Overview

• The Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards meets today to consider an ordinance granting landmark status only to the church structure while excluding the rectory, convent and school.
• People Church, a nondenominational congregation, has signed a purchase agreement and intends to restore and use the main sanctuary but may demolish the adjacent rectory and convent.
• The Archdiocese of Chicago has consistently opposed involuntary landmarking of the entire campus and supports limited protections to facilitate the property’s sale.
• The Society of St. Adalbert and Save Our Catholic Churches are advocating for full campus landmark status to preserve the site as a Catholic shrine and prevent redevelopment.
• Built by Polish immigrants and closed in 2019 due to dwindling attendance, St. Adalbert’s has remained vacant for nearly six years as Pilsen grapples with preservation versus redevelopment tensions.