Loyola University Chicago’s Centennial Forum demolition is nearing completion.
Quite a bit of debris remains, but little else other than memories, of the Loyola University Chicago Centennial Forum demolition in Rogers Park. The City of Chicago issued a demolition permit for the two-story concrete building on May 23, and demo contractor American Demolition got to work almost immediately. Now the entire structure is gone, and work is being done below grade to close off the multi-level plaza that connected Centennial Forum to Mertz Hall next door.
Power Construction is the general contractor for the entirety of this project, but it still seems the only plan for the site is to make it “green space.” Not permanently, but green nonetheless. For now.
The Chicago Tribune Freedom Center got four demolition permits on August 26, 2024.
Not just one, but four demolition permits were issued Monday for 651 West Chicago Avenue, or what used to be the Chicago Tribune Freedom Center at Chicago Avenue, Halsted Street, and the Chicago River. A long metal building at 700 West Erie Street on the site that formerly hosted a U-Haul rental facility was torn down earlier this month. Brandenburg Industrial Services is the demolition contractor for the casino project.
The final edition of the Chicago Tribune to be printed at this location hit the streets in May. Work has been ongoing inside the facility since to prep for demolition, making way for Bally’s Chicago Casino to get underway. Time is of the essence; the new casino is expected to be open before the end of 2026. All those bricks to be salvaged? I wonder if they’ll truck them off site and sort them when there’s more time.
Prep work for demolition in July.
The permits issued Monday divide the demolition into four sections: the warehouse, high-bay storage and office space, the railway dock, and the northwest addition. There’s some sort of ceremony scheduled for Tuesday to get the (wrecking) ball rolling, per Alderman Reilly’s newsletter from last week. Had I been invited and told how to dress for the occasion, I might pick up some info on which section will be demolished first.
Anyway, there are good vantage points to watch this one. Halsted Street and Chicago Avenue both have enough elevation to get a good look at demo work (though you’ll have to stand on your tiptoes to see over the construction fence) or set sail u the North Branch and watch from the river. Your call.
via Chicago Data Portalvia Chicago Data Portalvia Chicago Data Portalvia Chicago Data PortalDemolition of 700 West Erie, August 13, 2024.
Enjoying the photos? Metra and CTA rides (and Amtrak trains to Milwaukee), Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, domain fees, snacks & energy drinks, and comfortable walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.
Unless you count the rubble, 720 North Wells has now been completely demolished. The four-story River North stalwart stood since the 1870s. many say it should have been afforded preservation as an historic structure, but it “slipped through the cracks” according to the Chicago Tribune.
Photograph everything. Just like our pets, grandparents, and perfectly-cooked steaks, nothing is here forever. Preserve their memories, and photograph everything. We all have cameras in our pockets. They do much more than just make phone calls. Use them.
Photos of the rubble, taken August 22, 2024:
Photos of the demolition process, in no particular order:
Enjoying the photos? Metra and CTA rides (and Amtrak trains to Milwaukee), Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, domain fees, snacks & energy drinks, and comfortable walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.
Brandenburg tears into the former U-Haul facility at 700 West Erie for the Bally’s Casino development.
It isn’t likely I’ll make any casino jokes today, but I wouldn’t roulette out. You can bet I’ve got photos to show that demolition has begun at 700 West Erie in West Town, though. The City of Chicago issued a demolition permit for the single-story metal shed (a looooong shed, but it looks like a shed) that was most recently home to a U-Haul dealer on August 2. It didn’t take long to get started. This is the first demolition permit issued in preparation for the sprawling Bally’s Casino development where the Chicago River meets Chicago Avenue and Hasted Street.
The big permit, of course, will be for the Tribune Freedom center on the northeast corner of this property, where interior demo has already begun after the Chicago Tribune printed its final edition there in May. That will be a BIG demo to watch. So many bricks. And don’t even get me started on the construction we’re going to get to watch here soon. And across Chicago Avenue from this. And across the Chicago River from that. Stock up on snacks.
For now, Brandenburg Industrial Service Company is tearing down the the U-Haul building. Here’s a look. The first photos were taken August 8, after the permit had been issued, but before demolition work had begun. The rest were taken August 13.
Before demolition began, August 8, 2024.Could use this around the house.Taggers’ paradise, pre-demolition. Tuesday, August 13 (today)
Demolition is ongoing — and darn fun to watch — on the Rogers Park campus of Loyola University Chicago, where the Centennial Forum is being reduced to rubble. The City of Chicago issued a demolition permit for the two-story concrete building on May 23, and demo contractor American Demolition got to work almost immediately.
Power Construction is the general contractor for the entirety of this project, but as yet, I haven’t a clue what Loyola plans to erect on this site once demolition wraps up. I *can* tell you that the tall tower in the background of many of these photos — Mertz Hall — is *not* being torn down.
Here’s a whole bunch of photos from the action from Wednesday, June 26. I stood and watched a lot longer than I’d plan. That’s easier to do with demolition than with construction, because so much changes in so little time. Take a photo of a wall or beam, look in another direction, and suddenly there’s no more wall. So cool.
Demolition begins at Lake View Lutheran Church to make way for 37 affordable apartments.
