Thursday, November 10, 2005
Chicago Tribune
by Mickey Ciokajlo

Cook County commissioners Wednesday took a significant step toward saving the old County Hospital from the wrecking ball.

Commissioners unanimously approved a compromise that will allow the county to move forward with some changes to its hospital campus while leaving the old main structure standing for now.

Commissioner Larry Suffredin, who crafted the compromise, said he believes the move will make it more difficult for the county to demolish the 91-year-old building on Chicago's West Side at a later date.

In part, that's because money would be spent on demolition of four wings that extend from the building's south side, but the main structure that faces the Eisenhower Expressway would remain intact.

"That really takes the pressure off the situation," said Michael Moran, a preservation activist who has pushed to save the building. "We recognize that the parking garage has to be built."

Under the compromise, the county would seek bids for demolition of the wings as well as the old children's hospital and two electrical power structures, making room for the expansion of the garage.

All of the work that commissioners agreed to Wednesday had been expected to proceed after the new Stroger Hospital opened in December 2002.

Plans originally also called for tearing down the old hospital. But preservationists objected, and Board President John Stroger in 2003 failed to corral the necessary votes to proceed with demolition.

The sides remained at a stalemate while the board commissioned a $1.4 million study of the campus, which last month concluded, among other things, that the old hospital should be torn down.

Stroger on Wednesday reiterated his position that the building should go. Ho wever, he supported the compromise, saying it would be "ludicrous" for the entire campus plan to remain stagnant while he was deadlocked with the board over demolition.

"Right now, I am prepared only to support the proposal that was entered into," Stroger said.

Suffredin said he was extremely optimistic that the old hospital would now be saved.

Commissioner Tony Peraica said that although it's not a done deal, the preservation of the hospital is coming "in small bite-size pieces."

Commissioners deferred to a later date action on other recommendations made in the consultant's report, such as the need for more hospital beds, offices and pharmacy space.

The report outlined $791 million in projects, including the construction of 176 more beds at the hospital even though the facility averages more than 100 empty beds a day.