Chicago, Illinois – Three South Side communities will receive targeted preservation funding as part of a nearly $65,000 statewide grant program announced by Landmarks Illinois.
According to Landmarks Illinois, $30,000 has been awarded through the Timuel D. Black, Jr. Grant Fund for Chicago’s South Side to support preservation projects in Altgeld Gardens, Pullman, and South Shore. The grants are designed to help stabilize culturally and historically significant sites while leveraging additional fundraising.
In Altgeld Gardens, By the Hand Club for Kids received a $10,000 grant to fund historic preservation consulting for the rehabilitation of the Keck & Keck–designed “Up Top” Building. The structure is located within the Altgeld Gardens–Philip Murray Homes Historic District on the Far South Side and is considered a key architectural feature of the community’s original design.
In Pullman, the Calumet Area Industrial Commission was awarded $10,000 to restore the Our Lady of Guadalupe Vietnam Veterans Memorial Mural. Painted in 1970, the mural honors young men from the parish who lost their lives in the Vietnam War and is recognized as one of the earliest large-scale public memorials dedicated to Vietnam veterans.
In South Shore, Haven of Rest Missionary Baptist Church received $10,000 for roof and masonry repairs to its Moorish Revival–style terra cotta building. The work is being undertaken in advance of the building’s upcoming 100th anniversary. The structure was originally constructed as a restaurant before becoming a church.
Landmarks Illinois officials say the South Side grants prioritize preservation that reflects neighborhood history, architecture, and lived experience. The funding is issued on a matching basis, requiring recipients to secure additional financial support.
Applications for the next round of South Side grants are due January 1, 2026.
