Planned demo of century-old Chicago building faces backlash from historical preservation groups

The federal government is moving forward with plans to tear down a vacant three-story building it owns on State Street in Chicago, a property adjacent to two historic skyscrapers the city also has considered demolishing, WTTW reports.

The General Services Administration (GSA), a federal agency that manages government-owned buildings, has estimated the demolition of 208-212 S. State St. will begin April 14 and will take about four to six weeks. 

The property is a 1920 structure called the John R. Thompson Co. Building—one of two small properties located between the Century and Consumers buildings, which are two early 20th century skyscrapers located east of the Dirksen Federal Building.

“A recent conditions assessment found the non-historic building, which has been unoccupied for several years, [to] not [be] structurally sound and presents risks, including potential facade collapse that would endanger pedestrians and street traffic,” GSA says in a news release. An agency spokesperson tells WTTW the demolition will cost $3.2 million.

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The government also has been pushing for the demolition of the Century and Consumers buildings. Their proximity to the federal courthouse has prompted Chief Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer to call for them to be torn down, citing the “grave security risk” they pose and challenges involved with repurposing them following years of vacancy.

“These buildings have been allowed to fall into disrepair by our own government,” Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago, tells WTTW. “This is really demolition by neglect. You would expect so much more from the GSA.”

Preservation Chicago just listed the Century and Consumers skyscrapers on its 2023 list of the most endangered buildings in the city. The organization has proposed turning the historic properties into an archive and research center for a group of religious organizations.

Miller adds that while he understands the Thompson Co. Building has become a hazard, the teardown is “really disappointing to us. But in many of the schemes, it was thought that this smaller building would most likely be demolished” because its original facade has been refaced so many times.

The government is now working through a legally mandated review process to determine potential impacts of wrecking the Century and Consumers buildings. The Thompson Co. Building it plans to tear down this month has no such protections.