The City of Chicago's Black Metropolis is a historic site of African American achievement in arts and culture, business and entrepreneurship, politics, sports, and recreation. The area stretches from the City's South Loop to Woodlawn (18^th Street to the North, 71^st street to the South, Lake Michigan to the East, and Canal Street to the West). The assemblage of natural, historic, educational, and recreational resources forms a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape that is worth preserving.The area also serves as memorial to the Great Migration of 1910-20, a demographic movement in which approximately 500,000 African Americans migrated north in search of employment and improved life opportunities.

The Bronzeville Community Development Partnership, along with numerous community partners, has decided to preserve its unique landscape and assets through a National Heritage Area (NHA) designation application. CMAP's Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program is assisting the Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Commission (BMNHAC) and the City of Chicago Historic Preservation Division (HPres)on a feasibility study  to explore a number of important factors that will inform whether or not a NHA designation is the best way to achieve  conservation, preservation, and economic development goals.

The study will also provide the U.S. Congress with information regarding the appropriateness of designating the area as a NHA. NHA recognition, conferred by Congress, denotes a nationally distinctive landscape shaped by natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources. These areas tell nationally important stories through geography, natural, and cultural resources, and the traditions that have evolved within the landscapes.  The feasibility study will support the submittal of an application to the National Park Service for NHA status.

Public Events

For more information regarding public engagement opportunities, please contact Kendra Smith, at (ksmith@cmap.illinois.govor 312-386-8774).

Project Documents

Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Fact Sheet
Project Vision and Themes Document
Proposed Project Boundaries
 

Project Advisory Committee (PAC)

October 30 PAC Meeting Minutes
November 29 PAC Meeting Minutes
January 29 PAC Meeting Minutes
February 26 PAC Meeting Minutes
March 26 PAC Meeting Minutes

Contacts

Paula Robinson, President, Bronzeville Community Development Partnership (Paula1077@aol.com or 773-785-3826)

Kendra Smith, CMAP Associate-Outreach & Community Engagement (ksmith@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8774)