Sunday, October 10, 2010
Chicago Marathon 10-10-10
Monday, September 20, 2010
406 W. Wisconsin Street
You may have noticed I haven't posted here in a good while. I decided to take a break as I determined how I and if I wanted to continue this blog. I'll try to continue posting, but the type and frequency of posts may change. I hope you'll still enjoy!This interesting modern on Wisconsin street is currently in construction. I had a chance to speak with the owner awhile back ( I apologize in advance for having not caught his name). He owned the previous existing building for many years but for a very long time had his eyes set on building something that was uniquely "him". He has created a 3 story entryway space with a 20+ wall of glass block, which, at least in Old Town terms, certainly qualifies as unique. He seemed to be exercising some real thought concerning his design decisions. For example, the west facade of the building could have been a monotonous grey brick wall, but by using multiple shades of grey and varied brick textures, he has created a more palatable edifice. Construction is still on going, so stop by sometime to take a look.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Blair Kamin on Harry Weese
Continuing the discussion on architect Harry Weese is Chicago Tribune Architecture critic Blair Kamin. Check out this recent piece from his cityscapes blog.
"A vivid, no-holds-barred look at the life and career of the late Chicago architect Harry Weese is creating a stir in Chicago's architecture community. The story, which appears in the current issue of Chicago magazine and was written by Robert Sharoff, deals not only with Weese's eclectic architectural creations and visionary urban plans, but also his notorious boozing and womanizing."Check out other posts at Renown Old Town on Harry Weese here and here.
Artist Colonies of Old Town on Chicago Sojourn
My hiatus of regular posting continues, but in the meantime, please check out this recent post By Robert Powers A Chicago Sojourn.
"Two remarkable enclaves of artistic thought, expression and craft thrived in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood, starting in the 1920s and peaking in the 1950s. Both sprung from the artistic ambitions of prolific artist Edgar Miller, who spent decades carefully crafting his studio and the surrounding properties."Powers manages to do for the entire city of Chicago what I struggle do for a single neighborhood, continue to provide interest content in a timely manner. Give him a read and see for yourself. He also provides a good collection of photographs.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Lynn Becker on Harry Weese
A couple days ago, local Chicago architecture luminary Lynn Becker blogged about Harry Weese (June 30, 1915 - October 29, 1998), famous Chicago Architect, and former resident of Old Town, on his excellent blog, Architecture Chicago Plus
"Weese was a giant in Chicago history whose contributions went beyond his buildings, to an impassioned activism that kept Inland Architect alive for years, and that was instrumental in saving and restoring the irreplaceable Auditorium Theater at a time when Skidmore, Owings and Merrill was recommending demolishing it and building a replacement in the shell."For further reading, a few months back, I wrote a piece on Weese, and specifically his project at 235 W Eugenie Street, in Old Town. You can read it here.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Digging through the Archives.
Here is a classic piece on the issue of preservation within Old Town, from July 27th, 1989, in the Chicago Reader. Interesting that the article mentions Vince Micheal by name. It is clear Mr. Micheal's connection to Old Town runs deep. You can read his excellent blog, Time Tells, here.
In my experience, many Old Town residents take pride in the culture, history, architecture and character of Old Town. They enjoy the opportunity to name drop moderately famous former residents such as Don Herbert (Tv's Mr. Wizard) and Architect Harry Weese. They can barely contain themselves from talking about the once thriving artist colony, or the numerous comedy legends that have sprung from the neighborhoods Second City. It is easy to see why the residents of Old Town take such pride in their neighborhood but a closer inspection reveals some interesting quirks.
On several occasions I've encountered an almost bitter negative attitude towards some of the more modern buildings located within the hallowed streets of Old Town. These buildings, many constructed post World War II, are seen as intruders on the quaint Old Town streets of yesteryear by a certain class of old town 'traditionalist' (as I chose to call them). In some cases the complaints are justified, as some of the buildings are simply eye sores, but in many cases, the few modern buildings peppered throughout Old Town add a the spice of wonderful diversity to the neighborhood's flavor. These modern buildings typically match the scale and density of the existing neighborhood quite well. To give you an idea of the buildings I am discussing, some examples are here and here.
