McCarthy Building (Chicago, Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids McCarthy Building |
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The McCarthy Building on the southwest corner of Block 37.
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| General information | |
| Location | 32 West Washington Street Chicago, Illinois  United States |
| Completed | 1872 |
| Demolished | 1989 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 5 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John M. Van Osdel |
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McCarthy Building
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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| NRHP reference No. | 76000698 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 16, 1976 |
| Removed from NRHP | December 8, 1995 |
The McCarthy Building was a five-story building in Chicago, Illinois. It was located in the downtown area known as the Loop. This historic building was designed by John M. Van Osdel. It was built in 1872.
Sadly, the McCarthy Building was torn down in 1989. This happened to clear space for a new project called Block 37. To make way for this plan by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, the city removed the building's special landmark status in 1987.
History of the McCarthy Building
The land where the McCarthy Building stood was owned by the McCarthy family for 100 years. John Patrick McCarthy bought the property on May 1, 1847. He built a home there for his family, which included six children.
This home was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. After the fire, Mrs. McCarthy built a new family home elsewhere in Chicago. The five-story McCarthy Building was then built on the original site in 1872. Every room in the new building had its own fireplace. It did not have an elevator. The McCarthy family owned the building without any debt.
From 1901 until at least 1947, the building was rented by the Washington Shirt Co. This company then rented out the upper floors and two shops on the street level. In 1946, a group of investors bought the building for $550,000. This was a very high price for the area at that time.
Why Landmark Status Was Removed
The decision to remove the McCarthy Building's landmark status caused a big disagreement. Many groups wanted to save the building. They tried to stop the city's plan in court.
However, the Illinois Supreme Court decided that these groups could not legally challenge the city's decision. The court said that simply caring about an issue, even very much, was not enough to challenge a law. This meant the building could be torn down.
What Replaced the Building
The new Block 37 complex opened in 2009. This project includes shops and offices. The office building at 22 West Washington now stands where the McCarthy Building used to be.
