Judge orders demolition of Dexter Building

October 25, 2006 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A judge ordered the demolition of a historic Loop landmark building gutted by fire to keep it from collapsing onto streets and other buildings. Officials are not allowing people or CTA trains into the area directly surrounding 630 S. Wabash.

Firefighters continued to douse 'hot spots' leftover from Tuesday's extra-alarm fire more than 24 hours. The blaze destroyed the 119-year-old Dexter Building, a six-story brick building in the South Loop.

The owner of the building was rehabbing a staircase and crews were reportedly removing an old boiler, which may have sparked the blaze.

According to court records, the building violated some fire codes in 2004, which led to litigation against the owner. Those codes included the lack of a working sprinkler. The owner was told to have that installed by April of this year. However, it was not done so the owner was told to vacate the building.

The city is bringing in demolition crews to bring down the building, which is surrounded by other structures on all sides.

"The building's not structurally sound. The roof is in and all the floors have caved in so basically what we have is freestanding walls," Commissioner Raymond Orozco, Chicago Fire Department.

They are mostly concerned with the building's rear wall and water tower and, therefore, created a 'collapse zone' that prohibits foot and vehicle traffic around the building. The zone is bordered by Congress, 8th Street, State Street and Michigan Avenue.

"Our primary concern here is safety. Our primary concern here is for the safety of the firefighters operating on the scene and the safety of anyone who is around the building and especially for any riders on the CTA. We won't put anyone in peril at this station," said Orozco.

The Chicago Transit Authority suspended service indefinitely on a nearby elevated track that serves the Green and Orange line trains.

"We cannot operate trains on the 'El' structure near the fire," Ziegler said. "Safety is the number one concern until the fire is out and until it's deemed safe to travel through by train."

Ziegler said the CTA does not expect to resume service between Roosevelt and the Loop this week. Commuters have to transfer to the Red Line at the Roosevelt stop.

"I'm a little frustrated. I have to get up earlier to get to work. It takes me longer now," said Maria Duran, commuter.

Columbia College, which has two buildings -- that house classrooms, an art gallery, the mail room and the dean of students' offices-- across the street from the Dexter Building, canceled classes for the week on the North Campus. Classes will be held on the South Campus.

"I just commuted an hour and a half to get here. It is kind of disappointing, but it is all right," said Tyler Etters, Columbia College Student.

"We are hoping to get classes going tomorrow, but the smoke is really, really, really bad," Leventhal said. "I'm sitting in my office down the street and I can still smell it."

A residential building nearby was also evacuated on Tuesday. Residents have not been allowed to return home.

We'd like to take a shower, change clothes, but, hell, better safe than sorry," said Earl Griffin, resident.

The Dexter Building, designed by the storied architectural firm run by Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler, was constructed in 1887. The city designated it a landmark in 1996.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.

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