The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-10
CHICAGO IS ENJOYING
Unprecedented BOOM
IN BUILDING INDUSTRY
(By Associated Press)

CHICAGO, Aug. 10.-Despite efforts
of commercial and civil organizations
fighting the congestion within the iron
circle of the union loop. that historic
center of Chicago is enjoying an I'M
precedented building boom. The boom,
however, is not at the expense OF the
outlying sections and it is most notice
able on the fringe of the elevated rail-
road circle.
Three great schemes" are held re
sponsible for the most noteworthy
building ventures near the heart of the
city. They are the South Water street
plan, which will change the famed
fruit and vegetable market into a dou-
BILE decked thoroughfare with the up
per level devoted exclusively to motor
traffic; the Union Station plan, and the
Grant park plan.
These schemes which primarily are
traffic control and congestion RELIEF
ideas have received the cooperation
of the realty owners in the neighbor-
hood and they are promising to coop
crate by the erection OF architecturally
harmonious structures.
Plan Mammoth Station
The Union station which is to be
erected just across the river from the
loop will cost about ten million dol
lars, but the buildings which belong
TO the scheme will total as much again.
They include two giant freight termi-
nails and a U. S. Mail terminal, the
latter near completion.
Work is expected to start shortly
on the new Illinois Central station at
Roosevelt road, just south of the loop.
The Field museum has just been com
pleted TO the east of the station. The
city is planning to build, just south
of the museum a titanic stadium which
will be big enough to house the Olym,
pic games, and a syndicate has draw
up plans for a great hotel to be called
the Stevens, to the west of this group
All these buildings will be Of Ionic
architecture.
The Chicago Tribune has announced
a contest for architects for the plans
for a building to be erected by the
newspaper. just north of the Chicago
river. which is to be the most beau
tiful building in the world
Material on Streets
Within the loop proper the streets
are filled with materials and sidewalks
are occupied by wrecking machinery
Old landmarks such as the Stratfor6
hotel, the Grand Pacific hotel, the First
Methodist church building and McVick
ers theatre have ben demolished tt
make room for modern structures
most of them skyscrapers, which rap
idly are winging their way skyward.
On the last named spot a $40, 000, 00(
theatre is being erected. while two
other downtown theatres are nearing
completion. The Methodist church /:
building a magnificent skyscrapel
church in the very heart of the loop
On the site of the Stratford hotel
huge Office building is to be construct
ed, while in the financial quarter the
Federal Reserve bank building i:
about ready for occupancy, while the
steel framework is up for the SS,000,c 0(
Illinois Merchants bank building. {
block away.
The London Guarantee and Acciden'
building. another towering structure, il
under construction at the southwes
corner of the Michigan avenue Iinl
bridge. Just across the Chicago rive.
from the White shaft of the Wrigle.
building.