A demolition permit was issued by the City of Chicago on May 31 for Lake View Lutheran Church at 835 West Addison Street in Lake View. And now demo work has begun. Demolition contractor Quality Excavation is on site as we speak, tearing the church down from the south end forward. Once the rubble has cleared, destruction will turn to creation as Lakeview Landing construction begins.
Rendering of Lakeview Landing from Weese Langley Weese ArchitectsNew building permit, via Chicago Data Portal
Lakeview Landing will be a six-story, 37-unit affordable apartment building designed by Weese Langley Weese Architects. The ground floor will include a meeting room for the church, as well as 12 indoor sparking spaces. All 37 apartments will be one-bedroom, 575-square-foot rental units.
Powers and Sons Construction of Gary, Indiana, is already on site overseeing the demo work, itching to get started on the new build. A New Construction permit was issued back on December 12 of last year, so they’ve been waiting a bit.
Enjoying the photos? Metra and CTA rides (and Amtrak trains to Milwaukee), Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, domain fees, snacks & energy drinks, and comfortable walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.
Demolition of 1962 North Fremont Street in Lincoln Park
The demolitions of two residential buildings in Lincoln Park, at 1960 and 1962 North Fremont Street, are all but complete. Both buildings were permitted for destruction by the City of Chicago on April 24, 2024.
1960 and 1962 North Fremont, fenced off for demolition.
A visit here the day after the permits were issued saw demo fencing already surrounding the two properties. I returned Wednesday the 15th to find 1960 completely gone, and 1962 torn open from the rear, with little remaining to be demolished toward the front of the house.
Demolition work moving toward the front of 1962 North Fremont.
Quality Excavation is doing the dirty work, while Power Construction’s Luxury Residence Group is the overall general contractor for the new building (mansion?) to come. Dennis Rodkin at Crain’s Chicago addressed these properties last year; whether the plan is the same, I can’t say. No new permit has been issued for these lots yet.
Profile view of demolition, 1962 North FremontFremont Street façade still intact.1960 North Fremont before demolition began, April 25, 2024. 1960 demo permit1962 demo permit
A leaner, but still a beauty. The Chicago Water Tank at 2221 S Michigan Ave will be demolished.
Yesterday, the day we went to 3625 North Halsted in Lake View to find its Chicago Water Tank already taken down, the City of Chicago permitted another tank demolition, this one at 2221 South Michigan Avenue in Near South Side.
Master Guys Demolition, admittedly one of the best names if you’re going to tear stuff apart, is the demo contractor. The building itself at 2221 South Michigan, home of Windy City Furniture, will remain.
The Doom-O-Lition permit, issued May 15, 2024Tagging, while stupid, added some personality to this one. Brick pedestals are so much cooler than steel stands.
The Chicago Water Tank that stood atop 3625 North Halsted Street is now gone.
A demolition permit was issued by the City of Chicago on April 18 of this year to remove the single-story commercial building at 3625 North Halsted Street in Lake View. The building is the former home of Phoenix Electric Manufacturing Company, and to be honest, it isn’t the type of building anyone is likely to miss. Except for one thing, it’s most outstanding feature.
The Doom-O-Lition Permit
Atop the rear portion of the L-shaped building stood one of Chicago’s few remaining water tanks. A cool, long-legged blue one. So long are those legs that it might make you think it was a free-standing tank in the parking lot. But no, it’s a rooftop tank. Or was.
The entire front portion of the L of the building has been reduced to rubble. The rear portion will be gone soon as well, but the tank atop it is already history, the steel support structure a cruel reminder that I got here too late. Maybe someone disassembled it and put it back together piece-by-piece in their office. Maybe someone from National Wrecking Company. They’re the demolition contractor on this one. I’ve always wanted to do that, put a rooftop tank *in* my office. I’ve also always wanted a big office. But I digress.
All of this to say, we’ve lost one more Chicago Water Tank. Pour one out. Que sera sera. We’ll miss you, Blue Halsted Tank.
Demolition has begun at 1450 West School Street in Lake View.
You hate to see a building torn down, only for the resulting lot to remain vacant for weeks, months, and even years. Fortunately, that looks like it won’t be the case at 1450 West School Street in Lake View.
Two-unit buildings aren’t generally my theme here — I doubt this one will need a tower crane — but it was nice to see a New Construction permit issued the same week as the demolition permit. So I figured I’d go take a quick look. Plus I was in the neighborhood.
1450 West School is already being demolished, but just barely. Naturally, demo contractor Tir Conaill Concrete (they’re also listed as a masonry contractor for the new construction) is working from the rear, towards the front, and they’ve just gotten started on the residential structure; the garage is gone. The demo permit for both was issued Tuesday, April 23.
The permit for the new three-story, 2-unit home was issued just three days later, on April 26. V & M Development is listed as the general contractor. The permit calls for a detached two-car garage, plus two wood decks; one atop the garage, and one at the rear of the first floor.
Wish I had renderings for the new place, but I’ll assume two things: 1. That these will be condos. And 2. That this will be brick. Because why wouldn’t they be brick, and the inclusion of two masonry contractors. Though to be honest, I have no idea whether that correlates to how the building is constructed.
Photos from Saturday, April 27:
The demolition permit.The New Construction permit.
Building Up Chicago 