LINCOLN PARK — A historic preservation group listed buildings on Halsted Street that a developer is seeking to demolish as one the state's "Ten Most Endangered Historic Places" Tuesday.
Landmarks Illinois' top ten list warns against the demolition of the Black Duck building at 1800 N. Halsted Street and the building at 1732 N. Halsted where Vinci Restaraunt is located.
The landmarks group calls the two buildings the Halsted and Willow Gateway, consisting of largely intact late 19th-Century buildings, a gateway to the Sheffield neighborhood.
"We urge the developer and city officials to work together and, as is encouraged in the City's zoning code, find a compromise design solution that would allow for the integration of these historic buildings in any development plans," said Bonnie McDonald, president of Landmarks Illinois.
McDonald called the two corner buildings at the intersection of Halsted and Willow "distinctive and irreplaceable."
The developer of the site, Golub Real Estate Investment and Development, is seeking to demolish the Black Duck Tavern & Grill as well as a stretch of five contiguous parcels to the north.
Golub could not be immediately reached for comment.
Three plans were presented to the community at a meeting in October, and the main proposal called for demolishing the Black Duck and constructing a six-story apartment building along with five townhouses on Willow Street.
Another plan presented at the October meeting would save Black Duck in exchange for a seventh floor to the main apartment building.
Landmarks Illinois claims the developer is seeking to amend the Planned Development zoning at the site for a future proposal at the southwest corner where Vinci Restaurant is located.
The buildings in question are located in the Historic RANCH Triangle neighborhood.
The president of the neighborhood group said he hopes the inclusion on the top-ten endangered list will help spare the buildings.
"It's definitely what we hope to use to influence the developer to be responsible," said Randy Steinmeyer, president of RANCH Triangle.
He said the neighborhood group has not heard anything from the developer since the last meeting in October.
Steinmeyer called the Halsted Willow Historic Gateway an entrance to the neighborhood.
"We are pleased and also really grateful to Landmarks Illinois," he said. "This is a pretty important step to protect that corner."
