Skokie Patch's Biggest Stories of 2012

Perhaps the most recognizable building in Lincolnwood is also the village's biggest headache.

The infamous Purple Hotel can be remembered for a variety of historical events, but before we get to any of that, we wanted to share why this was the second most popular story on Skokie Patch for 2012.

What does the Purple Hotel look like inside today?

That question was answered as Skokie Patch featured 41 pictures from the building's interior. Some were just plain eerie. Others, showed a glimpse of what used to be the place to be seen.

History -

There's the unsolved murder of convicted mobster Allen Dorfman, who was gunned down in the hotel's parking lot in 1983.

Almost two decades later, Stuart Levine testified to the drug-fueled parties in the corruption trials of Tony Rezko and William Cellini. Levine told reporters that he snorted "10 lines of a potent mix of drugs" during a single sitting while at the hotel.

Despite all the high-profile history, the Purple Hotel also had its bright side.

The building at 4500 Touhy Ave. was built in 1953, and was originally called the Lincolnwood Hyatt House. Since then its changed hands a variety of times, becoming a Radisson and even a Ramada.

But everyone knew it as the Purple Hotel, and for several decades it was the place to be seen and heard. Extravagant weddings and fancy dinner parties were nothing unusual. The hotel even featured live music for its patrons as they dined in the Great Lakes Ballroom.

Current standing -

New owner of the Purple Hotel, Jake Weiss - or North Capital Group, LLC - won a crucial vote at a Dec. 18 Lincolnwood board meeting.

Weiss was facing two possible outcomes: The Purple Hotel would either get a two month extension for sharing their development plans or trustees would choose to demolish the iconic eyesore at 4500 W. Touhy Ave.

Fortunately, for Weiss, the board voted 4-1 in his favor. Now, North Capital will have their development deadline pushed back to Feb. 28 from Dec. 31.

Village manager Timothy Wiberg said the board meeting was a “temperature taking test,” according Chicago Real Estate Daily.

Weiss has told Skokie Patch in the past that he wants to have retail, banquet space and restaurants, among other things with the redevelopment.

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