Chicago’s Damen Silos, a long-derelict property on the south bank of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal between South Ashland and South Damen avenues, faces pending demolition by its owner Michael Tadin Jr. with the approval of a permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District, has completed its review of your pre-construction notification,” wrote Senior Project Manager Colin C. Smalley in the corps’ authorization letter. “Your proposed activity complies with the terms and conditions of the NWP [Nationwide Permit].”
“We will proceed with demolition in the near future, sometime in the early part of 2025,” Tadin said. “We look forward to transforming this property for its future use.”
Abandoned for Decades
The Damen Silos survey phase plan illustrates property layout and demolition elements.MAT Limited Partnership, owned by Tadin, purchased the site in 2022 by submitting a winning bid in an auction from the State of Illinois, which had been trying to sell the property for more than a decade prior. The property had been vacant for decades before that.
Demolition plans call for removal of all buildings on the property by vendor Heneghan Wrecking Inc. under permit conditions that include notification requirements and prohibition of letting any demolition materials enter the adjacent waterway – something not expected to happen, Smalley wrote.
Memorandum of Understanding
Rehabilitation of the property is also conducted under a December 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between MAT Limited Partnership, the Illinois State Historic Preservation Officer and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
The memorandum mandates special development requirements, including memorial markers detailing the history of the site, preservation of loading ramps, salvaging and recycling materials, and support for riverwalk planning.
Land Stewardship
"Since purchasing the Damen Silos property two years ago, we have been committed to receiving input from various stakeholders in the community,” Tadin said.
As reported here in the McKinley Park News, the City of Chicago deferred decision on a permit in October 2023 until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could weigh in. A meeting earlier this year on the silos demolition attracted dozens of commenters to the McKinley Park field house.
Riverwalk Planning
“We value being a good neighbor and steward of this land, and that diligence is reflected by this demolition permit approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” Tadin said.
As noted in the memorandum, a Planned Development for the site with approval from the City of Chicago must also integrate public-access riverwalk planning.
Tadin said no use for the property had yet been set. “At this point, we have no final plans for its development as we consider our options."
Ed. Note: MAT Limited Partnership owner Michael Tadin Jr. is a co-owner of MAT Asphalt, a Sponsor of the McKinley Park News. For information about our editorial and sponsorship operations and policies, see our About Us page and the Letter from the Editor "Building a Trustworthy News Business."
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