This gorgeous Prairie style building has been reduced to rubble.

[Sannum]

The Ogden School in Chicago - Of course in a wealthy neighborhood so they are replacing it with a state of the art modern school that will cost around 50 million dollars while schools in poor neighborhoods have children sharing textbooks.

From what I can tell, none of the gorgeous woodwork or archetectural elements were salvaged. The beautiful doors and mouldings are all gone. I looked out my window just now and it is a huge pile of rubble.







If they wanted to renovate the school, there were many ways they could do so in keeping with the history and beauty of the building. Now when they finish it, It will look like every other new elementary school in the country.

I was in a bad mood before, but this really makes me angry. All because the rich kids need a "meditation center" and "multimedia room".

I hate the idea that in order for "progress", we must tear down beautiful buildings and homes and replace them with buildings that all look the same. I look out the same window and see 4 highrise condo buildings that have lost funding and have remained unfinished for months - they replaced classic 1930's apartment buildings with character and beauty.

[datasuspect]

1. CHICAGO NEEDS MORE HI-RISE CONDOS!!!!

seriesly, that school is on some prime real estate.

but at least they are replacing it with another school.

that area (when the school was built) wasn't any great shakes. is it over by the Newberry Library?

[Sannum]

2. Across the street from Newberry in Gold Coast.

I am waiting for the day I am walking down the street and the Newberry Library is torn down - it's only a matter of time with this City.

I am so glad the Students of Gold Coast (the ones who couldn't get into Frances Parker or Latin) will be able to start their educational journey in a place with a yoga studio and underground parking so Mommy's Range Rover or Mercedes isn't looked at by someone. In this neighborhood you rarely see a child with their parent - they are being pushed in a Pram by the Nanny while Mommy is lunching at Neiman Marcus.

[datasuspect]

3. that's funny

because the gold coast was once an area of fleabag hotels, bohemianism, anarchism, and prostitution.

[Sannum]

4. It's "Gentrified" now.

The fleabag motels are now boutique hotels, the bars are now gastropubs, the anarchists are gone and the prostitutes are still here and charging 3 grand an hour. They are referred to as "The Service".

[PVnRT]

5. I know people who buy bricks from old buildings like that to build their houses

It's unfortunate that they couldn't salvage some of it.

It's even more unfortunate that the northside yuppies get new schools while the inner-city kids get nothing.

[Sannum]

6. Exactly

They were throwing fits earlier this year because the temporary school is where Cabrini used to be. Nevermind that Cabrini Green really isn't there anymore and that it is across from the new Whole Foods, but their precious little spawn Jaden and Madison might have to go to an old school where *black* kids used to go. Unacceptable for Trixies and NIMBY's.

[mopinko]

7. what you are saying about poor kids is not particularly true. at least the part

about the kids getting nothing. there has been an aggressive program to build new schools and repair old ones in chicago. i do not have time right this minute to look them up. but to say nothing is just plain, flat out, not true. just here in rogers park, a neighborhood full of poor kids, there have been 3 new schools (only one a charter) built since daley has been mayor, plus several major additions and renovations. and a beautiful new library, too. the schools are in nowhere near the shape they were when daley took them over.
this is a blue city, run by dems. think and look around before you badmouth. daley has done a GREAT job with the schools. the schools where my kids went have what they need. and btw, schools in poor hoods get more money per kid. so, if there are schools where kids don't have books, that principal should be fired for mismanagement.

[mopinko]

8. interesting presentation from the public building commission

http://www.ogdenschool.org/pdfs/PPT_PBC_.pdf

has pics of some of the other new schools that have been built recently. interesting architecture, too. didn't see the yoga studios, tho.
your smearing of the people in your neighborhood tells me a lot more about you than them.