ORDINANCE
Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk
WHEREAS, pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Municipal Code of Chicago (the "Municipal Code"), Sections 2-120-630 through -690, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks (the "Commission") has determined that the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk, located at 3244-3710 N. Halsted Street (evens), 3243-3711 N. Halsted Street (odds), Chicago, Illinois, as depicted in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein, satisfies three (3) criteria for landmark designation as set forth in Sections 2-120-620 (1), (4), and (6) of the Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, the Rainbow Pylons were the first streetscape elements designed to recognize and celebrate Chicago's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. The pylons physically represent a significant historic cultural shift in Chicago and the United States in the 1990s to honor the rights, existence, and importance of the LGBTQ community; and
WHEREAS, the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk serve a critical role in raising the public visibility of LGBTQ lives; and
WHEREAS, the Legacy Walk was the first memorial to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of LGBTQ people in world history. This memorial walk is uniquely accessible to the public as an educational initiative aimed at all people; and
WHEREAS, the Legacy Walk is a unique and important milestone in acknowledging the contributions of the LGBTQ community to world history. The diverse range of contributions represented are both educational and inspirational to all, especially those that have been denied LGBTQ role models; and
WHEREAS, the Rainbow Pylons are exemplary of the types of cultural streetscape markers that were designed by local Chicago architectural firms as part of a series of street beautification projects undertaken between 1990 and 2002; and
WHEREAS, the overall design, although controversial at the time of its installation, was developed with the community as well as local business leaders and executed in a form that complements the variety, of architectural styles found along Halsted Street between Bradley Place and Melrose Street; and
WHEREAS, the pylons and The Legacy Walk are well-crafted and unique installations of streetscape sculptural objects with no comparable examples in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago firm of DeStefano+Partners designed the row of 10 pairs of Rainbow Pylons that line North Halsted Street. The Legacy Walk was conceived and designed by community member Victor Salvo. The two components complement each other to form a streetscape that serves to educate the public and provide a sense of place that is both safe and inclusive; and
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WHEREAS, the pylons and the walk are representative of the success of the LGBTQ rights movement and the significant cultural shift in Chicago and the United States that allowed for the installation of these identifying streetscape markers; and
WHEREAS, consistent with Section 2-120-630 of the Municipal Code, the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk has a significant historic, community, architectural, or aesthetic interest or value, the integrity of which is preserved in light of its location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, and ability to. express such historic, community, architectural, or aesthetic interest or value; and
WHEREAS, on May 2, 2019, the Commission adopted a resolution recommending to the City Council of the City of Chicago (the "City Council") that the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk be designated a Chicago Landmark; now, therefore,
BE !T ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
SECTION 1. The above recitals are hereby adopted as the findings of the City Council.
SECTION 2. The Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk is hereby designated a Chicago Landmark in accordance with Section 2-120-700 of the Municipal Code.
SECTION 3. For purposes of Sections 2-120-740 and 2-120-770 of the Municipal Code governing permit review, the significant historical and architectural features of the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk are identified as:
o All 20 sidewalk-mounted pylons, which are visible from all sides in the public right-of-way.
o The Legacy Walk plaques attached to the pylons. The individual plaques may be changed, though the size, proportion, and character of the plaque design should be maintained.
SECTION 4. The Commission is hereby directed to create a suitable plaque appropriately identifying the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk as a Chicago Landmark.
SECTION 5. If any provision of this ordinance shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect any of the other provisions of this ordinance.
SECTION 6. All ordinances, resolutions, motions or orders in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.
SECTION 7. This ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and approval.
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EXHIBIT A Rainbow Pylon and Legacy Walk
The Rainbow Pylons are located in Chicago's Lakeview Community Area along a section of North Halsted Street between Melrose Street and Bradley Place. The 20 pylons are arranged in 10 pairs along the street as indicated by the dark dots on the map. The Legacy Walk plaques are mounted in pairs on each of the pylons.
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CITY OF CHICAGO COMMISSION ON CHICAGO LANDMARKS
May 2, 2019
RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF CHICAGO THAT CHICAGO LANDMARK DESIGNATION BE ADOPTED FOR THE
RAINBOW PYLONS AND THE LEGACY WALK Including the Following Address Ranges: 3244-3710 N. Halsted Street (evens), 3243-3711 N. Halsted Street (odds)
Docket No. 2019-03
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago:
Pursuant to Section 2-120-690 ofllie Municipal Code of the City of Chicago (the "Municipal Code"), the Commission on Chicago Landmarks (the "Commission") has determined that the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk are worthy of Chicago Landmark designation. On the basis of careful consideration of thejiistory and design of the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk, the Commission has found that it satisfies the following three (3) criteria set forth in Section 2-120-620 of the Municipal Code:
I. Its value as an example of the architectural, cultural, economic, historic, social, or other aspect of the heritage of the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, or the United States.
4. Its exemplification of an architectural type or style distinguished by innovation,
rarity, uniqueness, or overall quality of design, detail, materials, or craftsmanship.
6. Its representation of an architectural, cultural, economic, historic, social, or other theme expressed through distinctive areas, districts, places, buildings, structures, works of art, or other objects that may or may not be contiguous.
