I have decided to move forward with a request for a preliminary landmark designation in our Ward primarily on the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Eddy, Cornelia, and Newport. The area is bound by (see image) the alley south of Addison, the alley north of Roscoe, Racine Avenue, and the alley east of Southport.
After several rounds of community engagement, I believe that this neighbor-led initiative has sufficient support to move forward. The proposal to preliminarily designate Eddy-Cornelia-Newport as a landmark district will be heard at the November 5 Commission on Chicago Landmark’s meeting. If the Commission approves the preliminary landmark recommendation, then the formal process will begin.
This effort originally began at the request of residents on the 1300 block of Newport, which features a strong concentration of historic Greystone and brick flat buildings, and we have since engaged the City’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) to study the broader area for landmark eligibility.
Based on initial research, buildings likely to be considered contributing to a district would primarily reflect the area’s historic development as housing for working-class families, particularly German immigrants, and feature 2- and 3-story brick flats and apartment buildings, often clad in limestone or brick, designed in a Neoclassical style. Read more about this project in a presentation from DPD here (particularly page 7 for examples of this architecture beyond Newport).
Please note that being a landmark does not affect interior or rear renovations/rear additions, and does not prevent adding housing such as coach houses, and in other existing space (basement units, attic units). See below for financial incentives available to owners of landmark buildings. Read an FAQs for landmark homeowners here and general info about landmark status here.
Supporting Documents
- Landmark district presentation slides – 1/14/26
- Financial Incentives for the Repair and Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings
- FAQs for Homeowners