The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, facing legal disputes over an ill-planned archive center in Chicago's Humboldt Park, has released new plans for its construction. The current cinder-block structure, under scrutiny, will be dismantled. Instead, a new structure will be erected on the famous Paseo Boricua corridor.
The museum initially began building without obtaining the needed permits, leading to public backlash. Preservation groups described the building as an eyesore, eventually causing city's Department of Buildings to issue a stop-work order in September 2022. Moreover, the city of Chicago, in July 2023, filed a lawsuit against the museum and the Park District due to non-adherence to city codes. This information comes from a report by the Chicago Tribune.
The museum's president and CEO, Billy Ocasio, also the former alderman for the area did admit to missteps during a public meeting on October 5, 2023. Ocasio has apologized to the community. He has promised that the existing structure is going to be dismantled. The museum now plans to work with Ald. Jessie Fuentes to relocate the archives to a new location according to another Block Club Chicago report.
The new archives center, projected to cost between $3 million and $5 million, will play an essential role in the preservation of treasured artifacts from Puerto Rico threatened by hurricanes and earthquakes. To move forward with this plan, Ocasio is gearing up for a capital campaign and has commissioned an independent architect and legal team to ensure proper documentation is submitted in line with a Chicago Tribune article.
Two parcels of land at 2533 and 2537 W. Division St. in Paseo Boricua are presently being considered for the archives building. Yet, the museum is not yet the official owner, clarifies Fuentes' office. The alderwoman plans to expedite the permitting process for the construction and subsequent demolition, however a specific timeline is yet to put forth.
Preservation Chicago and Friends of the Parks, among others, have voiced their support for the new plans and confirm their intent to contribute funds to the new archive building. Fuentes emphasizes the importance of community input and supports the museum's role in promoting Puerto Rican arts and culture as reported in a Block Club Chicago article.
Once the existing structure is dismantled, the museum intends to utilize the vacant space for outdoor programming. They also aim to construct a sculpture garden outdoors and encase the existing courtyard with glass, to facilitate year-round event hosting. These plans are elaborated upon in a report by the Chicago Tribune.
Moving ahead with these plans, the museum and associated parties are focusing on maintaining transparency, fostering community cooperation to make certain the archives center stands as a valuable platform for showcasing Puerto Rican arts and culture. This progression is viewed as a significant step for the museum, indicating its readiness to learn from past mistakes and a commitment to better serving the communities it represents.
