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The City of Chicago recently announced grants totaling approximately $8.2 million from its Adopt-a-Landmark Fund (Fund). The Fund provides grants to support the rehabilitation of designated landmarks throughout the city. The Fund is financed from downtown construction projects seeking density bonuses to increase the size of buildings beyond as-of-right zoning regulations. Projects seeking a density bonus make a voluntary contribution based on a standardized formula – 80 percent of all bonus contributions go to the city’s Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, 10 percent to the Local Impact Fund, and 10 percent to the Citywide Adopt-a-Landmark Fund. The buildings and structures eligible for grant funds include individually designated landmarks and contributing buildings in designated historic districts. The scope of work on the buildings or structures must involve an exterior renovation that is visible from the street or interior rehabilitation that is accessible to the public. The work must be consistent with the Commission on Chicago Landmarks standards and guidelines. Typical maximum grants are $250,000. However, grants can exceed the maximum with additional approval from the Chicago City Council.

Greater Union Baptist Church located at 1956 West Warren Boulevard in Chicago, IL.  Photo courtesy of Greater Union Baptist Church

This round’s Adopt-a-Landmark grant recipients will help rehabilitate 13 historic buildings citywide including buildings in Austin, Englewood, Humboldt Park, Douglas, and the Near West Side.

The award amounts and projects include:

  • Aragon Ballroom, Uptown: $250,000 for the masonry component of a $1.9 million restoration of a 98-year-old ballroom
  • Canaan Baptist Church, Englewood: $246,659 for the restoration of benches and pews within its 119-year-old sanctuary
  • Double Door, Uptown: $125,000 for rehabilitation of window and masonry components of a $9.9 million conversion of a 1909 theater to a performance venue
  • First Baptist Congregational Church, Near West Side: $1.46 million to complete restoration work to its 1871 bell tower
  • Former Laramie State Bank, Austin: $2.09 million for rehabilitation and replacement of terra cotta, windows, and doors as part of a $16.3 million rehabilitation of the 1928 bank
  • Former Mid-City Trust Bank, Near West Side: $1.3 million to preserve the 112-year-old bank building as part of a $53 million project for reuse as a hotel and retail
  • Former Schlitz Brewery-Tied House, Englewood: $250,000 for roof and masonry components of a $313,900 project to convert the vacant 1898 tavern into a café
  • Greater Union Baptist Church, Near West Side: $750,000 for masonry work at the 1886 church
  • IIT Crown Hall, Douglas: $250,000 to support the $500,000 restoration of the main entry steps and porch to the Mies Van der Rohe-designed 1956 university building
  • IIT Main Building, Douglas: $500,000 to assist with the $42 million reuse of a former 1893 university structure for mixed income apartments
  • Pioneer Arcade, Humboldt Park: $510,000 to help restore the terra cotta facade and interior lobby of the 1925 building as part of a $23.5 million residential conversion
  • St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, West Town: $250,000 for window restoration at the church, completed in 1915, as part of its $6 million restoration
  • Wicker Park Lutheran Church, West Town: $250,000 for window restoration work as part of a $448,474 rehabilitation of the 1907 church building 

The Adopt-a-Landmark grants provide much-needed support for Chicago landmarks. These grants not only ensure the preservation of important Chicago buildings, but they also help to spur improvements to the surrounding neighborhoods and provide examples for others on how to reimagine and reuse their buildings.


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