Chicago’s Architecture Tragedies, Tribulations and Triumphs » oldmerc

Built by Alfred Alschuler and once located at 300 W. Washington Ave., this 17-story limestone building was almost destroyed by the city via secret demolition. Once Preservation Chicago discovered this fact, they continually picketed until Mayor Daley in 2002 introduced a Demolition Delay ordinance. Unfortunately, the ME Building was still demolished in late 2002.