Steel Mill Museum Comes Closer to Reality
By Andrew Peerless in Arts & Entertainment on May 11, 2005 2:16PM
When Chicagoist told you a few months back about a plan to convert Southeastern Chicago's abandoned Acme Steel Coke Plant into a museum, the scheme was fraught with big questions and few specifics. Things have taken giant steps forward for the project in recent months, however, culminating last night as architects unveiled a series of plans revealing the shape of things to come.
The Acme site offers about 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, and it's looking they'll be using all of it to cram in everything planned for the museum. According to the vision of Studio Gang architects (could this be the coolest name for an architecture firm ever?), plant buildings would maintain names related to their original function and house exhibits focusing on steel production and labor, as well as vocational classrooms and even a cafe (atop the coal ovens, naturally). The grounds of the mill are expected to be populated by plants that will help rid the earth of toxins left by years of industry presence, as well as a lab building for scientists to study these plants. Talk about a multi-use facility...
As for the mill itself, Chicago's Steel Heritage Project (the group of union leaders, steelworkers, historians and businesses that have joined together to drive this project forward) secured the site for the project three months ago through a $37,500 down payment. The mill and surrounding areas must now undergo environmental inspection for hazardous residues such as tar and oil, and though cleanup costs are expected to reach into the million dollar range, they will likely be covered by the state and federal grants that are helping this project become a reality.
Oh, one other issue standing in the way: an ordinance that calls for the coke plant and grounds to be used only for industrial or waste development (and, um, not museums). Tenth Ward Alderman John Pope expressed initial concerns about the museum project's site a few months back, but has not yet indicated which way his decision will fall regarding the zoning issue.
Image courtesy of www.chicagosteel.org