A plan to create public art around downtown Waukegan in the form of crosswalk and wall murals is part of the city’s overall plan to create a buzz, bring people to the area and spark interest in developers to erect or renovate structures into multi-use buildings.
Plans by the Waukegan Community Development Partnership to renovate two downtown buildings into locations with commercial uses on the ground floor and dwellings above are working their way through the city’s approval process.
For two girls who live on one of the upper floors of the 14-story Lakeside Tower apartment building at Julian and Genesee streets, the murals of clasped hands have a different meaning, with nothing to do with development.
Artist Amanda Levinson designed and painted the three crosswalk murals at the intersection of Julian and Genesee. She said the message was intended to be one of unity and care. As she was finishing, two girls called to her from their window.
“‘We can see them from here,’” Levinson said the girls called to her. “‘You are making our home better.’”
City officials joined three of the artists touring the finished murals on Oct. 19, getting a glimpse of how the area is looking with murals representing the mission of the Genesee Theatre, the College of Lake County, Jack Benny Plaza and other places.
Giving the girls at Lakeside Tower a visual treat was welcome given the building’s recent history. Before new ownership acquired the building in July of 2023, the city filed suit against the then-owner and management company to put a receiver in the building.
Among the problems were multiple calls to the police and fire departments, code violations, nonworking elevators — sometimes both of them — crumbling walls, mold and more. The sale was conducted under court order.
Mayor Ann Taylor said just as the mural was intended to show unity and optimism, the young girls who called to Levinson represent the city’s future.
“The future is going to be better for this building and the city,” Taylor said. “With the mural, the girls will always see that.”
At the corner of Clayton Street and Genesee, two blocks south of Julian, artist Rachel Zemeske designed crosswalk murals as a tribute to both the Genesee Theatre at the northeast corner and Jack Benny Plaza at the southwest corner of the intersection.
A freelance artist, Zemeske said she saw the city’s published call for artists, applied and got the task of decorating the Clayton-Genesee intersection. She understood the purpose and what was needed to attract crowds to motivate developers.
“I wanted to do something people would see and get excited about,” she said. “If it gets well-known and brings people here, it could help the city grow — like the bean in Chicago,” she added, referencing Chicago’s iconic sculpture.
While city officials and artists were taking their tour, several hundred people were arriving in the downtown area for the city’s monthly Art Wauk, where galleries remain open late and live entertainment is provided. The murals were drawing a crowd, with people like Olivia Johnson and her children taking a look.
“It’s awesome to see something new like this,” Johnson said.
Michael May, a lifelong Waukegan resident was also glad to see the crosswalk murals. He said it is a positive sign the city is making an effort to improve the downtown area. Kim Ball, who grew up in Waukegan and now lives in Franklin, Wisconsin, said they are a reason to return.
“It’s a wonderful addition to the downtown Waukegan area,” Ball said, as she looked at the murals at the intersection of Water Street and Genesee. “It brightens the whole community.”
“It makes me happy,” added Mareen Cross, who lives in the Lake County area.
More public art is planned. Along with the finished crosswalk murals at three intersections on Genesee, another is nearing completion at Genesee and Madison Street. More are planned on Genesee at Lake and Washington streets, as well as at Washington and County Street.
Parking spaces reserved for food trucks are also in the planning stages at two spots on Clayton, and two more on Madison, as well as at Genesee and Washington. Wall murals will soon be commissioned in three spots.
“This gives life to our city,” Taylor said. “It is what our city is about.”
