympics,
preservationists are asking themselves which building
is next up for evisceration. And if, under the feeblest of
excuses, designated Landmarks can routinely be evaporated
and then reconstituted to disguise parking garages, power
plants, or hotel ballrooms, what value does a Landmark
designation have at all?
The battle for the soul of North Michigan Avenue began
decades ago. But it will not abate any time soon if these
egregious and needless redevelopment schemes continue
to be allowed to proliferate.
– Jonathan Fine
The former
600 N. Michigan Building
Architect - Philip Maher
PRESERVATION CHICAGO
www.preservationchicago.org
THE 2007 CHICAGO 7 MOST ENDANGERED
BUILDINGS...WHERE THEY STAND
Iis na January
of this year, Preservation Chicago unveiled its 2007 list of Chicago’s 7 Most Endangered Buildings. What follows
summary of each nominee and its current status as of this writing. You can read more about all of them – their histories,
the threats and our recommendations – at www.preservationchicago.org/chicago7.html.
THE FARWELL BUILDING
(see cover article on pages 6-8)
HISTORIC ARCHER AVENUE
Address: Archer Avenue (2700 South - 3100 South), in Bridgeport
Date: 1866 – 1899
Architects: Various
OVERVIEW: At this spot, the town of Bridgeport was born. With its eclectic mix of
architectural styles dating from the mid to late 1800’s, historic Archer Avenue tells a true
Chicago story of immigration and commerce – and how the industries that sprung from
there formed the backbone of America’s Big-Shouldered city. It is a story that must be
preserved. But disinvestment, neglect, and the construction of the Stevenson Expressway
in the 1950’s all took their toll on Archer Avenue.
Archer Avenue
THREAT: For the past several years, Bridgeport has been the focus of much new
residential and commercial development. Historic façades and entire buildings are rapidly
being demolished, only to be replaced by new construction totally incompatible with the
historic streetscape. The character of Archer Avenue is slowly, but surely dying.
CURRENT STATUS: Although Preservation Chicago has recommended that the district
be landmarked, no action by the city has been taken. The demolitions continue.
JULIA C. LATHROP HOMES
Address: Clybourn Avenue & Diversey Parkway east of the Chicago River
Date: Completed in 1938.
Architects: Robert S. De Golyer, Hugh M.G. Garden, Jens Jensen (landscaping), Thomas Tallmadge,
Vernon Watson, E.E. Roberts, Charles White and Hubert Burnham
OVERVIEW: Created by a “Dream Team” of building and landscape architects during the Great Depression, the Julia C.
Lathrop Homes was a model of what today’s public housing should be. Comprised of brick, low-rise, simply-ornamented
buildings, curving walkways and ample green space, the Lathrop Homes
enabled generations of lower-income families to live with dignity amongst
beautiful, natural settings.
THREAT: Despite remaining structurally sound, the Chicago Housing
Authority intends to demolish Lathrop Homes and replace it with an apartmentcondominium-townhome development. This in the face of a city scrambling to
find solutions to the dearth of quality, lower-income housing.
CURRENT STATUS: Preservation Chicago urges that both the community
and the buildings be preserved. A group of Lathrop residents and neighbors,
the Lathrop Leadership Team, has formulated a plan that calls on the CHA to
revitalize Lathrop as a low- and moderate-income community, minimizing the
displacement of the current residents. The Leadership Team has been assisted
by the Logan Square Neighborhood Association.
Julia C. Lathrop Homes
CITIZENS ADVOCATING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF CHICAGO’S ARCHITECTURE
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NORTH AVENUE BRIDGE
Address: Lake Shore Drive near North Ave. (1600 N.)
Date: 1938-1940
Architect: Ralph H. Burke
North Avenue Bridge
OVERVIEW: Driving along the lake, you see it: a low, graceful expanse arcing over Lake Shore Drive without any central
support, affording motorists a virtually unobstructed view. The North Avenue Bridge was an engineering triumph that literally
represented a bridge to modern architecture…and looks as fresh today as when it was first built.
THREAT: Because this once-revolutionary bridge does not meet modern accessibility requirements, City officials and the
Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) have introduced plans to replace it.
CURRENT STATUS: Funding appears to be several years away, but CDOT is still leaning towards replacement. Preservation
Chicago is continuing to advocate preserving the North Avenue Bridge in its entirety. We’ve also put forth a plan that has many
successful precedents around the country, wherein a new bridge compliant to the Americans with Disabilities Act would be
built adjacent to the historical bridge. If we make the correct choice to preserve it, it will continue to enhance our city with its
historical significance and grace.
PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH
Address: 3301 S. Indiana Avenue
Date: 1890
Architects: Adler and Sullivan
OVERVIEW: For 115 years, this Adler and Sullivan masterpiece stood, its awe-inspiring
architecture matched only by the history it witnessed within. From the 1920’s to the
‘40’s, the Pilgrim Baptist Church served as an anchor to the culturally and commercially
flourishing Bronzeville. During that time, in this Church, Gospel music was born. After
decades of decline that started in the ’50’s, Bronzeville has finally been experiencing a
renaissance, part of which was the restoration of the landmarked Church.
THREAT: On January 6, 2006, as workers used blowtorches to fix the building’s roof, fire
broke out, leaving all in ruins except for portions of the charred limestone façade.
