City Council committee approves landmark status for St. Adalbert's Church in Pilsen

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Chicago City Council Zoning Committee voted Tuesday to approve landmark status for St. Adalbert's Church in Pilsen.

The decision comes after more than a decade of fighting over the church's future.

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The future of the church has the community divided, and the Chicago City Council Zoning Committee heard passionate testimony during the public comment section.

St. Adalbert's Church in Pilsen has been closed since 2019. The Chicago Archdiocese has been trying to sell it.

They have a potential buyer, People Church, which is non-denominational. They want to preserve the church, but not the rest of the buildings.

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The Society of St. Adalbert, which includes former parishioners, has been rejecting the plan.

The groups wants the church and all of its buildings preserved, including the rectory, convent, school and parking lot.

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Preservationists said the former Catholic church has a lot of rich history, and is important to both Polish and Mexican communities.

"We have two of the largest immigrant communities in Chicago that are fighting to keep our Catholic heritage alive, keep our legacy alive," said Julie Sawicki, with the Society of St. Adalbert. "Those walls of the church have seen funerals, baptisms, weddings. This is a part of our history that we don't want to lose."

More than a decade ago, St. Adalbert's Church was on a list of the seven most endangered historic buildings in Chicago.

St. Adalbert's Church has stood for 111 years at the location.

Now, it's likely to remain there for the foreseeable future.

"We're glad we will continue to have a place of worship, and we have created a historic landmark in the Pilsen community that was long overdue," 25th Ward Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez said.

Tuesday's decision also clears the way for the archdiocese to sell the property.

Members of the Chicago Archdiocese were also present at the meeting. They said they support limited landmarking and are excited about a potential buyer.

The archdiocese referred a statement released Monday, saying in part "(we) are grateful to those in city leadership who support limited landmarking ... and look forward to the return of the church to its full potential."

That means restoring the exterior of the church building to its original glory. The head of Preservation Chicago supports the plan.

"It is a compromise, but the reason those other buildings are so significant is because the crown jewel is there. And that is the church," said Ward Miller, with Preservation Chicago.

Some community members are disappointed not only to lose the other rectory and convent, but also the inside of the church, which does not have to be preserved.

"To me, what church is, is what's inside the church: the interior. It's where I pray, where I got blessed, where I received my sacraments," said Amina Jakubowski with Society of St. Adalbert.

The full City Council is expected to go along with the Zoning Committee's recommendation for landmark status.

That vote is expected at Wednesday's City Council meeting.