The beautiful, old building on the corner of Lawrence and Clark recently surrounded in scaffolding looks to be meeting a sad fate... demolition. According to the building permit seen on the scaffolding, the building at 1508 W. Lawrence will be demolished. Maybe one of the residents of "Rainbo Village" that finally closed on their properties moved in may have heard something in regards to what is planned for this corner. To see the building in question, click here.Update: It is likely the demolition permit is only for the already demolished portion of the building that is next to the Crafty Beaver. As the demolition permit states, it for a commercial building and the main part of the building is mixed use with retail on the first floor and residential on the second and third floors. Hopefully this building will be restored to its former beauty.
I assume you are joking about the beautiful, but overall - I'm glad to see they eyesore go.
ReplyDeleteWe aren't joking about the building directly on the corner. The buildings directly to the north, not so much.
ReplyDeleteOk - Well, I'm curious too as to what will be put there, but I believe the building closer to ashland next to this one has already been demolished. my thought - since it's in the TIF - More condos...
ReplyDeleteThat's depressing. It was one of the oldest buildings left in the area; with the scaffolding on it, and the amazing restoration of the Riviera Building down the street to serve as inspiration, I had high hopes for some type of restoration here.
ReplyDeleteIt was a crime when the Rainbo was torn down, not even the developer's wife wanted to see it go, from what I hear; after 100+ years of being a MAJOR tourist destination, it seemed sad to turn the spot into condos with cookie-cutter retail space.
Now with the loss of this other building, what was once an interesting, history-filled corner is gone forever.
Are we sure that the demolition does not just apply to the ugly building directly to the north where the dog place used to be? I believe they are owned by the same individual/group, but are actually two separate buildings. Considering that I live right there, I would rather have a new building go up there, rather than for either building to on sitting there vacant, so I'm not particularly upset. That being said, a great rehab like the Riviera Building or the Uptown Broadway building is beaucoup bucks and for such a small building with so many problems, it may be cost prohibitive. I know the owner of the Uptown Broadway building is losing money on the deal, and that building is 4 times the size of this one. Just my take on the situation ;-) I'm glad they are doing something rather than nothing though.
ReplyDeleteThe permit pertains to 1508 W. Lawrence. Maybe you can figure out which building that is Sheridan Park Dweller. We assumed since the entire building on the corner is surrouned with scaffolding, it was the entire building to be demolished. Let's hope we are wrong.
ReplyDeleteThat is a nice building, it just needs to be fixed up. Seems that it's just easier to tear and down and build a new one I guess. Sometimes I just have to ask myself what Chicago has against old buildings. Let's get rid of any character possible, okay? That's what we're doing since no new building is anything great.
ReplyDeletewe need more demolition in uptown
ReplyDeleteWhat they need to demolish is most of the ugly new 6-flats dotting the neighborhood. My street, the4400 Block of Malden, is all rehabs with the exception of the small CHA complex. It's a beautiful block. Look, it's not Lincoln Park's new construction that gives it architectural charm.
ReplyDeleteWhat, you don't find the oversized McMansions charming and well-suited for the city?
ReplyDeletehopefully that eyesore will be gone immediately.
ReplyDeleteHaving spent 1962 thru 1969 in that aforementioned eyesore, I can personally attest that the building was meant to be a home for several families in the 1960s. I distinctly remember Rainbo and the infamous pot smoking hippie dome named the Kinetic playground adajacent to the eyesore. I do also remember that the building had an atrium in the middle where all the various apartments looked into. Why? Who knows. That type of building should have been saved and restored into luxury condos. It's a shame. But Naything new in Uptown has to be a plus. It has not been a place to raise a family since I left in 1973 unless you are forced to. Even my old school, Our Lady of Lourdes is closed. Does that give you any indication....
ReplyDelete