Community of Hope: Economic Revitalization Plan for North Lawndale

Community of Hope: Economic Revitalization Plan for North Lawndale
Courtesy of Chicago Historical Society
Brian Smith
Will Sanford
Dessi Tonina
Mark van Opstal
Christopher Zubek
1
Contents
Executive Summary
3
Potential Benefits
4
Goals
4
Challenges
5
Phase I: Rebirth of Manufacturing Industry
6
Phase II: Residential Development
11
Phase III: Commercial Development
14
Phase IV: Suggested Use of New Revenues
20
Conclusion
24
References
25
2
Executive Summary
North Lawndale is located five miles west of the loop, placed strategically in between
two major interstates. Once called an “American Millstone” by the Chicago Tribune,
North Lawndale is far from being the attractive neighborhood it once was. In 1857,
North Lawndale was organized as part of Cicero Township, however was annexed to
Chicago in 1889. Industries, like Sears, started populating the neighborhood and the
community started rapidly booming. North Lawndale was able to double its population
between 1910 and 1920 and more than half of its residents were Russian Jews. During
the 1950s, however, North Lawndale experienced changes and began deteriorating. The
1950s were known as the decade of “white flight” in which the population dropped as
more and more African Americans moved into the area. Many dishonest real estate
developers were able to take advantage of the situation and buy out many of the
properties. By the 1960s, the white population had dropped significantly and the African
Americans made up 91% of the population. Throughout the next two decades, the North
Lawndale community went through very significant events. Riots destroyed most of the
business in the area, after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Most stores along
Roosevelt Road were completely destroyed and major industries were destroyed.
International Harvester closes in 1969, Sears was out of the area by 1987, and Western
Electric closed doors in 1974.
The population continued to decline and housing
deteriorated.1
Today, North Lawndale does not look much better than it did in the 1950s. The
population is less than 50,000. Close to 95% of the residents are African American, with
a median income of less than $20,000.
Residents are mainly employed in the
manufacturing and retail industries and the community’s unemployment rate is 13%.
Education is barely meeting the state average and housing continues to deteriorate.2
Four Phases have been developed to help the community and redevelop the area.
Phase I involves the redevelopment of the manufacturing sector, by bringing in industries
that will provide revenue and employment for the community’s residents. Phase II
includes the development of affordable housing projects, which will help service the new
industries in the area and best utilize the currently vacant land. Phase III will develop the
3
commercial part of North Lawndale along Ogden Avenue. Finally, Phase IV will give
suggested use of the increased tax revenue for future investment in North Lawndale.
Potential Benefits
With North Lawndale’s close location to Chicago’s Loop and two major interstates,
North Lawndale is a prime location for many types of businesses. With multiple tax
incentives, North Lawndale has the potential to expand into a booming community like it
once was. These improvements bring benefits to individuals, families, and the community
as a whole. With its rich history and prime location, North Lawndale can become a
highly desirable community to live, work and raise a family in. Many improvements must
be made in order to re-establish the vivid image it once possessed, but in order for these
to become possible, a strong economic base needs to be put in place to support them
financially.
Goals of the project are:

