More Basilicas Please

This Shrine Basilica is truly sublime. Looking at some pix from Columbus Day trip to Holy Hill, Wisconsin and here are a few.

May still be able to ski up there, as you could on Columbus Day.

Teardowns and Replacements

My friend and neighbor Blogger Publia who publishes a blog titled "Wilmette" asked me to describe the flow of teardowns in Wilmette. Despite my general lack of knowledge of architecture and construction, I tend to make enough bold inaccurate statements that I am correct at least as often as a stopped clock (and observed about at about the same frequency).

Lot prices have become high enough in Wilmette (Kenilworth, Winnetka and the NorthShore) that any house not up to modern standards in multiple respects economically can be torn down and replaced, then sold on the real estate market for a possible profit. The trend is slowing dramatically in Wilmette, as the lot values are coming down faster than the prices, but nonetheless, the village is peppered with teardowns.

People throw around the term McMansion and Monster House to deride the newcoming houses, without giving much thought to the architectural value of what is built and what is removed.












Here is a typical torn down lot. Rather than belittling my neighbors that once lived their, suffice to say, the house was wooden, small, uninsulated and built inexpensively during the depression. Not every house that is torn down fits this description, but a good lot of them do.













Here is the kind of housing that fill those vacant lots. Traditional building materials, large lot to sq ft ratio, and a certain adherence to building norms, not likely to offend the aesthetics of the neighborhood, but neither likely to wow people. In my opinion, these houses are a huge contributor to the neighborhood, and fill a demand for traditional housing at a (relatively) reasonable price and timeframe.








Here is where it gets more complicated. This is a house designed by the Daniel Burnham firm, and probably not Daniel Burnham, on Kenilworth Avenue in Kenilworth. The house is stylish, well proportioned and by all accounts obsolete, with replacement costs being much less than restoration costs. There are many houses by Daniel Burnham, and this one is not noteworthy, nor would the average person recognize it in a lineup of great Chicago Homes. The owner has decided not to tear it down, due to historical signifcance






Here is a house 2 doors east on Kenilworth Ave that is traditional, stunning, contemparary with the neighborhood, and finished in 2007. Despite the best efforts of preservationists to keep this from being built, a very beautiful house now stands as an example of using tradtional materials, and modern building methods in the best Chicago fashion.










This is the next door neighbor to the Prairie/Tudor shown above. A ranch house, great in its own settting, but totally out of place in the neighborhood, sits on one of the best lots in Illinois at the corner of Sheridan and Kenilworth. It looks well constructed, probably insulated, and the toliets most likely work, but the lot price is disproportionate with the building costs. It may likely be torn down.







Here is my neighbors house, built in 2006. Pleasant contemparary design, high status materials (stone, brick), totally filling the lot to get the most square footage for the platt size. Maple Park is 10 yards east of here, giving the owner ample room for children. The back yard also extends 150 ft.

Here is a more modest, but quite charming traditional home one block north of the previous shot. This looks just like the neighbors, albeit a bit larger, but built in 2006.

Good time for whats the point:

1) You don't have to build an ugly house to replace a teardown

2) It is complicated to determine the historical value of maintaining dysfunctional old houses.

3) The Village of Wilmette allows buildings to occupy a certain footprint of the lot size. This is aggressively enforced. I can also say first hand that the enforcement does not meet any standards of common sense, as I had to lower ceiling heigth, but not sq. ft. occupied to meet building standards on my own house, and ensure additional bumps on my head. But by all mean, the Village does enforce a standard buildout size.

4) The terms McMansion and Monster house are just not descriptive enough to figure out what kind of teardown took place. There should be some standard (I think), but I am quite certain that the local municipalities are not capable of informed judgement on these matters, and should work on drainage, traffic, drinking water, etc.

Shopping in the Spanish Renaissance

In the 1920's there was a movement in Chicago (and Pasedena and Santa Baraba) toward a (mostly imagined) Spanish Mediterranean Style of Architecture, with lots of smooth white stucco, red tile roofs, arches, stone carvings, and many of the elements that make buildings welcoming and pleasant to humans. Mostly imagined because on the Spanish Mediterranean, buildings do not actually look like this, nor do they have steel frames, and roofs slanted to withstand snowfall. Nonetheless, in 1926 Architect Edwin H. Clark built a grand theater and entertainment district in No-Mans-Land an unicorporated area south of Kenilworth and on the North Side of Wilmette.

The Spanish Court, to be renamed the Plaza Del Lago the grand development of Arhcitects Keck and Keck and Edwin Clark, stands today as a beautiful connection to Lake Michigan and the leafy suburbs of Wilmette and Kenilworth.

