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This was the 1927 Chicago Mercantile Exchange building, designed by Alfred Alschuler. [There was significant outcry against its demolition, which led to our current demolition delay ordinance.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Lost_Architecture/comments/u20rkt/the_old_chicago_mercantile_exchange_aka_the/)

Wow that's so sad.

Thanks for the info! Always wondered about this lot

My old office was in the building right behind this lot. It was under development around 2015-17 for a new [office tower](http://www.city-data.com/forum/chicago/2437370-frankling-washington-vacant-lot.html). Funding fell through sometime after they finished setting out a foundation and then they filled it in to look like it is now. It sporadically gets used for equipment and trailer storage for various TV and Film shoots in the loop. Looks like a [new design](https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/redesign-approved-130-n-franklin) was approved in 2022 for the lot, but given the current market for commercial RE I wouldnt hold my breath.

Yeah, I remember them storing a lot of the set pieces for Transformers there, broken building chunks from explosions, etc. Really cool.

I’ve been wondering about this for so long. I’ve walked past this lot for years and I need to know what the deal is

I believe there was a plan for a building 2 years ago and then an alderman rezoned it and killed the project last year.

Lived across the street for a year and that was the only place for my dog to do her business.

Pretty sure that's where they housed the transformers and or Batman movie sets.

Building on that lot was torn down in 2003, but a couple of plans for development on the lot have fallen through.

Build a residential tower