Increase the supply, quality, and quantity of affordable housing units

Create more jobs for existing, as well as, new residents

Co-op education to strengthen job placement for future generations

Visually attractive, safer community

Turn vacant land into useful, revenue generating properties

Redevelop city interest in community to increase public services
4
Challenges
There are quite a few challenges that surround that North Lawndale community.
Crime and poverty have been among the most important ones. The 2000 Census reports
that approximately 10,000 male adults were in prison. This causes a large shortage of
men throughout the community in North Lawndale. It is further a cause for the lack of
parenting generations, which leaves many children without fathers.3
Close to 60% of 20 to 24 year olds in the community are unemployed. The
community has an unemployment rate of 13%, while the city average is about 5%.4 This
leaves most people from the younger generation out on the streets, unable to support
themselves. The high unemployment rate results in more and more poverty each yea,
with people not being able to support their families and pay their bills. Jobs in North
Lawndale are primarily in manufacturing and retail. However, since many businesses
have left the area that leaves very little choice to the community residents.
North Lawndale is lacking basic goods and services. There are barely any super
markets; instead there are liquor and lottery stores on every corner in the area. Families
are deprived of variety of food choices and many cannot afford to travel to the city for
shopping. Members of the community are constantly faced with challenges and feel
completely hopeless when it comes to their every day life. Community residents are in
desperate need of help and support and the city should take initiative and make North
Lawndale what it once was.
5
Phase I: Rebirth of Manufacturing Industry
North Lawndale was once home to major industries that provided well paying jobs to the
community residents, and provided an ample amount of business in the neighborhood. As
the manufacturing industry in Chicago, and in major cities throughout the rest of the
country, began to decline, the well paying jobs were relocated to the suburbs and the
developing countries. Throughout the 1970s the neighborhood of North Lawndale
experienced a 70% decline in the number of manufacturing jobs. With a large amount of
vacant land, there is opportunity to rebuild the industrial sector that was once prominent
in the area. Through this phase of the redevelopment process, the manufacturing industry
can utilize the vacant land and build up the industrial sector of the neighborhood that has
been lost. Through programs financed by all three levels of governments, North
Lawndale will be able to rebuild from within and provide an abundance of opportunities
for residents of all ages. The rebirth of the manufacturing industry will coincide with the
development of new housing communities and an economically viable business district,
which caters to the needs of the local residents.
Where is the industrial redevelopment going to take place?
After thorough analysis of the project area, this phase of the redevelopment process is
going to be taken place in the Roosevelt-Cicero Industrial Corridor, in particular the
region bordered by Kildare and Roosevelt extending westbound until Cicero. In this area
there is approximately 80 acres of underdeveloped land; however, some of this land is
contaminated by previously developed industries. This land is close to the housing
developments that are being constructed within this community revival, and is accessible
by public transportation. This provides residents without automobiles, to travel to and
from work utilizing the existing transportation system provided by the city of Chicago.
Another asset of Chicago is the large number of citizens who are willing to work. This
area is also close to both airports serving the Chicago area, making it an ideal location to
ship items produced.
6
As the picture to the left
indicates, this is one of the
parcels where the industrial
redevelopment will take place.
One of the benefits of this
primetime location is the close
proximity to the railroads, on the
top side of the picture. Roosevelt
road is the major street at the
bottom of the picture. This will
allow trucking companies to
utilize a major roadway to
transport goods produced and
provides easy access to the
Eisenhower Expressway.
Photo courtesy of Cook County Assessors Office website
The site of the new industries that will aid in the redevelopment of the North Lawndale
community will be part of the city’s Model Industrial Corridor Program, which is also an
Industrial TIF (tax increment financing).5 Several experts have stated that Chicago is one
of the best cities to redevelop an industry because of its prime time location.
What are the benefits of new industries?
There are many benefits for the community that the new industries will bring. First, the
new industries provide a place of employment for the current residents. The industries
commit to the success and future of the neighborhood that they are apart of. According to
the Steans Family Foundation, 59% of the people 20 to 24 years of age are unemployed,
and the entire community has and unemployment rate three times higher than the city of
Chicago.6 The industries are capable of providing working class jobs, similar to the
industries once prominent in the area, to the low income residents.
“The assembly and cleanup of sites restores citizen and investor confidence in areas and
the attraction of expansion and new business brings the most essential ingredient of area
redevelopment – new jobs [emphasis added].” Arthur Andersen LLP Real Estate Services
Advisory Group, City of Chicago Industrial Market and Strategic Analysis, March 1998,
p25
7
This also enables the high concentration of urban youth within the community to have a
positive role model, as opposed to the drug dealers and gang bangers currently present.
The new industries can also provide summer jobs and internships to the local highschools, allowing school children to receive important hands on experience. The city of
Chicago has lost approximately 42,000 jobs to the development of manufacturing
industries in the Northwest Suburbs and DuPage County.7
The new industries would also be sustainable in practice which would create more green
spaces and be aesthetically pleasing to the eye. State laws and city zoning ordinances
limit the amount of pollution an industry is able to make and requires the industry to
invest in environmentally friendly practices.
What will attract the industries to the area?
With such strict laws on the state and local level, the industries need incentives to
redevelop the land experiencing the economic hardships. An advantage that the industries
will encounter when looking into redevelopment is cheap land. The city of Chicago and
the state of Illinois also offer a number of incentive programs that make redevelopment
economically viable. With the constant economic development going on in the city of
Chicago, especially the central business district, industries desire to have manufacturing
plants located close to the central business districts. The following information is
available from a website devoted to economic development in the industrial sector in
Cook County from www.taxproperty.com, which can be used to attract new industries.
These loans can aid the foster of additional growth in the industrial sector and
commercial sector.

