Eye and Ear Infirmary Demolished PAGE 9

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ISSUE No 6 Fall 2008

Grant Park (Daley Bicentennial Plaza) Site of Proposed Chicago Children’s Museum

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PRESERVATION CHICAGO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Board of Directors FALL, 2008 Bill Neuendorf President Jack Spicer Vice President New Leadership Team to Guide Preservation Chicago Pam Jameson Treasurer Debbie Dodge Secretary It seems only yesterday that a small but determined group of Chicago residents united Greg Brewer Exec. Comm. to protest the demolition of one of Chicago’s unique Victorian turret buildings. That Bart Lewin Exec. Comm. Gold Coast building was intended to be razed to make way for another chain drug Todd Martin Exec. Comm. store. The building was eventually saved and incorporated into the design of the Jeremi Bryant Board new store. From these humble roots in 2001, Preservation Chicago has grown into a Bob Clarke Board vibrant community-based organization that is a respected voice on matters of historic Sandy Gartler Board preservation and neighborhood development. Vana Kikos Board Mike Moran Board During the past years, the advocacy efforts of the volunteer-based organization Nina Newhouser Board Craig Norris Board have increased significantly. Recently, the Board of Directors took steps to better Scott Rappe Board advocate on behalf of our members by hiring Jonathan Fine as part-time Executive Andy Schcolnick Board Director and Stacey Pfingsten as part-time Communications Manager. Jonathan, a Laura Stigler-Marier Board founding member and the organization’s former president, continues to lead the day- to-day operations of Preservation Chicago and serves as the primary media contact and spokesman. An architect by training, Jonathan brings an unparalleled degree of Staff expertise and passion to the organization. Jack Spicer takes over for Preservation Jonathan Fine Chicago’s outgoing Vice President Mike Moran, also a founding member. Executive Director After having been a Preservation Chicago member during my years in graduate Stacey Pfingsten school and serving on the board for nearly three years, I was elected to be President Communications Manager of the organization in May 2008. The creative re-use of historic buildings turned into a passion during my 15-plus years of involvement in the construction, design Contact us: and real estate development industry. Since I moved back to Chicago in 1991, I have 1016 North Oakley Boulevard Chicago, IL 60622 always been impressed with the feel and character of so many of the city’s diverse ph: 312.337.5500 neighborhoods. While the boom cycles of the real estate industry have changed many fax: 312.337.5500 of these neighborhoods, Chicago remains a highly desirable urban city that has a true www.preservationchicago.org character and sense of place. email: [email protected]

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Jonathan Fine One thing that hasn’t changed is the mission – to advocate for the preservation of SENIOR EDITOR: Laura Stigler-Marier Chicago’s historic architecture and in essence, the preservation of Chicago’s proud ART DIRECTOR: Sandy Gartler COMMUNICATIONS MGR.: Stacey Pfingsten and diverse neighborhoods. The board, staff and membership remain committed to preserving and restoring Chicago’s unique built environment. From the brick PHOTO CREDITS: Cover: Debbie Dodge bungalows and greystone flats throughout the city to prominent icons in and around Page 3: John Holden the Loop, Preservation Chicago’s new leadership team is excited to carry the torch Page 4: Friends of Uptown and advocate for these structures that define the shape of the city for Chicagoans and Page 5: Lynn Becker and Debbie Dodge Page 6: Debbie Dodge the world. Page 7: Amanda Young Page 8: New Eastside Residents website Page 9: Grahm Balkany Page 10: Craig Norris, Jonathan Fine, Debbie Dodge, Stacey Pfingsten, Peter DeCamp, Lee Bey Page 11: Debbie Dodge Page 12: Debbie Dodge

Bill Neuendorf © 2008 PRESERVATION CHICAGO All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is President, Preservation Chicago strictly prohibited. Preservation Chicago is a not-for-profit organization registered as a 501c3.

2 PRESERVATION CHICAGO www.preservationchicago.org UPTOWN HEADING UPSCALE

hile Uptown has seen more than its fair share of unique andW historic architecture fall to the wrecking ball in recent decades, a collection of significant buildings surrounding the intersection of Broadway and Lawrence Avenue are happily getting new leases on life through major makeovers.

