The Commission on Chicago Landmarks will hold a public hearing Oct. 16 to discuss landmark status for Marina City. The hearing will be held 9:30am in Room 1103 at City Hall. The Commission approved preliminary landmark status for Bertrand Goldberg's iconic corncob-shaped twin towers in July.
The 65-story buildings were an early example of affordable housing in Chicago, conceived as housing for the Building Service Employees International Union by its president, William McFetridge. McFetridge enlisted Goldberg to design the project. Goldberg came up with a design that differed dramatically from the boxy, Miesian architecture of the time.
The public hearing will be the first opportunity for residents to view a report from the Department of Planning and Development on the subject. The Department has been seeking the support of business owners in their efforts to grant Marina City landmark status. If the Commission approves the status, it will move to the full City Council for a vote next year. [DNA]
