Work to stabilize Pullman’s historic Market Hall is complete, and the nonprofit Friends of Pullman National Historical Park is making plans to get visitors back, as well as get community input on what the historic space should become.Friends of Pullman wrapped up its work on the hall last month, w hich is next to Hotel Florence. The group purchased the hall in the 1970s to save it from demolition. But significant work was needed to keep it from collapsing, with portions of the structure boarded up since the nonprofit’s purchase.“We undertook this major stabilization project and are just thrilled with the result,” Richard Wilson, vice president of Friends of Pullman, said. “The building's in great shape for the coming decades now, in terms of protecting it from collapse [and] from losing it."The Market Hall, 11159 S. Champlain Ave., has been a key space in Pullman over the years. The Queen Anne-style structure was originally built in 1881, as part of the planned industrial community’s original design in Pullman’s Market Square. At the time, the hall contained 16 stalls leased to private businesses, according to Friends of Pullman.A fire destroyed the structure in 1892. The Market Hall was rebuilt in 1893 using the existing foundation and featured 12 stores, plus a banquet hall and meeting room on the upper floors. Another fire would gut the building before Friends of Pullman purchased it. And though the upper floors were removed in the 1930s, the signature Romanesque arches still remain today.Wilson believes the Market Hall is one of the most interesting urban spaces in America. Its roughly seven-month stabilization effort gives visitors an “elevated” experience in Pullman, with a chance to step deeper into the hall’s history, Wilson said.The construction was far-reaching, he said. Brick walls were anchored to prevent collapse, historic masonry and limestone were restored, stairs were rebuilt and the ground floor was enclosed to prevent leaking into the basement. Some of the building’s major features were also reworked, including a few of the main entrances that were fenced off and now made accessible.“We hope to put some interpretive signage and displays there so people could understand the kinds of activities that used to happen in the structure itself,” Wilson said. “I think in the immediate term, if visitors come to Pullman this spring and summer, they're going to have an elevated experience and be able to look and feel and touch and visit and understand the historic role that the Market Hall building had when living and visiting the Pullman community.” Market Hall at 11159 S. Champlain Ave.Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times The stabilization work cost about $1.5 million, according to Friends of Pullman. Funding came from the Chicago Community Trust, a Historic Preservation Fund grant from the National Park Service and a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.The work sets the stage for the building’s next chapter, which is a full rebuild and new community uses. Wilson said the nonprofit plans to host community discussions on what the future purpose of the Market Hall should be.But the focus this year is on bringing visitors back into the Market Hall, with community conversations to follow.“[Rebuilding] will take vision; it will take fundraising; it will take support,” Wilson said. “It's not an overnight thing, but Market Hall is worth the time and effort, and it's something we want to continue to invest in.”Initial ideas include an event space with a coffee shop or historic art displays. The Market Hall could also play off Hotel Florence, which is undergoing a $100 million redevelopment that will transform the nearly 145-year-old property into a boutique hotel with new restaurants. The hotel’s annex will be rehabilitated and a concert hall will be added in the old Pullman Factory across the street.The Market Hall could serve as a space for special events and programs for Hotel Florence, Wilson said.“I think no one project is stand-alone,” Wilson said. “What's exciting is you start to see how they're interrelating with each other. They're creating an economy and a draw for one another, and they're giving visitors interesting different kinds of experiences down there, beyond just kind of a historic place to visit. We want to be a bright star on the South Side, a catalyst. And this amazing project that the state announced is a big part of that. Saving our historic assets like Market Hall is a big part of that.” Related Gov. JB Pritzker announces $100 million redevelopment of Pullman’s Hotel Florence ...read more read less