The Demolition Delay Ordinance, adopted by City Council in 2003, establishes a hold of up to 90 days in the issuance of any demolition permit for certain historic buildings in order that the Department of Planning and Development can explore options, as appropriate, to preserve the building, including but not limited to Landmark designation.

The ordinance applies to buildings rated red and orange in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey (CHRS), but it should be modified to include all buildings included in the survey. These buildings are designated on the city’s zoning map. The delay period starts at the time the permit application is presented to the department’s Historic Preservation Division offices and can be extended beyond the original 90 days by mutual agreement with the applicant. The purpose of the ordinance is to ensure that no important historic resource can be demolished without consideration as to whether it should and can be preserved.

Preservation Chicago is advocating to extend the existing Demolition Delay Ordinance to at least 180 days or longer, in order to create the time community members, stakeholders, decision makers, and elected officials need to conduct robust discussions regarding the fate of these historic buildings and irreplaceable Chicago assets. The support of the Mayor and City Council is necessary to advance this effort.

Additional Reading
City of Chicago Demolition Delay Hold List (2020)

Address: 3837 N. Kenmore Avenue, Wrigleyville
#100901999
Date Received: 12/4/2020
Ward: 46th Ward Alderman James Cappleman
Applicant: Viewpoint Services, DBA Brophy Evacuation
Owner: 3837 Kenmore, LLC C/O Kevin Derrig
Permit Description: Demolition of a 2-story masonry residential building and garage
Status: Under Review
Link to Upzoning Proposal for 3837 N. Kenmore Avenue

Address: 1399 W. Lake Street, West Loop (Lake Street Schlitz Tied House / La Lucé)
#100901650
Date Received: 12/02/2020
Ward: 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett
Applicant: Spirit Wrecking and Excavation, Inc.
Owner: Veritas Chicago, LLC C/O Anthony Giannini
Permit Description: Demolition of a 4-story, multi-family, mixed-use masonry building.
Status: Under Review
Link to Petition to Save the Lake Street Tied House/ La Lucé Building

Address: 1932-34 N. Seminary Avenue , Old Town
#100901459
Date Received: 12/1/2020
Ward: 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith
Applicant: Platinum Homes Development
Owner: Seminary Trust c/o Sarah Howard, Trustee
Permit Description: Demolition of a 2-story, multi-family masonry building
Status: Under Review

Address: 116 N. Willard Court, West Loop
#100897650
Date Received: 11/04/2020
Ward: 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett
Applicant: PLD Holdings, LLC
Owner: Mark and Beverly Paulsey
Permit Description: Demolition of a 3-story brick building and a detached garage.
Status: Under Review

Address: 1947 N. Fremont Street, Lincoln Park
#100897264
Date Received: 11/04/2020
Ward: 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith
Applicant: Patrick Balthrop, Sr.
Owner: City of Chicago
Permit Description: Demolition of a 3-story, single family home and detached garage.
Status: Under Review

Address: 1319-1325 S. Ashland Avenue/1544-1554 W. Hastings Street, Near West Side
#100875210
Date Received: 05/22/2020
Ward: 28th Ward Alderman Jason Ervin
Applicant: Alpine Demolition Services, LLC
Owner: 130 Ashland Opportunity, LLC
Permit Description: The demolition of a three-story masonry church, while preserving the foundations and footings.
Status: Under Review

Preservation Chicago has advocated for St. Stephenson for many years. We are actively outreaching to the development team to encourage retention of the exterior walls and adaptive reuse of the interior space. Previously, we found multiple developers interested in adaptively reusing this historic building for a residential use. Multiple offers for purchase that were presented, but the church ownership declined all offers.