VOICE The Journal of Preservation Chicago WINTER 20 11 ISSUE No 10 INSIDE THIS ISSUE LATHROP HOMES REDEVELOPMENT STIRS CONTROVERSEY Page 3 READ THE LATEST PRESERVATION STATUS REPORT Page 6 8 SCHLITZ TAVERNS LANDMARKED Page 7 333 East Superior St., 1975, Bertrand Goldberg - Bertrand Goldberg and Associates Architect Photo Credit: Chicago History Museum CAN GOLDBERG’S MODERN MASTERPIECE BE SAVED? Perhaps the most overused word in the architectural principles, resulting in a uniquely original design lexicon is “unique”. It has been bandied about so philosophy. Rather than steel and glass, he adopted frequently that when a truly revolutionary piece of concrete as his medium; its plasticity the ideal architecture is built, the word loses all its meaning. material to realize his vision. Goldberg opined that However, in 1975, when Bertrand Goldberg’s Prentice there were no right angles in nature and strove to Women’s Pavilion opened on Chicago’s Northwestern create a more organic architecture, thus gravitating Hospital campus, the world witnessed the completion to more circular forms. of a structure that truly was unique. Now, merely 35 years old, this amazing masterwork is threatened Best known for his prescient Marina City, Goldberg with demolition. created a complete urban environment within a single development, a city within a city for urban Goldberg trained at Harvard and studied, for a time, professionals which provided affordable rental at the German Bauhaus under the direction of archi- housing, retail services, entertainment, and office tect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. When Goldberg space. Anchored by the now iconic twin corncob returned to Chicago in 1933, he shaped the Miesian towers, Marina City paved the way for the “24 hour philosophy he had acquired there to suit his own downtown” and presaged a trend in urban living Continued on page 4 VOICE PRESERVATION CHICAGO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Board of Directors Preservation Chicago Board Welcomes New Leadership Ward Miller President I’m honored to have been elected President of Preservation Chicago and want to thank Jack Spicer Vice President the Board and especially interim president, Jack Spicer, who has been supportive of Greg Brewer Treasurer the organization for so many years and has brought so many pertinent issues to the Debbie Dodge Secretary organization for discussion and action. I look forward to working with the members of the Board and Jack, returning as Vice President. Beth Baxter Board Nicholas Bianchi Board For over twenty years I worked at Vinci-Hamp Architects, Inc. My projects included restoration, residential remodelings and museum installations. Since 1983, I have Carla Bruni Board participated in efforts to save and landmark historic buildings in Chicago. These include Jeremi Bryant Board two significant historic districts in the Logan Square community. I’m currently the Vice Sandy Gartler Board President of Logan Square Preservation and have served on the IHSAC of the Illinois State Historic Preservation Agency. Pam Jameson Board Charles Leeks Board In 2003, I was hired as the Executive Director of the Richard Nickel Committee and Kristy Menas Board have since become a co-author, with Chicago architect, John Vinci of The Complete Architecture of Adler & Sullivan, begun by noted architectural photographer, Richard Craig Norris Board Nickel and Aaron Siskind. It was a phenomenal undertaking and I’m grateful to all who Scott Rappe Board were involved in its production and support, including such organizations as Preservation Andy Schcolnick Board Chicago. Beth Schwindt Board For the coming year, I would like to see the membership become involved in their communities in which they live, and bring issues and resources to the table monthly Staff for discussion and action. I would also like to see our staff become full-time employees of the organization and further pursue additional grant funding. Perhaps once a year, Jonathan Fine examine what we may be able to do to support a preservation effort of a significant Executive Director building outside Chicago. Let’s work towards the recognition of these types of buildings as nothing less than great works of art and America’s great treasures, which are to be Stacey Pfingsten saved with the support of groups like Preservation Chicago. Communications Manager I look forward to the year ahead and offer my sincere gratitude to each of you as members and wish you a happy and productive new year in 2011. Contact us: 4410 N. Ravenswood Avenue Ward Miller Chicago, IL 60640 President, Preservation Chicago www.preservationchicago.org ph: 773.334.8800 MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR fax: 773.334.8803 Preservation Challenges Abound in 2011 email: [email protected] As we enter 2011, there is no question that our preservation challenges could be as great as, EDITOR IN CHIEF: Jonathan Fine or greater than, those we faced in 2010. SENIOR EDITOR: Laura Stigler-Marier GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Sandy Gartler Last year, we witnessed the destruction of 7 buildings