WEST LOOP — The Commission on Chicago Landmarks will hold a public hearing this week aon the proposed landmark designation of the Fulton/Randolph Market District.
The public hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in room 201-A at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St.
The Commission is expected to make a recommendation to the City Council at or after the hearing. Building owners can testify at the hearing and will be permitted to ask questions of the commission staff relating to the district, according to commission rules.
After the recommendation is made, the City Council will vote on the landmark plan. Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) has previously said he is "leaning toward landmarking" to preserve the culture of the Randolph/Fulton Market area, but is still seeking community input on the issue.
Copies of the proposed ordinance and hearing regulations are available at the commission offices in room 1101 at City Hall and online.
If the plan to create a historic district along Fulton and Randolph is approved, the designation would tag as many as 144 area properties as landmarks, limiting future development opportunities at the sites.
According to the Randolph/Fulton Market Association, 93 of the 144 property owners who would be affected by the landmark plan oppose the designation.
The historic district proposal is part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's larger Fulton Market Innovation District, a $42 million development plan to help shape development in the West Loop.
Roger Romanelli, executive director of the Randolph/Fulton Market Association, said he was "outraged" the Commission on Landmark's hearing rules would prohibit consideration of a study on the economic impact of the proposed landmarking.
“The Commission is prohibiting a plain discussion of the mayor’s reckless proposal. This is not democracy, and it's unacceptable,” Romanelli said.
In April 2014, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks gave preliminary approval to the historical landmark recommendations.
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