Wm. J. Cassidy Tire Building Explained

Wm. J. Cassidy Tire Building
Coordinates:41.8883°N -87.6403°W
Completion Date:1902
Floor Count:5
Floor Area:100000-2NaN-2
Architect:Henry J. Schlacks

The Wm. J. Cassidy Tire Building was a building at 344 N. Canal Street, Chicago, Illinois. Designed by Henry J. Schlacks and constructed in 1902, it originally served as a factory and warehouse for the Tyler & Hippach Mirror Co.[1] [2] [3]

The site was purchased for redevelopment in February 2022, with demolition commencing shortly afterward. Plans are to build an apartment tower on the site.[4] [5]

History

The building originally stood at 117–125 N. Clinton Street.[2] In 1907, it was sold to the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad.[6] [7] In 1908, the building was moved 52 feet south and 168 feet east to its current location, in order to make way for the construction of the new Chicago and North Western Terminal, at a cost of $50,000.[1] [2] [8] [9] The William Grace Company was contracted to perform the move, and hired Chicago engineer Harvey Sheeler, who had successfully moved several large buildings previously.[1] [2] [8] At the time, this was the largest building ever moved.[2]

In 1929, the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad began leasing the building to Producers Warehouse.[10] In 1947, the building was sold to the owner of Producers Warehouse for $75,000.[10] William J. Cassidy Tire & Auto Supply Co. purchased the building for $250,000 in 1970, and it became the headquarters of Cassidy Tire.[11] [12]

In 2019, The Habitat Company signed a contract to purchase the property, and intends to demolish the building and build a 33 story apartment building on the site.[2] [3] [13] However, Preservation Chicago fought to have the building designated a Chicago Landmark and preserved as part of the residential development planned for the site.[2] [1] In February 2021, Preservation Chicago listed the Wm. J. Cassidy Tire Building as one of Chicago's most endangered buildings.[14] [15]

External links

Web site: Wm. J. Cassidy Tire Building - Built 1902 - Scheduled For Demolition . 2022-05-15 . youtube. Drone video tour of building before demolition.

Notes and References

  1. Rodkin, Dennis. "What’s That Building? The Cassidy Tire Building — And Its Unusual Escape From Demolition", WBEZ. June 6, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  2. "Threatened: Cassidy Tire Building Endangered by New High-Rise Tower Proposal", Preservation Chicago. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  3. Kozlarz, Jay. "Rendering reveals 33-story apartment tower replacing Cassidy Tire warehouse", Curbed. November 27, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  4. Web site: Nelson . John . February 15, 2022 . Habitat to Build 33-Story Apartment Tower in Downtown Chicago . 2022-05-15 . REBusiness Online . en-US.
  5. Web site: Crawford . Jack . March 18, 2022 . Demolition Begins for 344 N Canal Street in Fulton River District . 2022-05-15 . Chicago YIMBY . en-US.
  6. The Economist. November 16, 1907. p. 769. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  7. Currey, Josiah Seymour (1918). Manufacturing and Wholesale Industries of Chicago. Volume 2. Thomas B. Poole Company. pp. 235-236. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  8. "Moving a Large Brick Building", The Engineering Record. Vol. 58, No. 12. September 19, 1908. pp. 317-318. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  9. The Economist. June 13, 1908. p. 1063. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  10. "Railroad Sells Warehouse at 344 N. Canal St.", Chicago Tribune. October 5, 1947.
  11. "Major Real Estate Sales Closed in 1970", Realty and Building. Volume 165. 1971. p. 122.
  12. Truini, Joe. "Chicago's Cassidy Tire Remains Family Owned After 103 Years", Tire Business. October 15, 1995. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  13. Gallun, Alby. "Developer plans 33-story Fulton River District apartment tower", Crain's Chicago Business. May 09, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  14. "West Loop Industrial Lofts Chicago 7 2021", Preservation Chicago. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  15. Keilman, John. "Chicago lakefront, Catholic churches top newest list of city’s most endangered historic buildings", Chicago Tribune. February 24, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.