How to Move a 1000-Ton Historic Building
When historic preservationists heard the building could be demolished, they fought it. The compromise was to move the building 30 feet.
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (pdst.fm) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
The Chicago Transit Authority has a been working on the $2.1 billion Red-Purple Modernization Project to unclog congestion at the Belmont stop. The plan is to straighten the tracks, and build a flyover for Brown line trains. Part of that project would have included demolishing the Vautravers Building in the landmarked Newport Avenue historic district. When the CTA built the tracks in the early 1900s, the building’s owner refused to sell it. So the CTA built the tracks AROUND the Vautravers Building. When historic preservationists heard the building could be demolished, they fought it. The compromise was to move the building 30 feet, which happened this week. We talk about how that happens and more about the history
Guests: Ward Miller, Executive Director, Preservation Chicago (@Pres_Chicago)
Stephanie Cavazos, Spokeswoman, CTA
Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago
Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm