The Wm. J. Cassidy Tire Building was a building at 344 N. Canal Street, Chicago, Illinois. Designed by Henry J. Schlacks and constructed in 1902, it originally served as a factory and warehouse for the Tyler & Hippach Mirror Co.[4][3][5]
The site was purchased for redevelopment in February 2022, with demolition commencing shortly afterward. Plans are to build an apartment tower on the site.[6][7]
History
The Tyler & Hippach Mirror Co. building being moved
The building originally stood at 117–125 N. Clinton Street.[3] In 1907, it was sold to the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad.[8][1] In 1908, the building was moved 52 feet south and 168 feet east to its current location,[a] in order to make way for the construction of the new Chicago and North Western Terminal, at a cost of $50,000.[4][3][11][12] The William Grace Company was contracted to perform the move, and hired Chicago engineer Harvey Sheeler, who had successfully moved several large buildings previously.[4][3][11] At the time, this was the largest building ever moved.[3]
In 1929, the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad began leasing the building to Producers Warehouse.[2] In 1947, the building was sold to the owner of Producers Warehouse for $75,000.[2] William J. Cassidy Tire & Auto Supply Co. purchased the building for $250,000 in 1970, and it became the headquarters of Cassidy Tire.[13][14]
In 2019, The Habitat Company signed a contract to purchase the property, and intends to demolish the building and build a 33 story apartment building on the site.[3][5][15] However, Preservation Chicago fought to have the building designated a Chicago Landmark and preserved as part of the residential development planned for the site.[3][4] In February 2021, Preservation Chicago listed the Wm. J. Cassidy Tire Building as one of Chicago's most endangered buildings.[16][17]
