The monthly Landmarks Illinois News Roundup keeps you in the loop on the latest preservation news stories from the month as well as Landmarks Illinois’ main advocacy efforts, projects and announcements. You can also receive these monthly news roundups directly in your inbox by signing up for our newsletters at the bottom of the page.
October 2025 Preservation News Roundup
Skyline Council Explores Blue Island
Landmarks Illinois’ young and emerging professionals committee, the Skyline Council, hosted a walking tour and pub crawl in Blue Island on October 11. Kevin Brown, Executive Director of the Blue Island Historical Society, led a group of about 20 people around the city, stopping at historic and culturally significant sites to highlight the area’s industrial heritage.
The tour began at the Albee House, home of the Blue Island Historical Society, and included stops at the Public Library, the Olde Western Historic District and the Rock Island railroad yards. Drink stops included Blue Island Eagles, Blue Island Beer Co. and Rock Island Public House. Tour participants were able to see historic photos of each stop thanks to a special webpage on the Blue Island Historical Society’s website.
Blue Island, located south of Chicago, was established in 1835 and is one of the oldest communities in Cook County. It was a stop along the Vincennes Trail, used by Native Americans, that ran from Fort Dearborn in Chicago to Vincennes, Ind., and was later used by trappers and traders. The community grew in the 1840s due to construction of the feeder canal, now the Calumet-Saganashkee Channel, and the growth of the railroad. Part of the city’s history is also tied to the Pullman Strike of 1894 when severe violence broke out at the Rock Island railroad yards.
In 2024, Landmarks Illinois listed the Libby, McNeill and Libby Building in Blue Island on its Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois. We also provided the Blue Island Historical Society a 2019 Preservation Heritage Fund grant to help restoration efforts at the Albee House.
Thank you to everyone who attended the walking tour and thanks to our host, the Blue Island Historical Society. See photos from the tour below.
(Photo credit: Christian Parker)
Photos
Don't miss our preservation awards ceremony!
Join us November 7 in Chicago to celebrate this year’s winners of the Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards! Nine winning projects from Belvidere, Charleston, Chicago, Granite City, Millstadt, Tinley Park and Waukegan will be honored. The event is open to the public and also features a cocktail reception.
Our awards in the news…
Landmarks Illinois President & CEO Bonnie McDonald joined representatives from Millstadt and Granite City on St. Louis Public Radio this month to discuss award-winning preservation efforts. McDonald, Betty Keller Timmer of Friends of the Old Millstadt Water Tower, and Mark Stroker of Edison Avenue Art Lofts in Granite City, were all interviewed about the 2025 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards. Friends of the Old Millstadt Water Tower is the recipient of a 2025 award for advocacy and Edison Lofts received an award for adaptive reuse. McDonald shared insight on why these two preservation efforts were selected for preservation awards. Timmer and Stroker talked about how they carried out their projects and the impact they have had on their communities. Listen to the segment, which aired October 24, below.
Listen to the segment
🎃Haunted History for Halloween: Preservation Meets the Paranormal at the Roff House👻
The Roff Home in Watseka, a 2020 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award Winner, was recently featured on the popular paranormal podcast, Two Girls One Ghost. The podcast covers the story of the “Watseka Wonder,” an alleged spiritual possession that is tied to the history of the 1868 Italianate-style Roff Home. Once long neglected, the current owners of the Roff Home meticulously restored it, bringing architectural details and original features back to life. The home currently operates as an event space and rental property. Its paranormal ties continue to draw curious visitors to the property, providing mystique to their already unique overnight stay. Click below to listen to the episode, “The Watseka Wonder: A Ghost Took Over Her Body.”
Listen
Upcoming Grant Application Deadline: Jan. 1
Applications for the Landmarks Illinois Timuel D. Black, Jr. Grant Fund for Chicago’s South Side are due January 1.
The grant fund provides financial support to people preserving and promoting the history, culture and architecture of Chicago’s South Side. This grant program is open to both nonprofits and for-profit entities. Potential grant amounts range from $500 to $10,000 each, depending on project need. Grants are awarded on a 3:1 matching basis.
(Reformation Lutheran Church, a 2025 grant recipient.)
Learn more & apply
Explore Route 66 Like Never Before on Google Arts & Culture
We are excited to be a part of a new interactive road trip along Route 66 on Google Arts & Culture. The National Trust for Historic Preservation and Google Arts & Culture teamed up to create a unique virtual storytelling hub highlighting the power and history of this iconic American roadway. Landmarks Illinois is one of more than 20 nationwide organizations that joined the project, which launched this week in preparation of the Route 66 Centennial in 2026.
The Route 66 storytelling hub brings together a collection of 130 stories on Route 66’s past, present and future. Landmarks Illinois features significant sites and stories like the Route History Museum in Springfield, the Gemini Giant in Willington, Old Joliet Prison and Duncan Manor in Towanda — places that make Route 66 a must-see destination for visitors from across the globe.