Pilgrim Baptist Church, 2006
CURRENT STATUS: Significant portions of Pilgrim Baptist’s exterior walls have been determined structurally sound,
feeding optimism that the Church could be restored. But funds have fallen woefully short of the $20 to $40 million expected
cost. Mayor Daley has reacted with a pledge to conduct a fundraising drive. As for rebuilding the church, architect Frank
Christopher Lee of the Chicago firm Johnson & Lee was assigned to the project in January, 2007, and is expected to present
plans to the public as early as this summer. What those actual plans entail – including adaptive reuse and duplicating the original
Adler/Sullivan drawings – remains to be seen.
ROSENWALD (MICHIGAN BOULEVARD GARDEN) APARTMENTS
Address: 4618-4646 South Michigan Boulevard
Date: 1929
Architects: Ernest Grunsfeld, Jr.
OVERVIEW: During the Great Migration of the 1920s. nearly 200,000 African-Americans
came to Chicago seeking a better life for their families. While jobs were plentiful post WWI,
quality housing was in short supply. In response, Mr. Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears,
Roebuck & Company, developed the Michigan Boulevard Garden Apartments, a solid, massive complex executed with humane details that encouraged a neighborly atmosphere. For
decades, the Apartments were a desirable place to live, counting among its residents poet
Gwendolyn Brooks, singer Nat King Cole, boxing great Joe Louis and musician Quincy
Jones.
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Rosenwald Apartments
ROSENWALD (MICHIGAN BOULEVARD GARDEN) APARTMENTS (continued)
THREAT: Ownership changes, mismanagement, and years of neglect have taken their toll on the complex. Plans to revitalize it
with financial assistance from the City of Chicago are on hold, allowing the buildings’ continual decay.
CURRENT STATUS: The facility has been vacant for the last several years. Despite the National Register of Historic Places
designation in 1981, it is not landmarked. Prompt action is essential to halt the downward spiral before it’s damaged beyond
repair. Preservation Chicago will continue to encourage newly-elected Alderman Pat Dowell (3rd Ward), city officials and community leaders to support efforts in the financing and rehabilitation. We believe The Rosenwald has the potential of becoming
both an historical showpiece and practical asset to a rejuvenating community.
WICKER PARK COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
Address: Milwaukee Avenue, from the Division/Ashland intersection through the Damen/North intersection
Date: 1880’s to 1930’s
Architects: Various
OVERVIEW: In the mid 1800’s, it was the diagonal path that guided Native Americans towards the heart of city, where they
would sell their wares and services. Gradually, Milwaukee Avenue became known as “the immigrants’ path to prosperity.”
German, Norwegian, Jewish and Polish settlers poured into the area, setting up businesses that served the community, and
building structures that reflected the rich mosaic of cultures. Since then, the businesses have changed. But Milwaukee Avenue
has remained the commercial heart of Wicker Park and is in fact, one of the city’s precious few neighborhood commercial strips
that has stayed largely intact, still telling the story of Chicago’s evolution.
THREAT: Although part of the Milwaukee commercial
strip was placed on the National Register for Historic
Places in 1979, all of it remains unprotected and vulnerable
to teardowns, which have already begun.
CURRENT STATUS: Because the health and vibrancy
of the entire residential District is affected by this strip,
Preservation Chicago has been advocating landmark
designation. Fortunately, the proposed district has been
backed by the community, supported by Alderman Flores
(1st Ward), and designated a Preliminary Chicago Landmark
District at the May meeting of the Landmarks Commission.
– Laura Stigler-Marier
Wicker Park Commercial District
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ANIMALS RESCUED!
Happily, the animals will be restored back to life by sculptor
and conservator Andrzej Dajnowski, with an estimated
price tag of $110,000. A kickoff celebration sponsored by
the Chicago Housing Authority, was held on April 25th to
announce a joint fundraising effort with Related Midwest,
Chicago Conservation Center, Roosevelt Square Community
Partners, the Chicago Park District and former ABLA
residents. After restoration, the animals will reside in a
newly created park in Roosevelt Square, a $3.5 million
dollar project by developer Related Midwest.
Edgar Miller’s “Hippopotamus” sculpture
EDGAR MILLER’S ANIMALS FINALLY FIND
A NEW HOME: WPA SCULPTURES TO BE
RESTORED
IRONICALLY, THERE IS ONE SACRIFICIAL LAMB…
This newly created park is to be built on the site of the
soon-to-be demolished Jacob Riis School, which was on
Preservation Chicago’s 7 Most Endangered List of 2006.
Even so, we can still celebrate a win, for as one former
life-long resident of the projects has put it, the sculptures
historically “represent the good times.” For that, we are
grateful that the animals will continue in their romp.
– Stacey Pfingsten & Laura Stigler-Marier
W
hile working as an artist for the WPA (Works Progress
Administration), the acclaimed Edgar Miller set about
becoming the “Dr. Doolittle” of sculptors: In 1938, his
masterful gift to the city was the Animal Court, a joyful
grouping of public art pieces in the form of deer, hippos,
wolves, bunnies and more. For over 60 years, the seven
limestone sculptures lent a decorative whimsy to the
courtyard of a Jane Addams housing project. But they also
were functional, providing hours of entertainment for the
resident children as they climbed and played amongst the
works. Over the years, the Jane Addams residences and the
sculptures gradually fell into disrepair. The 3,600-unit housing
project (bounded between Cabrini St., 14th St., Loomis St.
and Racine Ave.) is currently being demolished to make way
for a mixed-income community. As for the sculptures…
Heather Becker, CEO of Chicago Conservation Center
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