Vacant land at Roosevelt and Clark (Chicago, Rock Island: insurance, houses, tax)

[scarletneon]

I know the land south of Roosevelt b/w Clark and the river was once a rail yard, and was also owned by the incredible Tony Rezko at some point ... but does anyone know which railroad owned it, had it been a rail yard forever, and/or anywhere I can find some information about it?

Also, does anyone know anything about the land north of Roosevelt b/w Clark and the river? I found an article saying that some bank was going to put a major part of it's company in that area a few years ago but right now it looks like (as far as street view goes) there's some activity but not much. I guess that was a rail yard as well? anyone know where to find information about that area as well?

thanks in advance.

[Avengerfire]

I believe Soo Line or Baltimore and Ohio Railroad owned it.

Read the page on the link below. It should help you a bit.

Grand Central Station (Chicago) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[scarletneon]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

I believe Soo Line or Baltimore and Ohio Railroad owned it.

Read the page on the link below. It should help you a bit.

Grand Central Station (Chicago) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks for that info. I guess the rest of the land went along with that station? Just wondering because this entry doesn't really say anything about land south of Harrison. (or i could be too tired to read it correctly.)

[Chicago60614]

That area from Polk to 18th actually use to be part of the river as it wound around towards Lake Michigan - but the river was straightened and moved to the west in 1929. As someone pointed out, there was a train complex and tracks in the area - but the land was created right when the great depression started, so I believe it was mostly left vacant. After that the white flight and manufacturing in the area declined, and I think it was just never properly developed.

Although the Roosevelt Collection and Target are on the north side of Roosevelt, and fill in a LOT of that formally vacant land.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mvDzP14rOP...0/IMG_0280.JPG

[lil bit o' tone]

great question, and super response.

[dmr37]

Isn't that part of where the notorius levee district once stood?

[scarletneon]

Originally Posted by dmr37

Isn't that part of where the notorius levee district once stood?

No, the levee was further down, around where the Hilliard Homes are.

Clearly I'm writing a paper about the south loop. I wish there was a thumbs down smiley because boy, I hate that class.

[Chi-town Native]

I highly recommend this:

At Home in the Loop, Lois Wille, Book - Barnes & Noble

[Mr Downtown]

The land nearest the river was owned by the Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal, and served as approach tracks to Grand Central Station as well as freight houses, team tracks, and similar facilities. The land nearer Clark belonged to the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and the New York Central, and served similar functions for LaSalle Street Station. The line in between the two was not straight, and is best seen in the color maps that accompany
Chicago (Ill.). Citizens’ Committee on River Straightening. The straightening of the Chicago River. Press of James T. Igoe Co., 1926
such as this one:




Here's what it looked like as the river straightening neared completion in 1928:



The portion south of Roosevelt had a string of old tank cars on it as late as the mid 90s, probably so it could be claimed as railroad land for tax purposes.

The railroads expanded dramatically here in the 1880s-90s. Before that, part of this area was residential, some of it notoriously bad tenements housing Italian immigrants. But some portions had been used by the railroads since they arrived in the 1850s. The Rock Island, for instance, had a big grain elevator on part of the land in the 19th century. The Sanborn's Fire Insurance maps, available online through Chicago Public Library, show the details for various years.

[scarletneon]

^^ oooh thank you!