A West Loop warehouse is one step closer to getting historical landmark status. The groundbreaking nightclub ‘The Warehouse’ was sold in December 2022, with current owners saying they aren’t demolishing the space and want to keep the office buildings that eventually took the nightclub’s place.
A preservation society has been working to grant the space landmark status, and now that the Commission on Chicago Landmarks has approved a preliminary landmark recommendation, it seems as though the fervent petition that swept the Chicago music scene has made an impact.
The Warehouse is where DJ and producer Frankie Knuckles is first credited with creating the popular House music genre. Located at 206 S. Jefferson, the building has been around since 1910 and became home to a popular dance club from 1977 to 1982.
The Warehouse holds cultural significance to Chicago’s LGBTQ, Black, and Latino communities, being a place that broke barriers for marginalized communities, and brought people together.
Now that the preliminary status is approved, and the Commission on Chicago Landmarks agreed that the building meets multiple criteria like Criterion 1 (agreeing on its value as an example of architectural, cultural, economic, historical, or social heritage) the next move would be to make this declaration permanent.
The City of Chicago’s Landmark Commission’s Program Committee first received the suggestion back in January and moving forward says that the advisory can lead to a more formal designation. With the preliminary status approved, and the fact that the building meets Criterion 1 and Criterion 3 (identifying with a significant person, Franke Knuckles) and the Integrity Criterion (original design materials are still intact from The Warehouse).
Chicago has always been a pioneer of the music scene and has pushed for full historical landmark status with a change.org petition that notes “The Warehouse should be protected as a symbol of the rich history of Chicago’s gay and Black communities, the incredible story of house music, and the groundbreaking impact that DJ Frankie Knuckles had on the sound of modern music across the world.”
Granting a Chicago Landmark Designation would “fully protect the Warehouse against demolition and inappropriate alteration.”
The Warehouse is noted as the birthplace of modern House music and is where Knuckles started experimenting with mixing disco and European electronic tracks for the first time. Frankie Knuckles won a 1997 Grammy for Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical along with many additional awards and accolades. The House music pioneer passed away in 2014.
The petition states, “These walls have a story to tell. And we all should be able to experience first-hand that very place where DJ Frankie Knuckles created house music and changed the world.”
While they can’t confirm anything as of now, the Landmark staff has approved a preliminary landmark recommendation which means that the building is tentatively saved from any teardown. The staff is working on a conclusive report and decisive vote before it goes on to City Hall.
For now, the designation still needs approvals from two places: the Committee on Zoning and the City Council. We will update you as more information becomes available.
Address: 206 S Jefferson St, Chicago, IL 60661