The New Genesis Assembly of God Baptist Church at 1400 N. Laramie has officially joined Chicago's roster of protected landmarks, after the City Council signed off on a designation that calls out both its striking architecture and deep roots in the Austin neighborhood.
The council approved ordinance O2025-0019626 on Oct. 16, 2025, formally enacting the landmark status, according to Chicago Councilmatic. The measure passed overwhelmingly and instructs that a suitable plaque be installed so the church is clearly identified as a city landmark.
Eclectic Neo-Gothic Architecture and Historic Fabric
Preservation advocates and city landmarks staff pointed to the church's eclectic Neo-Gothic detailing and remarkably intact materials as key reasons to protect it. Built in phases between 1924 and 1949 to designs by architect Moritz F. Strauch, the complex is clad in Lannon stone and incorporates lancet windows, crenellated parapets, and interior oak framing that reflect Strauch's Viennese training.
The four-story bell tower, topped by an octagonal lantern and holding bells cast in 1898, was singled out as a particularly distinctive feature, according to Preservation Chicago. Together, the materials and details give the corner property an outsized presence on the block.
Congregation's Role and Neighborhood Ties
The property began as Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, a congregation established in 1870, and Reverend Carl H. Rembold led the move to this site and the associated building campaign in the 1920s, per reporting by Urbanize Chicago. New Genesis Assembly of God has occupied and operated the building since 1997 and continues to serve the Austin neighborhood, holding down the corner for more than 25 years.
What Landmark Status Requires
The ordinance identifies "all exterior elevations, including rooflines" as significant features that must be preserved, according to the Chicago Councilmatic. Any proposed alterations, demolitions or new construction that affect the landmarked property are subject to permit review by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, per the city's landmarks office (Commission on Chicago Landmarks).
In practice, the designation locks in the church's exterior character while still allowing maintenance and community programming to proceed under the city's review process. The upcoming plaque and formal recognition are expected to call more attention to Austin's architectural history and the neighborhood's evolving story.
