We originally wrote to Loyola University of Chicago in January to advocate for our neighbors and for ourselves, following the examples we experience every day in the arts community of care, excellence, and mutual support. When we say community we mean any audience that comes together to experience and share creative acts. The great art that is present in Chicago cannot happen without the support of audiences with space to converge. Values are not dictated by economic forces alone, but by how people choose to share their time with each other. The reality of artists and audiences in Chicago is that they are an ever-growing, changing, self-defining, and lasting group of people who are neighbors, employees, educators, students, and leaders. Anyone can choose to value and participate in arts and cultural activities. Loyola University is a private institution, and this shapes their sense of community. Their decisions related to 1226-1234 Loyola Ave harm both our community and their own through a withdrawal of support for cultural activities. Removing affordable housing and creative commercial spaces has a chilling effect on local culture, as does their lack of funding and public access in their own private exhibition spaces and properties. Powerful independent institutions with great resources hold great responsibility to care for the people in their midst. The individuals in control of these institutions can lead with their hearts and choose to contribute to the culture that defines our intersecting communities. We are reminded on a daily basis by our community that art gives people a reason to live.
Since we first wrote to Loyola University and our neighbors regarding 1234 Loyola, we have the following updates:
- Loyola desires to tear down the building as soon as possible citing “unprofitable” renovation expenses.
- Loyola has not publicly announced specific plans to develop the space this building occupies.
- Elected officials have asked Loyola to consider other uses for the existing building, including turning it into art studios and creative spaces.
- Loyola released a new campus plan highlighting this area of campus for residential and recreational uses, which match the current functions of the building.
- Residential tenants are being asked to leave their homes at the end of their current leases, which all conclude by August 31, 2024.
- Roman Susan has been able to provide residential tenants with emergency moving stipends through support from Crossroads Fund's Critical Response grant.
- Some residential tenants have been offered new housing in Loyola properties managed by Lakeside Management.
- Some residential tenants have received support from Loyola by way of rent subsidies and moving expenses.
- Our commercial neighbors Archie’s Cafe will leave their location at the conclusion of their lease ending August 31, 2024.
- Our commercial neighbors Edge Art have received an extension to stay until December 31, 2024.
- Roman Susan will continue at this location until the conclusion of our lease September 30, 2025.
- The CTA is planning to renovate and possibly expand services at the Loyola Station, which could begin in 2029, and will potentially impact the development of this location.
There is still time for Loyola to choose people over profits in any of the following ways:
- Loyola could invest in the neighborhood and rehabilitate the existing building as a model of adaptive reuse, creating a sustainable mixed-income development with affordable housing and a community arts incubator, maintaining its current tenants, and programming educational student-run storefronts.
- Loyola could maintain the existing building and lease it as affordable housing, art studios, and creative spaces until the next steps are in place to move forward with future development.
- Loyola could build an arts and culture district among its future campus buildings, replacing the estimated 100+ affordable apartments it has demolished in this area in the recent past.
Roman Susan will continue in other forms at the conclusion of our lease at 1224 W Loyola Ave. Our time at this space has been valuable beyond words, and we’re very grateful to be a part of the community here. Thank you for supporting our neighbors, and for creating Roman Susan with us. We hope to celebrate and share it with you the best way we can over the next year!