ORDINANCE
Pilsen Historic District
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 Pilsen Historic District (the "District"), predominantly located at West 18th Street between South Leavitt and South Sangamon Streets, and 13 blocks bounded by West 18th Street to the north, South Ashland Avenue to the west, West 21st Street to the south and South Racine Avenue to the east, Chicago, Illinois, as more precisely described in Exhibit A and Exhibit B, both attached hereto and incorporated herein, satisfies four (4) criteria for landmark designation as set forth in Sections 2-120-620 (1), (4), (6) and (7) of the Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, the District is one of the city's best-surviving examples of a neighborhood that served as a port of entry for waves of immigrants beginning just after the Great Fire of 1871. A variety of industries such as garment making; lumber, furniture, and related products; meat packing and sausage making; and mattress and pillow firms attracted workers to settle in the area. As each successive wave of immigrants found success and moved to other Chicago neighborhoods and the western suburbs, new immigrants settled in the neighborhood. By the late 1950's, Mexican immigrants, attracted by many of the features that spurred earlier settlement, moved into the neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, Chicago's Bohemian immigrants brought cultural values and aspirations with them when they began to settle in Pilsen in the late 19th century. As they valued education, "freethought," and physical fitness, they formed sokols, gathered in saloons where they could discuss ideas and debate politics, and they read locally-published newspapers. Therefore, buildings in the neighborhood reflect the importance of ethnic immigration in Chicago's history and development, generally, and...
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