Preservation News Roundup: January 2021

Preservation projects in Chicago, Millstadt, Robbins and Yorkville receive Landmarks Illinois grants

Landmarks Illinois has awarded a total of $15,000 to six historic preservation projects statewide through the organization’s three grant programs: the Preservation Heritage Fund, the Barbara C. and Thomas E. Donnelley II Preservation Fund for Illinois and Landmarks Illinois’ newest grant program, the Timuel D. Black, Jr. Grant Fund for Chicago’s South Side. The individual matching grants range between $1,000 and $5,000 each and will be used toward preserving historic and significant places in communities throughout Illinois. Learn about the grant recipients below.

PRESERVATION HERITAGE FUND GRANT RECIPIENTS:

• Bronzeville Community Development Partnership, Chicago
• Friends of the Old Millstadt Water Tower, Millstadt
• Robbins Historical Society, Robbins
• Kendall County Historical Society, Yorkville

READ MORE ABOUT EACH GRANT PROJECT

BARBARA C. AND THOMAS E. DONNELLEY II PRESERVATION FUND FOR ILLINOIS GRANT RECIPIENT:

• House of Prayer, Chicago READ MORE ABOUT THIS GRANT PROJECT

TIMUEL D. BLACK, JR. GRANT FUND FOR CHICAGO’S SOUTH SIDE GRANT RECIPIENT:

• Greenstone United Methodist Church, Chicago READ MORE ABOUT THIS GRANT PROJECT

 

(Pictured: Central Park Theater, home to House of Prayer. Credit: Tom Harris)

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Landmarks Illinois helps residents in Arcola fight to save historic building slated for demolition

Landmarks Illinois is assisting local advocates in Arcola to encourage city officials to reconsider a preservation solution for a historic building on Main Street slated for demolition.

In January, the Arcola City Council voted to demolish the Metropolitan Block, an 1872 building that fronts an entire block of Main Street after a wall collapsed in 2018. Last year, a local developer secured financing – $300,000, which included $115,000 in TIF funding from the city – to make the necessary repairs to the historic building. As that deal was being finalized, another wall section collapsed and the city decided to instead pursue $95,000 in acquisition and $179,700 in demolition costs.

Landmarks Illinois believes preservation of the building remains financially viable. In addition, Landmarks Illinois notified city officials that the $179,700 TIF expenditure for demolition would be in violation of the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act, a state law that prohibits TIF funds for demolition of buildings listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The Metropolitan Block was determined eligible in 2020.

Read more in the news

Efforts continue to save Colonel Wolfe School at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Landmarks Illinois is advocating alongside local residents in Urbana-Champaign to push for preservation of the historic Colonel Wolfe School. In November last year, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) listed the Colonel Wolfe School for sale. Built in 1905, the now-vacant school is the work of architect Walter Thomas Bailey, the first licensed Black architect in Illinois. UIUC accepted proposals for the purchase of the school for only one month. Despite the short timeline, Landmarks Illinois marketed the building and succeeded in generating proposals from experienced developers, which UIUC is currently reviewing. The school could decide to proceed with demolition, rather than a sale of the building, however.

Landmarks Illinois is asking for your support in helping to advocate for this historic school. Please contact the UIUC Chancellor’s office at chancellor@illinois.edu in support of the sale and reuse of the Colonel Wolfe School.

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Chicago Residents: Please voice your support for landmark designation of two historic properties

The Commission on Chicago Landmarks meets next Thursday, February 4, to consider final landmark recommendation to the Chicago City Council for the Miracle House in Galewood (pictured) and preliminary landmark recommendation of the Pentecostal Church of Holiness in North Lawndale. Landmarks Illinois is asking Chicago residents to send in an email of support for landmarking these properties to CCL@cityofchicago.org and address it to Chair Ernie Wong.

The Miracle House was constructed in 1954, designed by Belli & Belli and built as a grand prize for a raffle sponsored by the St. William Catholic parish on the city’s Northwest Side. At the time, the church was fundraising to construct a new church and school campus, also designed by Belli & Belli. Landmarks Illinois assisted in the preparation of a Chicago Landmark designation report.

The Pentecostal Church of Holiness was constructed in 1931 by renowned architect Louis Guenzel. Landmarks Illinois awarded the congregation a Preservation Heritage Fund Grant in 2020 to help make priority repairs as part of its overall restoration of the entire church campus to reflect the original design. Landmarks Illinois continues to provide technical assistance to the congregation on repair needs and fundraising.

Click below to learn more about the upcoming CCL meeting and how to contact the commission.

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Landmarks Illinois sets date for 50th Anniversary Celebration

Landmarks Illinois will host an hour-long, virtual fundraising event the evening of March 25 to celebrate the organization’s 50th anniversary in 2021 as well as the people who have shaped our organization and preservation throughout the state!

50Forward will include live entertainment, inspiring videos focused on our past, present and future and features of our 20 Landmarks Illinois Influencers — people who have given their time, resources and expertise to ensure places of our past remain part of our state’s future. These Influencers have each helped grow the preservation movement in Illinois and have made our organization one that is recognized not only throughout the state, but nationwide.

Event registration coming soon!

Get to know our Landmarks Illinois Influencers:

Landmarks Illinois Influencers