Ever since the once-grand Pullman water tower was gutted by fire in 1957 and demolished, its foundation has sat virtually unnoticed–at least outside a small group of preservationists devoted to protecting the federally landmarked area.
Buried as deep as 30 feet below a parking lot in the Far South Side’s historic Pullman district, the foundation and the aging sewer reservoir it contains might have remained relatively obscure.
But all that changed this month when the University of Chicago Press, which now owns the lot on top of the foundation, moved forward on plans to expand its warehouse on the site at 11030 S. Langley Ave.
With excavators poised to burrow into the lot this week, jeopardizing the structure to make way for new construction, Pullman preservationists said destroying the site would be a “disastrous loss” in an area known for a host of architectural gems.
“In its time, this place was truly magnificent,” said Robert Fioretti, president of the Historic Pullman Foundation. “It was absolutely one of the area’s greatest treasures.”
Preservationists, still reeling from a fire that ravaged the nearby Pullman factory and clock tower last year, said they are prepared to make a case, despite skeptics who may snicker that a sewer isn’t worth saving.
They contend the underground structure is worthy of protection both because of the sewer–a pioneering achievement in civil engineering from the 1880s that once collected waste from close to 2,000 homes and other buildings in the famous factory town where George Pullman built his railroad cars–and because of the building that once rose 195 feet above it. Indeed, when the water tower was built, the Victorian structure was among the nation’s tallest buildings.
Officials from the U. of C. said they were unaware that the subterranean structure could be of historic value when they obtained the permits from the city to begin excavation and construction. But in light of the recent flap, they said plans for the site would be “under consideration” in coming days.
“We have no intention of disturbing any historic sites,” said university spokesman Bill Harms.
Similarly, Ald. Anthony Beale, whose 9th Ward includes the site, said he was unaware that any questions of historic value were at stake in the project before be received a call about it Friday. But now, he said, he plans to intervene in the project to ensure that nothing is demolished without proper consideration.
“We will be out there first thing tomorrow morning,” Beale said Sunday. “We will try to hold off (construction) until we get more information.”
Although the Pullman district as a whole has been deemed a National Historic Landmark, the lot in question is not included in a smaller area recognized as a city landmark. As such, the excavation project did not have to go before the city’s Landmarks Commission before permits were approved, said Becky Carroll, spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Planning and Development.
Ultimately, the project could land before the City Council’s Landmarks Committee, which is charged with reviewing construction projects affecting federally landmarked property, Carroll said.
It is unclear why building permits were issued, but Carroll speculated that officials may not have recognized the historic nature of the site.
Charles Gregersen, an architect who heads a committee of the Pullman Civic Organization concerned about ensuring that development of the area complies with landmark ordinances, said the group was seized with urgency when he noticed excavation equipment on the lot last week.
Gregersen said his group is prepared to offer ample evidence of the site’s historic value, including the reservoir’s massive stone walls and its vaulted ceilings.
