On June 2, the Chicago Tribune published Chair Sara C. Bronin’s op-ed arguing against the proposed demolition of Chicago’s historic Century and Consumers Buildings. The two early skyscraper buildings on Chicago’s State Street are owned by the federal government’s General Services Administration and are slated to be torn down due to security concerns related to the neighboring Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. The ACHP is currently overseeing a Section 106 review of the project.

Bronin writes, “Chicago deserves so much more than an empty lot ... More important than the architectural and environmental value of these two sites is the terrifying precedent that would be set: that it’s okay to demolish perfectly useable buildings in the heart of our cities.”

Instead of being torn down, Bronin argues that the aging buildings can be rehabilitated and repurposed while still addressing security concerns.

Read the op-ed here.