People Saving Places For People
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Landmarks Illinois Preservation News
MARCH 2021
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Preservation News is a monthly service Landmarks Illinois provides to its members and supporters and serves as a roundup of our latest advocacy efforts, projects and other news from around the state. JOIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP HERE
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Strong opposition helps strike down detrimental zoning ordinance proposal discouraging house museums in Chicago
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The nonprofit Muddy Waters Original Jam Out (MOJO) Museum, for example, is currently working to transform the former North Kenwood home of Blues legend Muddy Waters (pictured above) into a cultural museum.
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Late last year, Chicago 4th Ward Ald. Sophia King introduced a proposed zoning ordinance amendment that would have made establishing cultural exhibits like house museums and arts or humanities exhibits in residential-zoned districts extremely difficult and costly. When Landmarks Illinois recently learned of the ordinance proposal and its potential broad negative impacts on small nonprofits working to rehabilitate historic buildings in Chicago, such as the Muddy Waters House and the Emmett Till and Mamie Till Mobley Home, it took immediate action, voicing opposition and explaining the detrimental effects it would have. (Read our March 6 letter to the city here.) We also asked for help from our supporters to join us in voicing opposition. Thank you to all Chicago residents and partner organizations who responded to this important call to action and reached out to your alderman and Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards Committee Chair Tom Tunney urging them to strike down the proposal.
The committee was scheduled to discuss Ald. King's proposal at its March 23 meeting. However, at the top of the meeting, King announced she would withdrawal her proposal for now to allow for "further discussion with the community as a whole. “I understand the need for clarity on the legislation and am willing to further engage with community members and activists in this process,” King said, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Bonnie McDonald, President & CEO of Landmarks Illinois, made a public comment at the March 23 meeting, thanking Ald. King for removing her proposal from consideration.
"Our research showed more than 30 existing or planned cultural exhibits citywide would have been impacted...The coalition of partners speaking and watching today opposing this ordinance shows how much these organizations matter to their communities. We all believe there should be a future for cultural exhibits in residential zoned districts," McDonald said at the meeting.
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Read more in the news:
Chicago Sun-Times Editorial, March 24
Hyde Park Herald, March 23
Chicago Sun-Times, March 23
WTTW, March 22
Chicago Block Club, March 18
Chicago Tribune, March 18
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50Forward: Watch all the original video content debuted at our 50th Anniversary Celebration!
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Nearly 500 people tuned in Thursday, March 25 for our virtual spring fundraiser, 50Forward. The 50th anniversary event helped raise more than $616,000 for Landmarks Illinois' mission-driven advocacy work. Check out all the videos shown at 50Forward below, including a full recording of the live event. You can also visit the "LI at 50" playlist at the Landmarks Illinois YouTube Channel to watch and share the content below!
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50FORWARD: Full program
The full, nearly hour-long live event was recorded at Chop Shop in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood.
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50FORWARD: Opening
A short introduction to our major successes over the past 50 years helping people save places in Illinois.
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50FORWARD: Where we're headed
A look at Landmarks Illinois' plans for the next 50 years of preservation.
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50FORWARD: Our first 50 years
Learn about Landmarks Illinois' founding in 1971 and how we have grown into a statewide preservation organization serving all people of Illinois.
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50FORWARD: Project Spotlight - The Forum, Chicago
See how Landmarks Illinois is helping preserve a culturally and historically significant former community gathering space in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood.
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50FORWARD: Closing
An inspiring video montage of the people and places Landmarks Illinois has served for 50 years.
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Rock Island County votes against reuse proposal for historic courthouse
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Despite strong public support for potentially reusing the historic Rock Island County Courthouse as a federal courthouse, the Rock Island County Board voted March 22 against an agreement that would allow a private developer’s proposal to move forward.
Joe Lemon, of QC Offices Real Estate Holdings, offered to purchase the historic county courthouse for $250,000 while allowing the county to maintain ownership of the underlying land. As the Quad City Times reported, Lemon only had until the afternoon of March 23 to turn in a signed purchase agreement to the GSA proving he had ownership of the building in order for it to be considered for redevelopment as the new federal courthouse.
Landmarks Illinois is disappointed the proposal was not accepted by the county board. Regarding the lawsuit Landmarks Illinois filed with its fellow plaintiffs in 2019 to stop demolition of the courthouse, the consultation process as required by state law and upheld by the Illinois Appellate Court is currently ongoing.
Read more in the news:
Quad City Times, March 23
Our Quad Cities, March 22
KWQC, March 22
Quad City Times, March 16
Quad City Times, March 10
Quad City Times, March 4
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SAVE THE DATE: MAY 5, 2021
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2021 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois announcement
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More details and registration coming soon!
