The Chicago Landmarks Commission will meet on March 7 and discuss whether or not to confer historic landmark status on the Legacy Walk in Lake View.
"It's unbelievable that this is happening," said Victor Salvo, executive director of the Legacy Project. "We look forward to the process as it unfolds. The Legacy Walk is not a historical building or monument, so I intend to speak about the importance of place, that this is the only place like it on Earth."
City officials announced they'd be pursuing the designation last June, shortly before Gay Pride weekend. On June 22, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement that, "The Legacy Walk is not only a historically significant legacy of the LGBT community of Chicago, but a signal that the entire city is a safe and welcoming place for everyone."
Officials added, "Landmark Status will protect the steel pylons and outdoor museum that define the Boystown streetscape. It is being considered for its unique cultural, historical and social heritage, its celebration of individuals who significantly contributed to the development of Chicago, and its distinctive physical presence as a visual feature of the Boystown neighborhood, among other criteria."
The Landmarks Commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the full city council for final approval. Salvo said that the Commission's determination would likely not be forthcoming for several months.
The final plaques along the Legacy Walk, dedicated to activist Marsha P. Johnson and composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, were installed at the Halsted Street site in Oct. 2014, completing Salvo and supporters' initial goal of an open-air museum celebrating the LGBT community. The first plaques were unveiled in 2012.