Restoration work is nearing completion on two of the area’s most prominent buildings: the Spanish Baroque Uptown- 4750 N. Broadway (Before) Broadway Building at 4707 N. Broadway and the Riviera Theater office building at 4750 N. Broadway.

The Uptown Broadway Building is Uptown’s most over-the-top celebration of terra cotta design. Built in 1927 and designed by Wal- ter Ahlschlager, the triangu- lar-shaped commercial and office building features a cornucopia of gray and 4750 N. Broadway (After) 4707 N. Broadway (Detail) yellow terra cotta columns, to Chicago. When the initial developer went bankrupt, the urns, animal heads, and human faces. A multi-million dollar project was taken over by the famed theater restoration that received millions in City TIF funds has been operators, who finished the interior of the theater in their undertaken by Thad Wong, one of the principals of the first project with the Rapp & Rapp architects, launching their real estate company @properties. long and famous collaboration. All of these buildings are part of the Uptown Square National Register District, which The property sits directly across the street from the was established in 2000 to help protect a collection development anchored by Uptown’s Border’s book store. of roughly four-dozen architecturally rich buildings which That development, completed in the early 2000’s, saw the radiate out along Broadway and Lawrence. The federal handsome restorations of two adjoining commercial buildings. designation made certain tax incentives for renovation (Sadly, the third building in the complex, the former Plymouth available for all the development. Hotel, was demolished as part of the redevelopment.) ON THE RIVIERA There are other signs of revitalization in the vicinity, especially the on-going rehab of the Aragon Ballroom at Though less dazzling architecturally, the Riviera office building 1106 W. Lawrence Ave. Gut rehabs of a four-story terra is an even more visible example of community restoration as it cotta building at the southwest corner of Broadway and sits right at the northwest corner of the heavily trafficked inter- Gunnison and two large vintage apartment buildings on the section of Broadway and Lawrence. For years, the red-brick north side of Lawrence between Winthrop and Kenmore and white terra cotta building was one of the biggest eye- have breathed new life into dilapidated residential structures. sores on the north side, as its initial elegance had long ago Still the biggest and most daunting challenge to the district is been hidden under a hideous blanket of sheet metal panels. the rehab of the long-dormant Uptown Theater. The property

was purchased in July by Jam Productions chief Jerry Mick- The building had long sat largely empty. Until recent elson, who has suggested a full rehab – long pegged with a restoration began, a sign touting the failed 1983 mayoral price tag of between $40 million and $50 million – may require campaign of Bernard Epton had sat in one of its upper-floor a substantial investment from the government – a significant windows. The architect of the 1918 building is not known, challenge in these tight fiscal times. though it was developed in conjunction with the exterior shell of the adjacent , according to the AIA Guide –– John Holden

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THINGS ARE LOOKING UP FOR THE UPTOWN: JAM PRODUCTIONS MAKES PURCHASE

When it first opened in 1925, it was regarded as the epitome of Spanish Baroque style and the reigning queen of Chicago’s awe-inspiring theater palaces. The masterpiece of architects , it seated 4,320, making it the world’s largest theater of the era. Struggling through a funding crisis in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, the landmark eventually closed its doors for good in 1981, remaining empty and allowed to freefall into a state of decay ever since. Uglier still was the feuding between various factions as to who would take ownership and lead the Uptown back to its glory days as a world-class entertainment venue.

OUT OF A JAM While potential owners and the courts battled it out, the Uptown continued to deteriorate. In the meantime, the city’s Landmarks Commission had invested over $1 million in public funds to stabilize the terra cotta façade,and for over two decades, the local volunteer group, Friends of the , was doing all it could to care for the Uptown and keep it resuscitated – including having headed up the charge that resulted in the theater’s city and federal landmark designation. And now, we are all relieved to report that Jam Productions of Chicago has saved the day.

