DePaul University plans to build a new athletic complex, but if the school gets its way, it would come at the cost of some historical buildings in Lincoln Park. It would also take away 80 apartment units that are used for student housing.

‘The buildings that are at risk include four row houses that likely date back to the 1880s and 1890s as well as a 1920s courtyard apartment building. They are located in the 2300 block of North Sheffield.

“We really think it’s important to save these structures. They’re part of the streetscape. They’re part of the human scale. They’re part of what makes this area of Lincoln Park so beautiful, said Ward Miller, Executive Director of Preservation Chicago.

“Miller said the kind of intricate masonry and detailing featured on the old buildings is quickly disappearing in Lincoln Park, and he is fighting to save the buildings, which are all owned by DePaul.

“‘To lose these buildings would be very tragic,’ he said.

“The endangered buildings sit directly across from DePaul’s Sullivan Athletic Center. ‘This building was built, the Sullivan Athletic Center, in 2000, and we pretty much outgrew it the day we moved in,’ said Depaul Athletic Director DeWayne Peevy. Peevy said other than the men’s and women’s basketball teams, none of DePaul’s other 13 sports have dedicated locker rooms, which is just one factor that is making it tough to recruit top talent in the increasingly competitive Big East Conference.

“But Miller believes a win-win solution exists just a block north, where a very large parking lot sits, ripe for development.

“’In a city with a housing crisis, why are we displacing people in buildings and impacting our historic built environment when we have a surface parking lot a block away that could be a viable re-use site for the same idea?’ he said.” (Rodkin, Crain’s Chicago Business, 9/13/23)

“Miller said Preservation Chicago wants the university to consider other DePaul-owned sites for the expansion, like the surface parking lot at the intersection of Fullerton and Sheffield avenues or former Whole Foods building, which DePaul took over this year.

“‘We are supportive of DePaul’s growth and expansion and understand how important it is, but I do think there could be other ways of addressing the situation,’ Miller said. ‘I don’t know why DePaul wants to destroy the scale and part of the beauty and integrity of the neighborhood when there are other sites they could explore for this expansion.’ (Wittich, Block Club Chicago, 9/27/23)

Watch and read the full story at FOX 32 Chicago

• Historic Lincoln Park buildings face demolition as DePaul University plans athletic complex expansion, Anthony Ponce, FOX 32 Chicago, 9/20/23
• DePaul’s Planned Athletic Center Would Strip Area Of Character, Student Housing, Neighbors Say; Residents questioned plans to demolish a row of buildings from the 1890s and 1920s. But DePaul officials said they need a new basketball facility to attract students, Joanna Hou, lock Club Chicago, 11/10/23
• DePaul presents plan to demolish century-old buildings for new basketball facility amid community protest, Alysa Guffey, Chicago Tribune, 11/10/23
• DePaul University presents basketball practice facility to community, The $60 million project will replace a series of century-old buildings, Lukas Kugler, Urbanize Chicago, 11/13/23
• Preservationists Don’t Want DePaul To Demolish 4 Old Row Houses To Build Sports Complex; The row houses dating to the 1890s as well as a courtyard building built in 1925 would be torn down for a new basketball training facility. Preservationists want the school to consider another site, Jake Wittich, Block Club Chicago, 9/27/23
• DePaul’s new practice gym will require tearing down 5 historical buildings, Dennis Rodkin, Crain’s Chicago Business, 9/13/23
• DePaul University to construct $60M basketball team practice facility on its Lincoln Park campus, Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 8/31/2
• DePaul University plans basketball practice facility; The $60 million will give basketballs teams a dedicated space, Lukas Kugler, 9/4/23
• DePaul Reveals Plans For New Student Athlete Facilities In Lincoln Park, Chicago YIMBY, Ian Achong, 9/5/23