Preservation, redevelopment and property rights collide as a six-block historic district proposal heads to the Landmarks Commission.
Six blocks of West Lakeview could soon become a historic landmark district, but the proposal is dividing homeowners over an increasingly familiar Chicago question: How do you protect the neighborhood’s older buildings without limiting what property owners can do with their land?
Ald. Bennett Lawson (44th Ward) is supporting a proposal that covers the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Eddy Street, Cornelia Avenue and Newport Avenue, where century-old greystones and brick two-flats have long defined the streetscape. The Commission on Chicago Landmarks is scheduled to consider the proposal on November 5.
Why is this happening now?
Recent teardowns have brought the issue into sharper focus. According to reporting published October 29 by Crain’s Chicago Business, a greystone at 1300 W. Newport Avenue was demolished in August 2025 and replaced with a larger residential project. Two more demolition permits were issued on nearby Cornelia Avenue in recent months.
Lawson told Crain’s that the pace of demolitions has picked up in 2026, and that landmark designation is one of the few tools available to protect historic buildings from being torn down.
What makes these blocks different?
Walk these streets and you’ll see the Chicago details that have survived for more than a century: limestone facades, projecting bay windows, decorative cornices, raised entryways and brick two-flats tucked beneath mature trees. Preservation supporters say the appeal lies not in one house but in the way so many of the buildings still fit together.
The effort began with neighbors along Newport Avenue. Following a review by city preservation staff, the proposed boundaries expanded to include the adjoining blocks of Eddy and Cornelia because of their shared development history and architecture.
Not everyone wants landmark status
Some residents say protections could affect resale values by preventing future buyers from demolishing older buildings and building something new. Others worry about additional city review when they want to make exterior improvements.
There’s also a housing debate. Opponents argue that West Lakeview, with its proximity to Wrigley Field, Southport Corridor shops and restaurants, and Brown and Red Line stations, is exactly the sort of neighborhood where Chicago should be able to add more homes. A historic designation could make certain redevelopment plans harder.
Supporters counter that the distinctive streetscape is part of what makes the area desirable in the first place. They argue that new housing shouldn’t automatically come at the cost of losing the neighborhood’s remaining century-old buildings.
What would landmarking mean for homeowners?
Landmark status does not necessarily prevent interior renovation or every kind of addition. City review generally focuses on protecting significant historic exterior features, especially those visible from the street. Specific changes would still be subject to the district’s rules and applicable building and zoning requirements.
The November 5 Landmarks Commission meeting is an early step, not final approval. If the proposal advances, further review and public input would follow before any final designation. Preliminary landmark status can also trigger review of certain permits while the process continues.
The bigger Lakeview question
These six blocks are a small piece of Lakeview, but the argument is much larger: Should the city protect more of its original housing stock, or should owners have greater freedom to replace older buildings with new, potentially denser construction?
It’s a debate that will likely continue well beyond next week’s meeting.
What do you think? Should West Lakeview’s greystones and brick two-flats be protected, or should homeowners be able to redevelop their properties?
Sources and further reading
Crain’s Chicago Business — Dennis Rodkin, October 29, 2026; 44th Ward office; City of Chicago landmark designation process.