Trying to be surprised

[harmlessinc]

Fire burns at landmark in S. Loop
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-061024downtown-fire,1,3418546.story?coll=chi-newsbreaking-hed
"The building on fire, known as the Dexter Building, after Chicago attorney Wirt Dexter, was designed by the firm of Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan and built in 1887, according to the Chicago Landmarks Web site.

The structure was declared a city landmark in July 1996 because it is considered a precursor to the Adler and Sullivan firm's celebrated Auditorium Building.

The building used to house the George Diamond Steak House, which closed several years ago, but was initially used as a factory and showroom for R. Deimel & Brothers, a furniture manufacturing firm. "

Lets check the list.

Fire in building - check.
No one in the building at the time - check.
Building has been empty for a couple of years - check.
Building is a Chicago landmark - check
Building happens to be in the currently hotest condo zone in the entire city - check.

Yeah - they torched it.

Comments

[mars-art.livejournal.com]

Now you KNOW this subject is near & dear to my heart. I love Chicago history and architecture to an obscene extreme. I nearly wept from our balcony when I took this footage (http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y78/marsart/?action=view&current=2006-10-26.flv), three blocks away.

Years of hanging out in the Columbia Campus, I always thought, "Gee, why is such a beautiful building going to waste?" Now our neighborhood has lost another marvel. :(