Uptown (Plymouth) Uptown Hotel, Broadway at Leland, Built in 1912

Uptown Hotel
Fireproof
4700 Broadway at Leland
Chicago Illinois
The Uptown Hotel's Location is Perfect Winter or Summer
Theatres, Beaches, Shops, Chicago's Best Transportation
Elevated Express, Street Cars, and Buses at Door. Metropolitan Bus Station in Hotel.
Weekly Rates $7.00 to $12.00
Courteous Service. 150 Large Rooms. Telphone LONgbeach 6400

The Plymouth Hotel, built in 1912, was one of the oldest buildings in Uptown when it was torn down in 2003 as part of a development project. Preservation groups tried to get the developer to incorporate the building into its plan, as it was structurally sound and, according to Landmarks Illinios, capable of being adaptively reused. Unfortunately the developer felt otherwise.

The Plymouth was designed by George Kingsley, best known for his Reebie Warehouse on North Clark. It was the favorite hotel of Essanay's silent film stars. In the lobby of the condo portion, visible from the western side on Racine, is a rather large fragment of the original terra cotta ornamentation. For photos of the Plymouth and its destruction, go to Landmarks Illinois.

Leland west from Hazel

Image courtesy John Chuckman.

Stella's Rancho Steaks 1116 Leland, Circa 1944

The back of the card reads:

STELLA'S RANCHO STEAKS
Chicago's Newest and Most Unique Steak House, Blending the rugged atmosphere of "Rancho" with Western Hospitality. Food Skillfully Prepared and Cheerfully Served by Our Cow Hands. Complete Dinners Daily 5 P.M.—2 A.M. Sunday from 3 P.M. Air Conditioned—Telephone: LONgbeach 7569

The address puts it in the recently rehabbed building at the northwest corner of Leland and Winthrop. While (unsuccessfully) searching for more information on this steak house, I did find mention of an earlier establishment in the same location. Something called The Golden Spot, with live entertainment, occupied it in the thirties.

It's too bad that the new rehab didn't include ground level retail and dining; instead, the developers chose to add street-level condos that, in my opinion, look a bit awkward for that building.

Leland Hotel, Leland at Racine

1201-1213 W. Leland Avenue, at Racine

The six-story Leland Hotel opened for business in 1927. It was designed by the firm Dubin & Eisenberg, who were also responsible for designing the beautiful synagogue for the Agudas Achim North Shore Congregation on Kenmore near Argyle. At the time, the Leland had 205 rooms with weekly rates of $15 per week. In the mid-1900s it was converted into apartments, and over the years fell into serious neglect and decay. By the end of the century, many units were completely uninhabitable and the Leland was at risk for demolition.

Heartland Housing purchased the building in 2000. Nearly $15 million was raised to restore the facade and renovate the interior, with funding coming from state and federal tax credits, grants, and TIF money. The renovation, completed by Joseph Freed and Associates, created 4000 square feet of commercial retail space and 137 units of affordable housing, including studios and one-bedroom apartments. Sixteen percent of the units are compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act. The Leland Apartments are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Malden and Leland, Uptown Chicago

I don't know much about this image. A friend sent it to me a while back, and it's been sitting on my hard drive. It shows Malden looking south from Leland.