Alderman Reilly Steps Up To The Plate:
Opposes Demolition of Lake Shore Athletic Club

Talk about a team effort! In the last several months, neighborhood residents, community groups and preservationists banded together to fight the pending demolition of the Lake Shore Athletic Club, culminating in a protest rally on June 3rd. Not only has the all the grass roots sound and fury grabbed the attention of the media, but of newly-elected Alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward.) On July 10th, Reilly announced he was going to go to bat for this architectural all-star.

In a statement issued to the press, Reilly fully acknowledged the building’s historical significance. After numerous meetings spent gathering information from a cadre of local residents, experience architects, zoning attorneys, developers, preservationists and urban planning consultants, the Alderman has come to the conclusion that “every effort should be made to preserve and re-use the historic Lake Shore Athletic Club located at 850 North Lake Shore Drive."

As a result, the building’s current owner, Northwestern University, has agreed to extend the demolition delay deadline an additional 60 days, until at least Sept. 16th. Says Reilly, “We have precious few historic structures like the Lake Shore Athletic Club still standing in Chicago, and arguments to demolish such buildings require extra scrutiny, healthy community input and careful consideration of all available options for re-use and redevelopment." The more generous deadline gives the Alderman and the University the opportunity to explore those options. It also levels the playing field, allowing more time for preservation-minded architects and developers to come forward with their bids for renovation.

Then, There's The Opposing Team…
Fifield Realty, the prospective buyers, contends that there is no other choice but to destroy the building, saying it would be too cost-prohibitive to renovate it. But the arguments they make are the ones often used by those whose only end game is to demolish. As Alderman Reilly has heard, experts on adaptive reuse can point to countless examples in the city and around the world that prove the wrecking ball is far from the only solution.

What the final outcome will be is still up in the air. But at the very least, we’re going into extra innings. Meaning, for those on the preservation team, the possibility of winning is still very much alive.

Thank Alderman Reilly For His Support…
If you’d like to express your thanks to Alderman Reilly for opposing demolition and encourage him to stay the course, he may be contacted at 312-642-4242 or brendan@reillyforchicago.com.

About the Laskeshore Athletic Club

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, Grand and Small
Not many buildings constructed today 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.
• 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.