(Photo: Landmarks Illinois President & CEO Bonnie McDonald being interviewed by press at the 2019 Most Endangered announcement in Springfield.)
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Nonprofit Artist Book House chosen for reuse of historic Harley Clarke Mansion in Evanston
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Artist Book House was one among four organizations to submit a proposal to the City of Evanston for a long-term lease and reuse of the Harley Clarke Mansion property. Evanston Community Lakehouse & Gardens, Evanston Conservancy and ONE Community Museum also submitted proposals. Artist Book House plans to restore the historic mansion and reuse it for educational programming and public use. "This will include print, paper and book binding studios, conference rooms and classrooms for teaching writing and for hosting book groups and a papermaker’s garden," the nonprofit's website states. "A café serving light fare, an art gallery and a bookstore will be open to the public. Additional public programming, such as artist talks, author readings and poetry slams, will be scheduled to coincide with the academic year to avoid conflicts with parking for those visiting the beach."
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Read more in the news:
Daily Northwestern, March 10
Evanston Patch, March 8
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Read the latest articles published this month on the LI Preservation News Blog!
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45 YEARS OF PROTECTING HISTORIC PLACES THROUGH PRESERVATION EASEMENTS
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Learn how the Landmarks Illinois’ Easement Committee helps oversee the organization's 540 preservation easement properties.
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LOOKING BEYOND LINCOLN IN OUR STATE’S CAPITAL
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Director of Landmarks Illinois’ Springfield Office Frank Butterfield writes about the need to amplify lesser-known stories of our past in our state's capital.
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TWO LANDMARKS ILLINOIS LEADERS REFLECT ON THEIR DECADES OF SERVICE TO THE ORGANIZATION
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Longtime Landmarks Illinois Board Members Martin Tangora and Will Tippens, ask each other about their decades of service to the organization.
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Illinois loses a preservation champion
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Mr. Driehaus at the 2018 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards. Mr. Driehaus' foundation has generously funded Landmarks Illinois' annual awards program for the last nearly 30 years.
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Mr. Driehaus' love for architecture and historic preservation, among other causes, was seen through his commendable philanthropic efforts, as well as his own preservation projects. Historic places all across Illinois are still standing today because of his creative vision and unwavering generosity. Mr. Driehaus will be greatly missed, and through our work, Landmarks Illinois will be sure to honor him and his passion for protecting places of our past.
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Read more in the news:
Wall Street Journal, March 25
New York Times, March 20
Chicago Sun-Times, March 12
The Art Newspaper, March 11
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Apply for a Landmarks Illinois grant!
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Grant applications due: April 15
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Landmarks Illinois has three grant programs:
The next round of applications for each grant program are due April 15.
Click below to learn if you and your preservation project qualify for funding and how to submit an application.
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Additional Landmarks Illinois news
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Landmarks Illinois led the state delegation in virtual Congressional meetings this month as part of Preservation Action’s 2021 Advocacy Week. This year’s topics included how historic tax credit improvements can help boost the economy following COVID, increased support to the Historic Preservation Fund and designating the 1908 Springfield Race Riot Site and New Philadelphia as units of the National Park Service. We thank our elected officials and their staffs for their continued support of preservation in Illinois, and our members and supporters who joined us for a successful Advocacy Week!
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The Commission on Chicago Landmarks will discuss final landmark recommendation of the historic Pentecostal Church of Holiness at its April 1 meeting. Written comments to the commission are due today at 12:45 p.m. The commission previously approved preliminary landmark recommendation for the North Lawndale church. Landmarks Illinois also awarded the congregation a Preservation Heritage Fund Grant in September 2020 to help pay for priority repairs of the structure. Landmarks Illinois Influencers Ed Gerns and Jack Tribbia - recently honored at 50Forward - have both provided additional technical assistance to help prioritize necessary repairs at the church.
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More preservation news from around the state
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2018 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois
2017 Preservation Heritage Fund Grant Recipient
Chicago Defender, March 22
1996, 2001, 2010, 2014 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois
Block Club Chicago, March 22
Landmarks Illinois Advocacy Effort
The Architect's Newspaper, March 17
2002 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois
Daily Southtown, March 11
2014 & 2016 Barbara C. and Thomas E. Donnelley II Preservation Fund for Illinois Grant Recipient
Oak Leaves, March 9
2021 Preservation Heritage Fund Grant Recipient
Aurora Beacon News, March 9
2017, 2018 & 2019 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois
Chicago Sun-Times, March 8
Landmarks Illinois Advocacy Effort
Austin Talks, March 7
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Landmarks Illinois Annual Corporate Sponsors
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