|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Preservation News
Current News
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
Flood
Assistance
Midwest
Under the
Opportunity Illinois: Disaster Recovery Loan Program,
the Treasurer’s Office provides low-interest loans to
storm victims whose property has sustained
weather-related damage.
For cultural institutions and individuals affected by
flooding in the Midwest, the
Heritage Emergency National
Task Force advice and resources on saving collections
and family treasures from water damage.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
End of an
Era: Bahlman Retires
By Rolf Achilles, chairman,
Landmarks Illinois
After almost ten years as Landmarks Illinois’ president,
David Bahlman is retiring. “I’m very pleased to have had
the opportunity to work for an organization in a state
that contains unparalleled milestones in the development
of American architecture,” noted Bahlman.
During his tenure with the organization, Bahlman has
earned a reputation as an articulate public advocate for
historic preservation issues while developing a strong
internal structure for the organization. He has forged
partnerships with government officials, the real estate
community, and a wide range of civic groups. He also has
worked with the Board of Directors and the staff to
dramatically increase financial, member, and public
support. His decade of eloquence, charm, perception,
wit, and attention to detail have marked him as a leader
whose vision prodded Landmarks Illinois into new
dimensions of preservation and community activism.
Among the organization’s many accomplishments during his
tenure: saving the former Cook County Hospital from
demolition; the successful campaign to purchase the
threatened Farnsworth House; creation of the
high-profile Legendary Landmarks Gala; inception of a
Heritage Grant Program; creation of the Chicagoland
Watch List, a spin-off of our “Ten Most” list;
establishment of the monthly Preservation Snapshots
Lecture; formation of the Louis Sullivan Society;
construction of the first Landmarks.org web site;
initiation of the state Preservation Caucus; and
launching of a Recent Past Initiative to focus attention
on preservation of architecture of the mid-20th century.
Born in Indiana and educated in Ohio, he received a M.A.
in Art History at Ohio State University. Prior to
joining Landmarks Illinois in 1999, Bahlman was an
executive at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and
the New York Philharmonic (1981-1984), executive
director of the Society of Architectural Historians,
Philadelphia, (1984-1993), and executive director of the
Foundation for San Francisco’s Architectural Heritage
(1993-1998).
Bahlman, 63, is moving to Suffield, Connecticut, where
he has bought a 1789 Federal-style house. A large
portion of the community is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. The selection process for a
new president is underway.
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
Viking
Ship
Geneva
The Viking Ship has been in the news lately with
articles, photos, and videos on the Chicago Tribune’s
website and the Daily Herald’s website.
PHOTOS & VIDEO
IN THE NEWS
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
Central
School
Mount Prospect
On Thursday, May 29, the Mount Prospect Historical
Society relocated this 1896 one-room schoolhouse from
the property of St. John’s Episcopal Church, which
planned to demolish the school of it was not moved this
year. In five years, the historical society successfully
raised the required $150,000 to move the building.
Landmarks Illinois pledged a $2,500 grant toward the
effort, and also included the school on the 2007-08
Chicagoland Watch List. After a one-mile journey, the
school now rests on a site next to the Mount Prospect
Historical Society’s museum and office building. While
no longer threatened by demolition, the historical
society will continue its fundraising campaign to
renovate the building as an educational building and
meeting place for the community.
To see video footage of
the move go to:
www.dailyherald.com. For more
information, go to:
www.yourcentralschool.org
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Michigan
Avenue Streetwall Update
Chicago
The threat to the Michigan Avenue historic district was
elevated to the national level on May 20, 2008 when it
was placed on the National Trust for Historic
Preservation’s list of America’s Most Endangered
Historic Places. The selection of the streetwall by the
national preservation group reinforces the same concerns
leveled by our organization and local advocates
following recent proposals for highly visible rooftop
additions within the local landmark district. Owners of
the former Chicago Athletic Association, one of the
buildings slated for nonconforming alterations, publicly
announced their intentions to pull out of the project
and sell the property one day after the National Trust’s
list was revealed.
To encourage Mayor Daley and the
Landmarks Commission to preserve the integrity of the streetwall,
please print and mail the letters provided under the
“How Can I Help?” portion of our
Michigan
Avenue Streetwall Statewide Endangered listing.
To view the History Channel’s video of the Michigan
Avenue Streetwall and other nationally endangered sites,
go to
www.preservationnation.org/issues/11-most-endangered.
Press Coverage for National Trust for Historic
Preservation 11 Most Endangered:
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Gunners’
Mates School — Update
Great Lakes Naval
Base, North Chicago
On May 1, two official letters from the Advisory Council
on Historic Preservation (ACHP) were sent to
high-ranking Navy officials telling them to stay the
course with finding a preservation/re-use solution for
the 1954 Gunners’ Mates School, also known as Building
#521. The cutting-edge glass and steel building,
designed by Bruce Graham for Skidmore, Owings and
Merrill, was included on Landmarks Illinois’
2008 Ten
Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois list
announced in April.
Landmarks Illinois is a consulting
party to a federally mandated Section 106 process, in
place since early 2006, which is required when federally
owned buildings listed in or eligible for listing in the
National Register of Historic Places are proposed for
demolition. With the Midwest office of the National
Trust for Historic Preservation, Landmarks Illinois has
continued to encourage Navy officials to
“mothball” Building #521 until a reuse can be
determined. Navy officials have pushed for demolition,
citing that several building projects planned for Great
Lakes Naval Station are yet to be funded and have an
indefinite time line, meaning it could be years until a
reuse for the building is identified. Now, based on the
ACHP’s position, state officials with the Illinois
Historic Preservation Agency will work with the Navy to
determine a cost-effective mothballing solution.
Landmarks Illinois still encourages letters of support
for mothballing and reusing Building #521 to be sent to
Congressman Mark Kirk, 10th Congressional Office, 707
Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, IL 60062 or
www.house.gov/kirk.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
