214 South State Street

214 South State Street is a building in Chicago's Loop, which was designed by C. M. Palmer and was built in 1887.[1][2] The building is owned by the General Services Administration and currently sits vacant.[3]

214 South State Street
General information
Location214 S. State Street, Chicago, Illinois
Coordinates41°52′44.7″N 87°37′40.6″W
Completed1887
Technical details
Floor count4
Design and construction
ArchitectC. M. Palmer

History

The building was completed in 1887, and served as Charles F. Gunther's candy, pastry, and ice cream factory and salesroom.[2][4][5] The building opened May 18, 1887.[2] The building was originally 6 stories and its address was 212 State Street under the pre-1911 Downtown Chicago street numbering system.[2][6]

In 1909, Gunther retired and sold the building to Jacob L. Kesner.[7] Kesner built the Consumers Building at 220 South State Street in 1913, and had purchased 214 South State Street to ensure a skyscraper would not be built there.[8] After the completion of the Consumers Building, 214 South State Street was known as the Consumers Annex.[9] In 1913, Kesner was issued a building permit for alterations on the six story building, with Jenney, Mundie & Jensen listed as the architects.[10] By 1923, the building was reported to be four stories.[11]

A. Weis & Company operated the Winter Garden, an upscale restaurant located in the basements of 214 South State Street and the adjacent Consumers Building.[8][12][13][14] Another tenant in this era was the Economy Hat Bleachery.[9] In 1923, Truly Warner began renting first, second, and third floors for a hat shop.[11] The building was also home to a Harmony Cafeteria in the 1920s and 1930s.[15][16] In 1946, Martin Jewelers began renting the building, replacing the Newart Company, a clothing retailer.[17][18] Martin Jewelers had the building remodeled, with Isadore E. Alexander redesigning the first floor storefront in the Streamline Moderne style.[17][19][1] The building was later home to Roberto's, a men's wear shop.[20]

In 2005, the General Services Administration acquired 214 South State Street and neighboring buildings, using eminent domain to seize some of the properties, citing the need for increased security around the Dirksen Federal Building.[21][1]

In 2017, CA Ventures reached an agreement to purchase 214 South State Street, the Consumers Building, the Century Building, and 212 South State Street, for $10.38 million.[22] The Consumers Building and Century Building would have been converted to apartments, as part of a $141 million redevelopment project, while the historic Streamline Moderne storefront of 214 South State St. would have been restored and incorporated into a 25,000 square-foot structure built between the taller buildings for retail and commercial use.[22][1] Under the terms of the agreement, the City of Chicago would purchase the buildings from the federal government and then immediately sell them to CA Ventures.[23] However, the City of Chicago backed out of the agreement in December 2019, citing security concerns at the nearby Dirksen Federal Building.[23][24]

References
  1. "A Bright Future for Century and Consumers Buildings", Preservation Chicago. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  2. "Gunther's New Building", Chicago Tribune. May 15, 1887. p. 17.
  3. Gallun, Alby. "Feds move to sell State Street buildings", Crain's Chicago Business. April 27, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  4. Strahler, Steven R. "City of big food companies once more?", Crain's Chicago Business. October 07, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  5. Haddix, Carol; Kraig, Bruce (2017). The Chicago Food Encyclopedia. University of Illinois Press. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  6. Chicago Street Numbering System: Chicago 'Loop', Effective April 1, 1911. Chicago History Museum. p. 523. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  7. "Gunther Sells Candy Plant", Chicago Tribune. May 22, 1909. p. 3.
  8. "Preservation Chicago Unveils the 2011 Chicago 7 Most Threatened… The Century & Consumers Building", Preservation Chicago. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  9. "She Threatens to Shoot", Chicago Tribune. November 6, 1914. p. 13.
  10. "Building Permits", Chicago Tribune. May 14, 1913. p. 18.
  11. Chase, Al. "Truly Warner Leases South State Hat Shop", Chicago Tribune. March 28, 1923. p. 31.
  12. "220 S. State Street - The Consumers Building, Chicago, IL", General Services Administration. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  13. Sengstock, Charles A. (2004). That Toddlin' Town: Chicago's White Dance Bands and Orchestras, 1900-1950. University of Illinois Press. p. 115. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  14. Chicago Central Business and Office Building Directory. The Winters Publishing Company. June 1922. p. 62. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  15. "Armed Robber Knocked Down in Loop Crowd", Chicago Tribune. July 15, 1926. p. 14.
  16. "Gunman Dines, Then Holds Up Loop Cafeteria", Chicago Tribune. February 17, 1931. p. 1.
  17. "Jewelers Rent Four Story Building at 214 S. State St.", Chicago Tribune. March 10, 1946. p. A8.
  18. "Clothier Quits State St. for Wabash After 30 Yrs.", Chicago Tribune. January 12, 1947. Part 3, p. A.
  19. Reardon, Patrick T. "Trying to see past today's ugliness", Chicago Tribune. July 26, 2006. Section 5, p. 8.
  20. Mastony, Colleen. "Where Does He Get Those Crazy Outfits", Chicago Tribune. June 24, 2008. p. 6.
  21. "Feds invade State Street", Crain's Chicago Business. November 14, 2005. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  22. Ori, Ryan. "$141 million project to bring 429 apartments to State Street", Chicago Tribune. June 1, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  23. Ori, Ryan. "$141 million State Street development halted over federal courthouse security concerns", Chicago Tribune. December 16, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  24. Kozlarz, Jay. "State Street apartment plan derailed over security concerns at nearby courthouse", Curbed. December 16, 2019. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
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