Chicago Avenue: Next Chicago landmark?

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1620 W Chicago Ave

When the City Council named Milwaukee Avenue to Chicago’s landmark roll in April, it recalled a decade-earlier EVA success, the Goldblatt’s building on Chicago Avenue. The city property anchors a stretch of century-old department stores and movie theaters.

Surrounding buildings still feature their Jazz Age ornamentation and still serve their original purpose as commercial magnets for immigrant families. Are they worth marking as their own landmark district?

The EVA board thinks the idea is worth discussing among members and local officials. With several Chicago Avenue buildings now up for sale or lease, owners and potential owners could benefit from early and even-handed consideration. When EVA members reviewed a developer's proposal last year for 1916-24 W. Chicago, the prospect of demolition was as much a point of contention as were parking and traffic.

Watch a slideshow of Chicago Avenue properties here. Then leave your comments on landmarking below, or join us for the next membership meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Happy Village Tavern, 1059 N. Wolcott, where Ald. Manny Flores (1st Ward) is featured speaker.
Anselmo @properties business card,
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