Historical landmark designation for St. Paul Christian Methodist Episcopal Church at 4644 S Dearborn St

Votes › Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards

Record number: O2026-0023890
Type: Ordinance; category: Historical Landmarks
Status: Final
Sponsor: Misc. Transmittal
Committee: Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards
Introduction Date: Mar 18, 2026
Final Action Date: May 20, 2026
Official record: Office of the City Clerk

Roll call: Passed May 20, 2026

50 yea, 0 nay. On motion of Alderperson Villegas, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed. Voted at the City Council meeting of May 20, 2026.

Yea (50): Daniel La Spata (1), Brian Hopkins (2), Pat Dowell (3), Lamont J. Robinson (4), Desmon C. Yancy (5), William E. Hall (6), Gregory I. Mitchell (7), Michelle A. Harris (8), Anthony Beale (9), Peter Chico (10), Nicole T. Lee (11), Julia M. Ramirez (12), Marty Quinn (13), Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (14), Raymond A. Lopez (15), Stephanie D. Coleman (16), David H. Moore (17), Derrick G. Curtis (18), Matthew J. O'Shea (19), Jeanette B. Taylor (20), Ronnie L. Mosley (21), Michael D. Rodriguez (22), Silvana Tabares (23), Monique L. Scott (24), Byron Sigcho-López (25), Jessica L. Fuentes (26), Walter R. Burnett (27), Jason C. Ervin (28), Chris Taliaferro (29), Ruth Cruz (30), Felix Cardona Jr. (31), Scott Waguespack (32), Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (33), William Conway (34), Anthony J. Quezada (35), Gilbert Villegas (36), Emma Mitts (37), Nicholas Sposato (38), Samantha Nugent (39), Andre Vasquez Jr. (40), Anthony V. Napolitano (41), Brendan Reilly (42), Timothy R. Knudsen (43), Bennett R. Lawson (44), James M. Gardiner (45), Angela Clay (46), Matthew J. Martin (47), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48), Maria E. Hadden (49), Debra L. Silverstein (50)

Plain-language summary

Written by AI (claude-opus-5-5) from the ordinance text only: O2026-0023890 Ordinance.pdf. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This ordinance would make St. Paul C.M.E. Church at 4644 S. Dearborn Street an official Chicago Landmark. The church is home to the first and oldest C.M.E. congregation in Chicago, and its 1917 building is an example of Tudor Revival style. Once designated, changes to the building's outside walls and rooflines would go through the city's landmark permit review.

Designates St. Paul C.M.E. Church as a Chicago Landmark; the Commission on Chicago Landmarks recommended this on March 5, 2026.
The congregation was co-founded in 1907 by Bishop Isaac Lane, and the building was built in 1917 to host the 1918 C.M.E. General Conference, the denomination's first held north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
All exterior walls and rooflines are protected features under the city's permit review rules.
The education wing added around 1961 is specifically excluded from the protected features.
The Commission is directed to create a plaque identifying the building as a Chicago Landmark.

Who: The St. Paul C.M.E. Church congregation and property owners would be affected, since future exterior changes to the building would require landmark permit review.

Where: 4644 S. Dearborn Street, in the Grand Boulevard Community Area and Bronzeville neighborhood (ward not stated)

Timeline

Mar 18, 2026: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.
May 6, 2026: Recommended to Pass, Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards. The matter was recommended to Pass by controlling legislative body.
May 20, 2026: Passed, City Council (50 yea, 0 nay), at the City Council meeting. On motion of Alderperson Villegas, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed.