Every year, Preservation Chicago puts together a list of old buildings that are at risk of being lost or left empty. This year, seven buildings have been named. They tell the story of Chicago’s rich past. Many of these buildings need repair and a new use to survive. The list shows the need to protect our history and the work that lies ahead.
One building on the list is the Delaware Building. It is located at the corner of Randolph and Dearborn. McDonald’s currently uses the first two floors of this building. However, the restaurant closed during the pandemic. Now, the lower floors stand empty and need care. The building has a long history in the city. Its location and story make it a special part of Chicago.
Another site is the Clarence Darrow Memorial Bridge, also known as the Columbia Bridge. This bridge is found in Jackson Park at 1766 Columbia Drive. It was built in 1880 by Burnham and Root. The bridge has been closed since 2013. Money has been set aside for its repair. The bridge is close to the future Obama Presidential Center. However, many people worry that the repairs may not happen as planned.
The J.J. Walser House is also on the list. This house was designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1903. It is a fine example of Prairie School design. The house has been empty since 2019 and now faces foreclosure. Preservation Chicago warns that this house needs to be fixed soon. Losing it would be a big loss for the city and for lovers of Wright’s work.
Olivet Baptist Church is another building at risk. This Gothic Revival church was built in 1876 in the Douglas area. It has served one of Chicago’s oldest African American congregations. The church played an important role during the Great Migration and the Civil Rights Movement. In recent years, fewer people have attended the church. This drop in numbers has led to the building falling into decline. The loss of this church would mean the loss of a piece of Chicago’s history.
The Central Manufacturing District Clock Tower in McKinley Park is a symbol of Chicago’s industrial past. Built in 1917 by Samuel Scott Joy, this red brick tower stands in an area once known as the first industrial park in the United States. Today, the clock tower is empty and in need of repair. Many believe that fixing the tower would bring back a part of the city’s past and honor those who built it.
In the Back of the Yards area, the Western Boulevard Industrial Buildings show another side of Chicago’s history. These red brick buildings still hold many of their original features. Some of these structures are still in use, while others stand empty. They remind us of the city’s industrial roots and the hard work of the people who built Chicago.
The last building on the list is St. Martin’s Church in Englewood. This church was built in 1895 for the German Catholic community by Henry J. Schlacks. In the 1990s, the church became a Black evangelical church, showing the change in the neighborhood. Since 2017, the church has been empty. Its history makes it an important landmark in the community.
Along with the list, Preservation Chicago offers ideas for how these sites might be used in the future. They ask local officials, developers, and community groups to work together to save these landmarks. They hope that with proper care and new ideas, these buildings can find a new life. These buildings are more than just old structures.
They hold the memories and stories of Chicago’s past. Saving them is important for keeping the city’s history alive. The challenge now is to repair and repurpose these sites. Many in the community hope that these buildings will be given new uses. With care and effort, these landmarks can once again serve the people of Chicago.
