THOUGHTS AND EXPLORATIONS

History

-During World War II, the Chicago Housing Authority began building a low rise apartment project for war workers.

-The original population of Cabrini Green reflected the area’s past ethnic mix of poor Italians, Irish, Puerto Ricans, and African Americans living among the war workers and veterans.

-The Chicago Housing Authority failed to budget money to repair buildings and maintain landscaping as they deteriorated causing horrible conditions with vermin and worsening of the structures.





-Cabrini-Green's reputation for crime and gangs rivaled the former inhabitants’ of what was commonly known as “Little Hell.”


“Over the year, the resident leaders have volunteered for any and all programs to improve the conditions at Cabrini Green in effort to ensure its continued existence. They formed local advisory council.” Larry Bennett, Janet L. Smith, and Patricia A. Wright, Where are Poor People to Live? The case of Cabrini-Green , Patricia A. Wright and Richard M. Wheelock and Carol Steel, New York, 2006

-Increasing real-estate values in the later twentieth century led housing officials to propose replacement of the complex from low income housing to mix income homes community. Pricing between $200,000 to $500.000.



-This was the largest demolition of public housing in American history and it uprooted around 40,000 who had never lived anywhere but in public housing.

-Chicago Housing Authority announces Plan for Transformation, which will spend $1.5 billion over ten years to demolish 18,000 apartments and build or rehabilitate 25,000 apartments.

-Earlier redevelopment plans for Cabrini-Green are included in the Plan for Transformation. New library, rehabilitated Seward Park, and new shopping center open.


CommUNITY Social Case Study: Cabrini Green


-Currently there are only around 4,700 residents living in Cabrini Green, displacing the other 35,000.

-During the 1970’s American sitcom “Good Times,” was patterned after the infamous Cabrini Green to bring attention to poverty in a comedic way, with art work by famed artist, Ernie Barnes.



How Cabrini Green Fosters CommUNITY

How was it successful?

The community garden near Cabrini Green is used by only a few families from the complex but it has the potential to greatly foster community amongst the residents. It is open to all the communities near it and allows for more interaction among these different communities.
The community tutoring and mentor connections create community by bringing together mentors and mentees. The mentors from outside of the community use their other social connections to help bring other people together as more mentors and people who will do other things for the community.


How was it unsuccessful?

In the 1960’s the housing failed to foster community due to racial segregation among the multiple races inhabiting Cabrini Green
Allowing the buildings to go into disrepair, dereliction and infestation of rodents.


http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/199.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/11/60II/main532704.shtml

www.terryswafford.com/Recent%20Paintings/Cabr...

konroy9.deviantart.com/art/Cabrini-Green-Mura...

http://www.greenrightnow.com/wabc/2009/07/20/a-garden-oasis-erupts-from-chicagos-cabrini-green-asphalt/

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/12/11/60II/main532704.shtml

yochicago.com/.../6945/