“Friends of the Uptown” gather in front of the Uptown Theatre. YES, THERE WILL BE A THIRD ACT As of August 18, 2008, Jam founders and impresarios Crediting Friends of the Uptown and Alderman Mary Jerry Mickelson and Arny Granat have entered into Ann Smith (48th Ward) for being largely responsible for a partnership that has pledged $3.2 million to cover ensuring the Uptown’s future, he fully acknowledges the a second mortgage and exorbitant cost of the renovation – to the tune of $40 eliminate the interest of an million. Efforts to raise the money will be herculean, but investment group that held judging from Jam’s track record (they own the Riviera, the first mortgage. In an Vic and ), if anyone can do it, they can. email sent to Friends of the Uptown, Mickelson stated Let the curtain rise. that with Jam at the helm, “the Uptown Theatre now has owners who truly care –– Laura Stigler-Marier about saving and preserving this architectural gem.”

4 PRESERVATION CHICAGO www.preservationchicago.org CHILDREN’S MUSEUM VS. CITIZENS: THE FIGHT FOR CHICAGO’S FRONT YARD or the last few years, the Chicago Children’s Museum powerful ally, Alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward), F(currently located at Navy Pier) has been planning to who courageously and relentlessly advocated against the expand its facilities and enhance its identity with a new plan. However, what is perhaps most disturbing was the building of its own. The site of this new development? blatant disregard for the decisions of ’ highest Court: None other than Grant Park, adjacent to the Daley Bicen- Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the tennial Field House. An ideal place for them, really, what Illinois Supreme Court had decided four times against with its prestigious location, coupled with the financial construction of any buildings in Grant Park. So what part appeal of free land and a significant tax subsidy for annual of “no” do the Children’s Museum, Mayor Daley and the operating expenses. Only one problem: Grant Park is what City Council not understand? Clearly, the gauntlet has been might be considered if not hallowed land, then certainly thrown down. And in the spirit of the legendary Montgomery precious and revered, deemed to remain “forever open, Ward, the public is fighting back. clear and free.” MONTGOMERY WARD STARTED IT! The proposed plan It was over a century ago when retailing pioneer set off a massive Montgomery Ward looked out his widow, surveying public outcry from Grant Park. What he saw was a landmark urban citizens all across park falling into utter chaos. The panoramic expanse of Chicago to the suburbs, greenery that was declared in a public trust as giving rise to the “public ground…not to be occupied by buildings of any grassroots citizens description” was becoming overrun with landfills, railroad group Save Grant Park tracks and circuses – with more development proposals and then galvanizing- on the way. In 1890, Ward filed the first of four historic Preservation Chicago lawsuits, beginning a 21 year fight to restore Chicago’s and numerous other “front yard.” organizations to stage In 1897, the Illinois Supreme Court issued its first protests and petition Ward Decision. Citing well-established precedents, the drives where they have court ruled that Grant Park’s restrictions prohibited any collected thousands of Ald. Reilly speaks with Richard Ward, buildings on Grant Park, banned events or exhibitions President of New Eastside Residents signatures.Yet despite which charged any admission, and prevented the park from the inflamed reation, being transferred into private hands. The one building the City recently voted to approve the Museum’s land spared was the Art Institute, and only because grab, flouting not only the wishes of the Park’s rightful Montgomery Ward had decided not to challenge it – a owners – the taxpayers – but of Save Grant Park’s most

