“Pilsen’s St. Adalbert Church building cleared a key hurdle Thursday in the yearslong fight by former parishioners to have it declared a landmark to spare it from demolition or a complete overhaul.
“The Commission on Chicago Landmarks voted unanimously to recommend it get the protection, setting up a final decision next week by the City Council.
“The fight over the closed church has pitted Catholic leaders against many former parishioners.
While the Archdiocese of Chicago wants to sell the church building to help fund St. Paul’s Church, which is still operating nearby, former St. Adalbert churchgoers have tried to block the sale with the landmark designation. Many onetime St. Adalbert parishioners hope their former church, closed in 2019, may one day celebrate mass again.
“The controversy over the church was not a factor for commissioners, Landmarks Chair Ernest Wong said. The church ‘met all the criteria,’ he said.
“‘The alderman and the archdiocese have a serious problem on their hands, and they have got to deal with it,’ he said. ‘We as the commission, though, are doing our duty in terms of the structures within the city of Chicago to figure out what is worth preserving and what is not. We are holding by that.’
“If approved by the City Council, landmark status would trigger a series of restrictions and landmarks commission reviews of any redevelopment plans in order to protect the church complex’s ‘significant features’ — including its Renaissance Revival facade, as well as a former rectory, convent and school on the half-block plot. Still, a landmark designation would not completely ban renovations and interior changes.
“After the vote, Archdiocese general counsel James Geoly promised to ‘vigorously oppose’ the designation as it moves to the City Council. The landmark status could prevent the church from finding a buyer for the site, he added.
“‘We’re at risk. If this comes out the wrong way, the future ministry in Pilsen is at risk. St. Paul’s is not sustainable if they cannot monetize this asset,’ Geoly said.
“The church was called ‘one of the finest in Chicago’ by the Tribune when completed in 1914 and, at its peak, served about 4,000 families. But its membership declined as Pilsen shifted from a more heavily Polish community to predominantly Mexican.
“Protesters, many of them proudly Polish, have ardently pushed back since the archdiocese shut down the church five years ago. They decried the removal of a statue from the site and led the charge for its landmark status. A 73-year-old woman last year was arrested for trespassing while protesting the removal of stained glass windows and art.
“That fervent support was on display again Thursday as supporters and opponents of the landmark status filled the City Council chambers, just as they did during a May hearing.
“Former St. Adalbert parishioners highlighted in public comments the importance of the site to Chicago’s Polish community and shared hopes that it could become a Catholic shrine. Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, again backed their landmarking effort. (Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 6/6/24)
Read the full story at Chicago Tribune
- Pilsen’s St. Adalbert Church wins landmark recommendation, will face council, Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 6/6/24
- Historic former St. Adalbert Church may be headed toward landmark status this week. But then what? If the Landmarks Commission gives the thumbs-up, who will step up to to preserve and reuse this historic church — and other vacant churches that represent a special place in Chicago architecture? Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board, 6/3/24
- Pilsen’s St. Adalbert Church moves closer to protected landmark status; The Archdiocese of Chicago, which owns the shuttered Pilsen church, has resisted granting it landmark status, arguing the restrictions would burden the church financially and make it harder to find a buyer, David Struett, Chicago Sun-Times, 6/6/24
- Pilsen’s St. Adalbert’s Church, Bridgeport’s Ramova Theatre In Line To Become Chicago Landmarks; Both proposals are headed to City Council for final approval. Pilsen neighbors have battled for the landmark designations for years, while the Archdiocese of Chicago opposes it, Quinn Myers and Madison Savedra, Block Club Chicago, 6/7/24
- ‘Beloved, historic’ Chicago parish gets key protection vote from city preservation board, Daniel Payne, Catholic News Agency, 6/7/24