chinese pinyin yale literally virtue center known building located chicago designed architects building built opened association immigrant assistance center building informally referred city hall fbi raided building investigation federal government seized building year building purchased million renamed year designated chicago landmark commission chicago landmarks spent million raised community donations update building neglected interior newly named hosts religious community educational programs english second language courses won grant partners preservation program sponsored preparation restoration work structural architectural engineering firm completed evaluation building eastern southern focusing portions restoration work began spring scheduled completion early fully restoring building exterior pieces clay roof tiles step long range million repair plan history chinese businesses began relocating loop chicago south starting trend appealed deed holder attorney hire architect design building large house stores apartments office space block road built building design typical period featured white tile trim adorned chinese dragons floor balcony association relocated building floor 1920s chinese community leaders secured approximately year properties newly developing director association decided chinese style building constructed strong visual announcement chinese community new presence area chinese born architects chicago time chicago born norse architects asked design spring decided employ pair firm built studying texts chinese architecture final design example western architect interpretation chinese architectural forms good substitute found traditional chinese architecture designed exterior accents type produced illinois building plans announced chicago_tribune july building called expensive elaborate buildings erected america chinese construction began completed year later cost million building opened immigrant assistance center housed meeting halls school shrine association offices informally referred city hall offered reverend space building open chinese catholic school catholic grade school 1950s school remained building construction new devoted school building completed seizure sale mid-1960s prosecutors began claiming building national headquarters dollar operation april fbi chicago police investigators raided confiscated gambling casino hidden building second floor seized vault assistant attorney asserted association collected million illegal gambling profits building seized federal government months later federal statutes floor shops building sat years rooms upper floors fell disrepair paint faded ornamentation pieces floor unanimous voice vote city_council committee commission designated december landmark described chicago significant symbol cultural heritage chinese year bought building government million uses newly named host religious community educational programs family literacy classes music programs computer courses youth activities english second language courses center largest program recent chinese immigrants visit center assistance everyday needs serving approximately new immigrants annually center annual million operating budget partially funded state local government grants private donations renovation restoration purchasing building spent million raised community donations extensive alterations building interior suffered paint falling plaster poor lighting vault converted closet building heating water systems underwent major renovations replacement renovations completed opened building november november won grant partners preservation program sponsored spreading word mail facebook church building led week long online contest start ultimately received vote received votes historic chicago sites participating contest including unity temple preparation restoration work structural architectural engineering firm completed evaluation building eastern southern focusing portions testing engineers able evaluate state damaging pieces severely cracked damaged pieces partially removed report written findings report provided recommendations masonry facade repair work restoration work began spring scheduled completion early damaged elements replaced south tower erected building eastern facade preparation restoration work fully restoring building exterior pieces clay roof tiles step long range million repair plan
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