#100301990
Date received: 7/22/09
Address: 1810 W. Cortland St.
Ward: 32
Applicant: Charlie Poppell
Owner: Raj Fernando
Permit Description: Combine two existing buildings 1808 & 1810 W. Cortland as one single family residence – construct new 1-story link to connect the two buildings and remove a rear portion of 1810 – remodel thru-out (1810).
Status: Under review
According to the Historic Resources Survey, this is a commercial/ residential building constructed in 1889. Known as Grimm’s Building, this was the home of photographer legend Richard Nickel.
Lots of relevant links here and a photo with links here. Another good post here.
Nickel serves as one of my preservationist inspirations as we battle the wrecking ball here in New Orleans, Post-K. This is a perfectly good building and besides its historical value it would simply be a waste. What is the reason for the proposed demo? Are there plans for the site? Chicago owes it to Nickel to preserve this site. He was an amazing man. Thanks for you website ! Here is a link to my post about Nickel done a couple years ago. http://www.squanderedheritage.com/2007/05/10/in-memoriam-richard-nickel-1928-1972/
Laureen– I’ve long loved your stuff– keep it up. All I know about the details of this permit are linked in this post. Looks like it’s not a full demo, but a modification…
The City Council gave this property landmark status:
http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/zlup/provdrs/hist/news/2010/jun/council_confirmslandmarkstatusforrichardnickelstudio.html
June 9, 2010
Council confirms landmark status for Richard Nickel studio
Peter Strazzabosco (312) 744-9267
The Lincoln Park studio of architectural photographer Richard Nickel, a pioneer in Chicago’s preservation movement, was designated as an official landmark today by the City Council.
While working from 1969 to 1972 to convert the two-story structure at 1810 W. Cortland St. into his home and photography studio, Nickel used the building to warehouse architectural fragments that he saved from several now-demolished Chicago buildings.
“Through his photographs, the ornaments that he salvaged, and the public attention he brought to Chicago’s architectural legacy, Richard Nickel was instrumental to the spirit of preservation we appreciate today,” said Mayor Richard M. Daley. “His place in history, as well his studio, will be appropriately honored by this designation.”
Nickel’s passionate but ultimately unsuccessful crusade to save Adler & Sullivan’s Garrick Theater in 1960 is generally regarded as one of the first grass-roots preservation efforts in Chicago, according to the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, which recommended the landmark designation earlier this year.
By advocating to save large, downtown commercial buildings, Nickel pushed the historic preservation movement beyond its then-normal boundaries of commemorating public buildings and sites associated with important people or historic events.
A resident of suburban Park Ridge, Nickel’s untimely death while salvaging architectural fragments from the Chicago Stock Exchange in April 1972 occurred before he could complete the building’s restoration as his studio and home. The structure, built in 1889 and previously used as a bakery, is the only building Nickel ever owned. It is currently used as a single-family home.
The landmark designation protects the street-side elevation of the building from significant alternation or demolition.