Serving the Loop and Near North neighborhoods of downtown Chicago

October dates in Marina City history

October 3, 1961 – Bertrand Goldberg Associates files a request for a permit to construct the 16-story office building on the north edge of the Marina City site.

October 1962 – Chicago’s first commercial television station, WBKB (now WLS-TV), announces it will erect a 426-foot tower (285-foot mast supporting a 140-foot-six-inch antenna) on the west tower. 969 feet above ground, the top of the tower would be the highest point in Chicago.

October 14, 1962 – The first tenants move in to the east tower. A large construction crane is still on top of the tower and only the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd floors are finished.

October 29, 1963 – Welders cutting an opening for an elevator accidentally start a small fire in the east tower. It is extinguished by the time the fire department arrives.

October 1964 – WFLD, channel 32, announces plans to construct a 1,000,000-watt TV station at Marina City.

October 9, 1965 – A 35-foot cabin cruiser, “The Unbearables,” explodes at the Marina City marina, injuring six people, including two fire fighters.

October 30, 1981 – Leon Washington is found guilty of the murder of deputy police superintendent James J. Riordan at Marina City. He is sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Chicago Sun-Times

October 3, 1990 – The Chicago City Council approves a proposal to build a two-story retail building near the east tower over space then occupied by a skating rink – and convert the upper floors of the office building into a hotel.

October 8, 1992 – About 80 condo owners at Marina City and attorneys for a long list of involved parties attend an informal court meeting to discuss, what Judge Lester Forman calls, “a financial nightmare.”

October 8, 1997 – Marina City architect Bertrand Goldberg dies.

October 15, 2006 – A black 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass is propelled by pressurized air cannon off the 17th floor of the parking ramp for an Allstate TV commercial.

Theater of the Mind: 15,000-square-foot sensory playground inhabits Reid Murdoch Building
Theater of the Mind: 15,000-square-foot sensory playground inhabits Reid Murdoch Building
The Assessor’s War: Kaegi vs. The Machine
The Assessor’s War: Kaegi vs. The Machine
City council resolution moves ‘Route 66’ starting point to Navy Pier
City council resolution moves ‘Route 66’ starting point to Navy Pier
Pews to penthouses: Church conversion anchors the rise of ‘Gold Coast West’
Pews to penthouses: Church conversion anchors the rise of ‘Gold Coast West’
From mansions to mail boat jumps, Lake Geneva still delivers
From mansions to mail boat jumps, Lake Geneva still delivers
Domestic violence protection is focus of new apartment lease
Domestic violence protection is focus of new apartment lease
Fed lowers rates but home buyers face tough times ahead
Fed lowers rates but home buyers face tough times ahead
Chicago tax spike caused by a perfect storm: rich vs. poor
Chicago tax spike caused by a perfect storm: rich vs. poor
Major reconstruction of State/Lake CTA station starts January 5
Major reconstruction of State/Lake CTA station starts January 5
Skyrocketing property taxes hammer fixed-income owners
Skyrocketing property taxes hammer fixed-income owners
ChicagoFilming.com