Gapers Block has ceased publication.
Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
✶ Thank you for your readership and contributions. ✶
TODAY
Tuesday, January 14
To be Demolished
6625 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Chicago Historic Resources Survey: Not Included [?]
Year: 1963
Architect: Unlisted
Owner: New Beginnings Church of Chicago
Permit Description: Wreck and remove 2 story brick structure.
Status: Demolition permit issued 3/26/2012
Pastor Corey B. Brooks of the South Side New Life Church made a public plea to demolish this former Super Motel, vowing to remain on the roof until $450,000 could be raised for the demolition and site planning. The motel was part of a collection of modern motels on King, and was in operation until recently. It received a permit for renovation in 2008 and two more in 2007 but, as can be seen above, was all but abandoned before the church acquired the property.
The pastor rode the scissor lift to the sidewalk for the last time in February after raising the money from hundreds of small donors -- and large contributions from an anonymous benefactor and Tyler Perry.
Now that the building is demolished, the pastor is raising $15,000,000 for a new mixed-income, mixed-use "community center." He has currently raised just over $100,000.
Location of Series Buildings
About the series
Over the course of 2012 David Schalliol produced a photographic portrait of 100 of the hundreds of buildings threatened with demolition in the city of Chicago. Nearly all of the buildings have since been demolished. Visit the background information section for more information about the project, including definitions and links to other building resources.
The series is supported by a generous grant from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.
All Buildings in the Series
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