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Although no plans have been made public to date, the Oak Park-based
developer that purchased the property has stated that “anything’s an option.”
Local preservationists fear the building will be demolished for a
new condominium development. The building is included in the River Forest
National Register Historic District, which means preservation incentives
could be utilized to renovate and re-use the building. However, National Register
designation provides no protection for the property and River Forest’s newly
adopted local preservation ordinance requires owner consent for landmark
designation and protection. The new ordinance was dubbed “The Weakest Law” by Oak Park’s
Wednesday Journal (July 18, 2007).
At the corner of Lake and Franklin Streets, the building was designed as an
apartment and commercial structure by noted Prairie School architect William
Drummond. It exhibits the prominent features of a Prairie-style building,
with a flat, overhanging roof and continuous bands of concrete trim to
emphasize its horizontal lines. Drummond was the architect of many
Prairie-style homes throughout the western suburbs. Before starting his own
practice in 1909, he worked in the offices of many of Chicago’s most noted
architects, including Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard E. Schmidt
and Daniel Burnham.
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