Chicago sells old firehouse

From firefighters to filmmakers — the abandoned city-owned firehouse at 5714 N. Ridge Ave., a Chicago Landmark built in 1928 and adorned with terra cotta, is now being considered for sale to the Andersonville-based nonprofit Chicago Filmmakers under a newly announced initiative from the city.

The city selected Chicago Filmmakers from a list of several arts and community groups to take over and restore the property. If approved by the Chicago Plan Commission and City Council, the building will be sold for just $36,000 — 10% of its market value — according to Chris Chang, a representative from the Department of Housing and Economic Development.

Despite its dilapidated condition, the former firehouse has been vacant since firefighters left in 2003. The filmmakers plan to invest $600,000 in renovations, which they believe will bring new life to the aging structure.

“This is a dream come true for us,” said Brenda Webb, executive director of Chicago Filmmakers, during a community meeting last week. “We are incredibly honored to have been chosen.”

Once completed, the space will host weekly screenings of independent films and documentaries — the kind not typically shown in mainstream theaters. In addition, the organization plans to collaborate with local schools, host two film festivals, and offer experimental and offbeat programming throughout the year.

Webb emphasized that the goal is to make the firehouse a valuable community resource. She added that if everything proceeds as planned, the sale should be finalized by spring, with construction beginning immediately after approval.

The renovation is expected to take between eight months and a year once the property is acquired. For years, the neighborhood has been waiting for a new tenant to take over the empty building, which has been exposed to the elements for over a decade.

The search for a new occupant started ten years ago, but it wasn’t until May that the city issued a request for proposals from interested organizations across the city.

An open house earlier this summer brought in representatives from a brew pub, theater groups, and even a nursery school, showing the community’s interest in the site.

Sue Morales, president of the local block club, expressed her support for the project, saying that the filmmakers' vision aligns well with the neighborhood’s needs.

If approved, the basement and first and second floors of the firehouse will undergo full renovations, according to James Gorski, the architect working with Chicago Filmmakers. The basement will mainly serve as storage, while the first floor’s truck bay will be converted into a screening room with up to 99 seats. The second floor will be used for film classes.

An elevator will also be installed, and the main entrance will be located off an alley, with a concession stand and bathroom just inside. The existing parking lot includes 15 spaces.

Ald. Harry Osterman (48th) noted that Chicago Filmmakers was one of two finalists, and the city chose them over a for-profit arts group, which was not named.

Webb, who has been involved with the organization since its founding in 1973, has long had her eye on the firehouse. When she first visited, the basement was flooded — a challenge she hopes to overcome with the upcoming renovations.

Thanks, Dan

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