May 11th 2024.
For years, there has been an ongoing battle over a historic church in Pilsen, Poland. The conflict has now moved from the streets to the chambers of Chicago's City Council. The church supporters, who are fighting to have the building recognized as a city landmark, clashed with the leaders of the Chicago Archdiocese. The latter fears that granting landmark status to the church will hinder any future plans to repurpose the property.
At a recent Commission on Chicago Landmarks hearing, there were passionate testimonies from dozens of individuals who believe that St. Adalbert Church deserves to be protected. They accused the Archdiocese and the nearby parish that now manages the church's property of being greedy and disrespectful towards the church's heritage.
Anina Jakubowski, a resident of Downers Grove, was one of the many supporters present at the hearing. She shared how she grew up attending masses at St. Adalbert and how her mother fought against the church's closure back in 1974. "It was built as a house of God," she stated, expressing her disappointment at the thought of the church being left abandoned. "Where do all those prayers go?" she questioned.
On the other hand, the leaders of the Archdiocese argued against the protective designation, stating that it would impose strict restrictions on the church building. This could lead to the building falling into disrepair and cost millions of dollars in upkeep for the nearby St. Paul Parish, which inherited the church's assets. Bishop Robert Lombardo even called the potential landmark status "an offense" to their right to religious self-governance.
The landmarks commission did not vote on the matter at the hearing but is scheduled to do so in June. If the recommendation is made, it will go to the City Council for final approval. The landmark status would bring about restrictions on any changes made to the church building, including its Renaissance Revival facade. However, it would not completely ban renovations and interior changes.
St. Adalbert Church was once considered one of the finest in Chicago and served thousands of families at its peak. However, with the decline in membership as the Pilsen community shifted from Polish to predominantly Mexican, the church's future has become uncertain. According to Dan Klaiber, a Department of Planning and Development coordination planner, the church no longer holds the same significance in the neighborhood.
Since the church's closure five years ago, protesters, many of them proudly Polish, have been actively advocating for its protection. They were outraged when a statue was removed from the site and have been praying the rosary outside the building every Friday. However, the Archdiocese's representatives argued that the church is not significant enough to be granted landmark status. They also claimed that the building's structural issues could cost up to $8 million to repair and that the landmark designation would hinder any efforts to reuse the land for affordable housing, which is much needed in Pilsen.
Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, who represents the Pilsen community, is a strong advocate for the church's protection. He gave a passionate speech at the hearing, stating that the complex must be saved not only for its structure but also for the people who built it with their hard work and dedication. He criticized the Archdiocese and warned that if the church does not receive landmark status, luxury apartments will be built on the property. His words were met with cheers and boos from the crowd.
The charged debate caused several interruptions, and the meeting could not proceed smoothly. The landmarks commissioner, Adam Rubin, had to remind everyone to maintain decorum and listen to all sides.
James Geoly, the Chicago Archdiocese's general counsel, later shared that Ald. Sigcho-Lopez had blocked several proposals from developers who had plans to convert the church building for other purposes. He also expressed hope that an agreement could be reached to develop the land while preserving the church's structure. "Tomorrow, this could all be solved," he said optimistically.
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