The Chicago Athletic Association, the former owners of the Chicago Cubs, is closing its doors after a 117 yr + run as one the pre-eminent Gentleman's Club's in the world. Businessmen, Politicians, Journalists, and even Athletes called the CAA their home away from home in one of the architectural marvels of Skyscraper design. Henry Ives Cobb does a Venetian Splendour on the shores of Lake Michigan (before the infill) and with a great view of Lake Michigan (even after the infill).

Here is a tip of the hat to those that wanted to make Chicago more than just tolerable, rather the world champion of architecture. There is nothing quite like the Michigan Avenue facade of this building.

I took some apt snapshots at a literary lunch today of the Catholic Citizens of Illinois, who were championing a renaissance in Catholic Literature with none other than Joseph Pearce as a guest speaker, telling histories of Chesterton, Waugh, Greene, and Belloc.

A luxury hotel will come into this facility, and we wish them well, and continued public access to this Architectural Marvel.

Astonishing Beauty of St. Anthony's New Bedford

Fr. Roger Landry, the acclaimed homilist, and a great tour guide to Rome (if you ever get the chance, see if you can hitch a ride with the good Padre to the Eternal City), sends a beautiful set of shots from his parish of St. Anthony's of Padua in New Bedford Massachusettes.

Reportedly one of the largest Catholic Churches in America, St. Anthony's serves a largely Portuguese community, which benefits from Fr. Landry's hard work and ministry. This Church looks in suprisingly good shape and shows what one can do with some dedicated maintenance.

More from Deering Library

Took a couple more shots inside Deering. The Gothic Lamps are awe inspiring...the University Club and other Prairie Goths should take note as to matching the fixtures with the buildling architecture. I am going to bring the Nikon next time, this place is just brimming with architectural details inside, and one the least viewed areas of the entire Northwestern Campus

The Deering Library is open to the public. The (very good) Art Library is inside. It is complex to get into the Deering Library itself. Go through the main library entrance, explain to the ball cap wearing youth reading graphic novels at the turnstyle that you would like to visit the Deering Library, he will mumble something that sounds like a Ruritanian folk dialect word for tunnel. Enter the (heinously ugly) Main Library and take a left. There will be two signs for the Deering Library. The one on the south leads to a locked door, but the the sign on the north is pointing in the right direction. You go down a stairwell, then back up two flights to see this stunning work.

Three Arts Club

Holabird and Roots 1914 masterpiece The Three Arts Club at 1300 N. Dearborn, has been sold to a botique hotel firm. The mosaic tile and stonework are legendary for their detail and match to function of the building (woman's artist residence). The Club itself has been down on its heels for some time now, and was not able to provide much in the way of residence or clubbishness to its constituents.

I am projecting greater access to this jewell, albeit at a cost, as the developer is also behind London's Brilliant Soho House.

Ottawa, Freeport, Jonesboro, Charleston, Galesburg, Quincy, and Alton

Yes those were the sites of the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858, notably not in Chicago where Stephen Douglas did a great deal of his dealing, and devised the clever system to develop the Illinois Central Railroad (which was subsequently the method used to develop most every other public utility).

I have rightly been identified as "one of the worst photographers in Chicago, given the importance of your photographs" For this, I offer no apologies, yet leave the door open to more talented and patient photographers. I did hold still long enough to get a good shot or two of the Douglas Memorial, designed by Leonard Volk, right across the street from St. Joe Carondelet. In Chicago style, Volk was a cousin of Douglas wife, and happily also a very good designer.

The site was locked up tighter than a Confederate prison camp, by the way, despite the signage claiming it was open, and the rather hopeless effort at snow removal in the park-like area surrounding the the memorial.

Architectural Significance

I will leave it up to the readers..is this building architecturally significant. It is old, and has some charm, and it certainly has a history of being an institutional building. But Architecturally, is this a significant buildilng?

This is St. Joseph Carondelet, the former Civil War Veterans Hospital and School.

Doorways of New York

These on Stone Street, in the financial district in New York.

Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Reviewing photos from New York City trip last summer. The St. Elizabeth Seton Shrine works impressivle on an odd sized lot at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, near Wall Street and the WTC Site. Note the curved fascia of the building, and the Colonial, yet definitely Roman style. By the way, the doors are locked, but if you ring the bell, the staff is more than happy to let you in and show you around. There were three tourists standing outside when I visited. After I rang, everyone went in for a devotional look around, and even some prayer.

Deering Library

The Deering Library is a good looking Gothic by James Gamble Rogers. Now if the buildings Deering wanted were kept throughout Northwestern...

It would also be pleasant if these doors actually opened. A librarian there told me they were open for a fundraiser one time. I am wondering if they could raise more funds by opening them again.

