Washington Park National Bank Building
| Washington Park National Bank Building | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical[1] |
| Location | 6300 S. Cottage Grove, Chicago, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 41°46′48.7″N 87°36′22.1″W / 41.780194°N 87.606139°W |
| Completed | 1924 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Albert A. Schwartz |
The Washington Park National Bank Building is a Neoclassical building at 6300 S. Cottage Grove in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood. It was designed by Albert A. Schwartz and was completed in 1924.[2][1] Initial plans, unveiled in 1922, called for a nine story building, designed by Albert A. Schwartz, with work to begin in August 1922.[3] However, these plans were changed, and its present design was later revealed in 1923.[2]
History
[edit]In addition to housing the Washington Park National Bank, it had 60 office suites on the third and fourth floors, four shops on the first floor facing 63rd Street, and a Walgreens in the corner store.[2][4] Walgreens remained in the building for many years.[5] The Washington Park National Bank closed on June 8, 1931.[6][7] It was later owned by Rev. Leon Finney Jr. and served as the headquarters of The Woodlawn Organization, founded by Saul Alinsky.[8] The Cook County Land Bank Authority took ownership in January 2018.[9][10]
The building is currently vacant and is threatened with demolition.[11] In March 2019, the Cook County Land Bank Authority announced its intention to sell the building to a joint venture of DL3 Realty and Greenlighting Realty USA, which plans to demolish it.[11] The building was included in Preservation Chicago's list of Chicago's 7 most endangered buildings in 2016 and 2020, and was added to Landmarks Illinois's list of the state's "most endangered historic places" in 2019.[12][9][1][13][14][15] In cooperation with Preservation Chicago, architectural firm CallisonRTKL prepared an adaptive reuse plan which allows for the restoration of the existing building, along with a new two-story addition atop the building.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Kamin, Blair. "Endangered buildings: It's not just the Thompson Center. A Frank Lloyd Wright cottage and other sites are also at risk", Chicago Tribune. May 1, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ a b c "New Design of Washington Park National Bank", Chicago Tribune. July 22, 1923. p. 13.
- ^ "Start Work in August on New Woodlawn Bank", Chicago Tribune. June 18, 1922. p. 17.
- ^ Chase, Al. "Walgreen Gets Cottage Grove and 63d Corner", Chicago Tribune. April 8, 1924. p. 39.
- ^ "Appointments of 6 Area Men Are Reported", Chicago Tribune. October 25, 1962.
- ^ "Depositors Win Approval of U.S. to Reopen Bank", Chicago Tribune. August 1, 1931. p. 3.
- ^ "Reorganization of Bank Cheers Business Men", Chicago Tribune. August 2, 1931. p. 3.
- ^ Mitchell, Mary. "Planned demolition of deteriorated South Side landmark sparks outcry", Chicago Sun-Times. April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ a b Ballesteros, Carlos. "Woodlawn bank building added to landmarks group's 'most endangered' list", Chicago Sun-Times. May 2, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ Roeder, David. "An old bank building becomes key to Woodlawn's revival", Chicago Sun-Times. January 31, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ a b Delange, Ahlaam. "Historic Woodlawn bank building makes 'most endangered buildings' list as demolition looms", Chicago Sun-Times. February 26, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ Gunderson, Erica. "Preservation Chicago Releases List of Most Endangered Buildings", WTTW. March 2, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ Rodkin, Dennis. "Here are Chicago's 'most endangered' places", Crain's Chicago Business. February 26, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ a b "Washington Park National Bank, a 2020 Chicago 7 Most Endangered", Preservation Chicago. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ "Washington Park Bank", Preservation Chicago. Retrieved April 1, 2020.