The Google Arts & Culture Route 66 project showcases the power of a singular highway and the full history of its communities. Join us in taking a (virtual) trip along the Mother Road.
Explore Today!
Landmarking effort for Roger Brown Home & Studio in Chicago progresses
The Commission on Chicago Landmarks voted unanimously at its October 9 meeting to approve preliminary landmark status for the former home and studio of the late artist Roger Brown. The property, at 1926 N. Halsted St., is where Brown lived and worked from 1974 to 1995. It is also where he created some of his most notable works, like the mural, “Arts and Sciences of the Ancient World: The Flight of Daedalus and Icarus” on 120 N. LaSalle St. Learn more about the property here.
The building is up for sale by the current owner, the School of the Art Institute (SAIC) of Chicago. While listed in the National Register of Historic Places, it does not have local landmark designation that would protect it from potential demolition by a new owner. A Chicago Landmark designation would provide that protection.
Landmarks Illinois was instrumental in getting the property up for Chicago Landmark consideration, making the initial suggestion to the Commission on Chicago landmarks in September. Landmarks Illinois also spoke at the October meeting.
“While SAIC has stated in the media that the potential new owner intends to preserve the existing building, without landmark designation there is no guarantee against it being demolished in the future,” our statement read. “Landmarks Illinois has previously called attention to the high rate of demolition in this area of Chicago, including listing the Sheffield National Register district in our Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois in 2019. We urge the Commission to vote in favor of preliminary landmark designation to protect this irreplaceable piece of Chicago’s art history.”
Read more in the news:
Unanimous board vote moves late artist Roger Brown’s home toward landmarking
Crain’s Chicago Business, October 10
‘Incredibly important’ Imagist Roger Brown gave his collection to Chicago. How’d it end up in Wisconsin?
WBEZ, October 16
Demolition on pause at Rockford’s Elks Club, for now
The Rockford City Council voted this month to delay demolition of the historic Elks Lodge No. 64 for 14 days, giving the property owner more time to try to sell the building. The decision came October 20 when the council was scheduled to vote on awarding a demolition contract to Northern Illinois Service Co. for $233,108 to tear down the National Register-listed structure, which sits in Rockford’s West Downtown Historic District.
The council also voted in September to delay a decision on demolition after the property owner said he was in negotiations to sell the building. However, just days remain before the city council is set to meet on November 3, where it is expected to once again consider the fate of the Elks Lodge. The demolition bid reportedly expires mid-November.
Landmarks Illinois listed the former Elks Lodge building on its 2022 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois due to ongoing neglect. Following years of deferred maintenance, the building posed a public safety threat, leading the City of Rockford to pursue demolition.
This summer, Landmarks Illinois secured two building analyses of the structure, one of the interior conducted by Brush Architects and one of the exterior by Bulley & Andrews Masonry Restoration. Both assessments showed that while repairs are badly needed, the building is reusable and can be restored.
Read more in the news
A decision on the fate of the historic Elks Club in Rockford will wait another two weeks
Rock River Current, October 20
Welcome new staff member
Nicole Rakers
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Landmarks Illinois is excited to welcome Nicole Rakers to the team to lead fundraising efforts. Nicole is a dynamic fundraising professional with over a decade of experience supporting nonprofit organizations in raising the funds necessary to support their missions. Click below to learn more about Nicole.
LEARN MORE
Demolition of La Grange Antique Mall progresses despite widespread local opposition
Landmarks Illinois advocacy staff became engaged in an effort to save two historic buildings in La Grange this month after a number of concerned citizens reached out to us. On October 14, Landmarks Illinois Advocacy Manager Kendra Parzen spoke before the La Grange Planning Commission in opposition to the demolition of two buildings: 12 E. Burlington, known as the Jackson Square Antique Mall, and 5 6th Avenue. Both of these buildings are contributing to the La Grange Village National Register Historic District.
Despite many comments in opposition to the proposal, the commission voted 5-2 to recommend approval of demolition to the La Grange Village Board. A date has yet to be scheduled for when the full board will consider the proposal.
Read more in the news:
La Grange Panel Backs 39-Unit Residential Complex
La Grange Patch, October 17
Plan advances to replace Jackson Square Antique Mall in La Grange with condo building
Chicago Tribune, October 21
Around Town checks out the La Grange Park Antique Mall
WGN News, October 20
LI at APA
Members of the Landmarks Illinois team attended and presented at the American Planning Association Illinois Chapter’s state conference. The annual convening features educational sessions and workshops focused on urban planning and took place October 8-10 at The Old Post Office in Chicago.
Landmarks Illinois President & CEO Bonnie McDonald led the session, “Transforming Preservation’s Future: A New Look at Existing Buildings,” that identified critical changes that must occur in the preservation field for it to remain relevant and responsive to today’s needs.