I. BACKGROUND
The formal landmark designation process for the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk began on March 7, 2019, when the Commission approved a preliminary landmark recommendation (the "Preliminary Recommendation") for the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk as a Chicago Landmark. The Commission found that the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk meets three (3) of the seven (7) criteria for designation, as well as the integrity criterion, identified in the Chicago Landmarks Ordinance (Municipal Code, Section 2-120-580 et seq.). The Preliminary Recommendation, incorporated herein and attached hereto as Exhibit A, initiated the process for further study and analysis of the proposed
designation of"the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk as a Chicago Landmark. As part of the Preliminary Recommendation, the Commission identified the "significant historical and architectural features" of the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk as:
= All 20 sidewalk-mounted pylons, which are visible from all sides in the public right-of-way.
• The Legacy Walk plaques attached to the pylons. The individual plaques may be changed, though the size, proportion, and character of the plaque design should be maintained.
Also, as part of the Preliminary Recommendation, the Commission adopted a Designation Report, dated March 7, 2019, incorporated herein and attached hereto as Exhibit U.
At its regular meeting of April 4, 2019, the Commission received a report from David Reifman, Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development, supporting the proposed landmark designation of the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk.
The Commission officially requested consent to the proposed landmark designation from the owner of the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk. The Commission has received a consent form signed by Rebekah Scheinfeld, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation, the city agency in charge of the Rainbow Pylons arid the Legacy Walk which are owned by the City of Chicago.
II. FINDINGS OF THE COMMISSION ON CHICAGO LANDMARKS
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2-120-650 of the Municipal Code, the Commission shall notify the owner of its determination with respect to the proposed Chicago Landmark , designation within 45 days after receipt of the owner's consent; and
WHEREAS, pursuant lo Section 2-120-690 of the Municipal Code, the Commission has reviewed the entire record of proceedings on the proposed Chicago Landmark designation, including the Designation Report and all of the information on the proposed landmark designation of the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk; and
WHEREAS, the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk meets the three (3) criteria for landmark designation set forth in Section 2-120-620 (1), (4) and (6) of the Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, the Rainbow Pylons were the first streetscape elements designed to recognize and celebrate Chicago's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. The pylons physically represent a significant historic cultural shift in Chicago and the United States in the 1990s to honor the rights, existence, and importance of the LGBTQ community; and
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Finds, based on the Designation Report and the entire record before the Commission, thai the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk meets the three (3) criteria for landmark designation set forth in Sections 2-120-620 (I), (4) and (6) of the Municipal Code; and
Finds that the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk satisfies the "integrity" requirement set forth in Section 2-120-630 of the Municipal Code; and
Finds that the significant historical and architectural features of the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk are identified as follows:
• All 20 sidewalk-mounted pylons, which are visible from all sides in the public right-of-
way.
• The Legacy Walk plaques attached to the pylons. The individual plaques may be changed, though the size, proportion, and character of the plaque design should be maintained.
6. Recommends that the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk be designated a Chicago Landmark.
This recommendation was adopted kjLS+^*^l^^ C 8 ~~ Q\ ,
Rafael M. Leon, Chairman Commission on Chicago Landmarks
WHEREAS, the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk serve a critical role in raising the public visibility of LGBTQ lives; and
WHEREAS, the Legacy Walk was the first memorial to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of LGBTQ people in world history. This memorial walk is uniquely accessible to the public as an educational initiative aimed at all people; and
WHEREAS, the Legacy Walk is a unique and important milestone in acknowledging the contributions of the LGBTQ community to world history. The diverse range of contributions represented arc both educational and inspirational to all, especially those that have been denied LGBTQ role models; and
WHEREAS, the Rainbow Pylons are exemplary of the types of cultural streetscape markers that were designed by local Chicago architectural firms as part of a series of street beautification projects undertaken between 1990 and 2002; and
WHEREAS, the overall design, although controversial at the time of its installation, was developed with the community as well as local business leaders and executed in a form that complements the variety of architectural styles found along Halsted Street between Bradley Place and Melrose Street; and
WHEREAS, the pylons and The Legacy Walk are well-crafted and unique installations of streetscape sculptural objects with no comparable examples in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago firm of DeStefano+Partners designed the row of 10 pairs of Rainbow Pylons that line North Halsted Street. The Legacy Walk was conceived and designed by community member Victor Salvo. The two components complement each other to form a streetscape that serves to educate the public and provide a sense of place that is both safe and inclusive; and
WHEREAS, the pylons and the walk are representative of the success of the LGBTQ rights movement and the significant cultural shift in Chicago and the United States that allowed for the installation of these identifying streetscape markers; and
WHEREAS, consistent with Section 2-120-630 of the Municipal Code, the Rainbow Pylons and the Legacy Walk has a significant historic, community, architectural, or aesthetic interest or value, the integrity of which is preserved in light of its location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, and ability to express such historic, community, architectural, or aesthetic interest or value; now, therefore,
THE COMMISSION ON CHICAGO LANDMARKS HEREBY:
Incorporates the preamble and Sections 1 and II into its findings; and
Adopts the Pinal Designation Report, as revised, and dated this 2nd day of May 2019; and
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