A place for info about architecturally significant buildings in danger of being demolished (or are already gone).

#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.

Missed this earlier– some Chicagoist coverage.

I’ve got images of 606 West Stratford Place, a 2nd Renaissance Revival home from 1912, and 3650-54 North Clark, a Tudor Revival gas station from 1930.

I also added a complete list of all properties on the Demolition Hold List, listed by add date, on this page here. It goes back to january 2003. This makes it relatively easy to browse for locations near you. I’d love to have images of every location on this list, if possible.

Follow John Tolva’s lead– get yer camera and get out there!

On 07/15/2009.

UPDATE: Released 7/15/09
UPDATE: New images of the property + research details

Here’s a set of images I took of the property on July 16, 2009.

The wide, flat-front building sticks out, for sure. According to the record for the property in the City of Chicago Historic Resources Survey, construction began on the building on July 1, 1912. Architects Huehl & Schmid (their most famous building in Chicago is probably the Medina Temple) designed it in the Second Renaissance Revival style.

Not sure what this carved stone is supposed to be– oranges/ fruit?

Cool diamond-patterned brickwork.

The diamond pattern was extended to the basement window security bars, which I assume were added later. Nice touch.

Overhanging eaves supported by decorative brackets is apparently a hallmark of the period.

This back part of the building is apparently what they want to demolish. Seems to have been made at a different time period (but what do I know? I just take pictures and type into the Internet).

#100295992
Date received: 6/25/09
Address: 606 W. Stratford Pl
Ward: 46
Applicant: William Scholtens, Elements Architectural Group
Owner: Stefen Lippitz
Permit Description: Renovation and addition to existing masonry building. Deconvert from multi-family to single family residence. [Demolish rear 56% of building]
Status: Released 7/15/09

Released Friday, 06/05/2009. See original record here-– please add any images or other info you may have!

Released yesterday, 06/01/2009. See original record here– please add any images or other info you may have!

Both released on 4-17-09; published 4-21-09. See here and here.

UPDATE:

Here’s some pics of the place I took on July 16, 2009.

The scale is somewhat muffed up here.

From behind.

Detail over door.

#100282586
Date received: 4/6/09
Address: 3650-54 N. Clark
Ward: 44
Applicant: Taylor Excavating Inc.
Owner: Vincent Rizzo
Permit Description: Partial demolition of brick commercial garage [existing entry/waiting area at south end of garage to remain]
UPDATE: Released 4-17-09

#100280755
Date received: 3/19/09
Address: 5642 S. Normal
Ward: 3
Applicant: Abundant Services Inc
Owner: Midwest Bank and Trust
Permit Description: Wreck and remove two-story brick house
UPDATE: Released 4-17-09

We’ve got a few updates:

• Added 1439 West Roscoe and 5234 W. Ferdinand
• Updated statuses on 3100 S. Kedzie (Building “ABC”), 3100 S. Kedzie (Building “D”), and 1616-18 W. Warren Blvd. — Permit was released, 3/10/09
• The actual Demolition Hold List pages now have a header for the Department of Zoning & Land Use Planning rather the Department of Community Development