Promontory Point Conservancy
protecting and preserving Promontory Point, Chicago
The community is the Point: preserving the historic limestone revetment preserves the community that has gathered at the Point for decades
Why “Save the Point”? Save it from what?
As a community-led organization, the Conservancy advocates to save Promontory Point’s historic limestone breakwater block stepped-stone revetment and promenade from demolition and replacement with new construction. The Chicago Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), and the Chicago Park District (CPkD) currently intend to demolish and replace the historic limestone revetment with new construction at an exorbitant cost of 100 million dollars. Their plan involves the closure of the park for five full years, with most of its trees and vegetation being clear-cut for construction and staging. These agencies twist the preservation process so as to back into their pre-determined design which demolishes the historic revetment and replaces it with a new structure with limestone cladding veneer. They pursue an over-engineered, overpriced overhaul that no one wants.
For the past 25 years, the Conservancy and its professional engineers have proved that preserving the historic limestone block structure is feasible, half the cost, is stronger and more durable, lasts twice as long, and meets USACE and CDOT's requirements for storm damage and shoreline protection. Our engineering studies show that USACE and CDOT can destroy the Point but they don’t have to. We want the Point preserved the right way!
As a community-led organization, the Conservancy advocates to save Promontory Point’s historic limestone breakwater block stepped-stone revetment and promenade from demolition and replacement with new construction. The Chicago Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), and the Chicago Park District (CPkD) currently intend to demolish and replace the historic limestone revetment with new construction at an exorbitant cost of 100 million dollars. Their plan involves the closure of the park for five full years, with most of its trees and vegetation being clear-cut for construction and staging. These agencies twist the preservation process so as to back into their pre-determined design which demolishes the historic revetment and replaces it with a new structure with limestone cladding veneer. They pursue an over-engineered, overpriced overhaul that no one wants.
For the past 25 years, the Conservancy and its professional engineers have proved that preserving the historic limestone block structure is feasible, half the cost, is stronger and more durable, lasts twice as long, and meets USACE and CDOT's requirements for storm damage and shoreline protection. Our engineering studies show that USACE and CDOT can destroy the Point but they don’t have to. We want the Point preserved the right way!
When will all this happen?
CDOT has already hired its contractor for the astronomical $5m design planning study for the Point in Spring 2024. USACE and CDOT are fully authorized and funded for the design and the $100m construction at Promontory Point. USACE has not publicly specified a date but documents show construction starting in Spring 2027 and closing the Point for 5 years.
How can we Save the Point?
The Point can be saved -- realistically, scientifically and economically. A series of third-party engineering reports recently funded by the community contradicted many of the City’s claims, reaching a number of different conclusions about the Point’s structural soundness. While the City’s engineering reports have not been made public, these independent studies found that the Point’s existing limestone revetment:
The Point can be saved -- realistically, scientifically and economically. A series of third-party engineering reports recently funded by the community contradicted many of the City’s claims, reaching a number of different conclusions about the Point’s structural soundness. While the City’s engineering reports have not been made public, these independent studies found that the Point’s existing limestone revetment:
- has NOT failed
- functions in good condition right now for storm damage and shoreline protection
- can be repaired and rehabilitated at half the cost of demolition and replacement
- can be repaired and rehabilitated in eleven months , rather than five years
Didn’t we already Save the Point?
The Conservancy spearheaded the Point’s addition to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018, as well as its designation as a Chicago Landmark in 2023. This double landmarking, however, still has not guaranteed that the Point’s defining feature won’t be destroyed — and a vibrant community along with it. Through FOIA, the Conservancy found that USACE and CDOT have a misleading condition study purporting that the historic limestone revetment has failed, and must be destroyed and replaced. And the agencies attribute storm erosion at Morgan Shoal to the Point when there's not a drop of water at the Point that damages DuSable Lake Shore Drive, public or private property. These claims allow USACE and CDOT to back into their plan for demolition and replacement with new construction, and bypass the landmarking protections.
The community-funded, third-party engineering reports contradicted the City’s claims, reaching different conclusions about the Point’s structural soundness and its performance. These reports prove that the historic limestone revetment can be retained, repaired, fixed and maintained at roughly half the cost.
The Conservancy spearheaded the Point’s addition to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018, as well as its designation as a Chicago Landmark in 2023. This double landmarking, however, still has not guaranteed that the Point’s defining feature won’t be destroyed — and a vibrant community along with it. Through FOIA, the Conservancy found that USACE and CDOT have a misleading condition study purporting that the historic limestone revetment has failed, and must be destroyed and replaced. And the agencies attribute storm erosion at Morgan Shoal to the Point when there's not a drop of water at the Point that damages DuSable Lake Shore Drive, public or private property. These claims allow USACE and CDOT to back into their plan for demolition and replacement with new construction, and bypass the landmarking protections.
The community-funded, third-party engineering reports contradicted the City’s claims, reaching different conclusions about the Point’s structural soundness and its performance. These reports prove that the historic limestone revetment can be retained, repaired, fixed and maintained at roughly half the cost.
What can I do?
We’ve got the engineering, the technology, the preservation and the economics nailed! Here’s what you can do now:
We’ve got the engineering, the technology, the preservation and the economics nailed! Here’s what you can do now:
- Watch this video to quickly get up to speed on how to Save the Point!
- Get on our mailing list and follow us on social media at #savethepointchi
- Donate to support our ongoing work to Save the Point!
- Stay Tuned and plan to attend the public meetings that USACE, CDOT and CPkD must hold to announce their plans, most likely in spring 2026.