Chicago Printed String Co.

Category: Preserved

At another orange-rated structure, the Chicago Printed String Building, a 1920s art deco structure at Elston and Chicago Printed String Building by architect Alfred AlschulerLogan designed by Alfred S. Alschuler, not only was a permit issued in violation of the 90-day ordinance, but demolition actually began. “I actually had to pull the wrecker off that one,” says Miller. “The permit had been accidentally issued, despite my repeated calls. Rather than using the [official] Logan Boulevard address, they used Elston. It was election day. I had taken the day off, and fortunately I came down Elston Avenue- and there was the crane behind it. They were nice enough down at City Hall to revoke the permit, but I couldn't get an inspector to stop the demolition. I knew the owner of National Wrecking Company, and I called to ask him to call these guys off.”

But by the time the workers left they'd already knocked down large chunks of the back of the building. The developer sued the Landmarks Commission, and at the July 12 commission meeting the staff presented a recommendation to withdraw the proposal to landmark the building. It's apparently part of a deal in which the developer gets to gut half the building and remove the lowest band of distinctive green Teco tiles in exchange for preserving the rest of the two street facades - and dropping the lawsuit.