Promontory Point Conservancy
protecting and preserving Promontory Point, Chicago
The community is the Point: how preserving the historic limestone revetment preserves a City-wide community
Why “Save the Point”? Save it from what?
Promontory Point Conservancy advocates to save Promontory Point’s historic stepped stone, limestone breakwater block revetment and promenade from demolition and replacement with new construction. As of 2025, the Chicago Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), and the Chicago Park District (CPkD) are planning on carrying out this demolition and new construction at an exorbitant cost of one-hundred-million dollars. This plan involves the closure of the park for five full years, with most trees and vegetation being clear-cut for construction and staging.
These agencies have twisted the historic preservation process to fit their pre-determined design which only includes a limestone veneer facsimile over a newly constructed revetment. It is an over-engineered and overpriced overhaul that has repeatedly been shown to be highly unpopular with the local community.
For 25 years, the Conservancy and its professional engineers have shown conclusively that fixing the historic limestone block structure, rather than destroying it, is not only feasible but requires half the cost and will be more durable while meeting USACE and CDOT's requirements for storm damage and shoreline protection. Our engineering studies demonstrate that, though USACE and CDOT can destroy the Point, they don't have to. We are the representatives of a community that wants the Point preserved the right way!
Promontory Point Conservancy advocates to save Promontory Point’s historic stepped stone, limestone breakwater block revetment and promenade from demolition and replacement with new construction. As of 2025, the Chicago Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), and the Chicago Park District (CPkD) are planning on carrying out this demolition and new construction at an exorbitant cost of one-hundred-million dollars. This plan involves the closure of the park for five full years, with most trees and vegetation being clear-cut for construction and staging.
These agencies have twisted the historic preservation process to fit their pre-determined design which only includes a limestone veneer facsimile over a newly constructed revetment. It is an over-engineered and overpriced overhaul that has repeatedly been shown to be highly unpopular with the local community.
For 25 years, the Conservancy and its professional engineers have shown conclusively that fixing the historic limestone block structure, rather than destroying it, is not only feasible but requires half the cost and will be more durable while meeting USACE and CDOT's requirements for storm damage and shoreline protection. Our engineering studies demonstrate that, though USACE and CDOT can destroy the Point, they don't have to. We are the representatives of a community that wants the Point preserved the right way!
Who's paying for this design and construction at the Point?
We, the taxpayers, are! CDOT and USACE are already fully authorized and funded for their hundred-million-dollar project. The federal funding authorization for design and construction at the Point, which passed on December 15, 2002, specifies a 65%-35% split between the federal USACE and the City. The City raised its $35-million dollar share in the Chicago Works! general bond offering in 2023. In 2024, CDOT hired a contractor for an astronomically-priced five-million-dollar design and planning study for the Point. To date, USACE still awaits its federal funding appropriation and appears to be seeking funds in the federal FY2026 budget.
We, the taxpayers, are! CDOT and USACE are already fully authorized and funded for their hundred-million-dollar project. The federal funding authorization for design and construction at the Point, which passed on December 15, 2002, specifies a 65%-35% split between the federal USACE and the City. The City raised its $35-million dollar share in the Chicago Works! general bond offering in 2023. In 2024, CDOT hired a contractor for an astronomically-priced five-million-dollar design and planning study for the Point. To date, USACE still awaits its federal funding appropriation and appears to be seeking funds in the federal FY2026 budget.
When will all this happen?
USACE has not publicly specified a date, but documents show construction and a five-year park closure commencing in the Spring of 2027. Presumably, CDOT's contractor has already started the two-year design plan to be completed in 2026.
USACE has not publicly specified a date, but documents show construction and a five-year park closure commencing in the Spring of 2027. Presumably, CDOT's contractor has already started the two-year design plan to be completed in 2026.
How can we Save the Point?
Promontory Point Conservancy has gone to great lengths to prove that the Point can be saved — scientifically and economically. We commissioned a series of third-party engineering reports, funded by the community, which ultimately contradicted the City’s claims and, in fact, reached a variety of different conclusions about the Point’s structural soundness. The City’s engineering reports have not been made public, but these independent studies are fully accessible. They found that the Point’s existing limestone revetment:
Promontory Point Conservancy has gone to great lengths to prove that the Point can be saved — scientifically and economically. We commissioned a series of third-party engineering reports, funded by the community, which ultimately contradicted the City’s claims and, in fact, reached a variety of different conclusions about the Point’s structural soundness. The City’s engineering reports have not been made public, but these independent studies are fully accessible. They found that the Point’s existing limestone revetment:
- has NOT failed
- still remains functional in pretty good condition for storm damage and shoreline protection
- can be repaired and rehabilitated at half the cost of demolition and replacement
- does not require a five-year closure period, and can, in fact, be rehabilitated in just 11 months
Didn’t we already Save the Point?
You’re right, they’ve tried this before! After previous efforts to concretize the Point were shut down by the community from 2000-2007, 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. But this double landmarking still hasn’t guaranteed that the Point’s defining features won’t be destroyed — and a vibrant community along with it. Documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act show that USACE and CDOT have been citing a misleading condition study purporting that the historic limestone revetment has failed, necessitating its replacement with new construction. Their erroneous claims are allowing USACE and CDOT to push through their plan for demolition and replacement, bypassing landmarking protections in the process and ignoring the community-funded engineering studies. Together we saved the Point once, and we can do it again!
You’re right, they’ve tried this before! After previous efforts to concretize the Point were shut down by the community from 2000-2007, 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. But this double landmarking still hasn’t guaranteed that the Point’s defining features won’t be destroyed — and a vibrant community along with it. Documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act show that USACE and CDOT have been citing a misleading condition study purporting that the historic limestone revetment has failed, necessitating its replacement with new construction. Their erroneous claims are allowing USACE and CDOT to push through their plan for demolition and replacement, bypassing landmarking protections in the process and ignoring the community-funded engineering studies. Together we saved the Point once, and we can do it again!
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.