“City landmarks officials are trying to prevent the demolition of an elegant, 19th century building that is among the first structures built in Streeterville after the Great Chicago Fire.
“The non-profit Johnson O’Connor Research Foundation applied for a demolition permit in July to bring down the 1870s building located at 161 E. Erie St. But the Chicago Department of Planning’s Historic Preservation Division put a 90-day hold on the permit under the city’s Demo Delay Ordinance, a provision created to help ward off the demolition of potentially historic buildings.
“The stay of execution has less than 40 days left. But it has given the city’s preservation staff time to put together a recommendation asking the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to grant the building preliminary landmark status at the panel’s Oct. 3 meeting.
“The four-story, limestone-fronted Italianate building is among a vanishing class of structures that date back to the heady years when Streeterville was rebuilt in the aftermath of the 1871 fire.
“‘It’s a very historic building that adds a lot of character to the neighborhood,” Deborah Gershbein, president of Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR), said of 161 E. Erie. ‘We really don’t want to have it torn down.’
“Located a block east of Michigan Avenue, 161 E. Erie is quite the charmer, with its light-colored stone face, intact cornice and pleasant horizontal ranks of windows. And the building is being used. Tenants include a hair salon, an art gallery, a yoga studio — and Johnson O’Connor, the organization that wants to wreck the building.
“Why would someone tear down such a little beauty? One possible clue is the building is surrounded by contemporary skyscrapers. The financial temptation to add one more tall, money-making building to the bunch might be too great.
“Preservation Chicago has been pushing since July to get landmark status for 161 E. Erie. Ward Miller, the organization’s executive director, said the structure was originally a residential building composed of three townhouses before it was turned into commercial space.
“Which is a testament to the creative and adaptive reuse of such historic structures,’ Miller said.
“Miller said 161 E. Erie and nearby surviving buildings of that vintage ‘provide a glimpse into another era. The buildings exude a refined yet beautiful design, employing fine quality materials and craftsmanship.’
“Let’s not lose another one. The landmarks commission next month must vote to protect 161 E. Erie.” (Bey, Chicago Sun-Times, 9/21/24)
Read the full story at Chicago Sun-Times
- COLUMN: Landmarks commission must protect endangered 150-year-old Streeterville building; The elegant building at 161 E. Erie St. was constructed when the neighborhood was rebuilt after the Great Chicago Fire; Lee Bey, Chicago Sun-Times, 9/21/24
- Streeterville building constructed after Chicago fire should not be torn down: architecture critic, Lee Bey, ABC7 Chicago, 9/23/24
- Preliminary landmark designation approved for Erie Street Row; The three rowhouses at 161 E. Erie were originally built in 1877, Lukas Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 10/28/24
- Save 150-year-old Streeterville building from demolition; A Texan who visits Chicago often says 161 E. Erie St. is worth saving. Also, readers weigh in on our downsized weather page, the vice presidential debate and plastic bag bans, Chicago Sun-Times Letter to the Editor, Bret E. Broussard Sr., 10/2/24
- Erie Street Row, 161 E. Erie St. Landmark Designation Report