By Chicago Times Magazine –

January 8, 2026

The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) announced a significant investment in the city’s architectural heritage Thursday, awarding more than $800,000 in Adopt-A-Landmark grants to four historic preservation projects. The funding will support the restoration of a diverse array of Chicago landmarks, including two historic churches, a former automotive showroom, and a grand 1917 movie palace.

DPD Commissioner Ciere Boatright emphasized the long-term impact of the grants, noting that the funding is essential to ensuring these structures remain vibrant community hubs for future generations. The four projects, which represent nearly $2 million in total construction costs, were selected from 20 proposals submitted last year to the DPD’s Historic Preservation Division. Each application was evaluated based on project readiness, community impact, and the specific structural needs of the buildings.

Among the recipients is Apollo’s 2000 in South Lawndale. The former movie theater, located at 2875 W. Cermak Road, will receive $249,000 to assist with a $1.1 million rehabilitation focused on exterior masonry repairs and repointing. In Edgewater, the Epworth Church at 5253 N. Kenmore Ave. was awarded $235,000 to support a roof replacement for its 1891 sanctuary and 1930 community house. The complex is slated to serve as a mosque and community service center.

Further south, the Hyde Park Union Church at 5600-06 S. Woodlawn Ave. received $163,838 to facilitate repairs to the roof of its 1926 education wing. The final award went to the Pierce Arrow Building on the city’s Near South Side. The 1909 Motor Row showroom at 2400-22 S. Michigan Ave. will use $240,000 for facade and parapet repairs as it continues to serve as commercial space. The Adopt-A-Landmark Fund is a unique financial tool designed to protect City Council-designated landmarks. The program is funded by voluntary zoning fees paid by downtown developers through the City’s Neighborhood Opportunity Bonus system. Since the program’s inception in 2016, more than $14 million in grants have been allocated to 31 preservation projects, fueling an estimated $174 million in total investment across Chicago’s neighborhoods. All selected projects must undergo a final review and approval by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks before construction begins.