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Thompson Center protesters met with counter-protesters: “Tear it down”

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Illinois

* Maggie Prosser at the Tribune…

About two dozen people gathered outside the James R. Thompson Center on Wednesday to protest the state’s ongoing efforts to sell the glassy state office building, which preservation groups call an iconic and integral component to Chicago’s downtown.

Preservation Chicago and other advocacy groups held the rally in response to what they call recent action by state officials to “deliberately sabotage” the building at 100 W. Randolph St., ahead of an upcoming meeting to decide whether the building receives historical designation, a spokeswoman said. […]

State agencies are expected to meet on Friday to oppose adding the Thompson Center to the National Register of Historic Places, which preservationists think would save the 36-year-old state office building. […]

The preservationists were met with a few counterprotesters who yelled back, “tear it down” and “you buy it then.” Passersby also commented on the building’s deteriorating condition, alleged cockroach infestation, and poor heating and air conditioning systems.

* Unlike the protesters, Eleni actually works at the Thompson Center and was one of the counter-protesters…

Thx to everyone who showed up at the JRTC counterprotest. Our voices were heard! #tearitdown pic.twitter.com/fFrJ3Cap52

— Eleni (@elenid17) June 24, 2021

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 11:58 am

Comments

Wow. If I had known about the counter-protest in advance, I might well have been there. Tear it down.

Comment by Keyrock Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:08 pm
I haven’t been this sad about not getting invited to something since junior high.

Comment by ChicagoBars Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:09 pm
Oddly enough the counter protesters all came from inside the building . . . (/snark)

Comment by Out Here In The Middle Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:21 pm
=== You buy it them ===

Pretty much sums up my views about preservation efforts. It was a wild artsy building to match the taste of it’s namesake. It wasn’t a functional office building from the beginning and declined rapidly.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:38 pm
Oops “then”

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:38 pm
“Alleged” cockroach infestation?

Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 12:55 pm
I’m sorry but how can a 36-year old building be considered “historic?”

I bet there’s some McDonald’s drive-ins that are almost twice as old.

Comment by Sir Reel Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:01 pm
Place is worth more in scrap once General Iron reopens.

Comment by 2Long Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:13 pm
I wonder if Blago was one of the protestors? With a sign saying “Don’t tear down my former workplace. And especially don’t tear down Panda Express.”

Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:14 pm
The whole thing is sad.

The Thompson Center is a beautiful building.

But unworkable as far as being an office for state government is concerned.

Illinois just can’t stay the owner, whatever else happens to it.

Comment by Nick Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:19 pm
“…two dozen people gathered…” Why is anyone getting excited about this?

Comment by Focus, People Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:22 pm
Tear it down, but over three fiscal years so the sale proceeds can be included in three more budgets.

Comment by Put the fun in unfunded Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:27 pm
Except for the color scheme (and I’m old, I remember what it looked like new) I’ve always liked it as a building. Like Nick says, it was unworkable was a government building.

Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:34 pm
Listing on the National Register of Historic Places is meaningless. It offers no protection whatsoever. If a private owner can get a city demolition permit, it’s gone.

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:43 pm
==Tear it down, but over three fiscal years so the sale proceeds can be included in three more budgets.==

What about spread it out over 10 fiscal years? Just in case there’s a Blues Brothers 50th anniversary movie planned for 2030. With a new chase scene planned for the atrium of the JRTC before its demolition.

Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:44 pm
Tear it down. It has been a hot mess from day One.

Comment by tomhail Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 1:48 pm
The Thompson Center will be sold over the next 24 fiscal years, allowing the state to use the annual proceeds from the newly announced sale to cover pension payments until the magical 90 percent funding level is reached in 2045, at which point it will become a water park.

Comment by Asteroid of Caution Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 2:20 pm
I moved to Chicago at the turn of the century; and always thought that this was a garbage building; especially for State Offices. I don’t know what it looked like when it was new, but it is a sad building now. The color panels are all faded; the glass itself looks tacky, and the interiors were just badly scarred. And less said about the ‘artwork’ in front of the building; the better.

I was in Madison when we had a humongous snowfall one year. All the snow was piled into little hills; and kept melting slowly over the months. By May the pile of snow as kinda dirty; with all the smoke and smog and other such urban pollution. That artwork in front always reminded me of that.

Same with the Prentice Women’s Hospital. I am sure it was architecturally a good design; as Rush basically copied it; but the concrete exterior was so badly damaged; it looked sad. The replacement is a much better looking building. I am sure whatever replaces the Thompson will be an improvement.

Comment by Victor Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 3:59 pm
Can’t wait til it’s gone. In addition to the bad air and roaches, there were also bedbugs and mice.

Comment by stateworkerworkingfromhome Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 4:02 pm
Tear it down before it falls down. Re-purpose that area.

Comment by M Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 4:19 pm
The state should just sell the building and let the new owners decide what to do with it, nothing more, nothing less. If the new owners want to demolish, so be it. And Huh? the reason for listing on the National Register of Historic Places is to make it eligible tax credits, so I would hardly call it meaningless.

Comment by MyTwoCents Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 5:41 pm
How many of the protestors ever had to work in that building? I’m guessing none.

Comment by Just Me 2 Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 5:51 pm
In the mid 1980’s, I worked in that building and as I ascended the elevator and looked at the huge empty atrium only to wonder how many more state employees could have been housed there instead of paying rent in other locations. The taxpayers were left holding the bag so some could brag about architecture.

Comment by Fishingvest Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 6:27 pm
Preservation Chicago, once again standing in the way of progress and desperate to be relevant.

Comment by Newguy Thursday, Jun 24, 21 @ 8:07 pm
===Wow. If I had known about the counter-protest in advance, I might well have been there. Tear it down.===

This is why we can’t have nice things.
Let’s tear down all the unique and architecturally significant buildings and replace them with ugly boxes that all look the same./s
Upgrading a heating and air conditioning system is cheaper than wrecking and rebuilding a multistory building.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Friday, Jun 25, 21 @ 7:02 am
== =Can’t wait til it’s gone. In addition to the bad air and roaches, there were also bedbugs and mice.===
The critters come from the ground below so destroying and rebuilding isn’t a solution to pest control.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Friday, Jun 25, 21 @ 7:04 am