Northwestern Student Notices Mindlessly Ugly Buildings

Just when I had given up on anyone at Northwestern noticing that most of the buildlings put in over the last 30 years are hostile to humans, Kevin Reich in the Daily Northwestern notes

"Windowless sandblasted concrete buildings sprouted on the new land, completely disregarding the Lake. East Coast and West Coast students criticize NU by saying they "miss the beach," failing to realize that it's one of the only schools actually on the water. In a bizarre twist of fate, a parking lot was built on the southern end of the Lakefill, offering the campus its best views of Chicago."

In the coulda shoulda woulda section, what if a lake facing Northwestern kept going with the style of Deering Library? Great Lake location, calm campus, good access to the City, all merit Architecture centered around humans rather than concrete.

Nice shot from Down the street

Seabury Episcopalian Seminary graces Sheridan Road near Northwestern University with a beautiful Gothic Chapel, Refractory and now I see Library.

Here is a good shot of the United Library at Seabury Seminary.

Catholic New World

The Chicago Archdiocese puts out a newspaper every other week, titled the Catholic New World. In between pleasant stories ("Candy Sales Provide Sweet Treats, Helps Ministry"), one of our great friends Dolores Madlener writes some eye-opening shorts on what is going on at local Churches: Here are some good ones showing the cultural Renaissance of Catholic Chicago

Symposium on Poulenc's Opera "Catholicism, Martyrdom and the French Revolution" Jan 28 at Depaul

Scott Turow Feb 2 at the Union League First Friday Club

Fr. Edward McKenna directs La Comica del Cielo music by Abbatini, libretto by Pope Clement IX at Our Lady of Pompeii on Feb 19th.

d'Vine Affair Wine Tasting Jan 28th at the Union Leauge sponsored by Catholic Charities

Catholic Physicians Guild Jan 27th at U of I Chicagao Newman Center

St. James Chess Club Tournament Results

Tridentine Mass in Highwood at St. James Parish 11:30 AM Third Thursdays

and the best news item of all...

Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows will be Open Daily from 8AM-4:30PM, Novenas at 8AM Friday

Three Cheers for the Servites and Father Frank Falco for opening up this Architectural Masterpiece! I celebrate with a previously unpublished James Morris photo. (Unpublished because I forgot to move the goofy looking fan, I suppose.)

1st Round Draft Choice: The Archdiocese of New York

As I have mentioned, we are contemplating a publication of photographic history of the churches and chapels of Archdiocese of New York City. I have toured extensively in Manhattan and a bit in the Bronx, and have had numerous conversations with interested participants, but I think it would be fantastic to get some group interaction from the readers here. Here is a partial list



Old St. Pats
St. Malachy's
The original Manhattanvile College of the Sacred Heart (City College/Harlem) Is it still there? Eglise de Notre Dame 405 W. 114th
Catherine of Siena 411 E. 68th
Francis de Sales 135 E. 96th
St Francis Xavier 30 W. 16th St.
Jean Baptiste 184 E76th
St. Peters Barclay Street?
St. Thomas More 65 E. 89th
Fordham Chapel
Our Lady of Pompei 25 Carmine St.
Our Lady of the Rosary 7 State Street
St. Vincent de Paul 123 West 23rd St
St. Pats Cathedral
St Vincent Ferrer
St. Ignatius Loyola
St. Andrews (pictured btw)

So have at it...what 75 Churches and Chapels should be photographed for "Heavenly City: The Architectural Tradition of Catholic New York"....?

New Issue of SAJ in the Mail

Professor Stroik has done it again with fine episode of Sacred Architecture Journal. Book reviews and articles by Bill Heyer, (St. Barbara's scholar) Denis McNamara, Dino Marcantonio and many others in the current issue of the paper of record for traditional ecclesiology.

Here is a brilliant shot by James Morris, adapter for use in a SAJ publication

Read and Enjoy! Not a subscriber....SAJ will set you up

From the Land of Sky Blue Waters

In an interview with The Catholic Spirit, one of the nation's top Ecclesioligists, Prof. Duncan Stroik tells it like it is:

"For a Catholic, and for a Catholic building, beauty is essential, because first of all, God’s middle name is Beauty. And he, being in his creation, created great works of beauty that we are able to be stewards of. So, in our own way, we’re asked to imitate the creator in also creating beauty. So that’s the most important reason that we should build beautiful buildings — that it’s for God, it’s for his glory and it’s an imitation of him."

The above photo shows Stroik's (soon to be declared) masterpiece, the Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe, in one of my favorite towns, LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

More from St Vincent de Paul

Here are some shots of the fragile but beautiful St. Vincent de Paul in Manhattan from the Summer of 2006. And here is a prayer to St. Vincent that he may intercede on behalf of his built namesake, and permit another Light of Christ to reach this brilliant city.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us.

