editor Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 There's lots of buildings that are famous in Chicago, but there are thousands of nice buildings that get little attention. Here are a few from the Near North, Old Town, and Lincoln Park neighborhoods. One Superior Place. Generic apartment building across from the Roman Catholic cathedral. 51 West Erie. One of my favorites. There were tons of these hotels thrown up quickly for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Today most are combination apartment and office buildings with ground floor retail. 60 West Erie. A 90's style apartment building. 156 West Superior. Newer condo block. Chicago Engine Company 42. Old Chicago fire houses tend to get used for restaurants and offices. 340 West Superior. 90's style condo block. 620 North LaSalle. Office building on top of a car dealership. Home of Effen vodka. Assumption Catholic Church. This was built for the Italian immigrants because Old Saint Patrick's church refused to take them. Unlike in most cities where the Catholic churches were established based on population demand, in Chicago they were established along ethnic and national lines, so an area might have an Irish church and a German church and a Polish church and a Ukranian church, etc... That model no longer works and now lots of them are closing because their targeted ethnicities have moved to other parts of the city and suburbs and become non-hyphenated Americans who go to church together. Newer apartment tower. Part of a complex of these. The flagship McDonald's restaurant. The Kinzie Street Railroad Bridge. Historically significant for its design and the fact that it was still being used to deliver newsprint to the Sun-Times until a few years ago. The mayor wants to rehab this rail line to shuttle tourists from Union Station (Amtrak, Metra) to Michigan Avenue and to supplement the water taxi system. The Montgomery. Formerly the Montgomery Ward headquarters. Now condos with exceptional views. 200 North Lincoln Park West. Typical north side residential block. 2400 North Lakeview Avenue. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's last residential building before he died. 2747 North Lakeview Avenue. A modern abomination amid the historic brownstones. 2626 North Lake Shore Drive. Typical residential block. There's an identical building on the South Side. 2800 North Lake Shore Drive. Typical north side residential block. The Standing Lincoln monment. Alexander Hamilton Monument. Cost $1 million to make back in the 40's because it's real gold leaf. Chicago History Museum. The opposite side is all modern. Elks National Veterans Memorial. The former Chicago Academy of Science. Now the Lincoln Park Zoo headquarters. The Moody Memorial Church. The Belden-Stratford. Typical north side residential block. The Couch Tomb. When the cemetery was moved to make Lincoln Park, this tomb and many many bodies were left behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sowanome Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I actually saw the listing for the "2747 North Lakeview Avenue" property when i lived one block away from it and it's awesome inside if you're into art, b/c it has a ton of wall space and it appears that the owner used it specifically for that purpose..however, the property took a lot of heat b/c its style obviously doesn't fit into that of its surrounding n.hood. If you get a chance check out the midrise condo building at n.wells and grand(south west corner of intersection)..It's definitely One of the more interesting glass/cement buildings around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 WOW. Thanks for sharing. I liked the info about the churches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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