Did you know?

What was the Comfort Station building originally?

Our building was built in 1926 among nine identical structures all on the boulevard system, which served as travel waiting stations for people riding the trolley along Milwaukee Boulevard, and who may have transferred from the pre-Blue Line train line terminal across the square (where Lula Cafe and other businesses are currently). In Logan Square there were two other stations, one at Kedzie Boulevard and Fullerton Avenue and the other at Armitage Avenue and Humboldt Boulevard, each located on the southwest parkway at the intersection. These buildings were labeled “Comfort Stations”, a euphemism for toilet or rest whose first recorded use in the US was between 1905-1910. All but two of these buildings were eventually torn down (the other being in Columbus Park on the edge of Chicago and Oak Park). 

Who owns Comfort Station?

You do! It is a city-owned property and part of our public commons here in Chicago. That publicness has been a key part of our mission since we started programming here in 2011. In its nearly 100 year history, it has passed through different city departments, and it is currently under the jurisdiction of CDOT (Chicago Department of Transportation). People often assume it is part of the Chicago Park District, in part because its surroundings and its resemblance to architectural styles of various field houses. And it actually used to be! After its original use was no longer active, it was used as storage by the parks as storage until the boulevard system was transferred to the City of Chicago. Through the early 2000’s CDOT continued to store landscaping equipment in the building used to maintain the square and boulevards. It escaped demolition multiple times in spite of various plans for re-use and re-design of Logan Square that were floated over the decades. 

How is Comfort Station funded?

Our funding is pieced together from donations, fundraising events, private foundation grants, and some government grants.

Because we operate within a city building, people often assume that we are primarily funded by a dedicated city cultural program or budget line. In reality, the vast majority of our funding comes from other sources and we rely heavily on the generosity of individual donors to sustain free programming for our community. In 2024, only 1% of our operating budget came from state or city government grants.

Our work benefits greatly from the City of Chicago, local aldermen and other stakeholders making this unique building available for us to activate it with over 150 free events per year. We otherwise have no guaranteed city, state, or federal funds to fund our cultural programs, which is why are so grateful when members of our community make donations to sustain this work. Since becoming a 501c3 in 2016, we have applied for the CityArts Grant each year alongside most other small arts non-profits, and have received a small grant in most years (though not all, as city budgets fluctuate). Other governmental funding includes the Illinois Arts Council, whose grants have covered roughly 1-2% of our operating budgets in recent years. All other revenue comes from individual contributions, private foundation grants, and fundraising events with community partners like Lula Cafe who has supported us through their annual Logan Square Chef’s Dinner. We are grateful to the Driehaus Foundation for their significant commitment to supporting our programs, as well as the Donnelley Foundation who have funded us since 2016. 

Why wasn’t the Comfort Station building torn down?

This unique building is still here for us all to enjoy–while nearly all of the other Comfort  Stations were destroyed–because it was saved through dedicated advocacy of Logan Square Preservation (LSP), who in 2005 started a campaign to not only renovate the building but also have it designated as a historic landmark. Through a partnership with the City of Chicago and 35th Ward Alderman Rey Colon, TIF funds were used to clean and restore the building to its original 1926 appearance including complete cleaning and tuckpointing of brick, a new clay tile roof, stucco, tudoring, copper gutters, and restored windows. Upon completion of the renovation project in 2010, Alderman Colon arranged for CDOT to lease the property to LSP as a steward of the building, and they remain the leaseholder today.

How did Comfort Station become a cultural space?

Shortly after LSP became the leaseholder and was in the process of deciding how the space could be activated one of their members proposed a casual exhibition of his paintings as a way to showcase the building. After this exhibition was well received, others in turn were invited to curate ad hoc shows in the spring of 2011. By that summer, a weekly music series and an informal film program had also taken root and due to the public enthusiasm for these cultural programs, LSP decided to continue that direction in coordination with the volunteer programmers who had gotten involved. In 2016, Comfort Station NFP was formed as a distinct 501c3 non profit, which now officially partners with LSP as the operator of programming inside the building. 

Who programs Comfort Station?

All of our programming is run completely independently of any city department or initiative, by mostly artists, curators, and programmers who do this work because they love doing it and are committed to expanding the ways Comfort Station can be a unique conduit for creative experiences in the heart of Logan Square. In our early years especially, our programming grew organically based on who showed interest and vision in making something happen. More recently, we will occasionally announce a call for volunteers to bring new programmers into particular areas that have specific needs. We otherwise still operate with the same grass legacy where most of our programmers are usually people who attended events and became interested in being more involved. Stay tuned for more information about who is behind the scenes making all of this happen!