Bronzeville's Sacred Stones and Federal Dollars: St. Paul CME Church Nears Landmark Status as Heritage Area Funding Takes Shape

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Bronzeville ·

Two major preservation wins are quietly building momentum in Bronzeville this spring — and together, they signal a neighborhood determined to protect its legacy while investing in its future.

First, the century-old St. Paul CME Church at 3993 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive — built in 1912 — is inching closer to official Chicago landmark designation. The Commission on Chicago Landmarks issued its final recommendation for the storied church, and the proposed designation now awaits a full City Council vote. For a neighborhood already home to nationally significant architecture, this would add yet another protected jewel to Bronzeville's remarkable built heritage. Meanwhile, on the federal level, the Bronzeville–Black Metropolis National Heritage Area — the sweeping preservation zone stretching from the South Loop to Woodlawn that was formally established by Congress in 2023 — is on track to receive up to

5 million to continue telling the story of the Great Migration and the cultural explosion that made this neighborhood the Black capital of America. The Heritage Area protects more than 200 historically significant locations between 18th and 71st Streets.

Together, these two developments underscore something Bronzeville residents already know: the neighborhood's past is its greatest asset, and the community is fighting hard to keep it intact. Follow City Council updates on the St. Paul CME landmark vote, and learn more about the Heritage Area's programming and preservation priorities at wttw.com.

Sources:
1. https://chicago.urbanize.city/neighborhood/bronzeville
2. https://news.wttw.com/chicago-neighborhoods/bronzeville
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Metropolis%E2%80%93Bronzeville_District