POTENTIAL WIN: Additional Funding Awarded for Adaptive Reuse of Von Humboldt School Into Affordable Teacher Housing (Chicago 7 2014)
"A long-gestating plan to redevelop the vacant Von Humboldt Elementary School into apartments for teachers got a boost in funding, though more is still needed to get the project off the ground."The Teachers Village apartment project coming to the closed Humboldt Park elementary school, 2620 W. Hirsch St., would...
WIN: Historic Mary Thompson Hospital Adaptively Reused for Residential Apartments
"The former Mary H. Thompson Hospital in Fulton Market is still standing, but now the property is a 210-unit luxury apartment building near Fulton Market."Its name — The Thompson at Fulton Market — is an homage to both the hospital and its namesake, Dr. Mary Thompson, who is recognized...
POTENTIAL WIN: Adaptive Reuse of Loft Warehouse to Residential at 1220 W. Van Buren Moving Forward
"A residential development is being proposed at 1220 W. Van Buren. Located just west of the intersection of W. Van Buren St and S. Racine Ave, the conversion is being planned by Base 3 Development."Designed by Filoramo Talsma Architecture, the development will rehabilitate the historic building that was originally...
WIN: Original Schwinn Bicycle Factory to be Adaptively Reused as Hotel
"A historic building in Chicago’s Fulton Market that housed the original Schwinn bicycle factory in the late 1800s is in line to be converted to a 140-room hotel serving the city’s ever-expanding former meatpacking district."Developer Fulton St. and its partners hope to begin renovating the vacant Lake Street Lofts...
WIN: Landmarked Jewelers Building Purchased by Chicago Developers for Potential Residential Conversion
"Two Chicago-based companies are teaming up to purchase the landmark Jewelers Building, with the door open for a conversion to residential use."The Prime Group and CRG — the real estate development arm of Clayco — are behind the joint venture. The companies are under contract to purchase the building...
WIN: Iowa Building Reopens After Restoration
"The Iowa Building, Jackson Park’s 91-year-old pavilion with ties to the World’s Fair, is open again to the public after a year of repair work."Headed by the Chicago Park District, the $2.4 million restoration project sought to transform the historic building into a picnic shelter for community use."'It is...
PARTIAL WIN: Promontory Point Conservancy Receives $117K Grant from Driehaus Foundation for Engineering Study (Chicago 7 2022)
"The Promontory Point Conservancy received a $117,500 grant last week to bolster its efforts in making the case that the park's limestone shoreline can be preserved."Gifted by the Driehaus Foundation, the grant will fund the completion of an "Alternatives Design Study and Cost-Benefit Analysis" of Promontory Point by McLaren...
POTENTIAL WIN: After Years of Advocacy, CHA Finally Announces Plans to Restore Long-Vacant Cabrini Rowhouses (Chicago 7 2022)
"Initial massing and density studies have been presented for the potential redevelopment of multiple Cabrini Green sites within the Near North Side. Roughly bound by W Chicago Avenue to the south and W Schiller Street to the north, if fully completed the project will eventually replace multiple vacant lots...
POTENTIAL WIN: Humboldt Boulevard Expansion of Logan Square Boulevards Landmark District Gaining Momentum
"Historical homes along a portion of Humboldt Park’s boulevards could receive landmark designation after years of advocacy by neighbors."A proposal to extend the Logan Square Boulevards Landmark District from Humboldt Boulevard and Cortland Street to Sacramento Avenue and Augusta Boulevard is gaining steam under Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th), who...
POTENTIAL WIN: Restoration and Facade Preservation Incorporated Into Nealey Foods Building Mixed-Use Development at 300 W. Fulton Market
"Plans have been approved for the mixed-use redevelopment of the three-building complex spanning from 900 to 910 W Fulton Market. Located on the northwest corner with N. Peoria Street, the buildings are bound by Time Out Market and the future renovation of 310 N. Peoria Street. This redevelopment is...
WIN: Long-Endangered Frank Lloyd Wright Waller Rowhouse Purchased by Preservation-Oriented Developer
"A veteran Chicago developer has stepped in with a plan to rescue a severely run-down row house in a building Frank Lloyd Wright designed in East Garfield Park."'It's going to be a money-loser, but it's a labor of love,' said Andy Schcolnik, the head of Ansco Construction, who told...
WIN: Bronzeville’s Corpus Christi Church Purchased by Preservation-Oriented Developer for Reuse (Chicago 7 2021)
"Bronzeville’s Corpus Christi Church faced an uncertain future when it was closed by Catholic officials three summers ago. Now the vacated, century-old Italian Renaissance Revival edifice might be headed toward some type of resurrection."Andy Schcolnik, a longtime Chicago property owner who heads Ansco Construction, bought the church, at 4920...
