Chicago Landmarks Commission

Chicago Landmarks Commission
Name	Chicago Landmarks Commission
Formed	1968
Jurisdiction	City of Chicago
Headquarters	Chicago Cultural Center
Parent agency	Chicago Department of Planning and Development

Chicago Landmarks Commission The Chicago Landmarks Commission is a municipal body responsible for identifying, designating, and recommending the protection of historic sites in the Chicago Loop, Near North Side, Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, and other neighborhoods across Chicago. Created during the urban renewal era, the Commission operates within the framework of the Ordinance of 1991 and collaborates with municipal entities such as the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, preservation organizations like the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois, and federal programs including the National Register of Historic Places and the National Historic Landmarks program. Its actions affect landmarked structures such as the Rookery Building, Auditorium Building, Robie House, Willis Tower, and districts like the Pullman Historic District.

History

The Commission traces roots to mid-20th century preservation movements sparked by controversies over the demolition of the Chicago Stock Exchange Building and the loss of Prudential Building-era fabric in the Loop. In 1968, amid debates involving officials from the Office of the Mayor of Chicago, civic groups such as the Chicago Architecture Foundation (now Chicago Architecture Center), and leaders connected to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the city established a formal advisory body to inventory and protect historic resources. Landmark legislation advanced during the Richard J. Daley administration and was refined through later ordinances under mayors including Jane Byrne, Harold Washington, Richard M. Daley, and Rahm Emanuel. High-profile designations—like the Pullman Historic District and the Unity Temple—and federal recognition via the National Park Service shaped the Commission’s evolving standards and procedures.

Organization and Membership

The Commission comprises appointed members representing architectural, historical, and neighborhood perspectives; appointments are made by the Mayor of Chicago and confirmed by the Chicago City Council. Membership has included figures associated with institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and professional associations like the American Institute of Architects and the American Institute for Conservation. Staff support is provided by planners and preservation specialists within the Chicago Department of Planning and Development and liaisons from agencies such as the Chicago Historic Resources Survey and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Subcommittees and advisory panels often include representatives from community groups in areas like Hyde Park, Old Town, Bronzeville, and Logan Square.

Designation Process

The designation process begins with a preliminary survey or nomination from elected officials, preservation organizations, property owners, or community groups such as the Edgewater Historical Society and the Chicago History Museum. The Commission’s criteria reference architectural styles and movements exemplified by practitioners like Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, Daniel Burnham, Adler & Sullivan, and Holabird & Root. Staff prepare reports drawing on comparative studies involving properties on the National Register of Historic Places and precedents set by landmark programs in cities like New York City, Boston, and San Francisco. Public hearings involve notification to stakeholders, environmental reviews under standards akin to those used by the National Environmental Policy Act in federally involved projects, and final votes by the Commission followed by ordinance adoption through the Chicago City Council.

Preservation and Regulation

Designated landmarks and districts are subject to regulation of exterior alterations, demolition, and new construction visible from public ways; the Commission issues Certificates of Appropriateness and consults with municipal departments including Department of Buildings (Chicago), Department of Zoning and Land Use Planning (Chicago), and the Chicago Plan Commission. The regulatory framework references preservation principles promoted by entities like the Secretary of the Interior and aligns with federal tax incentives administered through the Historic Tax Credit program for rehabilitation projects such as adaptive reuse of the Sears Tower podium or conversion projects in the Prudential Building footprint. Enforcement actions have involved legal matters adjudicated in the Circuit Court of Cook County and coordination with state agencies like the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Notable Designations

The Commission has designated individual landmarks and districts that intersect with national recognition, including the Auditorium Building, the Rookery Building, Robie House, Marina City, the Pullman Historic District, Chicago Water Tower, St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church (Chicago), Unity Temple, and the historic Bronzeville and Printer’s Row districts. These designations often overlap with properties listed by the National Register of Historic Places and some have earned National Historic Landmark status. Landmark projects have involved collaborations with firms and figures such as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Frank Gehry, Mies van der Rohe, and preservation architects affiliated with the AIA Illinois chapter.

Criticism and Controversies

The Commission’s decisions have prompted debates involving developers represented by entities such as Related Midwest and JMB Realty, preservation advocates from the Landmarks Illinois and the Chicago Architecture Center, and elected officials including aldermen from various Chicago City Council wards. Critiques have focused on perceived inconsistencies in designation criteria, tensions between preservation and economic development in projects near Navy Pier and McCormick Place, and disputes over landmarking private residences like those in Lincoln Park and Gold Coast. Legal challenges have involved appeals in the Cook County Circuit Court and commentary from media outlets such as the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times, while federal grant controversies have intersected with programs administered by the National Park Service and state funding from the Illinois General Assembly.

Category:Government of Chicago Category:Historic preservation in the United States