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Administration Clock Tower Building, Pullman National Monument

Pullman Factory Site Conceptual Design


The National Park Service (NPS) has developed a range of alternative conceptual designs for improvements, rehabilitation, and use of the Pullman Factory site, a component of the Pullman State Historic Park within Pullman National Monument. These proposed actions focus on preserving the historic Pullman Factory site by creating a common vision and understanding of the options available, and of the contributing roles of state, federal and private partners in moving these options forward.

The town of Pullman was created for the Pullman Palace Car Company in the 1880s by George Pullman and became a model factory town on the south side of Chicago. Pullman developed this town with the assistance of architect Solon Spencer Beman and landscape architect Nathan F. Barrett to create a community that served as a positive incentive for his workforce. Over the years, elements of this unique community have deteriorated but residents and partner groups have organized to rehabilitate the area. The district became a national historic landmark district in 1970. The State of Illinois purchased the Hotel Florence, the iconic Administration Clock Tower Building, and over twelve acres of the surrounding factory site in 1991, establishing the Pullman State Historic Site.

The conceptual designs communicate basic information on the improvements necessary to the Administration Clock Tower Building; placement of access points and parking; identification of period of significance; preserving and rehabilitating historic structures to improve visitor access and use; repairing or improving a variety of structural features such as windows, roofs, and ventilation in historic structures; and removing or stabilizing hazardous materials.

This Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluates three alternatives; one of which is the preferred action alternative (preferred alternative). Under Alternative 1, the Minimal Amenities Conceptual Design - Administration Clock Tower Building Conversion to Visitor Center (no action alternative), the park would continue its current planned level of operations and maintenance at the Pullman Factory site, but there would be no integrated approach to cultural landscape and historic structure treatments. Alternative 1 would convert the Administration Clock Tower Building into Pullman National Monument's principal Visitor Center suitable for other administrative uses. This development would include the provision of utilities into the building, routine maintenance, and limited development of visitor and employee parking on the site, basically using the same disturbed areas presently used for parking. The proposed action alternatives evaluate the features that contribute to two distinct periods of historic significance of the cultural landscapes and structures, and incorporate those features into the site design. Alternative 2, the George Pullman Period (ca. 1880-1897) alternative, includes all aspects described within Alternative 1 (No Action) and adds a series of other elements that assist in interpreting the 1880 Factory site and provides additional landscape design features reminiscent of that initial period in the history of Pullman. Alternative 3, Pullman Factory Modernization Era (ca. 1898-1941) Conceptual Design alternative, includes all aspects described within Alternative 1 (No Action) and adds a series of other elements, including landscape features that assist in interpreting the Factory site after 1907.

The proposed action alternatives also address existing limitations on visitor access to, and use of, the structures. Selection of a conceptual design preferred alternative would provide the NPS and its partners with a common understanding of site rehabilitation goals and objectives for future actions to protect cultural resources, improve visitor experience and access, improve public health and safety, and provide more consistent and effective management and use of the Pullman Factory site.
 
Comment Period: Closed        Feb 2, 2017 - Mar 6, 2017
Document Content:
Pullman Designations Handout.pdfPullman Designations Handout.pdf   (191.6 KB, PDF file)
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