Each year, Preservation Chicago publishes a list of the city buildings that are at the highest risk of being lost to demolition or decay. According to DNA Info, the organization unveiled its list on the 178th anniversary of Chicago's incorporation as a city.
"These are irreplaceable buildings that define our neighborhoods," said Ward Miller, Executive Director of Preservation Chicago.
The buildings named on the list are:
- The South Side Masonic Temple: Located at 6400 S. Green Street, the Masonic temple was built in 1921. Throughout its years, it served as a popular destination for fraternal meetings and community events in Englewood. The building features Egyptian, Moorish, and Art Deco influences.
- The Agudas Achim North Shore Synagogue: "The last great Chicago synagogue" is located at 5029 N. Kenmore Avenue and was built in 1922. It boasts Romanesque Revival, Art Deco, and Spanish influences. It's currently listed for sale and has worried Preservation Chicago that it may be demolished by developers.
- Clarendon Park Community Center: Uptown's local community center was built in 1916 for beachgoers. It sits at 4501 N. Clarendon Street and has fallen victim to water filtration and other building code issues.
- A. Finkl & Sons: The Lincoln Park steel plant is up for a major redevelopment, although Preservation Chicago is concerned the renovations may not include the historic buildings that are already standing on the riverfront.
- Illinois Institute of Technology: The Main Building at 3300 S. Federal Street was built in 1893 with funds from Chicago meatpacking baron Philip Armour. While the higher education institution has restored many other buildings designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, this one has not and is being offered to developers.
- Pioneer Arcade: Once a 1920s bowling and billiards venue, the arcade at 1535 N. Pulaski Road has been empty since the mid-2000s. The building's facade is known as one of the city's best examples of 1920s Spanish colonial revival style and was designed by Jens Jensen. It's neighbor, the New Apollo Theater, also made Preservation Chicago's list.
- Neon signs: Located throughout the city, there are many old-school neon signs that bring back memories of how businesses approached advertising from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Englewood's South Side Masonic Temple
The Agudas Achim North Shore Synagogue on Kenmore Avenue
Clarendon Park Community Center in Uptown
Illinois Institute of Technology
Pioneer Arcade at 1535 N. Pulaski Road
Some of Chicago's neon signs
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Jul 25, 2023
San Francisco seeks proposals for adaptive reuse of underutilized downtown office buildings
The City of San Francisco released a Request For Interest to identify office building conversions that city officials could help expedite with zoning changes, regulatory measures, and financial incentives.
Sustainability | Jul 13, 2023
Deep green retrofits: Updating old buildings to new sustainability standards
HOK’s David Weatherhead and Atenor’s Eoin Conroy discuss the challenges and opportunities of refurbishing old buildings to meet modern-day sustainability standards.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 11, 2023
Converting downtown office into multifamily residential: Let’s stop and think about this
Is the office-to-residential conversion really what’s best for our downtowns from a cultural, urban, economic perspective? Or is this silver bullet really a poison pill?
Adaptive Reuse | Jul 10, 2023
California updates building code for adaptive reuse of office, retail structures for housing
The California Building Standards Commission recently voted to make it easier to convert commercial properties to residential use. The commission adopted provisions of the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) that allow developers more flexibility for adaptive reuse of retail and office structures.
Office Buildings | Jun 28, 2023
When office-to-residential conversion works
The cost and design challenges involved with office-to-residential conversions can be daunting; designers need to devise creative uses to fully utilize the space.
Resiliency | Jun 14, 2023
HUD offers $4.8 billion in funding for green and resilient building retrofit projects
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently released guidelines for its Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) that has $4.8 billion for funding green projects.
Energy-Efficient Design | Jun 5, 2023
Implementing an ‘asset drawdown strategy’ for site decarbonization
Solidifying a decarbonization plan via an “asset drawdown strategy” that carefully considers both capital and operating costs represents a game-changing opportunity for existing properties to compete with new projects.
K-12 Schools | Jun 5, 2023
How to achieve cost-effective kindergarten classrooms
Educational architect Robin Randall shares realistic advice about the challenges of adding developmentally appropriate, play-based kindergarten classrooms while respecting budget limitations.
Reconstruction & Renovation | May 26, 2023
Boulder, Colo., puts sustainable deconstruction policy into action
Three quarters of a closed hospital’s building materials and equipment are being reused for new construction, or resold.
Sponsored | Building Enclosure Systems | May 16, 2023
4 steps to a better building enclosure
Dividing the outside environment from the interior, the building enclosure is one of the most important parts of the structure. The enclosure not only defines the building’s aesthetic, but also protects occupants from the elements and facilitates a comfortable, controlled climate. With dozens of components comprising the exterior assemblies, from foundation to cladding to roof, figuring out which concerns to address first can be daunting.
