As you may know, Riverside, Illinois is America’s first planned suburb and is itself a National Historic Landmark Village designed by Olmsted and Vaux in 1868.
We seek your help with regard to an imperiled landmark: the Arcade Building designed in 1871 by Frederick C. Withers, partner of Olmsted and Vaux and architect of many Victorian Gothic structures on the National Register of Historic Places.
Predating even the construction of Riverside’s Township Hall, the Arcade building occupies a landmark position in Riverside’s landscape and is integral to the fabric and history of Riverside, Illinois. Besides its significance to Riverside, the Arcade building is one of the earliest examples of a multi-shop arcade in the nation.
Since mid-August 2008, the Arcade building has sat largely vacant and exposed to the elements, left abruptly in mid renovation by a court order freezing the assets of its owners. Efforts of our Village Manager and Attorney to convince the court-appointed receiver to secure and heat the building have as of yet been unsuccessful.
We are concerned, with the onset of winter, that the Arcade will be structurally compromised. In addition to missing 3 historic decorative art glass windows from the west side of the building, there are 3 missing and unboarded transom windows on the south side. The building is open to the elements and there is evidence of animal habitation and water infiltration. If the heat is not turned on shortly, the pipes will burst and structural deterioration will occur.
Therefore, the Riverside Preservation Commission, Historical Commission and Economic Development Commission seek your help in nominating the Arcade Building for “Endangered” lists with both the National Trust for Historic Preservation and with Landmarks Illinois. It is our hope that the nominations will persuade the receiver and/or the court to release funds necessary to, at a minimum, protect the landmark Arcade building from the elements this winter. If the National Trust and Landmarks Illinois ultimately list the Arcade building as “Endangered,” it will receive statewide and national attention that may attract a responsible preservation-minded purchaser.
You can help us by writing two letters: One to the National Trust, the other to Landmarks Illinois, voicing your support of the following efforts:
- The nomination of the Arcade Building to their Endangered Buildings listings, and
- The Village of Riverside obtaining the assistance of these Landmarks Councils in its effort to reach the receiver and secure the property before the building is further compromised.
The Preservation Commission
Ms. Aberdeen Marsh-Ozga
c/o The Village of Riverside
27 Riverside Rd.
Riverside, IL 60546
You can also send your letter via email to hresq@yahoo.com. The deadline for submitting letters of support is December 17, 2008.
Thank you for your support in this urgent matter.
--The Village of Riverside Preservation, Historical, and Economic Development Commissions
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2 comments:
Here is the letter I sent to LI and NTHP and others several weeks ago:
Dear Colleagues –
I regret to note that Riverside’s magnificent Arcade Building is in peril.
The Arcade Builsing is well documented as one of the earliest transit-oriented, multi-use commercial structures of its type in the country (1871). It dates to the original development of Riverside, and was executed by a friend of Calvert Vaux. It is one of Riverside’s most prominent buildings, and its main portion has long been an official Riverside landmark. It is situated opposite Jenny’s water tower and between the train station and the Township Hall. It faces Guthrie Park, our central square, which overlooks the Des Plaines River. The attached letter will perhaps help to start a file, but considerbaly more information is available and will be forwarded in due course.
The immediate threat arises from its control by a trustee in New York City resulting from legal action taken against an individual who had an ultimate interest in the Wexford group, which had worked diligently with the village to restore the building. I was a preservation commissioner at the time of Wexford’s acquisition and planning for the Arecade Building. Theirs was not an easy process to a certificate of appropriateness, but they were very conscientious and I think displayed admirable commitment to enhancing their building in accordance with appropriate preservation principles.
Unfortunately, after the plan was pared back in light of market conditions, with work more or less half done, legal action was taken against an individual completely removed from the project. As the lines of ownership and control were sorted out, work ceased on the Arcade Building restoration pending resolution of the legal matters. The last I spoke with village president Jack Wiaduck he had tried to connect with the trustee to no avail. The Arcade Building sits almost empty today, only the little coffee shop / ice cream parlor (“Grumpy’s”) is operating. The rest is borded up. We understand that the trustee’s responsibilities now include many properties, of which this is one of the smallest.
Forces in town are mobilizing, as you can see in the attached letter. We are fortunate to have Charlie Pipal AIA chairing the preservation commission, whom many of you know from his work at the School of the Art Institute, as well as several other experienced and sensitive commisioners with whom I was privileged to serve. Commissioner Aberdeen Ozga, Esq., to whom the note is addressed, happens to live in Wright’s Tomek House. She and her husband Tim have taken every conceivable step to maintain Tomek at the highlest level of conformity with Wright’s plans.
Please open a file, mention our situation, keep us in mind and be ready for future reports. Definitely consider us for inclusion in whatever advocacy efforts seem appropriate to you. I think the Arcade Building in this situation is a perfect example of a landmark that should go on an endangered list.
The Arcade Building is a vital piece of our legacy; we dare not relent.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Best,
Chris
Chris -
Thank you for contacting the National Trust and Landmarks Illinois regarding the Arcade building. When people are able to convey a direct, unique experience with the Arcade, it helps the perservation pros at these landmarks councils gain a more comprehensive understanding of our situation.
If you've been by the Arcade recently, you'll note that the windows are finally boarded up as of 11/21. (See "Breaking News" post, supra.)
Rumors of an "anticipated" listing for sale notwithstanding, the receiver in New York has decided to forego the recommendation of the Preservation Commission to maintain minimal heat and keep systems (including fire supression) operable. This decision is inconsistent with the receiver's court ordered mandate to preserve the value of the defendants' assets. It does not make the building more marketable, but less so.
Perhaps the receiver is under the mistaken impression that the landmark Arcade building can be marketed as a tear-down. Beyond the protections against demolition of landmarks provided by Riverside's Preservation Code, there is tremendous community concern for this building, as evidenced by the support letters that keep coming in day after day. People care.
As outlined in the "Breaking News" post, the landmark Arcade building is eligible for a myriad of tax incentives which can be combined (per the advice of qualified legal, acccounting and lending professionals) to maximize benefits. If the receiver is to uphold his duty in preserving the value of this asset, he needs to understand where its value lies, and target market the building to groups experienced in the rehabilitation of historic landmarks.
Representatives from the National Trust and Landmarks Illinois are willing to sit down and meet with the receiver to help facilitate this process now even though their decisions regarding the "Endangered" lists are months away. The Arcade building is that important.
Again, thank you for your efforts to date, and please keep spreading the word to those who may not have seen this site.
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