The Book Tower Restoration Project

[Burnsie]

As you move down Washington Blvd. on Google maps... just before it shows as razed... there is this final image of it....

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3321...7i16384!8i8192

Anybody know the history of this building or its' former age? It almost looks like it may have been a historic building that once had a facade-ectomy, and could once have had a cornice, or something like that. It is ugly upon closer inspection.

It opened on 10/23/1919 as the new home of Finsterwald's Furniture, which moved from Randolph & Monroe. At some point it became the Lippman Building.

Facadectomy was performed in early 1964 when it became the Gateway Center Building. Tenants such as Alitalia Italian Airlines, Eastern Airlines, Avis Car Rental and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines moved in. Later in 1964 the building was expanded, extending its Michigan Ave. frontage by about 60 feet.

Rendering from 9/21/1919 Free Press: