British owner won't let city take over Chicago post office

CHICAGO (AP) - A project manager for the British developer who owns the massive Old Main Post Office in Chicago says he won't just let the city take over the vacant and deteriorating structure.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has said the city is seeking to take control of the 11-acre site from developer Bill Davies through eminent domain. Emanuel said the city will ask for bids to redevelop what he called "one of Chicago's iconic structures."

But Davies' project manager Martin Mulryan told the Chicago Sun-Times (http://bit.ly/20T1LMb ) that Davies isn't "going to say to the city, 'Come along and take the building if you like.' "

The post office closed in 1995. Davies's company bought it for $17 million in 2009. It has planned a retail, residential and entertainment center. But the city says no work was ever completed.

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Information from: Chicago Sun-Times, http://chicago.suntimes.com/