Holy Mary, comforter of the afflicted, Pray for us.

Saint Vincent de Paul, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, who at the tenderest age didst display a wisdom most mature, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, who from thy childhood wast full of pity and compassion, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, who like David, from a simple shepherd becamest a ruler and pastor of the people of God, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, who in thy captivity by Turkish pirates didst preserve perfect freedom, Pray for us.

St. Vincent the just man, who didst live by faith, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, always supported on the firm anchor of a Christian hope, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, always inflamed with the fire of perfect charity, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, truly simple, upright, and fearing God, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, true disciple of Jesus Christ, always meek and humble of heart, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, perfectly mortified in heart and mind, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, ever animated with the spirit of Our Lord, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, generous maintainer of the glory of God, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, ever inwardly burning and ever outwardly transported with zeal for souls, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, who in Christian poverty didst find the precious pearl and the rich treasure of the Gospel, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, like to the Angels in thy purity, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, faithful in obedience and victorious in word and deed, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, who didst fly the slightest appearance of evil, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, who in all thine actions didst aspire to the practice of perfect virtue, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, who didst remain like a rock amidst the stormy sea of this world, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, invincible amidst the arrows of adversity, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, as patient in suffering as thou wast indulgent in forgiving, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, ever docile and obedient son of the Holy See, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, who hadst exceeding horror of the novel ways and subtle words of heretics, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, destined by a special Providence to announce the Gospel to the poor, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, father and model of ecclesiastics, Pray for us. St. Vincent, prudent founder of the Congregation of the Mission, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, wise institutor of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, tender in compassionating and prompt in relieving the necessities of the poor, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, equally fervent in the practice of prayer and in ministry of the word, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, admirable in imitation of the life and virtues of Jesus, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, who didst persevere to the end in shunning evil and doing good, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, who as in life so in death wast most precious in the sight of God, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, glory of France and pride of Paris, Pray for us.

St. Vincent, patron of all charitable associations, Pray for us.

Bagdhad by the lake

The Economist newsaper last year famously referred to Chicago as "Baghdad by the lake" noting:

A DICTATOR on the rampage; airfields destroyed; a pre-emptive strike; calls for outside intervention to bring democracy. It is not difficult to see why one cartoonist has lampooned Richard Daley's Chicago as “Baghdad by the lake”.

In my opinion Mayor Daley is no dictator, at least not a violent one. Yet, a creeping Statism pervades our Urban environment, presuming the Government is the best decision maker as to use of public resources. Consider this: the Cannes beachfront pictured above is most completely privately owned and managed. All manner of hotels, such as the Martinez (a haunt of PG Wodehouse among others) provide pretty much any service a visitor could want, right to your lounge chair on the Mediterranean. But if this privately owned model can work in semi-Socialist France, why not Chicago?

Well, back some 50 years ago, Chicago did have something quite like Le Croissette in Cannes: Edgewater Beach. Everyday luxury, a walkable neighborhood and yes, cold drinks served at your lounge chair on the beach.



So what happened? Well, you might notice that Lake Shore Drive is not in that postcard picture, as it was not built yet. Through an incessant demand for a quicker commute, landfill was inserted on the EAST side of the lake front to build the massive (and quite functional) highway. But in between, pedestrian and private access to Lake Michiagan were cut off. Anyone wanting to get to the Lake in this neighborhood is taking his life in his own hands.

So, since the loss of an Old Urban piece of brilliance is a lamented waste of natural resources one might think that the "progressive" elements in Chicago would work night and day to see that it does not happen again. Unfortunately, not true.

The long closed USX South Works in the South Shore neighborhood is a case in point. A 275 acre site surrounded by Lake Michigan is under redevelopment now, with many quite pleasant plans to implement "New Urbanism" non-vehicular everday life, with Metra Stops, restaurants, high density residential area, and most importantly: pedestrian access to Lake Michigan.

However, an alternate view exists, touting Government control of the lakefront in the South Shore neighborhood, cutting off human access to the Lake with another in a series of ill-advised, underutilized, poorly maintained, pedestrian-hostile "park". In a presentation titled "Completing the South Lakefront Parks:The Last Four Miles", a group claiming to be "Friends of the Park" are demanding control of "approximately 4 miles are not public parks but remain in private or quasi-governmental ownership."

Can anyone tell with, with the City's pathetic record on providing park access and maintenance, do we really want the city to appropriate the last area between Foster Ave and Indiana not under the Park District's thumb? Or would we rather have at least a French level of respect for private enterprise to provide human access to one of the finest natural resources in the Midwest?