Historical Preservation, Chicago Style

These days you can vote on pretty much anything. Want to see your favorite athletes in the All-Star game? Just go to the leagues’ Web sites and vote for them. Hope your favorite reality TV character makes it to the next week? Be sure to text in your vote.

It seems when Americans need to make a decision on an issue — any issue — we vote.

Surely, American Express and the National Trust For Historical Preservation knew this when they created Partners In Preservation. The partnership pledged $5 million over a five-year period to preserve historic and cultural sites in the United States.

Recognizing the area for its architectural importance and cultural heritage, Chicago was the chosen city for this year’s contest. Voters can choose from 25 Chicago landmarks – and the winners will receive up to $1 million.

Last year the campaign was launched in San Francisco. Royce Yeater, midwest director for National Trust, said they worked out many kinks and that’s an advantage for Chicago.

“We tried it out last year in San Francisco and it was quite successful,” Yeater said. “With only a little tweaking, we were able to apply it to Chicago.”

Chicago voting began Sept. 6 and is on its way to surpassing last year’s vote and registered voter totals, Yeater said, and they have already received more comments and pictures than last year. Individuals may vote once a day until Oct. 10 and winners will be announced in November 2007.

Starting with about 160 sites, the list was narrowed down to the top 25. The process took a few months to fine tune, Yeater said. And the contest is up and running.

Each landmark had to be eligible or listed on a register of historic places. In addition, each organization had to show a project plan – and community support for it – and demonstrate ability to complete the project by June 2009.

“This is what we do every day,” Yeater said. “We support local preservation efforts.”

Currently, the top vote-getters include On Leong Merchant Association Building/ Pui-Tak Center in Chinatown, Von Steuben High School in the city’s Northwest Side and a 19th century replica of a Viking Ship that sailed to Chicago from Norway for the World’s Columbian Exposition.

Lisa Stone, curator of the Roger Brown study collection, said she spent more time than she expected gathering support for the collection, which was in 14th place this week. Located at 1926 N. Halsted St., the collection includes pieces from Brown and other Chicago artists on two floors of the now-deceased Brown’s former apartment.

Stone hopes to receive enough money from the contest for roof and masonry repairs, as well as restoration of the collections’ historic storefront doors.

Curators submitted grant proposals with detailed plans for the landmarks, and what it would cost. The contest winner will receive their requested amount and organizers will decide how much money the remaining 24 sites will be awarded, after the voting ends.

“We don’t know how they’re going to do that,” Stone said. “We just go through the dog and pony show and try to get as many votes as possible before October 10.”

Stone said she finds the idea of using popular voting to decide how to give out money to historical buildings slightly strange but, since getting funds for brick and mortar work for historical sites is difficult, the collection will take the money any way they can get it.

Camille Canales, a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, has visited the Roger Brown collection three times. She has already voted for the collection, which is owned by the school, and said she will likely vote again.

“It’s a great collection of art,” Canales said. “I do think it’s weird that you can vote as often as you want, but I’ll definitely take advantage of that.”

Stone may only be half-joking when she says Roger Brown, who died in 1997, has been voting for his own collection every day.

“In a way this contest is perfect for Chicago,” she said. “Vote early and vote often.”