THREATENED: Archway Standard Oil Station, North Fedral Savings Building, and Stanley Tigerman Walgreens Threatened By New Development

“Developers who are planning to overhaul several properties in Old Town, including the site of the old Treasure Island Grocery Store, have launched an interactive website where people can submit feedback on the project.

“The website is hosted through coUrbanize, an online platform that aims to make civic participation more convenient. It will allow neighbors to offer feedback through any internet-enabled device, text message and voicemail.

“‘We are excited to launch what we believe is a new approach to community engagement and to do so in Old Town, one of Chicago’s most historic and architecturally significant neighborhoods,’ said Nick Anderson, founder and president of Fern Hill.

“Fern Hill held its first meeting last month, during which the team introduced architect David Adjaye, known for projects like the National Museum of African American History, as the lead designer.

“Adjaye told neighbors during a virtual community meeting Wednesday he and his team ‘know Chicago very well and are big fans of the city.’

“Chicago has this extraordinary heritage of architecture, and Old Town was sort of the roots of that,’ Adjaye said during the virtual community meeting. ‘The neighborhood has beautiful two- to three-story, Victorian-style architecture, which is why that part of the city is so distinct.’

“The meeting was a chance for the developers and architects to introduce themselves to the neighborhood, Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) said. No design plans have been created.

“‘This is a blank canvas right now as we start,’ Hopkins said. ‘You all are invited to pick up a paintbrush. Let’s decide together what we want to happen here in conjunction with Moody Church and Fern Hill.’” (Wittich, Block Club Chicago, 9/30/21)

Preservation Chicago would like to see many of the notable structures on this site landmarked and integrated into the proposed development plans by this much acclaimed architect, David Adaje. You can name them from North Federal Savings Bank/Wintrust Bank, Moody Church, Archway Standard/BP Service Station, Walgreen’s building by Stanley Tigerman and the two 1880s buildings on Wells Street, including the former “Earl of Old Town.”

Preservation Chicago is concerned about the following sites which may be at risk of demolition and redevelopment

• BP Gas Station at 1647 N. LaSalle Drive (Archway Standard, 1971, G. Terp)
• Walgreens at 1601 N. Wells St (Stanley Tigerman)
• North Federal Savings Bank / Wintrust at 100 W. North Ave. (Naess & Murphy)
• Moody Church campus

Read the full story at Block Club Chicago

As Old Town Prepares For Major Changes At Prime Locations, Developers Want To Hear From Neighbors; Development firm Fern Hill launched a website Thursday that neighbors can use to share feedback on the firm’s plans to redevelop properties in Old Town, Jake Wittich, Block Club Chicago, 11/12/21

Old Town Developers Tap World-Class Architect To Design Projects In The Neighborhood; David Adjaye, known for projects like the National Museum of African American History, will design a cluster of buildings at and around the Moody Church campus, Jake Wittich, Block Club Chicago, 9/30/21

Fern Hill Announces Plans For Multi-Site Redevelopment In Old Town, Chicago YIMBY, 10/7/21 (Including photos, site plans and historic details)