A church that was the site of many sermons from Dr. Martin Luther King will be considered for designation as an official Chicago landmark.
The city announced Monday the Landmarks Commission will review a preliminary recommendation for Stone Temple Baptist Church’s status at its meeting on Feb. 4, 2016.
“Stone Temple Baptist Church has been a community icon in North Lawndale for decades, providing a forum for Dr. Martin Luther King’s vision for equitable housing in Chicago during the civil rights era, and a place of worship for community residents since the 1920s,” Mayor Emanuel said in a statement. “It’s entirely appropriate that the Landmarks Commission should consider honoring its important role in the community with a Landmark designation.”
The church was one of a few King preached at during the Chicago Freedom Movement, a campaign that raised awareness about housing discrimination, according to the city’s release.
Should the commission vote to start the process to give the structure a landmark status, a designation process would begin that takes six to nine months, according to the city.
The final recommendation would be sent to City Council for consideration.
