There is a proposal before the Chicago Landmark Commission to convert the Mayfair Regent Hotel to condominiums, culminating in the construction of a 50- story tower on the site of what is now the hotel`s parking lot. East Lake Shore Drive, including the Mayfair Regent, is a landmark district.
The developers have applied for permission to remove the entire lobby of the hotel, along with all the windows fronting on East Lake Shore Drive and replace it all with a porte cochere. This would destroy the facade of the building.
The entire street is architecturally significant in that it was built between 1910 and 1929 by only two architects, Ben Marshall and the firm of Fugard and Knapp.
Since the designation of a landmark district requires the City Council to pass an ordinance, and the ordinance that was passed prohibits altering the facades of the buildings, it is hoped that the Landmark Commission will deny the developer`s application. Otherwise, it may be well for the City Council to reconsider the benefit of continuing to have a landmark ordinance.
