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THE BIOGRAPHY OF CHICAGOS MARINA CITY
Written by Steven Dahlman
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Moving Day The first tenants were expected to move in on Sunday morning, October 14, 1962. Marina City was most definitely still under construction. There was a large construction crane on top of the east tower. But the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd floors were finished.
Daniel Aguilar, age 28, and his wife, Jo Ann, age 26, had rented apartment 2135 in the east tower. Daniel was a credit manager and also managed a Flamenco dance team. He thought they would be the first tenants to move in, arriving before noon. Unfortunately for the Aguilars place in Marina City history, their next-door neighbor got there first. Charles Swibel, president of the property management company, gave the first key to Louise Hance, a secretary for the partnership bank Brown Brothers Harriman & Company. When the Aguilars finally showed, Louise was watching the east tower construction crane lift furniture to her balcony, from which it was then moved inside the apartment. They greeted each other over their balcony railings, and then had coffee later. Over on the west tower, tenants started moving in on January 12, 1963. At that time, 729 total apartments were rented although only 100 all in the east tower were actually occupied. Charles Swibel expected all 896 apartments to be rented by April. He said on January 11 that there were more applications and $50 deposits than available apartments.
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| Last updated 16-Jan-11 |
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