McCormick Building

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McCormick Building, The Residences at 330 S Michigan
Life Span: 1910-Present
Location: 332 S. Michigan Ave.
Architect: Holabird & Roche

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1911

McCormick Building.

Chicago Tribune, February 20, 1909

New McCormick Building Planned.
The McCormick building is to be the name of the new twenty-two story building which R. Hall McCormick is to build on the site of the Victoria hotel at the northwest corner of Michigan avenue and Van Buren street. Mr. McCormick announced yesterday that all the arrangements in connection with the construction of the building have been completed and that it was planned to have it completed by May 1, 1910.

It will be an office building. with stores on the ground floor, will be twenty stories above ground and two below. and will cost $1,500,000. The contract has been let to the George A. Fuller company and the plans were prepared by Holabird & Roche. It will have a granite base extending up three stories, with long grayish colored bricks above, with interior finish of marble and mahogany.

The entrance, twenty feet wide, will be at the north end of the building, while the Spaulding Jewelry company will occupy the store at the corner of Van Buren street, 60x 171 feet, under a lease running fifteen years. There will be a twenty foot store to the north of this.

The work of wrecking the Victoria will begin May 1. Originally this was an apartment building and one of the most exclusive in Chicago. During world’s fair time it was converted into a hotel. The McCormicke paid $400,000 for the property, and it is said Mr. McCormick has refused an offer of $75,000 annual ground rent for a lease of ninety-nine years. This is 4 per cent on $1,875,000.

Chicago Tribune, February 23, 1909>

McCormick Building to be Ready for Occupancy About April 1, 1910.
The McCormick Building which is reproduced herewith, will occupy the groun
at the northwest corner of Michigan avenue and Van Buren street, where the
Victoria hotel now stands. It will be ready for occupancy, it is expected by the contractors, George A. Fuller & Co., about April 1, 1910. The building which will be the property of R. Hall McCormick, was designed by Holabird & Roche.

Chicago Tribune, July 31, 1910

MICHIGAN BOULEVARD-The estate of Leander J. McCormick, represented by R. Hall McCormick, trustee, purchased the land and bullding at 189 to 192 from S. Karpen & Bros. for $1,148,000, and will erect at that place a twenty-two story addition to the handsome store and office building which the estate has just completed at the northwest corner of Van Buren street, making an investment in land and bulla-Ing of practically $2,500,000. This transaction, which is the most important of the year in Chicago real estate, was negotiated by Albert La Strauss.

The property purchased has a frontage of 82 feet on Michigan boulevard and a depth of 171 feet. It is improved with a six story brick and stone building erected many years ago by the late John W. Masury, having been purchased from the estate of the latter by S. Karpen & Bros, in 1903 for $450,000. It will thus be seen that this transaction nets the sellers a profit of $688,000 in seven years. The board of review valued the property at $624,450, of which $52,500 is in the building. The value of the building was not taken into consideration in the transaction just elapsed, and the sale, it will be seen, is therefore on the basis of $14,000 a front foot and $81.88 a square foot.

Chicago Club

The purchase is the result of the satisfactory outcome of the construction of the McCormick building at the northwest corner of Michigan boulevard and Van Buren street, which the property just purchased adjoins on the north, the building on the corner being twenty-two stories high with a frontage of 101 feet on the boulevard and 171 feet in Van Buren street. When the addition is completed the McCormick building will have a total frontage of 183 feet on Michigan boulevard.

The new building will correspond both in beauty of exterior and finish of the interior to the present structure, and it is the intention of Mr. McCormick to have a light court in the new structure, together with that provided in the present building of probably 90×110 feet, making the offices in the rear unusually attractive, particularly in respect to light and quiet. In so far as the operation of the building is concerned, it will be possible to operate the new structure from the present elevator and heating and lighting plant, and the saving in this direction will amount to a considerable return upon the investment.

The property just purchased adjoining on the south 187 and 188, 58×171 feet, belonging to S. Karpen & Bros., who now occupy it with their furniture showrooms but on May 1 next will move to their new ware-rooms at the southwest corner of Michigan boulevard and Eldridge court.

1922 Chicago Central Business and Office Difrectory

McCORMICK BUILDING, 332 S. Michigan Ave.
The McCormick Building is situated at the northwest corner of Michigan avenue and Van Buren street. Twenty stories in height. One of the most ideal locations in Chicago for an office building, overlooking the boulevard and Lake Michigan, insuring excellent light and ventilation, without the usual street and traffic noise and dust. The modern and up-to-date equipment of the building is a guarantee of superior service and the greater comfort and convenience of the tenants of the building. The interior finish of the building is marble and mahogany. The elevator service is ample. The tenant roll comprises many of the leading railway supply, coal and lumber arms in the country. For further information inquire at office of the building.

Chicago Tribune, April 12, 1942

Entire Floor in McCormick Building Leased by Army
Robert H. McCormick, manager of the estate of Leander J. McCormick, announced yesterday that 20,000 square feet of space an entire floor—in the McCormick building at 332 South Michigan avenue has been leased to the United States army engineers office. Occupancy is to begin May 1. Kenyon B Segner handled the transaction.

Chicago Tribune, September 12, 1997

McCormick Building to have homes
Metropolitan Properties of Chicago said it plans to convert the top six floors of the 20-story McCormick Building at 330 S. Michigan Ave. to 78 for-sale residences. The rest of the 1910-vintage building will continue to be used for offices.

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