Preservation Chicago's Endangered List

The inclusion of the Century and Consumers Buildings on the 2023 'Most Endangered' list marked their fifth appearance, highlighting a prolonged preservation battle. These early 20th-century skyscrapers on State Street faced a $52 million federal earmark for demolition due to security concerns related to the adjacent Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. Advocacy for their preservation has been intense, with a petition garnering over 23,000 signatures and a documentary on the buildings receiving over 1.2 million views. A significant victory for preservationists came when the U.S. General Services Administration shifted its stance towards an adaptive reuse plan for the Century and Consumers Buildings. This decision was influenced by extensive advocacy from groups like Preservation Chicago and a formal review under the National Historic Preservation Act. The buildings have since been recommended for official Chicago Landmark status, which would offer further protection from demolition. The 2023 list also highlighted the plight of terra cotta buildings throughout Chicago, dating from the 1890s to the 1940s. This architectural style, which became popular after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 for its fire-proof and inexpensive nature, is now threatened by demolition pressure as many of these structures lack landmark protection. Several other buildings on the 2023 list, including the Jeffery Theater and the Continental Can Company Building, were noted for their significant terra cotta details. A notable success story from the 2023 list is the Werner Brothers Storage Building in Rogers Park. Initially threatened with demolition for an affordable housing project, the 1921 structure with its intricate terra cotta facade will now be incorporated into the new development. This outcome is celebrated by preservationists as a win for both affordable housing and the city's architectural heritage. Conversely, the Jeffery Theater Building and Spencer Arms Hotel in South Shore face a more precarious future. The 1924 complex has been largely vacant for years, with its auditorium demolished in the 1980s. Despite its history as a neighborhood anchor, demolition permits were filed in 2020 to make way for a new entertainment complex, and the threat of demolition remains high. The list also included The Warehouse at 206 S. Jefferson Street, a building of immense cultural significance as the birthplace of House music under DJ Frankie Knuckles. Originally a factory built in 1906, it became a legendary nightclub in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Its inclusion on the endangered list spurred conversations about granting it landmark status to protect it from potential demolition. Taft Hall at the University of Illinois Chicago, a 1965 example of Brutalist architecture designed by Walter Netsch of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, was another 2023 entry. The university announced plans to renovate the building, which includes the complete removal and replacement of its distinctive concrete facade. This move is seen as a significant loss of the original architectural integrity of the campus. The "Southwest Side Industrial Buildings" category highlighted several structures, including the Continental Can Company Building and the Damen Silos. The Continental Can building, noted for its Gothic terra cotta detailing, was slated for demolition to make way for a cold-storage facility. Meanwhile, the 1906 Damen Silos, an iconic feature of the McKinley Park skyline, were sold to an asphalt company with plans for their demolition, sparking opposition from residents who wish to see the site redeveloped for public use.