In early August, Little Village residents saw scaffolding going up around the Little Village welcoming arch. Most residents thought that decorations were being installed ahead of the neighborhood’s annual Mexican Independence Day Parade in mid-September.
However, panic set in when the arch’s iconic clock was removed without notice.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Chicago Department of Transportation said the arch is in the process of being restored, and the clock is being repaired “to ensure it is operational, in good condition and preserved for future generations.”
The plan is for the clock to be returned to the archway before the end of the year.
The clock is infamous for not working, despite the best efforts of community groups to fix it over the years.
Still, the Centenario clock contributes to the structure’s aesthetic — and was a donation from the Mexican government in 1991 as recognition of the growing Mexican population in the city.
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The absent clock “is definitely not a permanent thing,” confirmed Ald. Byron Sigcho López, whose 25th Ward encompasses the location of the arch, recognized as a historical landmark in January.
“As part of the work, it was determined that the clock had some issues mainly because of how it was attached to the arch. And some work needs to happen so that it’s properly secured … and in line with the guidelines of a landmark,” Lopez said.
Previously, the maintenance of the arch was a shared task involving the Little Village Chamber of Commerce and the Little Village Community Council.
The chamber’s executive director, Jennifer Aguilar, told La Voz she initially learned of the repairs through the contractor JLK Architects.
There have been multiple attempts and tens of thousands of dollars spent to repair the clock in the past without success. It appears Chicago’s climate and the clock’s electrical components have not been compatible.
The repair work includes removing the old internal mechanisms of the clock and finding a home for them in Little Village that is accessible to the public for viewing. The Self/Help Credit Union — formerly Second Federal bank — is being considered for that display, said 22nd Ward Ald. Michael D. Rodríguez.
“I am supportive of this effort,” he said. “The location is in the center of Little Village and an architectural gem itself, so this would be a great match.”
Arch maintenance will include reinforcing the structure and a paint job.
