Cooter's Illinois Preservation/History Alley

In a short while I will be moving this to a different blog, but for now....

LINCOLN GOES GREEN, HIS BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION, WAY TO GO CHICAGO, and the LAKE SHORE ATHLETIC CLUB SAVED

1. SPRINGFIELD-- Lincoln's Tomb is going green. A geothermal heating and cooling system is being installed at the Lincoln Tomb to reduce energy usage and increase visitor comfort. Attendance at the site averages around 375,000 annually and folks come from all over the world. The state was aided by a $25,000 energy grant.

2. Illinois' LINCOLN BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION is encouraging municipalities to submit events at http://www.lincoln200.net/ . They report that they have seriously upgraded their site.

3. Great news out of CHICAGO. A whole lot of places and even a district have been recommended to the city council for landmark status. This is a step in the right direction to saving the sites. However, it still has to be ok'd, so, for now, we'll keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.

The Dover Street District in the Uptown neighborhood is on the list. It is "a visually distinctive collection of suburban-style single-family homes" dating from 1893-1923. This area was annexed to Chicago in 1889. There are 88 property owners and so far 55 have agreed to district status.

Twelve rare "moveable" railroad bridges are also nominated.

Three LaSalle Street buildings are on it as well: the art deco Vesseman Building, the Roanoke Building and Tower-an example of early Chicago highrise, and the Continental Bank.

An old fire station and the Coast Guard Station at the mouth of the Chicago River are also candidates.

4. LAKE SHORE ATHLETIC CLUB-- More good news. We thought we had lost this one, but it is saved by a deal to turn it into luxury senior citizen housing. There will be an $80 million rehabilitation and 139 residential units. This is one beautiful old building.

Save That Old Stuff!! --Cooter