early 20th century water tank plucked off goldblatt building to make way for replica in 2018

like new york city, chicago's landscape is riddled with rooftop wooden water towers, often abandoned due to impracticality. in the early to mid-twentieth century, major cities often passed ordinances that required buildings of 6 or more stories to be equipped with towers as a cost effective method of maintaining a high pressure system. barrel makers were routinely hired to construct the towers, with wooden walls held together by steel cables. sealants were never used, and instead the wood would swell from water saturation to naturally close any gaps. the cost to have these tanks removed or disassembled is largely prohibitive.

despite these common cost set-backs, in recent news, the original wood water tank was removed from the landmarked goldblatt building (constructed between 1921-1928) to make way for a "replica" slated for installation in 2018.

the historic goldblatt brothers department store was a collection of four separate but interconnected buildings constructed in the 1920's in a largely polish neighborhood of chicago (now known as west town). the three-story brick building was designed by alfred alshuler, as well as the five-story ornate white terra cotta addtition, with broad green metal-framed "chicago style" window frontage. founded in 1914 by polish immigrant brothers, nate and maurice goldblatt started the chain of discount stores that would occupy this building as well as expand throughout the greater midwest. the company survived the great depression, and soon purchased several smaller department stores. by 1946, goldblatt's was operating 15 stores with 2,500 employees and $62 million in annual sales. the mid-1960's initiated the business' downfall, however, with retailers like kmart and sears undercutting goldblatt's market. their operations peaked in the 1970's with 47 stores nationwide, but ultimately they could not compete with rival discount chains. goldblatt's declared bankruptcy in 1981 (closing for good around 2003). the building almost met its demise in 1997, when, after standing vacant for years, delray farms co. prepared to demolish the structure to make way for a grocery store and parking lot. community opposition managed to spare it from demolition, and the building --though dilapidated -- was instead preserved as a chicago landmark. in 2010 goldblatt's flagship store at 1613-35 w. chicago avenue was sold to the city of chicago as a public library location (housing city of chicago department offices and west town satellite center on upper floors).

the water tower was apparently removed at a cost of $135,000 as a preventative measure against damage accrued over several winters. this costly endeavor draws a precedent in a 2013 case in which a similar wooden water tower atop the chicago landmark lakeview building fell to the ground and injured several people. compounding concerns over the tower, a number of residents are apparently worried about the scaffolding that has surrounded the building for the past two years. the facade, windows and terra cotta are badly in need of repair, and the water tower removal perhaps signals the extent to which structural failures are waiting to be addressed in the absence of funding.