The City of Chicago Housing and Economic Development department has proposed Landmark status for the Riviera Motor Sales Company Building located at 5948-60 N. Broadway (at Elmdale). The building, which was designed by architect Bernard Kurzon and built in 1925-1926 originally to house a Chrysler dealership is one of the most attractive buildings along "automobile row." Currently occupied by MB Bank and housing apartments on the second floor, the building features expansive glass storefront windows, an ornate and finely detailed interior and a Venetian Gothic-style terra cotta exterior.
9 comments:
A far cry from all of the McBanks that are on every other block. Just stunning.
I, too, agree. The building is absolutely beautiful. I'm glad to see the historical designation for this building.
This is glad news! I have always admired this beautiful building and I'm thrilled that it has received the protection of landmark status.
This would have been a great location for the new library.
The building and parking lot are still owned by the Giannoulias family who never allowed landmark status while the Broadway Bank was there. Wonder why?
Glad to see that they are finally working on the facade. The beautiful terracotta was disintegrating.
But this once stunning building was built for.....motor cars (OM McGod).
You'd think McLakefront McLiberals in McStarbucks ethnically cleansed McNeighborhoods would want to have it torn down to the ground via a McRevolt.
Any McWay, it was obviously a beautiful building/store at one point in time that will never return to something that will be again McCool or even historic.
YET another charming comment from No Different. no different indeed...
I love this building. when I first moved to Edgewater I used to walk by and day dream about building a pretty restaurant in there. It would also be awesome as a gallery. Even as a bank, it feels like a throwback to the days of Dillinger. Chicago is best known for it's build, tear down, rebuild mantra, so it's really nice to see something pretty get protection. I always worry that eventually we'll have nothing left of our history.
I love this building too, give some character to the area dominated by the Dominick's behemoth. So glad that didn't install a drop-down ceiling and create a second floor.
I can't believe this wasn't already in landmark status.
Oh well....better not-too-late than never.
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