W E D N E S D A Y
October 11, 2017 Vol. 35, No. 8 ONE DOLLAR
JOURNAL
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of Oak Park and River Forest
Historic River Forest block stares down demolition Developer seeks to raze home in first Prairie School planned development By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter
River Forest historic preservation advocates are gearing up for another battle over a proposed demolition in the village. With the razing of the Mars Mansion fresh in the minds of many in the village, some residents point out that this time, the certificate of appropriateness for demolition concerns not just one house, but an entire block. In 2016, the 700 block of William Street was honored for its significance as the first Prairie Style planned development, and the street was marked with commemorative street signs. The block is the subject of a 2014 book by William Storrer, The Anonymous Frank Lloyd Wright and the 700 William Street River Forest Project, which posits that Wright was the anonymous architect of the homes. While Storrer’s theory has not been proven, the block’s significance as the first Prairie School planned development in the state, and perhaps the country, brought residents together to seek recognition from the village. In August 2017, River Forest residents Rob Sarvis and Mark Sullivan, as Mayborn Development, purchased 747 William for $415,000. On Sept. 11, a See WILLIAM STREET on page 13
ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
SENDING A MESSAGE: Father George Omwando, pastor of St. Catherine-St. Lucy in Oak Park, has displayed “no guns” signs outside the church for years now. The Archdiocese of Chicago issued a decree last month requiring all parishes to hang the signs.
Praying for a solution to gun violence
Chicago Archdiocese makes statement with “no guns” signs By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter
The debate within the Chicago Archdiocese about displaying “no guns” signs
on the doors of churches has been around for years, with some pastors choosing years ago to post the now ubiquitous signs seen on the doorways of businesses and restaurants. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, made it official in September, issuing a decree making the signs mandatory at all property controlled by the Archdiocese. The decision is timely, considering it
came about a month prior to the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, with gunman Stephen Paddock firing thousands of rounds of ammunition into a crowd gathered for a country music show in Las Vegas, leaving 58 dead and about 500 injured. “This policy is rooted in the belief that our churches, schools, administrative facilities or any other facilities owned, See NO GUNS on page 12
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