Workers have started demolishing three historic buildings along Sheffield Ave just north of Addison, including Cubs Rooftops building at 3631, the location of the annual reminder of the Chicago Cubs' dismal record:
One of the most iconic buildings in Wrigleyville is being torn down just weeks before Opening Day.
Demolition is underway at 3631 N. Sheffield Ave., one of three historic Wrigley Field rooftop buildings slated to be torn down and replaced with a 29-unit apartment building.
A contractor at the site said the demolition, which began earlier this month, is expected to take up to another week to complete.
Longtime Chicago Cubs fans will recognize the trio of properties at 3627, 3631 and 3633 N. Sheffield Ave. as having housed the famous Torco billboard on its roof and as well as the property that became famous for its “Eamus Catuli” sign — loosely translated from Latin as “Let’s go Cubs.”
The owners of the three buildings spent a lot of money to build those grandstands, plus all the back-and-forth with the Cubs over revenue sharing. I expect the new building will have seating too. But unless incentives have suddenly changed in the real-estate industry, it won't have the charm of these old 3-flats:
And let's not forget, the Anno Catuli sign once looked like this:
Let's see what the developers put up, and if they bring the sign back. History deserves better.