Historic Preservation Session Recap

1/4/2018

On January 3rd, 2018, ICA and the Uptown Coastal Initiative hosted the sixth installment of the Out and About Uptown’s Coast series, Historic Preservation. This event was designed in partnership with Christopher House’s Youth Leadership program.

The session started with a reflection on the teens’ personal experience with preservation through family traditions, spanning food, holidays, and even use of public space in Uptown. Melanie Eckner from Uptown Coastal Initiative shared a historical perspective of Uptown’s coast and buildings. Lesley Showers, Property Manager of ICA GreenRise, presented on the ICA GreenRise as a historic landmark and shared plans for the upcoming renovation to make the building more energy efficient and welcoming. Following the presentations, the group toured the ICA GreenRise renovated common spaces as well historic marvels, including hidden treasures in the basement! Due to the cold winter weather, the group took a virtual tour of Uptown and posted images of places images of community assets that need to be preserved. In particular, the group really valued Clarendon Park!

Melanie Eckner describes how Montrose Beach was created.

Lesley Showers guides a tour in ICA's historic basement.

Uptown Asset Map

In Partnership:

About Out and About Uptown's Coast

Out & About Uptown's Coast partnered with the Uptown Coastal Initiative to raise awareness of Uptown's lakefront and parks through nine experiential, educational sessions that offer attendees rich opportunity for meaningful engagement with the ecology and culture of this Great Lakes coastal community.

The project connected residents, workers, and visitors, and strengthen links between the well-being of the coastal ecosystem and the health and well-being of those who live, work, and visit Uptown’s coast.

Highlighting local expertise and creating a space for diverse attendees to learn about and explore the area together, each session’s unique lens targeted different subjects and circle back to universal accessibility to and stewardship of Uptown’s coast across a spectrum of disciplines.

At the close of Out & About Uptown's Coast, the Uptown Coastal Initiative team created a toolkit highlighting the different approaches taken and lessons learned to help inform future programming as well as participant stewardship and engagement around sustainability in the coast.
For more information about Out and About Uptown's Coast, contact [email protected].