Demolition of Chicago's E2 Nightclub Building Commences
In 2003, 21 people died and roughly 50 were injured at the venue. Now Chicago officials have deemed the site an "imminent danger to the public."
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Demolition has begun on the vacant E2 nightclub building, the site of a deadly stampede in 2003 that killed 21 people. The future of the building, located in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, has been the subject of debate for years.
In November, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks denied a request to demolish the 124-year-old structure, citing its historical significance as a former car dealership. However, CBS News reported that the Chicago Department of Buildings recently overruled that decision, issuing a emergency demolition order after an inspection on November 22nd determined the building posed a serious safety risk. According to the department, the building "constitutes an actual and imminent danger to the public." Demolition began on Tuesday, December 17th.
E2's owner, Randy Shifrin, had previously sought approval to tear down the 124-year-old building and replace it with a senior housing complex. At a hearing last month, relatives of the victims of the 2003 stampede, as well as local residents, shared their own ideas for the site's future, with some hoping to see a memorial to the tragedy built.
We'll continue reporting on this story as it unfolds.
Article Originally Found At: www.ra.co