WIN: After Being Landmarked During 90-Day Demolition Delay, Wolfson Building / Crittenton Anchorage to be Restored by Philanthropist For Community Center
"A philanthropist whose family is behind the Walmart empire is the new owner of a historical West Side shelter, which was saved from demolition after preservationists battled to have it named a Chicago landmark."Samantha Walton bought the Wolfson building, 2678 W. Washington Blvd., last fall and plans to repurpose...
WIN: Building Permits, Class L Tax Designation and Adopt-A-Landmark Grant Approved by City Council for Mid-City Trust and Savings Bank Adaptive Reuse
"The Chicago City Council has approved a Class L tax incentive for the adaptive reuse of the former Mid-City Trust & Savings Bank Building. Located at 801 W. Madison, the building occupies the southwest corner of W. Madison St and N. Halsted St. Purchased in 2022, Experiential Capital Group...
WIN: Former WAX TRAX! Records at 2449 N. Lincoln Avenue receives a Preliminary Landmark Recommendation
"For nearly 15 years, the two-story building at 2449 N. Lincoln Ave. served as the epicenter of an underground musical, social and cultural movement that spread across the globe. Now, nearly three decades after Wax Trax! Records moved out, the daughter of one of the shop’s co-founders is leading...
WIN: Double Door Uptown Receives $5M City of Chicago Community Development Grant
"Plans to reopen the Double Door in Uptown have gotten a boost from the city in the form of a $5 million grant."Co-owners Peter Bruce and Sean Mulroney have worked to move the club to the old Wilson Theater at 1050 W. Wilson Ave. since 2019, two years after...
WIN: Final Landmark Recommendation Approved for Ramova Theater (Chicago 7 2012)
"The landmark process for the Ramova Theatre at 3508 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport has been far less contentious, with developer Tyler Nevius firmly in support."The Ramova opened in 1929 as a sister theater to the Music Box Theatre in Lakeview. The interior was designed in the 'atmospheric' style...
WIN: Final Landmark Recommendation Approved for St. Adalbert Church and Complex (Chicago 7 2014, 2016, 2019, 2021)
"Pilsen’s St. Adalbert Church building cleared a key hurdle Thursday in the yearslong fight by former parishioners to have it declared a landmark to spare it from demolition or a complete overhaul."The Commission on Chicago Landmarks voted unanimously to recommend it get the protection, setting up a final decision...
WIN: John B. Murphy Memorial Auditorium Receives City of Chicago Landmark Designation and Celebrates Grand Opening After Restoration
"The Driehaus Museum, at Wabash and Erie, is proud to announce that its John B. Murphy Memorial Auditorium has received City of Chicago landmark designation. The Driehaus Museum is now comprised of two landmarked buildings – the 1926 Murphy Auditorium and the 1883 Nickerson Mansion. Following the Museum’s restoration...
WIN: After Extensive Advocacy Campaign, GSA Switches From Demolition to Adaptive Reuse for Century and Consumers Buildings! (Chicago 7 2011, 2013, 2022, 2023, 2024)
"After years of efforts by preservationists, the federal government has decided to spare a pair of century-old Loop skyscrapers from the wrecking ball in favor of adaptive reuse."The vacant Century and Consumers buildings in the 200 block of South State Street, the last vestiges of the Chicago School of...
WIN: After Adaptive Reuse, Capital Garage Reopens as Bramble Arts Lofts Theatre
"Bramble Theatre Company is opening a performing arts space in Andersonville this weekend."Bramble Arts Loft, 5554 N. Clark St., will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony 10 a.m. Saturday followed by free tours of the theater until 4 p.m."The newly renovated loft on the second floor of a 1920s auto garage...
WIN: Former CPS Building to be Adaptively Reused as Community Hub
"South Side organizers are joining forces to turn a vacant Chicago Public Schools building into a community hub where neighbors can receive services, food and educational resources."Grow Greater Englewood received full City Council support Tuesday to begin the work to transform the former Hayes Admin Building, 6529-6533 S. Stewart...
WIN: Residential Adaptive Reuse of 1040 W. Huron Advances
"The Chicago Plan Commission has approved a proposal to convert an existing office building into apartments at 1040 W. Huron. Located at the northwest corner of N. Carpenter St and W. Huron St, the existing building was part of Chicago-based developer Tandem’s 23-story development called Avenir built in 2019."Dubbed...
WIN: Art Deco Lawson House Reopens After Comprehensive Renovation
"More than 400 affordable micro apartments are now open in the Gold Coast after a two-year renovation of the former Lawson House YMCA."The 24-story art deco building, 30 W. Chicago Ave., was once the largest single-room-occupancy building in the city, with 583 apartments. It has been transformed into 406...
POTENTIAL WIN: Milwaukee Avenue “Special Character Overlay District” Presented at Public Meetings
"A city-led plan to control development along Milwaukee Avenue with a special zoning district that’s been in the works for over a year is inching forward."A draft design of a plan that would make a Logan Square and Avondale portion of the 11-mile diagonal thoroughfare — between Western and...
WIN: Logan Square SRO Hotel at 2001 N. California Reopens After Complete Renovation
"A single-room occupancy hotel has reopened inside a historical Logan Square building after a gut rehab that took about five years."The Logan Square SRO hotel, 2001 N. California Ave. opened under new ownership in April and has been consistently full since, owner and manager Luke Blahnik said."The hotel has...
WIN: JP Morgan Chase Announces Chase Tower Renovation
"Part of the Chicago Loop's magic were the occasional oddball, unexpected, 'How in the heck did this get here?' places that used to dot downtown."Places like Harem Hosiery, with its faux 1001 Arabian Knights neon sign, that used to be at 110 S. State St. Or the menagerie of...
WIN: Growing Recognition for the Freedom Seekers and Ton Farm Underground Railroad Site
"The Netherlands’ ambassador to the United States joined Thursday’s unveiling of a sign honoring the history of Dutch settlers who helped enslaved people traveling the Underground Railroad in Chicago."The sign details in English and Dutch how Dutch families — including Jan and Aagje Ton — settled in what is...
WIN: Quinn Chapel Enters New Chapter with Grant Funding
e"Leaders of the 180-year-old Near South Side church, 2401 S. Wabash Ave., celebrated paying off the church’s $510,000 debt with a special mortgage burning ceremony earlier this month. Scores of members packed the pews for the event, said Pastor Troy K. Venning."The church, a city landmark, now owns the...
WIN: Long-Neglected Second Phase of Lathrop Homes Finally Approved by Chicago Housing Authority (Chicago 7 2007, 2013, 2022)
"For more than two decades, the Chicago Housing Authority has pledged to rehab and rebuild hundreds of apartments at the Lathrop Homes site in west Lakeview."But even as the city’s affordable housing crisis has grown worse, the CHA’s efforts at Lathrop have been halting, leaving neighbors wondering why scores...
WIN: Original Schwinn Bicycle Factory to be Adaptively Reused as Hotel
"A historic building in Chicago’s Fulton Market that housed the original Schwinn bicycle factory in the late 1800s is in line to be converted to a 140-room hotel serving the city’s ever-expanding former meatpacking district."Developer Fulton St. and its partners hope to begin renovating the vacant Lake Street Lofts...
WIN: Overwhelming Support for Chicago Landmark Designation of St. Adalbert Church Complex in Full Day Hearing (Chicago 7 2014, 2016, 2019, 2021)
"A yearslong battle over a historic Polish church in Pilsen moved from the streets into the chambers of Chicago’s City Council on Friday as church supporters who want it protected as a city landmark clashed with leaders of the Chicago Archdiocese who fear landmarking the church will halt any...
WIN: City of Chicago Announces $150M Funding for the Residential Adaptive Reuse of Four LaSalle Street Skyscrapers
"Mayor Brandon Johnson on Wednesday earmarked $151.2 million in taxpayer money to help subsidize four proposals to breathe new life into Chicago’s Financial District by transforming it into Chicago’s newest residential neighborhood, advancing a plan to 'reimagine' Chicago’s Loop launched by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot."The four proposals would invest...
WIN: City Council Approves Adopt-A-Landmark Grant and Class L Tax Designation for Mid-City Trust and Savings Bank Adaptive Reuse
"The $53.1 million rehabilitation of the Near West Side’s former Mid-City Trust and Savings Bank as a hotel will be assisted by a $1.3 million Adopt-A-Landmark grant and tax incentive approved by City Council today."Planned by ECG Madison LLC at 801 W. Madison St., the 82,000-square-foot project will rename...
WIN: City Council Approves Apollo’s 2000 / former Marshall Square Theater Chicago Landmark Designation
La"For nearly 35 years, Javier Galindo and Lidia Galindo Corral have welcomed artists from all over the world to the Apollo’s 2000 Theater in Little Village."They’ve hosted politicians from all levels of government — including then-Vice President Al Gore — and gathered community members for wrestling, fashion shows and...
WIN: Final Landmark Recommendation Approved for Hyde Park Union Church
"A city commission on Thursday April 4, 2024 unanimously recommended landmark designation for a 118-year-old Hyde Park church."Hyde Park Union Church, 5600 S. Woodlawn Ave., sailed through the Commission on Chicago Landmarks meeting to recommend the church for landmark designation, which would protect both exterior and interior elements from...
WIN: Final Landmark Recommendation Approved for Ramova Theater (Chicago 7 2012)
"The landmark process for the Ramova Theatre at 3508 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport has been far less contentious, with developer Tyler Nevius firmly in support."The Ramova opened in 1929 as a sister theater to the Music Box Theatre in Lakeview. The interior was designed in the 'atmospheric' style...