On the other extreme, I've rarely heard these same rigid traditionalists complain about the other intruders of Old Town, the over developers, the gut rehabbers, the people who take a building, once home to three separate two flat units, and gut and 'rehab' it into a monstrous single family home. The only preservation taking place here is superficial, certainly the facade has been maintained, but it is nothing but a false, hollow shell. The change is more substantive, it is a loss of culture, or at the least, the potential for culture. The density has been cut down, easily by 1/2 or even as low 1/4 of its previous level. Clearly this trends towards both increasing the rent rates and great reducing the number of residents in the neighborhood. Historically, one can imagine and see the artist colony alive and buzzing throughout the many small to midsized flats of Old Town, teaming with life. In its current state, this is inconceivable, for how can the proverbial starving artist ever afford to rent such massive units? (as if they were even being placed on the market for rent in the first place).
When viewed in this light, the lose of a few buildings in the 1940s seems to pale when compared with the loss of culture and character that has occurred in more recent times. It is all fun and games to tell the stories of the historic Old Town, but are we wholly content to leave these as nothing more than stories? I do certainly enjoy living in a historic neighborhood, but I have to wonder if you will agree, wouldn't it be even more exciting to be part of a neighborhood still creating history for others to celebrate in the future?
Sneak development: Old Town preservationist fight the attack of the incredible expanding buildings
Even though the article is over 20 years old, it is still quite fresh and relevant."Old Town is being ambushed by sneak development. In 1978 the city designated the Old Town Triangle a Chicago Landmark District. But home owners and developers are still lifting up one- or two-story homes and tucking a garage or basement underneath. Whole floors are being added to the tops of buildings, and newly constructed rooms bulge from the sides and backs of homes. Rooftop patios abound. Front yards are being converted to parking lots. Only the facades remain the same. Sometimes. "
In my experience, many Old Town residents take pride in the culture, history, architecture and character of Old Town. They enjoy the opportunity to name drop moderately famous former residents such as Don Herbert (Tv's Mr. Wizard) and Architect Harry Weese. They can barely contain themselves from talking about the once thriving artist colony, or the numerous comedy legends that have sprung from the neighborhoods Second City. It is easy to see why the residents of Old Town take such pride in their neighborhood but a closer inspection reveals some interesting quirks.
On several occasions I've encountered an almost bitter negative attitude towards some of the more modern buildings located within the hallowed streets of Old Town. These buildings, many constructed post World War II, are seen as intruders on the quaint Old Town streets of yesteryear by a certain class of old town 'traditionalist' (as I chose to call them). In some cases the complaints are justified, as some of the buildings are simply eye sores, but in many cases, the few modern buildings peppered throughout Old Town add a the spice of wonderful diversity to the neighborhood's flavor. These modern buildings typically match the scale and density of the existing neighborhood quite well. To give you an idea of the buildings I am discussing, some examples are here and here.
On the other extreme, I've rarely heard these same rigid traditionalists complain about the other intruders of Old Town, the over developers, the gut rehabbers, the people who take a building, once home to three separate two flat units, and gut and 'rehab' it into a monstrous single family home. The only preservation taking place here is superficial, certainly the facade has been maintained, but it is nothing but a false, hollow shell. The change is more substantive, it is a loss of culture, or at the least, the potential for culture. The density has been cut down, easily by 1/2 or even as low 1/4 of its previous level. Clearly this trends towards both increasing the rent rates and great reducing the number of residents in the neighborhood. Historically, one can imagine and see the artist colony alive and buzzing throughout the many small to midsized flats of Old Town, teaming with life. In its current state, this is inconceivable, for how can the proverbial starving artist ever afford to rent such massive units? (as if they were even being placed on the market for rent in the first place).
When viewed in this light, the lose of a few buildings in the 1940s seems to pale when compared with the loss of culture and character that has occurred in more recent times. It is all fun and games to tell the stories of the historic Old Town, but are we wholly content to leave these as nothing more than stories? I do certainly enjoy living in a historic neighborhood, but I have to wonder if you will agree, wouldn't it be even more exciting to be part of a neighborhood still creating history for others to celebrate in the future?
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