CITIZENS ADVOCATING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF CHICAGO’S HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE 5 VOICEthe stance Ward regretted, fearing it would be used as a future argument for building on Grant Park. He was right…Soon afterward, the city tried to circumvent Grant Park’s special protections and build the Field Museum there. Mayor Fred Busse and the Field Museum put forth the exact same arguments currently being made. They claimed there was a “museum exemption” to the ban. They extolled the museum’s virtues and said Grant Park was the only place where it could be successful. But in 1909, the third Ward Decision by the Illinois Supreme Court flatly rejected those arguments. The Field Museum was banned from Grant Park’s protected lands, and opened at its current home in 1921 John Paul Jones of Friends of The Park speaks at a press event. on the Museum Campus just a few blocks south, where it enjoys great success to this day. Considering the existence of these very achievable alternative solutions, Save Grant Park is extremely CONTINUING WARD’S WORK disappointed that the City Council members chose Were it not for Grant Park’s special protections and the instead to abandon their oath to uphold the law, and foresight and courage of Montgomery Ward and others, allow for the Children’s Museum’s illegal construction there would be no debate today. Because there would in Grant Park – a deal sweetened with over a half- not be a single blade of grass left to build on. Four billion dollars in taxpayer subsidies. So we’re dozen museums (including The Museum of Science kicking it up a notch. To ensure Grant Park remains and Industry, DuSable Museum of African American “forever open, clear and free,” we’re going to court. History and the Field Museum) and countless cultural attractions are spread throughout Chicago, none of THE CITY VS. THE CITIZENS which were allowed to build on Grant Park. Is the While we won’t reveal Chicago Children’s Museum somehow more worthy our strategy publicly, we than these other institutions because they have more will continue to criticize consultants and political clout? Herein lies the the mayor and City challenge: Will we protect Grant Park for future Council members who generations as past generations protected it for us? Not if supported providing the it’s up to City Hall. museum with an estimated $539 million in taxpayer On June 11th, Mayor Daley and 33 City Council subsidies – this just months Members ignored the overwhelming public protests and after Mayor Daley and voted 33-16 to approve plans for a children’s museum in the City Council approved Grant Park. But we of Save Grant Park say, “Not so fast.” a $277 million increase in Let us point out that there are many other viable sites for property taxes and fees. the Children’s Museum in the downtown area besides Save Grant Park is also Grant Park, including its current home at Navy Pier, criticizing a provision where there is ample room for expansion. Neighborhoods in the museum’s secret Preservation Chicago’s beyond downtown should also be considered. The agreement with the park Vice President Jack Spicer gathers signatures world-class museums mentioned above are all located district that allows them outside The Loop, proving museums don’t have to to transfer their 99-year lease to another private be at the city’s epicenter to thrive. Another case in corporation without any oversight from the City Council. point: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the That agreement between the museum and Park largest and most successful in the country, is six miles District Superintendent Tim Mitchell allows the museum from downtown in a diverse neighborhood where it to transfer the building with only the Chicago Park generates $60 million a year in economic development. Districts approval.

6 PRESERVATION CHICAGO www.preservationchicago.org THE BATTLE IS FAR FROM OVER business and cold commerce that robbed the people of In addition to the current lawsuit against the city and their land, but the people’s government, acting in the name several more that are planned, Save Grant Park will of expediency.” Too true. And as Grant Park goes, so go all continue our grassroots efforts to block construction of the Chicago’s public parks. (Please see related article on p. 8.) Chicago Children’s Museum in Grant Park, a magnificent and rare stretch of green space belonging to all Chicagoans. –– Peggy Figiel, Save Grant Park It is not the Mayor’s nor the City Council’s to give away. and Laura Stigler-Marier

Lois Wille, author of “Forever Open, Clear and Free: The Struggle for Chicago’s Lakefront,” and ironically You can view the current lawsuit as well as study the actual Illinois Supreme a supporter of the Museum’s move wrote: “In the last Court Decisions that have saved our beautiful front yard at http://www. 50 years there have been disastrous development neweastside.org. We also encourage you to visit www.savegrantpark.org, that severely damaged the park system. Every one of join upcoming efforts and to donate to the legal fund. Save Grant Park is a them was the result of government action. It wasn’t big 401 c 4 organization.

WANTED: LANDMARKED DISTRICTS FOR “PUBLIC ENEMIES”

