October 4, 2008 – 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly has asked the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to wait another month before deciding on a proposed “landmark district” that would cover dozens of buildings in River North. Preliminary landmark designation would be assigned to a four-block area just north of Marina City. It would include much of Hubbard Street from Wabash Avenue to Franklin Street.

In a letter to owners of buildings in the proposed district, Reilly says he still has some “unanswered questions” and will meet with the Department of Planning and Development to examine the proposal and possibly make changes.

42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly

“I am deeply concerned about imposing undue burdens on building owners whose property may not be part of the final designation,” he says in the September 26 letter. “I recognize that this is an extremely difficult economic environment and my task is to protect my business owners. I take this aspect of my job very seriously as you are the fuel for [the] city’s economic engine.”

The commission met on October 2. The plan actually dates back to 1989 but the Commission decided recently to move forward after hearing that some owners were thinking about demolishing their buildings.

 Related story: Landmark district proposed for River North