CHICAGO — The Tribune doesn't own Tribune Tower anymore.
The paper actually hasn't for awhile, at least after splitting from its real estate holdings two years ago. But the sale of the landmarked neo-Gothic tower at 435 N. Michigan Ave. by sister company Tribune Media closed Wednesday, ending an era.
The buyer is Los Angeles-based developer CIM Group, which plans a big-scale redevelopment of the historic riverfront tower. Changes are slated to begin in 2018, when the Tribune might get the boot from its namesake tower. A Tribune Media spokesman declined to comment.
RELATED: What's Going To Happen To Tribune Tower? Developers Weigh In
The tower was commissioned by legendary publisher Col. Robert R. McCormick for the paper's 75th anniversary. His specifications, according to WBEZ, were to build "the most beautiful office building in the world" and include secret doors and passageways in case the building was ever stormed. The tower opened in 1925.
The 36-story tower's facade is marked by more than 100 stones from historic sites collected around the world by Tribune reporters. Those sites include the Vatican, the Taj Mahal, and Pearl Harbor.
Sadly, there are no more moon rocks. But now that the building has sold, we thought we'd share some of the Tribune's collected history literally written in stone.
[All photos by DNAinfo/David Matthews]
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
