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Preservation Chicago placed the Richard Nickel House at 1810 W. Cortland on its "Chicago 7" list of architecturally significant buildings slated for demolition. Nickel, a photographer and architecture preservationist, dedicated his life to preserving Louis Sullivan's classic architecture as Sullivan's buildings were being torn down rapidly during the 60's and 70s. Nickel's home often store rescued artifacts from buildings before being sold to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where they remain on display.
Mike Royko once wrote of Nickel, "I figure that anyone who tries to save landmarks in Chicago is goofy enough to teach celibacy in a Playboy Club or nonviolence to Dick Butkus." Nickel was killed on April 13, 1972 when a stairwell at the Chicago Stock Exchange collapsed on top of him while he ran back into the building to gather more artifacts. The Cortland home later became an art studio and, in a uniquely Chicago twist of fate, was slated for demolition last year. The ever intrepid Daniel X. O'Neil saw that the Nickel house was placed on the city's demolition hold list yesterday. Let's hope the hold stays.
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Can you please explain who is trying to demolish and why?
Rather, who is trying to demolish the house?
Interesting story. However, is there anything about the house itself which makes its architecture significant? Some sort of unique features or innovations that make this building stand out as compared to other homes?
It is hard to tell from the outside, and of course I have never been inside. Enlighten me, if you don't mind.
Well the age and the history for starters.
According to Preservation chicago, the Nickel House meets 3 criteria for preservation: the age of the building, its historical significance given Richard Nickel's history and specific architectural features of the building, especially its front facade.
Preservation Chicago lobbied 32nd ward Alderman Scott Waguespack hard on this. Not that Waguespack needed much convincing, since he was elected by residents largely pissed off by Ted Matlak, who would have torn this building down in a heartbeat in favor of boxy condos or townhomes.
of course.. just as i start getting back into architecture, this shit happens. then again, this shit always seems to be happening.
to be perfectly fair, it appears that total destruction is not on the menu. according to the demolition hold app, the developers/renovators/whoever plan to combine it with the building next door, in order to make it all a single residence. not quite as alarm-ringing as taking a backhoe to the façade.
This article covers this in more depth: http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2009/07/photographer-richard-nickel-diedrecording-thedemolitionof-louis-sullivan-and-dankmar-adlerschicago-stock-exchangenow-part-of.html
To me, the fact that it's the back of the home, which Nickel painstakingly rebuilt, that's being torn down is the worst part of it. The interior was already gone.
Supposedly he wants to tear down the house to make it into a sideyard- I doubt any of the building would stay if he did receive the building.
The building is listed as "orange," meaning, well, nothing. Jonathan Fine will have a few soundbites to no avail. The owner will end up chopping it all up however he wants to. It sort of brings the shame full-circle. When they're done and the Sub Zero's installed in the granite-countertopped stunning kitchen, they'll all celebrate by urinating on Richard Nickel's grave.