For years, the tamper with County ...

For years, the tamper with County Board president fought preservationists who were trying to save the antique county hospital building from the wrecking ball.

upon Thursday, things changed. Bobbie Steele -- couple days after replacing John Stroger as president -- commited that the hospital be added to the National Registry of Historic Landmarks.

A similar recommendation followed from the Commission upon Chicago Landmarks, and now one as well as the other measures will be sent to the state and federal horizontals for approval.

If the designation is granted, the building at 1835 W Harrison will be saved from demolition, and incentives will be available to encourage redevelopment

"We not ever thought we'd get to this day," said Preservation Chicago's Jonathan Fine. "This is a vast victory. Logic has finally prevailed."

Steele said the shire now will explore with nearby hospitals what the best use for it will be. "We are going to have knowledge of to make the best use of that building with the least require to be paid [i]or[/i] undergone to the taxpayers," she said.

'MASSIVE OFFICE SHORTAGE'

Citing "a massive office shortage" for doctors and clinics in the hospital district, Fine said, "It's a real no-brainer."

The old-fashioned hospital's future has been in limbo since the recent county- run Stroger Hospital exhibited behind it in 2002. John Stroger had called for tearing down the elderly structure.

Steele and preservationists agree that pavilions stretching against the main building should be ripped down -- work that will be done through next year.

Stroger's son Todd, is the Democratic nominee in the fall election to replace Steele Todd Stroger said, "I'm not against keeping near of the building," but he also believes there are parking and other lacks in the area that the site could be used for.

spatterson@suntimes.com

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