Any palooka can make a movie on a Hollywood set. But if you’re looking for the real McCoy, you have to come to Chicago, baby. This is where history was made. And we have the buildings and landmark districts to show for it, thanks to hard-fighting, preservation-minded neighbors and city officials who have joined forces with Preservation Chicago. Because of our joint efforts, these very districts are now in demand by west and east-coast filmmakers. This means millions for our local economy. Take “Public Enemies” – the film that was shot here (pardon the pun) about our very own bad boy, John Dillinger – played by some average-looking Joe named Johnny Depp. Location scouts were crawling all over this town, staking out 1920’s-style neighborhoods and Hollywood crew of the movie “Public Enemies” assembling faux buildings that would give the film the feeling of true cobblestone street on Surf Avenue. period authenticity. And boy, did they find them. with shiny vintage cars – Model T’s, Packards. Nope, you won’t find an SUV in the whole bunch. They found them in the Surf / Pine Grove and Newport Landmark Districts – intact blocks whose architecture You have to hand it to Hollywood. They wanted to make dates back to the late 1800’s. Both areas boast a film that felt like the genuine article, so they came right Orange-rated homes that were once in the crosshairs to the source. The place where it all happened: Chi-town. of the wrecking ball. Preservation Chicago joined But the real stars of this production are the Landmark neighborhood activists to save them by way of getting Districts. They’re what visitors and locals seek out when landmark status for the blocks these buildings stand on. in search of inimitable beauty and connections with our Now the Districts are untouchable – in terms of new past. And they’re the very reasons Hollywood packs up development that would detract from their historical and heads on over here. Specifically. They want the real character. For the film, all that was needed was a slight deal, doll. And that’s something you just don’t find in Hollywood makeover. So the set crews got busy laying Tinseltown. ersatz cobblestone streets over the asphalt, putting up ornate gas-lit Victorian lampposts, and lining the curbs –– Laura Stigler-Marier

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FRONT YARD BACK STORY

Chicago is fortunate to have done many things correctly from the beginning, resulting in one of the fastest growing and most beautiful municipalities in the world. When the early explorers in the 1600’s realized that the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico could be joined via an inland waterway by digging a narrow 6-mile canal near where the Stevenson expressway is today, the idea of “Chicago” was born. In laying out the initial plat of the lakefront in 1836, the canal com- missioners set aside the land east of Michigan Avenue between Madison and Park Place (11th) to be open and free of buildings and all obstructions. Three years later, the Secretary of War imposed similar “dedication restrictions” on the land east of Michigan between Madison and Randolph. These unobstructed The “Worthy Projects” Planned for Grant Park in 1897 courtesy of New Eastside Residents. stretches of green space are what is now known as Grant Park. The approval process of the Children’s Museum move to Grant Park has now been challenged in an initial lawsuit. From Chicago’s earliest days, individuals with political It is expected that further lawsuits will focus on the clout and the financial means have attempted to use Grant dedication restrictive covenants. Similar legal battles have Park to create their own legacy. Some have succeeded, never been lost in 172 years. but only temporarily, because the Illinois Supreme Court has consistently ruled that even the Illinois State legis- lature cannot eliminate the original dedication restrictive Preservation Chicago and many other independent civic covenants of 1836 and 1839. There are no “exceptions” organizations all realize that the special protections of that have survived a challenge in court based on the Grant Park have been a benefit to our generation, and dedication restrictions. we all have a responsibility to preserve our lakefront for future generations. You can help us continue our fight NEVER LOST. HOPEFULLY, NEVER WILL to save Grant Park by contributing to the legal fund at Many persons have pointed to the 1891 Art Institute www.SaveGrantPark.org. We also encourage you to visit and the 1999 Harris/Pritzker buildings as exceptions, www.neweastside.org, where you can study the actual but they have never been tested in court based on being Illinois Supreme Court Decisions that, time after time, challenged with violating the dedication restrictions. have kept Chicago’s front yard “forever open, clear A partial attempt was made to codify the dedication and free.” restrictions in the Illinois statutes of the 1861 and 1863 Chicago Charters. Protections were established for –– Richard F. Ward “abutting owners,” but a land covenant affords protections President, New Eastside Association of Residents (NEAR) to a much broader population of affected citizens.

8 PRESERVATION CHICAGO www.preservationchicago.org Eye and Ear Infirmary Demolished: Made Preservation Chicago’s 2005 Seven Most Threatened List

It is always sad when Chicago loses another important Orange Rated Building. However, when that building was also featured as one of Preservation Chicago’s Seven Most Threatened Buildings, the loss becomes tragic.

