I hope you all are enjoying the holiday weekend. This is an urgent update.

Over nine months ago, wrecking equipment demolished an unsanctioned structure built on parkland that obscured views of a protected and landmarked structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The razed structure had been illegally constructed without the required City of Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB) permits and without the required permission from the Chicago Park District, and without approval from many other entities on the local and state level.

As trucks hauled away the debris of the toppled project, residents of the community, protectors of parks and open space, historic preservationists, and law-abiding citizens cheered and breathed a collective sigh of relief.

The construction had commenced without any of the required pre-construction community meetings, and the protest it sparked, waged by those that had been excluded, ended in triumph.

Prior to the demolition, it was announced that the Museum would be receiving several land parcels a short distance away on Division Street where they could build their facility, without taking parkland. And Preservation Chicago suggested that the NMPRAC construct a glass enclosure in the open-air courtyard of the historic Stables building. This would not compromise the protected elevations of the exterior of the historic building and would create new on-site year-round programming space. This seemed like a win/win.

However, when the dust settled, it became apparent that a TOTAL demolition of the illegal construction had not occurred. The unsightly foundation and crushed rock filler remained, visible from hundreds of yards away, jutting several feet high above and in ugly and stark contrast to the prairie landscape (see 11/23/2024 photo).

Not only is the historic Stables building landmarked and protected, so is the surrounding landscape. When the museum decided to proceed with their construction project without first engaging the community (as required), and without permits or permission, the breach of trust they caused remains an open wound as long as the foundation remains and as long as the threat of the development of parkland continues.  The attempted seizure of open space, and the prolonged defacement of our parkland, a unique community resource, is in defiance of preservation ordinances and is against the will of the community.

The construction site and a large area around it remained fenced off throughout 2024, relegated by lack of care into an unkempt jungle of weeds and overgrowth.

Questions to the Chicago DOB and other involved entities remain unanswered as to why only a partial demolition occurred. No plans have been made public since the partial demolition in early March.

Why does this foundation remain on public and protected land? Only the words of Billy Ocasio can answer, which were discovered in an application he wrote to obtain $750,000 in project funding to the State of IL for the wayward project. He stated “…it is imperative that we…extend our footprint, which in a later phase will establish an outdoor entertainment stage similar to Ravinia.”

NO WAY can we allow, accept or accommodate a permanent concert and entertainment venue in our beloved park.

JUST SAY NO TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARKLAND. You can help save it! How? Sign and share this petition, talk to your neighbors and friends, and join others in writing emails. I'm not on any major social media platforms - if you can promote this petition and issue on yours, it could help immensely.

The afternoon before Thanksgiving Day, mixed in with dozens of other announcement and notifications, a “community meeting” about Ocasio’s plan to develop parkland was sent via email to subscribers of the local Alder's weekly newsletter. This meeting is on Tuesday, 6PM, at the NMPRAC. The community received no other advertisement of the Museum’s short-notice meeting.

I am urging you to reaffirm your commitment to protecting parkland and to stand firm against paving over paradise. What we stand to permanently lose is parkland, and it could set the precedent for future forays of land-grabbing and abuse and misuse of publicly owned parks and property. This land is our land.

Support the museum building a new off-site archive building, constructing a glass enclosure in the courtyard, and adding programming under that new glass enclosure, YES!

But restore the landmarked landscape for all residents and parkgoers to enjoy.

As part of the restoration, why not install a winding pathway lined with various species of native plants, butterfly & other pollinator attracting plants? Children (and all) could meander, learn, immerse, dream and be inspired by nature and the story of a Humboldt Park resident who stood up against corruption in the Park District over 100 years ago. Jensen lost his job for having scruples but was later reinstated. He went on to serve the community by envisioning, planning, preparing and bringing beauty to us all.

Attached to the emails I will be sending are letters of support from two direct descendants of Jensen. They are abhorred by corruption again threatening the health and sanctity of the parks. They are dismayed at the thought of historic preservation and the legacy of their great grandfather being overturned by a Park District tenant against the will of the people.  I will also include a letter from a former Curator of the Jens Jensen Archive at the Morton Arboretum.

Now is the time for you to write emails supporting the complete demolition and removal of the illegal foundation, followed by the complete restoration of the landmarked and historic landscape. This includes numerous mature trees which were illegally cut down.

There has been virtually no development in our park for 100 years. Let's keep it that way.

Referencing 3015 W. Division in the subject line, write emails against the museum developing on parkland. It can be noted that the foundation, built without any oversight or inspections, intended to be used by the public, is a public safety hazard.

Write to (in addition to other decision makers you may think of): 

Superintendent Rosa Escareno: Superintendent.Escareno@chicagoparkdistrict.com

Commission on Chicago Landmarks: landmarks@cityofchicago.org

Chief Buildings/Construction Inspector Irma Rodriguez: Irma.rodriguez@cityofchicago.org

26th Ward Alder Jessie Fuentes: info@the26thward.org

Billy Ocasio: billyo@nmprac.org

I welcome being cc’d : kgippert@yahoo.com