A judge Thursday issued at least a temporary reprieve to the old Prentice Women's Hospital, blocking the city from issuing a demolition permit until it can be determined if the process for landmark designation was properly carried out.
The judge's order for a temporary stay came during a hearing over a lawsuit by preservationists seeking to strike down a decision by Chicago’s landmarks commission to withdraw landmark designation for Prentice during the same meeting the designation had been given.
The building’s owner, Northwestern University, wants to tear down old Prentice and replace it with a modern medical research facility.
In an unusual move earlier this month, the landmarks commission voted to give old Prentice landmark designation, than shortly afterward revoked that status based on an economic impact report.
The lawsuit, filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States and the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois, calls the commission’s action “an unprecedented process with a predetermined outcome.”
The fate of old Prentice, designed by renowned Chicago architect Bertrand Goldberg, was in the air for more than a year as preservationists mounted a battle to save the building while Northwestern put together an equally muscular public relations offensive to explain why it needed to come down.
In the end, Mayor Rahm Emanuel sided with Northwestern’s argument that the economic benefits of a new building outweighed the worth of saving old Prentice.
Also today, the Chicago Architectural Foundation is unveiling an exhibit of designs for alternative reuse of the hospital, vacant since replaced by a new woman’s hospital.
Preservationists have argued for adapting old Prentice to a new use. Northwestern says the building is not suitable for a modern research facility.
Judge gives Prentice Women's Hospital temporary reprieve
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Judge gives Prentice Women's Hospital temporary reprieve
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Judge gives Prentice Women's Hospital temporary reprieve
