The meeting agenda for today has been published online and could be found at chicago.gov/content/dam/ci…

The meeting was called to order at 12:49pm. Chair Ernest C. Wong, Vice Chair Gabriel Ignacio Dziekiewicz and commission members Suellen Burns, Jonathan Fair, Adam Rubin, and Richard Tolliver are in attendance. Commissioner Alicia Ponce is yet to arrive.

Meeting minutes from the lasting regular meeting on March 6 were unanimously confirmed.

Moving onto the final landmark recommendation of Morning Star Baptist Church of Chicago, located at 3993 South King Drive in Bronzeville: morningstarbcofchicago.org

The commission highlighted the important African American architectural heritage that church embodies, with an emphasis on the roles played by African American architects Walter Thomas Bailey and Charles Duster.

A representative from Preservation Chicago is speaking during public comments. "It's wonderful to see so many churches in Bronzeville and houses of worship being recognized, this one being a mid-century modern church."

The motion is approved unanimously. Next up is the final landmark recommendation for Harris Trust & Savings Bank, located at 111 W Monroe Street: a Classical Revival skyscraper built in 1911 with an attached addition of the modernist East Tower from 1960.

Ward Miller from Preservation Chicago is speaking now. He recalls how the building were considered endangered just a few years ago when BMO moved its offices to West Loop and expresses his organization's strong support for the landmark designation.

The motion carries unanimously. Next up is the Permit Review Committee Report.

Staff from Permit Review Committee mentions that there were 144 approved applications in March, and it took 4.5 days on average to approve an application.

The meeting of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks has ended. The meeting of the Permit Review Committee will begin shortly.

The Permit Review Committee meeting began after a short 5-minute break! Meeting minutes from last month are approved unanimously. There are 7 buildings on the agenda today for permit review.

First up for review is the proposed new shade awning and glass guards for existing rooftop amenity space of the Canopy by Hilton hotel building, located at 226 W. Jackson Boulevard: hilton.com/en/hotels/chij…

The main reason for scrutiny seems to be the visibility of these new rooftop structures from the street, given that the building is a designated landmark.

The motion carries unanimously. Next up for review is the proposed new construction of 11 new townhouses in three separate grouping on combined vacate lots on the block of 4400 S. Greenwood Ave, located inside the North Kenwood Multiple Resource District.

The argument for approval centers on the parallel between the massing and facade material of the new development and that of historical row houses in the neighborhood. The staff is making it clear that this is not an endorsement for required zoning changes for the project.

Staff recommendation adopted unanimously. Project No.3 is the proposed new construction of 5 new two-story single-family residences and detached two-car garages at 3307-3319 S. Prarie Ave.

After commissioners' feedback, the developer is promising to work with the committee to advance design to make the facades less flat and give them more depth.

Item approved unanimously again. Next up for discussion is the proposed alterations to an existing rear addition to a coach house at 1625 N Mohawk St, located inside the Old Town Triangle District

Approved unanimously. Next up for discussion is the proposed use of reflective, one-way vision privacy film at three first-floor storefront bays for a new abortion clinic, located at 4649 N. Broadway at Uptown Square

The applicant's main rationale for the one-way vision privacy film, typically not approved for historical buildings, is privacy and security needs for the nature of the business.

Approved unanimously again. Next up for discussion is the proposed relocation of an existing curb cut and driveway from the west side of the property to the east side of the property and the construction of a new garage in the rear yard at 1030 E. 48th Street in Kenwood.

Staff recommendation adopted unanimously. Final project of the day: proposed signage replacement at Vassar Swiss Underwear Co. Building at 2545 W Diversey. The building dates back to 1940 and is prominent along the Kennedy Expressway.

When questioned by commissioners, both committee staff and the applicant highlight the benefit of having dimmable signs in enabling operational control over potential light pollution in the residential area that the project is located in.

Representatives from the company is voicing objections to the staff recommendation to eliminate green halo lighting from the signage. They contend that the new green halo lighting would be central to projecting the company's brand identity.

The committee is voting to revise and adopt staff recommendation for the proposed signage. Green halo lighting will be allowed as long as it is similarly dimmable to permit a degree of control.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:29 pm. The Commission's next meeting is scheduled for May 8, 2024. This concludes my live-tweeting for today's regular meeting of The Commission on Chicago Landmarks (CCL) for #CHIdocumenters @CHIdocumenters