Buyer sought for Roosevelt Road firehouse
03/09/2010 4:41 PM
The old Engine Company 18 station, 1123 W. Roosevelt. Chicago Journal file art.
The City of Chicago is seeking a buyer for an empty fire station at
1123
W. Roosevelt.
Built in 1873, the structure has been empty since the
summer of 2008, when the fire department's Engine Company 18 moved out
of the building and into a new, modern station at 1360 S.
Blue Island.
A Department of Community Development staff report says the city will seek $300,000 for the 5,500 square foot structure. A request for proposals that will be released March 15 states a preference for a new commercial or mixed-use development in the empty station.
The community development staff report says that the city will "only consider proposals that propose adaptive reuse of the existing building." Maintaining the building's front facade is "encouraged." The current facade has been in place since 1916.
The Fire Museum of Greater Chicago had hoped to gain control of the building after Engine Company 18 moved out two years ago, a representative told Chicago Journal then. Here's that full story, from the Aug. 20, 2008 edition of the paper:
Old Engine 18 building future unknown
Group claims verbal agreement, hopes to bypass city council
By MICAH MAIDENBERG
Editor
The
vice president of a museum that commemorates firefighters claimed the
newly-vacant old Engine 18 fire station has been promised to his
organization. But the person who supposedly made the promise denies the
claim. And the alderman whose ward contains the fire station said no
one has been promised anything.
Frank McMenamin, vice president of
the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago, said he received a handshake and
verbal commitment from Ray Orozco, head of the city’s Office of
Emergency Management and Communication, at an Aug. 15 meeting.
"We
of course do not take possession right away. It's been offered to us,"
McMenamin said. "We're going to accept it of course."
But Jennifer
Martinez, Orozco’s spokesperson, said Orozco attended the Aug. 15
meeting in "a personal rather than professional capacity," and merely
explained the process by which the museum can obtain the building.
Martinez said she could not explain that process in detail.
McMenamin
said the fire department would retain ownership of the building, which
he believes could enable the museum to bypass city council.
"Whenever the fire department needs something—if they need pictures, whatever, we are where they go," McMenamin said. "We'll deal strictly with the fire department."
Larry Langford, a spokesperson for the fire department, said "we have no desire to continue to use" the building.
McMenanmin
said avoiding city council is preferable because some aldermen may
perceive his museum as "getting more" than a museum in another vacant
firehouse that commemorates African-American firemen. That museum,
located at 63rd and Harper, is notorious as the site of a 1990
retirement party at which white firefighters used racial slurs.
"All
the aldermen, they’re worried the next guy’s getting more," McMenamin
said. "We have an African-American firefighters museum. Half the city
council is black—are the white guys getting more?"
But 2nd Ward
Alderman Robert Fioretti, whose ward includes the old station, said any
future use of the building would require vetting by aldermen. The site
will soon be open to requests for proposals, Fioretti said, and no
group will receive preferential treatment.
"I’m not in favor of
giving away land when we're in the middle of a budget crisis, to any
group, no matter what the 501(c)3 is or how worthy the cause may be,"
Fioretti said.
Fioretti said numerous entities are interested in
the building—including developers and restaurant owners—but declined to
name them. Fioretti did confirm that he twice spoke with the Fire
Museum of Greater Chicago about the building.
But Fioretti also dismissed the idea that Orozco committed the building to the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago.
"They say things all the time," Fioretti said, referring to Orozco and Mayor Richard Daley. "It just doesn’t happen."
We are no longer accepting new comments on ChicagoJournal.com
By JZ from Tri-Taylor
Posted: 11/08/2010 9:46 AM
"I’m not in favor of giving away land" Alderman Fioretti clearly doesn't understand that this "budget crisis" is long-term - and that any organization with the best plan for that space, 501(c)3 or not, should get it. We don't need another high-priced restaurant that most people in that neighborhood can't afford. The boom days are over. Let's create entities that are good for the community and not just good for the bottom line in the short-term.
By Susan Gateley from South Chicago
Posted: 03/11/2010 9:08 PM
Even though I was only 4 yrs.old when the Our Lady of the Angels fire happened, I was affected by this tragedy. I think the firehouse should house the OLAFire artifacts. The fire was a horrendous incident, and should never be forgotten. All the victims and survivors and their families deserve to be remembered. Pls. reconsider the decision to sell the firehouse, out of respect for all involved.
By Cecelia and Dan de Mattos
Posted: 03/11/2010 2:02 PM
I cannot think of any better use for the old firehouse than the housing of photos and reports and pictures from the fire at Our Lady of the Angels on December 1, 1958. As a result of that fire, the safety of all schools in the USA became a number one priority, many were reconstructed, and new schools were built with more care. This fire was a catastrophy not only for the families of the victims, but also for the entire city of Chicago. Future generations must be aware of fire safety in schools.