Booker Building
4700 S. Cottage Grove Ave.

The Booker Building is part of that vanishing breed—the vintage corner commercial building. These corner buildings were the pillars supporting Chicago's neighborhood commercial life marking the intersections of bustling shopping streets. Because of their prominent position on the street, developers often blessed them with their finest architectural efforts. They offered retail on their first floors with office and residential above, the very formula now being rediscovered as "mixed use." At the moment when these buildings could contribute most to the commercial revitalization of Chicago's neighborhoods they are being demolished at an alarming rate. The Booker Building is one of our finest remaining corner commercial buildings.

History
The Booker Building was completed in 1914 and was designed by Horatio Wilson (1857-1917). Wilson was one of Chicago's most popular and prolific turn-of-the-century architects. He designed not only high-quality commercial buildings but also houses, factories and theaters. The Booker Building displays fine “arts and crafts” brick work, excellent terra cotta detailing and a low-hipped "prairie school" style roof. It was a cornerstone of the thriving 47th Street/Cottage Grove commercial district until the mid-'60's and is one of the street's last surviving vintage buildings.

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