The West Loop needs a new park, and with that, Preservation Chicago has never had an argument. Our issue, and the reason we chose to place the Illinois Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary on our Seven Most Threatened Buildings list back in 2005, was based on what the City wished to sacrifice in order to create that park.

The building, located at the Northeast corner of Sangamon and Adams, is executed in a highly unusual “Mayan Deco” style. The overall form of the building is art deco, with low relief ornament, upward thrust, pronounced piers that diminish in prominence as The Eye and Ear Infirmary at the corner of Sangmon and Adams the building rises, and subtle detailing. However, the details themselves are of a Mayan sensibility, likely During the protracted campaign to preserve this inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s California architecture important building, Preservation Chicago argued that the in the 1920s. Flanking the entry pavilion on both sides Eye and Ear Infirmary presented a unique opportunity are the architects’ version of FLW’s hollyhocks from the to provide a recreational and social resource that would Hollyhock House in Los Angeles. Also, directly above enhance and compliment the proposed park. The Infir- the door are small Mondrian-like elements nearly mary does not consume its entire lot – roughly 2/3 was identical to those used on Wright’s “Textile Block” used for parking and green space. With some selective Charles Ennis House, also in Los Angeles. demolition, the Infirmary could have served as another community anchor, while permitting the park to move Built in 1929, the architects were Charles Herrick forward on the remaining vacant land. Preservation Hammond and Edgar Martin. Hammond was a partner in Chicago offered to finance a reuse study to show how to the firm Perkins, Chatton, and Hammond, working with turn the building into a field house but we were not the famous Prairie School designer Dwight Perkins. permitted access to the blueprints. Martin was the third partner in the equally-famous firm Schmidt, Garden, and Martin. He left the firm and became However, having failed to gain broad-based community State Supervising Architect for several years, during support for the field house idea, the entire site will be which time he worked on the Eye and Ear Infirmary. cleared for the park. In a twist of irony, the new park’s designer also sits on the city’s Landmarks Commission, The Infirmary, since 1858, has provided free medical a body charged with recommending historic buildings service to the indigent citizens of Illinois, through the for legal protection from demolition. Although a token Civil War, the Great Depression, and both World Wars gesture that cannot make up for the loss of this important until it has evolved into what is now, as part of the structure, some of the Mayan terra cotta blocks will be University of Illinois at Chicago, one of the most respected incorporated into the design of the new park. medical, teaching and research institutions in the world. The building is the only historical structure standing –– Jonathan Fine today that represents the Institution’s remarkable story.

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LOST

Westinghouse School ComEd Substation 2049 N. Mohawk 3301 W. Franklin 1510 W. Division Street Date: 1881 Date: 1919 Date: 1902 Style: Victorian Architects: Schmidt, Garden & Architects: Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge Lost: Demolished for new Martin Lost: City-forced demo due to PCB’s residential development. Style: Chicago School-style

Lost: For soccer field UNCERTAIN

Michael Reese Hospital Campus 501 N. Clark St. 2929 S. Ellis Ave. 2643 N. Wilton Date: 1870’s Date: 1905-1970’s Date: 1880’s Era Architect: Unknown Architects: various Architect: Unknown Style: Italianate Style: various styles from Prairie to Modern Style: Queen Anne Uncertain: Entire Site to be cleared Uncertain: Proposed site of the 2016 Uncertain: Owners are marketing for development of a 729 room hotel. Olympic Village if Chicago wins the bid. as a tear down and have applied for a demolition permit.

SAFE

Village Theater Germania Club American Book Company 1548 N. Clark Street 108 W. Germania Pl 320-334 E. Cermak Road Date: 1916, Architect: Adolph Woerner Date: 1888, Architects: Addison & Fiedler Date: 1912, Architect: N. Max Dunning Safe: In the process of receiving Safe: In the process of receiving Safe: In the process of receiving final final landmark designation status. final landmark designation status. landmark designation status.

10 PRESERVATION CHICAGO www.preservationchicago.org PRESERVATION STATUS REPORT PROFILES IN PRESERVATION: Peggy Figiel, Save Grant Park

PC: Where are you from origionally? PF: I was born and raised in Chicago and the suburbs.