WIN: John B. Murphy Memorial Auditorium Receives City of Chicago Landmark Designation
"The Driehaus Museum, at Wabash and Erie, is proud to announce that its John B. Murphy Memorial Auditorium has received City of Chicago landmark designation. The Driehaus Museum is now comprised of two landmarked buildings – the 1926 Murphy Auditorium and the 1883 Nickerson Mansion. Following the Museum’s restoration...
WIN: Final Landmark Recommendation Approved for St. Adalbert Church and Complex (Chicago 7 2014, 2016, 2019, 2021)
"Pilsen’s St. Adalbert Church building cleared a key hurdle Thursday in the yearslong fight by former parishioners to have it declared a landmark to spare it from demolition or a complete overhaul."The Commission on Chicago Landmarks voted unanimously to recommend it get the protection, setting up a final decision...
PARTIAL WIN: Thompson Center Renovation Begins, But Iconic Elements To Be Demolished (Chicago 7 2016, 2018, 2019 & 2020)
"Construction on the James R. Thompson Center is in full swing after the building’s developers on Monday officially kicked off the redevelopment project, saying it will have an 'unbelievable impact' on the Loop and strengthen Chicago’s reputation as a technology hub."Once complete, the building at 100 W. Randolph St....
WIN: Vacant Noel State Bank To Become a Barnes & Noble Bookstore
"Barnes & Noble will open four new Chicago-area locations this summer, including a store in a recognizable former bank building in Wicker Park."The world’s largest retail bookstore chain plans to open a store in the former Walgreens flagship building at 1601 N. Milwaukee Ave. early this summer, as well...
WIN: Funds Raised to Rescue United Electrical Workers Union Hall Mural
"The United Electrical Workers union is teaming up with an art group to save a historic mural inside its Near West Side meeting hall, a space that will soon be developed into apartments."The sprawling mural, titled 'Solidarity,' spans the building’s two lobbies and central staircase, narrating the history of...
WIN: Nonprofit Workforce Development Receives Building Renovation Grant for 3410 W. Lake Street
"Revolution Workshop has received $2.5 million in funding as a recipient of a Community Development Grant. Located at 3410 W. Lake, Revolution Workshop is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides construction workforce development for unemployed or underemployed people in partnership with area businesses. "With Future Firm serving as the...
WIN: After Adaptive Reuse, Capital Garage Reopens as Bramble Arts Lofts Theatre
"Bramble Theatre Company is opening a performing arts space in Andersonville this weekend."Bramble Arts Loft, 5554 N. Clark St., will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony 10 a.m. Saturday followed by free tours of the theater until 4 p.m."The newly renovated loft on the second floor of a 1920s auto garage...
POTENTIAL WIN: Momentum Growing for Chicago Lakefront National Park (Chicago 7 2021)
"Some people who live along the Chicago lakefront on the North Side voted in favor of turning the lakefront into a national park."This is an idea that’s been kicked around for several years, championed by Preservation Chicago."The question was on ballots in three precincts of the 49th Ward. 60%...
WIN: Art Deco Lawson House Reopens After Comprehensive Renovation
"More than 400 affordable micro apartments are now open in the Gold Coast after a two-year renovation of the former Lawson House YMCA."The 24-story art deco building, 30 W. Chicago Ave., was once the largest single-room-occupancy building in the city, with 583 apartments. It has been transformed into 406...
WIN: JP Morgan Chase Announces Chase Tower Renovation
"Part of the Chicago Loop's magic were the occasional oddball, unexpected, 'How in the heck did this get here?' places that used to dot downtown."Places like Harem Hosiery, with its faux 1001 Arabian Knights neon sign, that used to be at 110 S. State St. Or the menagerie of...
WIN: Growing Recognition for the Freedom Seekers and Ton Farm Underground Railroad Site
"The Netherlands’ ambassador to the United States joined Thursday’s unveiling of a sign honoring the history of Dutch settlers who helped enslaved people traveling the Underground Railroad in Chicago."The sign details in English and Dutch how Dutch families — including Jan and Aagje Ton — settled in what is...
WIN: Illinois Designates 10 Cultural Districts and $3 Million in Funding
"Ten state-designated cultural districts in Illinois were recently announced by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, including Little Village and 'Puerto Rico Town' in Humboldt Park."The program was launched in 2023 with an aim to uplift and preserve cultural communities throughout Illinois. The districts are eligible to apply for some of the...
WIN: Landmark Biograph Theater Reopens After Being Shuttered for Years
"After a long fallow period, the landmark Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., once again opens its doors for regular patronage this week, thanks to twin touring productions from Los Angeles-based Theatre 68. The unifying factor is Ronnie Marmo, the company’s artistic director, who finds inspiration in these very...