Short history of the Point Revetment Promontory Point (Chicago)

map of promontory point in chicago

much of chicago s lakefront landfill. protect lakefront park land, seawall or revetment built chicago park district in 1930s. revetment consists of limestone blocks (with average weight 2 4 tons) arranged in series of “steps” leading down lake. these blocks supported crib structure made wooden timbers encloses crushed rock. @ outer edge of revetment, series of wooden pilings, held steel rail, keep limestone blocks tumbling lake.

at point, revetment features 4 steps leading down 16-foot (4.9 m) wide promenade. revetment @ point exposed severe wave action , had partially failed 1960s. 1,000-foot (300 m) section of revetment (out of approximately 6,000-foot (1,800 m) total length) @ northeast tip of point repaired removing limestone blocks form promenade , pouring pad of 3 feet (0.91 m) of concrete on badly eroded crib structure. repair stands today.

by 1980s, city , cpd began project repair revetment along of city s lakefront. federal funds sought u.s. army corps of engineers, , project study begun. conclusion of study, published in 1993, different areas of revetment needed different treatments. @ promontory point, historic preservation treatment agreed , signed public contract, , law when congress approved project, in memorandum of agreement. document states “the corps shall consult shpo (state historic preservation officer), city of chicago , chicago park district ensure design , construction of revetment match existing in accordance recommendations of secretary of interior s ‘standards , guidelines archeology , historic preservation’.”

as project moved forward , funded, acoe, city , cpd changed design @ promontory point. new plan called demolition of historic revetment, , replacement monolithic concrete seawall.

in january 2001, city , cpd held community meeting announce plans point revetment. started controversy has not yet been resolved.