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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOUTH WATER MARKET
WHEREAS, Cook County has long stood as a national center of commerce, innovation, and cultural vitality-its markets serving as lifelines between regional farmers, independent grocers, and millions of residents; and
WHEREAS, established in 1925, the South Water Market emerged as the nation's largest and most advanced produce terminal, designed to address the public health, transportation, and economic challenges of a rapidly modernizing Chicago; and
WHEREAS, located in the Valley District of the city's Lower West Side, the South Water Market comprised six monumental warehouse buildings designed by architects Fugard & Knapp, featuring 166 merchant stalls equipped with modern refrigeration, loading docks, and rail access-marking a transformative leap forward in the safe and efficient distribution of fresh food; and
WHEREAS, its creation was guided by the visionary principles of the 1909 Plan of Chicago, relocating commerce away from the congested downtown riverfront to a purpose-built industrial corridor that became a national model for urban planning and food logistics; and
WHEREAS, throughout much of the 20th century, South Water Market served as a cornerstone of Cook County's economy-employing thousands of workers, supporting local farms, fueling restaurants and corner stores, and anchoring the food infrastructure that sustained generations of families and neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, the market's relocation to the modern Chicago International Produce Market in 2001 marked the end of an era, yet its legacy continues to shape Chicago's identity as a global transportation and distribution hub; and
WHEREAS, through visionary redevelopment and community advocacy, the original South Water Market complex was transformed into University Commons, an award-winning example of adaptive reuse that preserved its iconic architecture while ushering in a new century of residential...
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