LOGAN SQUARE — Residents of the 32nd Ward voted overwhelmingly in favor of historic preservation policies to protect the neighborhood during Tuesday's election.
Residents of the ward, which includes Logan Square, Bucktown and parts of Lincoln Park, voted in favor of the referendum by a margin of 92.6 percent to 7.4 percent.
The referendum read: “Shall the Alderman of the 32nd Ward pursue zoning policies to protect the historic buildings and character of Logan Square?”
The question was put on the ballot by Logan Square Preservation, which gained the needed signatures, and hence formatted the question focusing solely on that neighborhood.
The goal of the referendum was to gauge the neighborhood's interest on zoning policies, specifically those that would involve demolition.
While it has no legal standing, the point was the send a message to the alderman of the ward, currently Scott Waguespack.
"We were confident that we would have a majority, obviously the result is overwhelming," said Andrew Schneider, president of Logan Square Preservation. "I think it just sort of reinforces our opinion that the people in this neighborhood want to see steps taken to prevent teardowns. We don’t want to see our vintage buildings replaced by new construction. I think that’s what the referendum says.”
The total vote was 3,531 in favor of the referendum and 284 opposed.
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