Bronzeville Is Reaching New Heights: A Historic Church Nears Landmark Status and a $900M Skyscraper Vision Takes Shape
By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Bronzeville ·
Two major milestones are putting Bronzeville firmly on the map this week — one honoring the neighborhood's storied past, the other boldly imagining its skyline future.
First, a beloved piece of Bronzeville's architectural heritage is one step closer to permanent protection. St. Paul CME Church, the historic congregation at 3993 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive — built in 1912 — has received a final landmark recommendation that now awaits full Chicago City Council approval. The designation would cement the church's place in the city's official record of irreplaceable landmarks, a well-earned honor for a building that has anchored the community for over a century.
Meanwhile, the neighborhood's development horizon is quite literally going vertical. A breathtaking $900 million proposal called Metropolis Pointe — planned for the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and 26th Street — envisions two glassy, bronze-colored skyscrapers as a direct nod to Bronzeville's legacy as the Black Metropolis. The centerpiece would be a soaring 50-story, 560-foot tower designed by Wight & Company and Studio Barnes, featuring an observation deck and a sweeping 'sky veranda.' The development would deliver nearly 600 apartments, roughly 30 condominiums, and affordable units reserved for civil servants like firefighters and postal workers. Community meetings are ongoing as developers work to build neighborhood support ahead of city approvals.
From preserving the past to building an extraordinary future, Bronzeville is firing on all cylinders. Follow the City Council's landmark vote for St. Paul CME Church — and keep an eye on Metropolis Pointe as this transformative vision moves through the approval process.
Sources:
1. https://chicago.urbanize.city/neighborhood/bronzeville
2. https://chicagocrusader.com/massive-development-skyscrapers-planned-for-bronzeville/