A preservation group Tuesday released its annual list of notable Chicago properties threatened with decay and possible demolition — calling attention to one of the Loop’s oldest buildings, a Jackson Park bridge associated with Clarence Darrow and a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home.
The 2025 ranking by Preservation Chicago also includes two crumbling but soaring Gothic Revival churches and stylish holdovers from the city’s industrial past.
In releasing its “Chicago 7” list of properties it deems endangered or in trouble, the group recalled recent preservation wins during an event at the Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E. Wacker Drive. Its prior lists have emphasized the Thompson Center in the Loop and the early 20th century towers at 202 and 220 S. State St.
Public attention on those buildings has helped save them, said Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago. While state government, private developers and Google cooperated to revive the Thompson Center, the fate of the State Street buildings remains uncertain. Their owner, the federal government, opted last year to preserve them but it’s unknown if President Donald Trump’s administration will follow through.
Asked if he’s worried that Trump might let the towers be wrecked, Miller said, “I think we should take this one step at a time. Right now, the determination is that these buildings should be reused.”
Other preservation victories included revivals of the old Cook County Hospital and the Ramova Theatre.
Meanwhile, the 2025 Chicago 7 “spotlights buildings that we feel are in the crosshairs of demolition,” Miller said. “We shouldn’t be squandering these wonderful buildings.”
Here are the group’s new priorities.
Delaware Building, 36 W. Randolph St.
What it is: One of the earliest Loop buildings to go up after the 1871 fire, its Italianate design is a rare survivor of that period. The eight-story office building is an official Chicago landmark, attributed to the architectural firm Wheelock & Thomas, with an 1889 addition by Julius Huber.
Why endangered: Landlord Steven DeGraff wants to convert it to residential use but told the Sun-Times in a 2023 article that he’s been stymied by McDonald’s. The fast food giant closed a restaurant on the first two floors but has kept a long-term lease on the space. The company’s cooperation is needed to take space for any renovation. DeGraff said then, “Their attitude is, ‘Buy me out.’” McDonald’s did not respond to a request for comment.
The empty lower levels are “looking forlorn,” Preservation Chicago said. But the building is on a busy corner near the Daley Center and the James M. Nederlander Theatre. The group said it has potential for adaptive reuse.
Clarence Darrow Memorial Bridge, 1766 Columbia Drive
What it is: A bridge over the Jackson Park lagoon built in 1880. A remnant of Frederick Law Olmsted’s original park design, it was produced by the famed Chicago firm Burnham and Root. The city renamed it for Clarence Darrow in 1957 because he lived near the bridge and used it frequently. The attorney, famous for his oratory and for championing unpopular causes, is said to have lingered at the bridge to think things over.
Why endangered: “The bridge has been sealed off for more than a decade,” Miller said. “Trees and weeds are growing out of the pavement.” Preservation Chicago and the Clarence Darrow Bridge Coalition have urged the city to restore it while preserving historic elements, such as its iron railings.
J.J. Walser House, 42 N. Central Ave.
What it is: A 1903 home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It’s his only building on the city’s West Side and an example of how he adapted his Prairie School design to produce a more affordable house. The Chicago landmark is one of five of Wright’s Prairie School works in the city.
Why endangered: Preservation Chicago said it has been vacant and unmaintained for six years, with ownership in legal limbo. “Despite admirable temporary enclosure efforts and the clearance of overgrown vegetation by advocacy partners, the entirety of the house requires immediate evaluation and repair,” the group said.
Olivet Baptist Church, 3101 S. King Drive
What it is: The oldest extant African American Baptist Church in Chicago. It dates from 1876 and is the work of the firm Wilcox and Miller. The church helped Black people settle in Chicago during the Great Migration from the South and was involved in the civil rights movement.
Why endangered: Its congregation has dwindled and parts of the building are closed, although the church continues to hold services there. Preservation Chicago said there are condition issues throughout the building. It said national funding sources could be tapped to improve a vacant school wing and build on an underused parking lot.
Central Manufacturing District Clock Tower, 2000 W. Pershing Road
What it is: An 11-story tower that concealed a water tank for the adjoining factory complex; the work of Samuel Scott Joy was completed in 1917. It had ornate clocks on each façade.
Why endangered: It has been completely, or mostly, vacant for years. Scaffolds and netting protect pedestrians from falling masonry or terra cotta. The owner, Imperial Realty, has listed it and adjacent warehouses for sale, potentially for multifamily development.
Western Boulevard industrial buildings, 4200 to 4500 S. Western Boulevard
What it is: Eight buildings more than a century old that are on the east side of part of Chicago’s park boulevard system. Generally two to four stories and with red brick walls, the buildings were designed to circulate fresh air onto the factory floors. Some design elements reflect fire suppression concerns of the time. Several have historic signage for original or later occupants such as United Autographic Register, Inland Steel Products and O-Cedar.
Why endangered: Today’s industrial users prefer modern buildings and different floor layouts. The present buildings show signs of neglect but retain most original features. Tax credits could be used to fund historic renovations for industrial or other uses.
St. Martin’s Church, 5848 S. Princeton Ave.
What it is: A church that opened in 1895 to serve Germans who settled in Englewood. It later was used for an African American Catholic congregation. It’s the work of Chicago architect Henry Schlacks. The church dominates blocks of mostly two-story frame homes, its steeple overlooking the Dan Ryan Expressway.
Why threatened: It has been vacant since 2017. Windows are damaged and walls marred with graffiti. “Without intervention, this grand structure will continue to steadily decline,” Preservation Chicago reported. It said that if it’s no longer suitable as worship space, it could be adapted for other uses.