PC: What inspired you to advocate for Save Grant Park? PF: As someone who uses Grant Park almost 365 days a year, I was appalled at the suggestion to develop any part of it. Grant Park is protected by law. It is a beautiful open,green space in the center of the city that is used by people from all over Chicago and, of course, by tourists too. Many of us believed this would create a slippery slope and would set a dangerous precedent for future development in Grant Park. Peggy Figiel being interviewed by a local radio program after a Save Grant Park press conference. PC: What have you learned from this experience? PF: That you CAN fight City Hall. And while this issue is now in PC: If you could express to the City, the Mayor or Alderman Reilly the courts, we feel confident the four Illinois Supreme Court deci- one thing regarding preservation, what would that be? sions that have upheld the protections will continue to be upheld, PF: As the saying goes, “if you don’t know your past, you don’t and Grant Park will remain “forever open, clear and free” for know your future.” Preservation helps us tell the story/history of future generations of Chicagoans – just like it has been for us. this City. It is a tangible education. There are many “old” things that don’t need improvement or change. Preservation is what PC: What surprised you the most? makes cities great and people proud of their history and heritage. PF: The number of people not just from Chicago, but from all over The past, present and future can all exist in harmony together. this country and internationally, that supported us in our efforts. This is why specific buildings or spaces, like Grant Park, are It was clear to all of them this was not a neighborhood issue but protected by laws from even our best intentions. a Citywide issue, with the future of Grant Park at stake. They all talked about their love of Grant Park and shared stories of how PC: What advice would you give to others who want to take action they have used the park over the years. The need to preserve in their neighborhoods? this unique open green space in the middle of this great city was PF: Be organized. Inform and educate as many people as quite clear to them. As was the respect for the laws that have possible about the issue. Each member of Save Grant Park kept Grant Park protected for over 171 years. brought their own expertise, skills and knowledge to the table and were encouraged to use them creatively. Everyone is there PC: What’s the most valuable lesson you learned from this campaign for the same reason and wants the same result. While this may that will help you in future advocacy efforts? not work for other groups, there was no real “leader”. It was PF: Do your research and stick to the facts. Get your issue out truly a group effort with each person doing what they do best, there and inform as many people as possible. Most importantly, creating an incredible synergy that was exciting and motivating. stay focused and do not allow yourselves to be pulled into arguments or accusations designed to divert your attention from your goals.

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11 VOICEthe A “GRAND” TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!

Zelda Fitzgerald was a “no show” – but who cares? Preservation Chicago’s 2008 “Preservation Celebration” Benefit was a resounding success nonetheless! On Friday, September 26th, over 200 guys and dolls came swinging into The Marmon Grand, the stunningly renovated Ballroom in Chicago’s landmarked Motor Row District. In its previous incarnation, the Marmon Grand was the showroom for those oh-so luxurious Marmon automobiles that purred along Chicago streets throughout the Roaring ‘20’s. But on this night, we celebrated with a very different (but equally fun) kind of drive…

In the interest of keeping our mission right on track, everyone from preservationists and supportive aldermen to educators and architects came to partake in the food and festivities. While Chicago treasure Erwin Helfer and his Trio filled the room with hot jazz, guests mixed and mingled, sampling the delectable hors d’oeuvres

(chicken and mushroom satay, mini-sandwiches, Guests enjoy mingling with Alderman Flores (1st ward) as well as listening to the tunes of Erwin Helfer and Trio. bruschetta – oh, my!), bidding on fascinating Silent Auction items (a Sullivan artifact from the Carson So a thousand thank-yous to all who attended and Pirie Scott building, a certificate to the newly-revived contributed. By having done so, you are enabling Morse Theater – to name just two), taking guided Preservation Chicago to continue to be a driving force in tours of Motor Row. How the wine poured! How the saving the historic architecture we all hold so dear. conversation flowed! Truly a “swell-egant” affair!

–– Laura Stigler-Marier

NONPROFIT PRESERVATION CHICAGO ORGANIZATION 1016 N. Oakley Boulevard U.S. POSTAGE Chicago, IL 60622 PAID PERMIT NO. 1376

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