Losing Lawndale

A post by Charles Leeks on the demolition of the old Hebrew Rabbinical College in Lawndale. The heart of what was once the Jewish West Side of Chicago.

North Lawndale has one of the most undeniably exotic built environment of any of the city's neighborhoods. With such tremendous Jewish influence, synagogues populated the neighborhood the way that store front churches do currently. There were other significant structures as well, including the first large theaters to be developed in the city. An innovative market-building or creating design was unveiled in the neighborhood by Balaban and Katz. The Central Park and the Lawndale theaters are examples. Ultimately Balaban and Katz took their show on the road and influenced other Chicago movie palaces like the Chicago and the Uptown.

Some great pictures. Check him out.