July 21, 1919 – The Chicago City Council passes
two huge ordinances that will, together, have an immense impact on the future
of the city. One is the lake front
development ordinance, adopted by a vote of 66 to 2. This decision ratifies an agreement between
the city, the South Park Commission, and the Illinois Central Railroad,
restricting development on the lakefront from the Chicago River all the way to
Forty-Seventh Street. The other act submits
bond issues for street improvements totaling $28,600,000 that will be on the
ballot for approval in November. Charles
H. Wacker, head of the Chicago Plan Commission, says, “This is the greatest
day, barring none, in Chicago’s history. It means more to the growth,
development, and greatness of the city than anything which has heretofore
happened . . . When these improvements are completed this city will have passed
from the provincial town class to a real metropolitan city.” The photo above shows the lake front five years later in 1924.
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