St. Laurence Church Church Complex Under Demo

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1 May 2014 In This Issue St. Laurence Demolition LI's 10 Most Endangered St. Laurence Church Church Complex Under Demo Save 71st Street Hyde Park Loses 3 PC In Crain's Quick Links Register Now About Us Related Topics Sad news this month: 2011 Chicago 7 St. Laurence Church, in Greater Grand Crossing/South Shore is currently undergoing demolition. The Romanesque revival St. Laurence church, along with its classical rectory, convent, and school, were shuttered by the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1999 and sat vacant before finally being sold in The 1911 church and rectory were designed by Joseph Molitor, a prominent Chicago architect known for his churches, including Sts. Cyril and Methodius, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, St. Bonaventure and Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church. Five of the architect's churches are coded orange in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey. St. Laurence was a fine example of Molitor's work. You can read more on the church and complex here. After its sale the complex was to slated to be redeveloped for a senior living facility. The rectory was later damaged in a fire. After sitting vacant for over a decade, this important landmark is now nearly erased from the cityscape. Reprise: Tour South Shore's Historic 71st Street 1/6

2 10/8/2014 Losing St. Laurence / Reprise: Tour 71st Street / And More JustalittletotheeastofSt.Laurence,ourhistoricwalkingtourofSouthShore's71stStreet wassopopularitsbackforasecondinstallmentthisweekend. Youcanjointhetourbymeetingtheguidesat1p.m.onSunday,May25atGiveMeSome SugahBakery,2234E.71stSt. Highlightsofthetourwillinclude: *Preservedstreetscapefromthe1910s 1930s *Chicago'sonlyremainingstreet medianrailline *BarackObama'sfirstcampaignoffice *FormerhomeoftheSouthShoreNationalBank,laterShoreBank *HistoricJefferyTheater *Jeffery CyrilNationalRegisterHistoricDistrict *HeadquartersoftheBlackUnitedFundofIllinois *ABJCommunityServicesheadquarters,withitscolorfulmosaics Intheeventofinclementweather,thetourwillberescheduled. Weareco sponsorsofthetourstogetherwith:reclaimingsouthshoreforall,southshore DocentCouncil,SouthShoreHistoricalSociety,NFPandSouthShoreChamber,Inc. Formoreinformation,visittheeventpageonFacebookhere. SignThis:PetitionToSave71stStreet Onefinalnoteabout71stStreet,ifyouwouldliketolearnmoreaboutsomeofthespecific threatsfacingthehistoriccorridor(whichincludesour2014chicago7thejeffery Theater),pleaseseetheSaveSouthShore'sCrossroadspetition here: south shores crossroads ThestreetisoneoftheSouthSide'smostexceptionalandintacthistoriccommercialdistricts. Thishiddengemfacesnumerousthreats,andthistourisonepartofresidents'effortsto restoreitsvitality.thefreeone hourtour,opentoneighborsandvisitorsalike,willbeginat GiveMeSomeSugahbakeryandheadwestapproximatelythree quartersofamile. Startinginthe1910s,SouthShoreexperiencedastunningrealestateboomcenteredaround thetrainlinethatstillrunsdown71ststreet.theareabecameasmallcityuntoitself,with restaurants,retailstores,moviepalaces,banks,andmore,allbuiltinavarietyoftheday's mostpopulararchitecturalstyles. 2/6

3 10/8/2014 Losing St. Laurence / Reprise: Tour 71st Street / And More Pleaseconsidersigningthepetition. ToBeDemolished:Russell DyrhenfurthHouse Theclockistickingforthiscirca1855woodframeItalianateinWestTown.Locatedat456N. Carpenter,thehousewasoriginallythehomeoftheRussellfamily,owneroperatorsofan 1850smillworkandlumberyardandJuliusDyrhenfurth,aGermanviolinistwho,in1850, foundedthechicagophilharmonicsociety. 3/6

4 The house, which still contains intact interior details, as well as a "hidden" rear gable, was recently purchased and placed on the 90 day demolition delay list on April 10, See more photos at our Flickr site here. Preservation Chicago has submitted a 39 page report from our Historic Research Committee on the house's history and significance to the Commission on Chicago Landmarks and urges its designation as an official city landmark, noting both its significant occupants and its status as an extant pre Chicago Fire building. Read our entire report here. Our Suggestions For Chicago Landmark Status 4/6

5 J The Theodore Thomas House, 52 E. Bellevue, currently on the demolition delay list. This month, Preservation Chicago submitted suggestions to the Commission on Chicago Landmarks for new landmark buildings and districts around the city. Among our suggestions: * The Theodore Thomas House, 52 E. Bellevue Pl., home of the founder and first conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and responsible for the construction or Orchestra Hall/Symphony Center. * A Bellevue Place / Cedar Street / Elm Street / Division Street landmark district. * The Russell Dyrhenfurth House, a pre fire 1850s frame building in West Town. * Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church in Avondale, which recently had its steeple removed. * A historic commercial district to encompass buildings near the intersection of Wellington, Southport and Lincoln. The Program Committee of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks will be meeting on Wednesday June 4 at 2:30 p.m. in Room 1103 of City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. to consider all public suggestions. 5/6

6 Preservation Chicago is an activist organization that advocates for the preservation of historic architecture, neighborhoods and urban spaces throughout the city of Chicago. Forward this This was sent to by Update Profile/ Address Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe Privacy Policy. Preservation Chicago 4410 N. Ravenswood Chicago IL /6