Alderman Edward M. Burke (14th) recently won passage before the City Council of his proposal to rename the plaza surrounding Chicago’s historic Water Tower after former Mayor Jane M. Byrne. Kathy Byrne, the mayor’s daughter, is pictured above with Alderman Burke prior to testifying at City Hall. She said her mother was “thrilled” to receive the honor and thanked aldermen for their overwhelming support. The Water Tower plaza sits on North Michigan Avenue between Chicago Avenue and Pearson Street near where the Byrne family has lived for generations dating back to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The old Water Tower remains one of Mayor Byrne’s favorite views as well as a symbol of Chicago’s strength and resilience.

Jane Byrne, Chicago’s first and only female mayor, served in office from 1979 to 1983. She launched the first Taste of Chicago and began construction to extend rapid transit to O’Hare International Airport. Mayor Byrne also envisioned the CTA’s Orange Line, the re-development of Navy Pier and the creation of a Museum Campus.

Alderman Burke called the honor long overdue and hailed Mayor Byrne as “one of Chicago’s most significant political figures.”