Homan station
| Company type | Chicago Transit Authority station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | June 30, 2001 |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | East Garfield Park, Chicago |
| Products | Rapid transit services |
Conservatory–Central Park Drive serves as a Chicago Transit Authority stop on the Green Line, officially commencing operations on June 30, 2001. Situated within Chicago's East Garfield Park area, the station derives its name from the adjacent Garfield Park Conservatory.
This facility was established as a replacement for the former Homan station, which was located two blocks to the east along the Lake Street Elevated. During the station's development, the historic building of Homan station was carefully moved to a new location.
Homan station
The Homan station operated on the Green Line at the intersection of Homan Avenue and Lake Street in East Garfield Park. It originally opened in March 1894 but ceased operations on January 9, 1994, coinciding with the Green Line’s temporary closure for upgrades. When service resumed on May 12, 1996, Homan station was not reopened.
Current station
In 1997, the CTA collaborated with the Illinois Historic Preservation Division to safeguard the historic Homan station building by relocating it two blocks westward to Central Park Drive, near the Garfield Park Conservatory. This initiative led to the creation of the new Conservatory–Central Park Drive station.
The relocation aimed to achieve more balanced spacing between Kedzie and Pulaski stations; however, it resulted in the loss of a direct connection to the #82 Kimball-Homan bus route, generating controversy within East Garfield Park. Community members voiced concerns about having to walk longer distances through areas with elevated crime rates to reach bus services—a situation exacerbated by the discontinuation of the #16 Lake Street bus in 1997 due to budget reductions. There was also a perception among residents that officials favored visitors to the conservatory over local transit users requiring convenient connections.
The CTA finalized relocation plans on September 15, 1999, setting a timeline for execution. The original Homan station structure was dismantled by spring 2000 and stored for future reconstruction at Central Park. The moving process commenced in March 2001 and concluded with the opening of the new Conservatory station on June 30, 2001.