In neighborhoods with lots of new development, buildings cited in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey are coming down fast.
Preservationists in Chicago are concerned that the pace of development is putting historically significant structures at risk before anything can be done to save them. Giving several examples of recent demolitions, including buildings designed by the firm of famed Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, AJ LaTrace writes, "The majority of these buildings were noted as being either architecturally or culturally significant in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey (CHRS), a comprehensive review and tally of historic buildings completed and published by the city in the mid-'90s."
Areas dramatically losing their historic building stock are often the same places undergoing rapid new development. Some of the most affected neighborhoods include Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Logan Square, and the West Loop.
The fear is that "communities and preservation advocates simply do not have enough time to line up a buyer or produce a plan for adaptive reuse when demolition threats surface."
Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago, "suggests that new development and preservation don't have to be mutually exclusive, but says that the Chicago Historic Resources Survey exists as a tool to help plan for a community's future."
FULL STORY: Is Chicago Experiencing a Historic Preservation Crisis?
Chicago Towers Recommended for Adaptive Reuse
Once slated for demolition, two historic buildings owned by the federal government will be restored for new uses.
San Diego to Update Historic Preservation Program
The city wants to identify new areas for preservation while streamlining processes to promote adaptive reuse of historic properties.
Op-Ed: A ‘Culture of Preciousness’ Undermines Historic Preservation
A focus on historic materials could foster inequity and obscure the important social and historical meanings of a structure.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie