We were so honored to be joined on "Juneteenth" by Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton as we formally announced the plans for the Historic Pullman Firehouse in Chicago, IL. This effort was guided by Chicago based Nationally acclaimed Architect and Planners, Johnson and Lee, and renowned master Planner Rene Kemp-Rotan, who served as Atlanta’s liaison on the construction of Phillips Arena and Olympic Park. Rotan has been involved in nearly every type of building design imaginable. That is why we sought her assistance. The site is central to our community's history. 

By establishing the A. Philip Randolph Culture Factory complex here, this project is not only a tribute to the rich history of the Pullman community but also a vital step towards preserving and celebrating the legacy of A. Philip Randolph, a pioneer in the labor movement and civil rights activism.

The Pullman Firehouse, an iconic landmark, holds significant historical value. Transforming this site into a cultural and educational complex will provide numerous benefits to our community, including community engagement, historical education, S.T.E.A.M. and cultural enrichment. Most important, it will be the source of permanent jobs for community residents all under the banner of tourism i.e., hospitality focused employment. Join us in supporting this "Place-Making" initiative to ensure the story of our past is told for future generations.

The components of this project are the adaptive re-use renovation of an 1880’s Firehouse with an addition, located in the Pullman National Historical Park (PNHP) in Chicago, Illinois. The National Park site established in 2015 means INTERNATIONAL TOURISM. The addition of the Factory represents a unique opportunity to train and employ local residents of the Far south side in ALL jobs related to the Billion Dollar growth industry of tourism & hospitality. This will create citywide workforce development and training opportunities for communities including Roseland, Cottage Grove Heights, Rosemoor, West Pullman, Washington Heights, Altgeld, Golden Gates and beyond, starting with the north end of Pullman. North Pullman, census tract 5002, 103rd St to 109th St, an area with a 31% unemployment rate and a 30% poverty level. This concept will create opportunities for individuals to live and work in their own community.

Our goal is to make sure African American communities know EXACTLY how to participate in and benefit from the emerging Hospitality industry in the City of Chicago, particularly on the far south side. According to one authoritative source, Arts Wisconsin, “There is no conventional standard definition for cultural economic development (CED), but most often; it is considered to be economic development activity that emphasizes artistic and cultural partner’s participation in the planning and implementation of the effort.”

Pullman Culture Factory Complex

The A. Philip Randolph Culture Factory Complex, an innovative Demonstration Project, will be the connecting centerpiece of the Pullman National Historical Park. The Culture Factory is the final anchor of the Black Labor Tourism District and the final phase of the Community Economic Development Empowerment Project (CEDEP). The complex will have a three-pronged focus and function: (1) It will be a public facility with an expanded ARTS program and performance space with a full functioning Theater where independent screenplays, movies and videos will be showcased. (2) A portion of the building will function as a community cultural space, providing the opportunity to operate multiple community cultural programs and to nurture the artistic talents of the residents within the underserved community including Tech and STEM Programming. (3) The new addition will also operate as a tourism retail product-manufacturing factory facility. (4) The Dr. Joyce Chapman Community Organizing space will serve as a location for local community groups to meet for free including Organizations like the Far South Chicago Coalition, North Pullman Empowerment Organization and The HOPE Foundation.  

We propose to establish the Pullman Culture Factory as a prototype. The project not only represents cultural inspiration for the local population, but Tourism will also become an economic engine that can benefit the entire Far South Side. The difference with this project, unlike most development that occurs across the city is the jobs we create WILL NOT END, when the development is complete. This concept represents ongoing jobs, workforce development and economic opportunity for the actual residents of the local community.

What also makes this project unique is its multiple benefits: (1) the elimination of a blighted location and the adaptive-reuse of an important historic property, (2) the creation of a revenue generator for the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, (3) the development of a permanent, visible cultural inspiration for the African American population that all walks of life can see and learn from, particularly the local youth, and finally (4) the creation of a vehicle that will become a cultural economic development blueprint.

This project has the capability to be replicated in communities of color, across the City of Chicago and throughout this nation. Our masterplan discusses the transformative result of the weaving of old buildings and new opportunities, old stories with innovative technology, and initiating a major effort to bring the African American population into what has traditionally been an untapped area of economic opportunity, TOURISM & Hospitality. 

In 2015 an economic impact study estimated an anticipated 300,000 visitors each year to visit Pullman over the next 10 years. There MUST BE conscious and intentional efforts put forth to prepare the entire community, not just part of the community. Without projects like this, that will not happen.

We thank Lt. Governor Stratton, on behalf of the North end of the Pullman community, for standing with us to announce these transformational plans for this community. The vehicle we will use is the inspirational legacy of A. Philip Randolph and triumphant creation of America’s first Black labor union, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. All efforts will be put forth with the intentionality of capitalizing on the multiple, untapped opportunities of Cultural Economic Development (CED).