Dearborn Station, also known as Polk Street Depot, is one of the remaining central stations in Chicago. This Printer’s Row passenger hub was once notably taller, featuring a distinctive steep pitched roof. In this seventh Lost Legends article, we will discuss the changes in the station over its 140-year history, including the fire that resulted in the loss of the additional structure.
Chicago once had its own Grand Central Station, a proud and bustling hub of railway activity, now existing only in the annals of history. The magnificent South Loop structure, designed by a renowned architect and boasting a rich past, was eventually overshadowed by its more famous counterparts. This latest installment in our series delves into the story of this lost legend, exploring its history, the vision of its architect, its demolition, and its present day incarnation.
Digital Realty has presented a modified proposal for a data center at 321 E 21st Street, situated at the intersection of 21st & Calumet in South Loop. This project will occupy a currently empty plot next to the developer’s functioning data center at 350 E Cermak Road.
In this fourth installment of our “Lost Legends” series, we explore the Chicago and North Western Station in West Loop Gate, a Renaissance Revival-style structure that once served as an architectural icon in the heart of the city. Originally designed by architects Frost and Granger, the station held an extraordinary legacy until it was ultimately demolished in 1984 to clear the path for the Citicorp Center Tower.
The Chicago City Council has approved funding for the CTA Red Line Extension across the South Side. In the works for nearly 50 years, the extension would bring much needed transit from the current terminus of the line at 95th Street all the way down to 130th Street near Altgeld Gardens by Lake Calumet. Hoping to spur new economic development and connect more people to the city center, the project is being spearheaded by the CTA with help from Muller 2 Architects who also worked on the O’Hare Airport Terminal 5 expansion.