Regional Advocacy Manager Quinn Adamowski joined Director of Illinois Main Street Erik Reader and Judy Tighe of Jacksonville Main Street in the preservation initiative, “Plan. Preserve. Prosper,” which highlighted the connection between planning and preservation for economic development in Illinois communities. Adamowski also helped facilitate a session called “Resolving Conflicts for Building Reuse,” which explored the complexities of reconciling preservation goals, such as adaptive reuse, with building codes and zoning regulations, offering insights into how planners, preservationists, developers and local authorities can collaborate to streamline processes for projects.
(Clockwise from upper left: Landmarks Illinois Regional Advocacy Manager Quinn Adamowski presenting, people gathered to hear a presentation at the conference, Judy Tighe of Jacksonville Main Street presenting, Landmarks Illinois President & CEO Bonnie McDonald presenting.)
Landmarks Illinois weighs affordable housing and historic preservation in rezoning plan
Landmarks Illinois has voiced both support and concern for a now approved plan to rezone Broadway in Chicago’s Edgewater and Uptown neighborhoods that would allow for the construction of mid-rise residential buildings. The Chicago City Council approved the Broadway Land Use Framework project on October 16.
Rezoning of the busy commercial strip on Chicago’s North Side will provide the opportunity to increase affordable and accessible housing. Landmarks Illinois also believes there is a significant opportunity to reuse and adapt existing historic buildings along Broadway to create this needed housing. Helping address the critical housing shortage through preservation efforts is one of Landmarks Illinois’ top priorities. We hope it will also be a priority of the City of Chicago in carrying out this rezoning and redevelopment project.
In a letter sent earlier this year to 48th Ward Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth regarding rezoning plan, Landmarks Illinois expressed concern that rezoning could result in pressure to demolish and build new structures on Broadway instead of reusing the older and historic buildings that already exist. “These buildings provide naturally occurring affordable housing on their second stories, which should be retained,” Landmarks Illinois President & CEO Bonnie McDonald wrote. “Their reuse is also a sustainable development practice.”
We urge the City of Chicago to explore regulatory and incentive tools to promote the retention and reuse of neighborhood character buildings in the area and direct new construction to occur on existing vacant parcels. Landmarks Illinois is ready and eager to engage in additional conversations with the city and neighborhood representatives on how to respond to housing needs while respecting and retaining the historic built environment of these neighborhoods.
Read our full letter below.
Read the letter
In Case You Missed It: Oct. 28 Webinar
Landmarks Illinois held a webinar on October 28 titled, “Preservation and Policy: Navigating the Latest Federal Executive Actions,” which discussed how new federal policies are shaping preservation efforts across the state.
The webinar was led by Landmarks Illinois President & CEO Bonnie McDonald and Regional Advocacy Manager Quinn Adamowski.
Watch
Top social media posts of the month
News of Banging Gavel Brews in Tinley Park winning a 2025 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award was one of our most popular social media posts this month. As one commenter on LinkedIn put it, “What a great example of preservation at it’s best.” See it here.
Additional Landmarks Illinois news...
- Landmarks Illinois President & CEO Bonnie McDonald presented about Landmarks Illinois’ vision for relevant preservation at two October convenings. She was the keynote speaker at the St. Louis-based Missouri Preservation Conference on October 1 during which she discussed The Relevancy Project and its outcomes. McDonald also participated in a panel discussion with architect Carl Elefante, FAIA, FAPT LEED AP, on October 22 hosted by the Chicago-based Climate Action Museum. The panel focused on Elefante’s new book, “Going for Zero: Decarbonizing the Built Environment on the Path to Our Urban Future,” which aligns with Landmarks Illinois’ Transformational Plan Climate Change Mitigation priority and with the actions we have taken to further align preservation with sustainable development.
- On October 8, Landmarks Illinois Advocacy Manager Kendra Parzen participated in an information meeting with property owners in the Bryn Mawr National Register District in Chicago to discuss possible designation at the city level. The historic district is located in the Edgewater neighborhood along Bryn Mawr Avenue between Broadway and Sheridan Road. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and features early 20th-century architecture.
- Landmarks Illinois Regional Advocacy Manager Quinn Adamowski joined Erik Leader, Director of Illinois Main Street, for a presentation at the AIA Illinois Annual Conference in Champaign on October 23. The presentation, “Designing for What’s Already There: Architects as Advocates in Historic Downtown Revitalization,” showed the power preservation and adaptive reuse can have on a community. See more here.
- The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on October 29 to review Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which mandates historic preservation consultation for federal actions that could affect historic places. Senators posed questions about whether Section 106 impedes projects, particularly energy projects, and how it could be made more efficient. While no action was taken, as the federal government appears increasingly opposed to regulation, the hearing raises alarm bells about the future of Section 106. While neither Illinois Sens. Duckworth nor Durbin is a member of the committee, Landmarks Illinois reached out to them to ask them to share the importance of Section 106 with their colleagues prior to the hearing. See our letter here.
Download the full October 2025 Preservation News Roundup below.
October 2025 Preservation NewsSupport our advocacy
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