DOWNTOWN — A proposal to landmark dozens of buildings along stretches of Randolph and Lake streets and Fulton Market into a historic district was given preliminary approval by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks Thursday.
That plan — first presented at a community meeting Tuesday night — calls for granting historic designation to a six-block stretch of buildings on Randolph between the Kennedy Expy. and a property just west of Carpenter Street and along Lake Street from Peoria to Morgan streets. An eight-block stretch on Fulton Market between Halsted Street and Racine Avenue would also be landmarked.
The Commission on Chicago Landmarks meeting voted unanimously Thursday to initiate landmark designation, said Pete Strazzabosco, a spokesman for the city's Department of Planning and Development.
The process will take place over several months before a final designation is voted on — likely by the end of the year — but while the proposal is being considered, affected buildings would be protected from significant alteration or demolition as the designation process moves ahead. Construction proposals could still proceed but would require review, Strazzabosco said.
Exactly 75 buildings would be affected by the historic district, which is part of a larger land-use plan that would regulate building construction and designs in the area and also bring streetscaping and other improvements to create a "distinct sense of place," documents say.
The proposal also recommends virtually eliminating residential development along Fulton Market from Halsted Street to Ogden Avenue, but also pushes large-scale business and residential zoning (with the potential for 15-story buildings) along the new Morgan Street "L" stop, from Halsted to Racine Avenue.
