Mayor Rahm Emanuel today celebrated the first anniversary of President Obama’s designation of Pullman as Chicago’s first national monument.

“One year ago today President Obama made sure that Pullman’s history will forever be a part of America’s history,” Mayor Emanuel said. “But Pullman National Monument is about more than reclaiming a part of Pullman’s past – it’s also about what we are doing to redefine Pullman’s future.”

Pullman National Monument is a key part of the neighborhood’s economic comeback. Since last year the Method factory became the first new manufacturing facility to be built in Pullman in more than 30 years. The facility has created 100 jobs and has the nation’s largest rooftop greenhouse.

Over the past three years the Pullman neighborhood has seen $173 million in public and private investment in recently completed projects, including a building addition on the Gwendolyn Brooks Selective Enrollment Academy to allow it to expand to serve seventh and eighth grades. Ranked #16 in the state by U.S. News and World Report, Brooks attracts high-performing students from throughout the city.

Additionally, the new Walmart in Pullman is employing 400 people and is one of the busiest shopping centers in all of Chicago. The currently under-construction 113,000 square-foot Pullman Community Center will create even more community jobs.
The Park Service estimates that tourism in Pullman will jump from the current 30,000 visitors a year to more than 300,000 annually thanks to Pullman National Monument.

Today’s event follows Mayor Emanuel’s announcement yesterday of an initiative that will generate millions of dollars in new investment into underserved communities throughout Chicago. The proposal will reform existing ordinance to allow developers to obtain additional square-footage for construction projects in the downtown area in exchange for investments to support neighborhoods in need of jobs and economic growth. 

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