The Pullman National Monument Preservation Society

We are writing to notify the community that HUD has required a new historic review of the Pullman Artspace Lofts (“Project”). For two years, the Pullman National Monument Preservation Society (“PNMPS”) has warned that the historic reviews of the Project were improperly conducted and potentially unlawful. HUD has substantiated our claims.

“HUD determined that the IL SHPO [State Historic Preservation Office] has not conducted its Section 106 reviews in accordance with federal statute, and as such are invalid”—this according to a letter to the Illinois Housing Development Authority dated September 27, 2017.

Andrew Michaelson of Artspace Projects, Inc.

Consequently, HUD has ordered a new historic review of the Project in accordance with the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act (“Act”).

This federal review is commonly referred to as a “Section 106” review. Section 106 reviews are required when federal agencies fund, permit, or otherwise assist projects that have the potential to affect historic properties.

PullmanArts has been aware of this “do-over” review since at least September. We feel they have failed to adequately inform the community about the importance of this review and of the public’s legal rights under the Act to participate in the review. Therefore, we will do so now:

Under the law, the responsible federal agency must “consult” with the public and other parties with a “demonstrated interest in the undertaking due to the nature of their legal or economic relation…or their concern with the undertaking’s [i.e., Pullman Artspace Lofts’] effects on historic properties.”

Consultation is intended to “identify” and “resolve” any “adverse effects” the Project may cause to Pullman’s “historic properties” (e.g., the “historic ruin” of Tenement “B,” neighboring properties, or the Pullman National Historic Landmark District itself, etc.). The ultimate goal of the review is to build consensus around changes to the Project that will “minimize harm to the landmark.” If all goes well, the changes are then formally adopted in a “Memorandum of Agreement.”

We invite the community to learn more about this important review and encourage you to take part in it. To that end, we have set up a webpage (Pullman106.com) where we will be posting information about the process and how you can participate as it becomes available.

Lastly, what these two difficult years have taught us is that the PNMPS’s mission of education and advocacy is necessary, even vital, to ensure the long-term protection of Pullman’s “historic designed landscape.”