Live reporting by
Chris OHara
The Damen Silos are being demolished and it's more complicated than you might think. Heres what happened at a packed community meeting about the process.
The meeting was set to begin at 6pm, it has not started officially yet. There at least 35 people so far Others in the building not yet seated
06:08 PM Jun 27, 2025 CDT
Meeting has just begun at 6:07pm. Alderman Ramirez staff, Bill Drew is making a Statement due to the alder not feeling well. There has been a printed statement that was available at a desk before entering.
There will also be public comment made available with a 90 second window.
This is a complex demolition meeting. Oversight plans, contractor presentation then followed by the public comment period.
The state of Illinois sold the land to a private developer and bypassed the City of Chicago is what is being shared. Chicago Dept of public health and Chicago department of Buildings has reviewed this plan.
Commissioner Hopkins is now speaking. The structure was built in 1906. The last 48 years has had a lack of maintenance which lead to detoriation of structures
Timeframe of the demolition can take up to 6 months, weather dependent. There are 5 structures all together.
The demolition is more complicated due to the proximity of how close it is to the river.
There are some pictures being shared with the cracks in the buildings which are unsound
Dust is the biggest concern regarding the biggest environmental and community health concerns.
It's also a concern that any dust or debris would be their biggest concern of impacting the river in any way.
Asbestos needs to be removed first which has been completed per Dr Ige
Four portable air monitoring system which tracks every 15 minutes to see what gets in the air.
There is a point that certain thresholds should not be broken. Third party consultant will be in charge of monitoring per Dr Ige
Army Corp of engineers has recommended the use of water to trap the dust is controlled. Most is to weigh down the dust per Dr Ige.
Dept of Building and dept of health inspectors will be there before, during, and after to mange anything unexpected.
Most of the dust control and debris control will be done methodically by height.
The air monitoring air safety is paramount. Each structure will have its own monitoring. One device will be upwind and one is downwind.
Elimination of dust at source is the plan for containment. Water truck equipped with a water Canon will be there.
First speaker is now talking about a concert venue with park options which they are optimistic will be public park land
2nd speaker is now talking about this site not being abandoned which is already apart of the City skyline which could be converted as has happened in Buffalo NY to businesses for tourists and was given extra time
Tony Adams is the third speaker. He is talking about history just being torn down and brought a question about public department workers time going into this work.
Work during business hours Chicago will cover their workers and after will be billed to the developer
The next speaker is now mentioned the disaster of the implosion 5 years ago during the pandemic. He asked Commissioner Hopkins what lessons have been learned
Commissioner Hopkins mentioned the roles and She is talking about Hilco process. The complex demolition process was not on place at that time
Pilsen Environmental rights is now being represented by the speaker. Precautions for health after demolition is being asked and who would be responsible. Planning of planning and development was named for after care
Dust leaving the premise to a nearby park is now being addressed by Dr Ige. The plan and monitors are being discussed again.
Axis environmental is the third party monitoring group which was asked by the speaker.
Will the barges be moved in a timely manner. The panel said as soon as possible and cleaned immediately
The attorney for the client is here but didn't speak until the next speaker asked directly.
Why the demolition permit is okay when the state sold the land and not the City. Why now is the first time the public has had a chance to speak is being stated.
The next speaker is now talking about failure of imagination and the illusion of public input
What can be done to include a more democratic process is now what Dr Ige is now talking about. There has been no plan on what the site will be used for is what has been stated. Limitations of the process and review and limited to the permit
A community meeting will go to building and planning will then happen at a later time
The next speaker is talking about the public being ignored and about the Buyer having multiple violations in the past. The public all has ownership rights to the river and thanked the 12th ward alderman's objections
The next speaker is now talking about the Silos being an icon to the local residents. She is from McKinley Park and talked about saving some of the buildings.
McKinley Park community council has now been mentioned about community driven plans such as greenspace, cultural heritage, safe transportation. Asphalt pollution is now being said. 738 people signed a petition to make the sale to someone who cares
The next speaker is now speaking about distrust regarding who is tearing the silos down. Headaches and nausea, heart conditions and asthma have been mentioned due to community concerns
Air monitoring is every 15 mins and some messaging was every 10 mins. The speaker wants to know what to believe and talking about the community getting more information about the day the demolition will start
Dr Ige is now asking if all the documents can be made available and those aren't yet. The panel is now talking about the complex demolition website being where you can find out updates. No official website has been stated
Emails collected from the sign in sheet and newsletter was mentioned. I'm not sure of the panel means Chicago Dept of public health or not
The process of all debris and dust will be weighted down and a tarp being used to cover the debris on the way out.
It is now being stated that the City sending emails out is a burden that the buyer should be involved out for public mailings not the email process
Particles that is spread that water and everything being covered will also happen under close supervision
Fresh water lab from UIC researcher is now speaking about what the property may be owned but the water is owned by the public trust. Analysis before, during , and after the demolition and the water monitoring should be paid for by the owner
The next speaker is now talking about what the Silos means to him and his wife. He is mentioned public safety and public space especially since it's close to the river
A 12th ward resident named Kyle is now speaking about where are the trucks going and traffic congestion, environmental impact and of there is a disaster what the plan will be.
Dr Ige is now talking about monitoring, mitigation, dust control, and it's not an implosion. Mask prevention,times not going outside being mentioned.
The monitors aren't public reading and Chicago department of public health will look into what go off site.
The traffic footprint is now being discussed. Some debris would stay onsite and some would go down I 55.
This speaker now has sheets with him with a little imagination of what this site could be. Montgomery Ward name was mentioned. He can't understand why this structure can't be made into historical status for protection.
This speaker wants to know if there was any conversation on whether the City had any say on what the property could be. The panel is now saying that this is a permit process only and Damen Silos doesn't meet the standard
In Iowa there was buildings that we're protected is what the speaker said that are newer
This new speaker has now mentioned that the 90 second timer on the big tvs is extremely offensive to free speech. He is now talking about a rich person who tried to take over Lincoln park and now taking over this area
Alderman Byron Sicho Lopez is also in attendance and mentioned that this is not in his ward
This speaker is now mentioned there was no public auction. The attorney is the only representative of the owner.
Landmarks Illinois was mentioned by the next speaker who is mentioning that demolishment of these silos is a bad decision and the owner won't comment about the impending future of this site.
The last speaker nickname of Bobo and talking about solidarity of the people here and how unsafe this demolition could be. How will barges catch items? What penalties will the owner pay if there is unexpected pollution
This speaker wants to know what can be done to make sure an asphalt company will not open a violater for public health.
The panel is now talking about the danger of the Silos falling apart being a health issue and people going inside the site
The salt shed is now being talked about a sea wall falling into the river and a jet skier was hurt from the damage of this.
Now they are talking about pieces of the silos falling into the river and what the army corp of engineers would have to do to respond
Questions are now being asked regarding sea wall already collapsing and that barge will have issues getting to the site.
Illinois Beaver Alliance is now being mentioned by this speaker named Rachel and controlling the demo with water and rollout into the river
People are now wondering where the army corp of engineers is. The panel is saying they were made available last year and that Information could be shared later on
People in the seats are now asking questions regarding whether there are any cameras watching 24/7 to watch the process. It sounds like the answer is no.
The meeting has now ended at 745pm and the panel says they are available for questions
Thanks for everyone that cares about what impact this process is being presented to Chicago. Expect more from all your elected and appointed officials. Please have a good night. A report will also be made available through documenters.@CHIdocumenters ChrisOHara2020.