Chicago's landmarks commission denies demolition permit for E2 nightclub building

CHICAGO - Despite emotional testimony from family members of the E2 nightclub tragedy, Chicago's Commission on Landmarks has denied a permit application to demolish the building on South Michigan Avenue, located in the city’s historic Motor Row District.

During a meeting on Thursday, plans for progress at the site officially hit a roadblock.  

The situation is complicated. What the owner wants to do—he needs approval for; however, because the building is in a historic district, he's limited to what he can do.

No matter what, families of the victims feel that a permanent monument or memorial for their loved ones is long overdue.

"I walk past that every day," one man said during the meeting. "Have you all walked through that area, have you all seen how many buildings, vacancies, lots, what are you going to replace it with?"

The building at 2347 S. Michigan Ave. originally helped usher in the era of the automobile, but it's been silent for more than 20 years. The darkness of a tragic night at the E2 nightclub remains front of mind for many.

"It should be replaced by something that’s going to revitalize the community,"  the community member added, also sharing that his sister was there that fateful night.

On February 17, 2003, a stampede at the club, which was located on the second floor of the building, took the lives of 21 people. It was caused when a security guard used pepper spray to break up a fight, but clubgoers feared it was a gas attack and panic set in.

Hundreds of people rushed toward the exit, but fell down the steep, narrow staircase – landing on top of each other. At the time, the club should have been closed for building code violations.

Some of the victims' loved ones have been calling for the vacant building to come down ever since.

While the building itself does not carry landmark status, the Motor Row District that it’s located in does.

Earlier this year, building owner Randy Shifrin applied for a permit to tear it down. This, after he received a letter from the Department of Buildings deeming the structure unsafe.

"He would ideally like to make affordable housing for people and to have a memorial on each of the floors for each of the victims lost in this tragedy," said Howard Brookins Jr., Shifrin’s attorney.

However, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, which falls under the Department of Planning and Development, has officially brought any demolition plans to a halt.

Brookins Jr. feels he and his client are getting mixed messaging from the city.

"They're asking that we be fined up to $2,000 every day that the building stays in the condition that it's in, but they won't give us a permit to knock the building down to abate any of the fines," said Brookins Jr. "We cannot be the referees for the city in an internal fight. Either we're going to knock it down or we're not going to knock it down, but you are hazing us, and my client is out of a lot of money at this particular time."

The Richard H. Driehaus Executive Director of Preservation Chicago, Ward Miller, says the building offers a significant contribution to one of the largest, intact 20th century automobile rows in existence. He adds that he hopes to see all parties come to a resolution.

"We do believe that we should collectively all work together to come to some sort of resolution, as to how we demarcate this terrible tragedy, so that this never happens again," said Ward. "But if we demolish the building, we not only lose a component of this Motor Row District—that's the best of the best in the nation—but we also lose a touchstone to this really terrible tragedy."

Miller adds that it's possible the owner might be able to change the back of the structure—as long as he maintains the facade and roofline. That, of course, would need approval, though.