designed by Walter Gropius on the Michael COMMUNICATIONS MGR.: Stacey Pfingsten Reese Hospital campus. Adding insult to injury, the city issued a demolition permit for the one PHOTO CREDITS: Reese building they had promised to save, the 1905 Schmidt and Garden Old Main building. Cover: Hedrich Blessing Photo, courtesy of Chicago History Museum Archives This year the economic downturn will continue to plague efforts to re-purpose some of our most Page 3: Andy Marfia important architecture. Structures like the Old Post Office, the Chicago Motor Club building, and Page 4: Art Institute of Chicago, The Archives the Chicago Defender building all remain vacant and without a reuse plan. Moreover, the fate of Bertrand Goldberg of the former Prentice Women’s Hospital hangs in the balance. With Northwestern University Page 5: Art Institute of Chicago, The Archives poised to take ownership this year, efforts to raise public awareness about preserving this of Bertrand Goldberg seminal work of Bertrand Goldberg will become critical. Preservation of the Lathrop Homes also Page 6: Jonathan Fine, Gordon McAlpin, takes center stage in 2011. Jack Spicer, Stacey Pfingsten City of Chicago Dept. of Zoning and Land Use Planning Page 7: Jack Spicer, Stacey Pfingsten Although these are just a few of the issues confronting us this year, the good news is that Page 8: Jonathan Fine Preservation Chicago starts 2011 on very solid footing. We recently rebuilt our web site allowing visitors to access more information than ever before. We also have made the commitment to continue publishing the Voice twice yearly, rather than making it completely electronic. © 2011 PRESERVATION CHICAGO All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is strictly prohibited. Preservation Chicago is a not- But most importantly, we welcome our new board president Ward Miller. Mr. Miller helped for-profit organization registered as a 501c3. found Preservation Chicago in 2001 but left shortly thereafter to focus on the publication of his new book. With its publication now complete, Ward returns to the organization with a renewed energy, spirit and vision that will help usher Preservation Chicago into its second decade. Jonathan Fine Executive Director, Preservation Chicago Citizens advocating for the preservation of Chicago’s historic architecture 2 LATHROP “REDEVELOPMent” PLAN KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR Depending on your perspective, Lathrop Homes will either be revitalized or destroyed this year. Late last year, after months of discussion, the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) Board of Commissioners accepted the Lathrop Working Group’s recommendation to enter into an agreement with Lathrop Community Partners, a group of developers, architects, housing advocates, and other advisors formed by the CHA to help facilitate the revitalization of the complex. Their mission is to lead a community process with, ostensibly, the end result being a new vision for the 35-acre complex bounded by Clybourn, Diversey, Damen and the Chicago River. However, a majority of the current residents do not believe that a radical remaking of Lathrop is necessary for it to again become a public housing success story. Their desire is to restore it back, as closely as possible, to the vision of its Lathrop Homes Photo Credit: Andy Marfia original architects. To that end, these remaining residents have created a coali- tion with the Logan Square Neighborhood Association in an effort to ensure that their needs and desires are not thwarted during the process. Although the CHA has vacated over 60% of the units over the past several years in an effort to minimize community opposition to redevelopment, the remaining residents remain organized and committed to preserving the best of Lathrop Homes. Completed at the height of the Great Depression in 1938, Lathrop embodied the ideals of the newly created Public Works Administration, a federal body charged with building decent affordable public housing for the working poor. The project employed a Who’s-Who of prominent architects, including Robert S. De Golyer, Hugh Garden, Tallmadge and Watson, Lathrop Homes Photo Credit: Andy Marfia E.E. Roberts, Charles White and Hubert Burnham. Land- scapes were provided by none other than renowned landscape Preservation Chicago first took up the cause of Lathrop Homes architect, Jens Jensen. when it was listed as one of 7 Most Threatened places in 2006. Since that time, the organization continues to stand with the resi- The original complex consisted of 925 units housed in a dents of Lathrop, along side our sister organizations Landmarks series of humanly-scaled three and four- story walk-ups set Illinois and the National Trust for Historic Preservation and other amid lush landscapes. A senior high-rise and two other support stakeholders, in an effort to ensure that Lathrop Homes is preserved. buildings were added in the 1950’s. Unlike so many of the CHA’s other public housing complexes, Lathrop thrived on – Jonathan Fine its cultural diversity and remains to this day one of the few successfully integrated CHA projects.