I have seen a different gentrification, where instead of building over impoverished lands, it renovated the area. Back where I used to live, was on Ashland and Grace (Addison). About 10-15 years ago, the neighborhood was predominately single homes and small businesses. But the influence from Wrigleyville and other neighborhoods surrounding it gave birth to many new condominiums. Young, predominately Caucasian couples, starting a new family took interest in the community. I left the area about 4 1/2 years ago and when I pass by several times over the years, I saw a new condominium with its huge "For Sale" or "Many Units Available: from $250,000 to $500,000" being erected over what used to be a diner, or a small auto dealer, or a movie store. It saddened me to see this because it was like my old neighborhood is being exterminated. The rise of condominiums has taken over.
Another place of gentrification is areas North of IIT on State and 18th and further south. I see condos being built up across the streets from public housing buildings, on my way to ROTC on the train. I have a feeling sooner or later, those public housing buildings will be demolished and built over with luxury condos. The residents of the public housing will be forced to live elsewhere.
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To better understand what is happening with public housing across the city and what will happen to the public housing on State St. near IIT, you should read about the CHA's "Plan For Transformation."
Obviously, the design and plan for the older, high-rise housing didn't work out too well: the landscaped plazas, parks, and playgrounds eventually were not cared for. It's partially a result of the residents not taking ownership of where they live - for a few reasons, one being that they have no monetary investment or stake in the housing itself. It's not "theirs."
This kind of housing only served to attract drugs and gangs. The CHA feels that this old method of public housing will be corrected with a somewhat experimental method for public housing that brings in people from other class and income levels in the hopes that, what critics say, "the values of the middle class will rub off on the poor." But instead, it brings diversity to the neighborhood and diversity is always a good thing.
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