The owner of the historic Damen Silos on Chicago’s West Side is closer to demolishing the former grain storage structures, pending final approval from city officials. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted permission on Monday to Michael Tadin Jr., whose family business purchased the property from the state two years ago. The Corps’ involvement stems from the silos’ proximity to the Chicago River.
Under a memorandum of agreement with the Army Corps and Illinois Historic Preservation officials, Tadin can demolish the silos provided he installs historic markers incorporating salvaged materials. Preservationists had fought to save the structures, viewing them as a significant symbol of the city’s agricultural past. The silos and surrounding buildings have been vacant for decades, although they featured in the 2014 film “Transformers: Age of Extinction.”
Tadin, who acquired the 23-acre property for $6.5 million, stated on Tuesday that he hasn’t yet decided on the land’s future use. He separately owns MAT Asphalt but has indicated no plans for another asphalt plant on the Damen Silos site.
Before demolition can begin, Tadin requires further clearances from city agencies, including the Department of Buildings and the Department of Public Health. The city classifies the demolition as “environmentally complex” due to its scale, a designation implemented following the 2020 Crawford coal plant implosion incident in Little Village.
The timeline for demolition remains uncertain. A city spokeswoman stated that “other permits are still outstanding from the city before demolition can proceed,” adding that “specific timing is not yet known.”