Industrial Revenue Bonds – tax exempt bonds issued by city
o Eligible for construction, renovation, or acquisition of new land
o Long term, with low interest financing

Bank Participation Loans
o Low interest financing for 50% of eligible project costs
o City participation will not exceed $500,000
8

Class 6B Loans
o An incentive designed to encourage industrial development throughout
Cook County.
o If the property is found to qualify, it will be assessed at 16% during the
first 10 years, 23% during the 11th year and 30% during the 12th year

Class 8 Loans
o An incentive program designed to encourage development of industrial
and commercial properties within certain defined areas of Cook County
which are experiencing severe economic stagnation.
o If the property is found to qualify, it will be assessed at 16% during the
first 10 years, 23% during the 11th year and 30% during the 12th year
What types of Industries will move into the neighborhood?
The industries that would be created under this proposal would be in accordance with
Mayor Richard M. Daley’s desire to make Chicago the “greenest” city in the country.
Barry Burton expands on the city’s commitment of sustainability, “Suddenly life springs
up, and there are cafés and people
where there were none before. Then
it becomes, let’s not just make it
attractive but a healthier place. Trees
reduce the heat-island effect and
clean the air. Landscaping is labor
intensive, so we provide a lot of jobs.
That has turned into a model of
economic development based on
green
technologies,
attracting
renewable-energy companies, and
creating a sustainable landscaping
industry.” The city of Chicago has
Photo Courtesy of www.horizonwind.com/.../somerset.aspx
9
committed itself to buying 20% of
electricity from renewable resources for
buildings such as government buildings,
schools, museums, subways, and street
lights. The majority of the panels are
constructed in the Spire headquarters
located at the Chicago Center for Green
Photo Courtesy of
www.hansgrohe-usa.com/company/history_1993.html
Technology. With the city’s continued investment
in renewable resources, jobs will need to be created to build these new energy sources.
North Lawndale would be an ideal location for this. 8
10
Phase II: Residential Development
The new industrial center has the potential to bring in new residents to North Lawndale,
but we are concerned about the availability of quality affordable housing for these
working class individuals. The objective is to encourage the new industrial workers to
stay and live where they work. To ensure these workers have attractive housing options
available in the neighborhood, Phase II of our revitalization effort focuses on a new
housing develop project.
Current Housing Profile
Housing in North Lawndale has been in
a state of persistent decay for several
decades, and the landscape reflects this
in most parts of the neighborhood. The
decay occurs both in the condition of
buildings and the actual number of
housing
units.
Currently,
North
Lawndale has 14,620 housing units, a
decrease of 6.8 from the 1990 census
(Steans
Family
Foundation).
This
decrease reflects an increase in vacant
lots where the old housing units once
stood.
The
City’s
Department
of
Planning and Development estimates
that there are between 1,000 vacant city owned lots in the community (Steans Family
Foundation).
Why develop housing?
There are three main reasons residential development is crucial to our revitalization
strategy. First, to receive the greatest tax revenue benefits from the developing of the
industrial center, providing quality affordable housing will create more incentive for the
new industrial workforce to remain in North Lawndale. Second, as with all of our
development initiatives, we would like to convert vacant land into useful, income
11
generating properties. Finally, we would like there to be more affordable housing options
for current North Lawndale residents.
Target Site:
We would like the new industrial
workforce to be able to find housing near
their workplace, so we selected an area
near Franklin Park. The first target
property is a long vacant strip owned by
the city along S Kedvale Ave between W
13th and W 14th street. It is completely
vacant which makes it ideal for an initial
housing development project. Vacant land
can be found in surrounding blocks as
well, which offers room for expansion of
the project in the future. The use of the
property contingent on negotiating with the
city, but this has the potential to provide
large cost savings and favorable tax terms were it successful.
Types of Buildings:
In order to fit in with the existing
architectural styles, we would like to see
a new contemporary design, typically
brick to compliment the grey stone stock
of housing in the area. In order to
provide flexible housing options, 3 story
townhouse style homes would allow for
single story units to be sold separately
for smaller households and entire
structures for larger households. The
townhouse pictured right is a newly
12
constructed building for sale in the North part of the neighborhood that reflects the type
of building we would like to see.
Government Incentives:
To assist in attracting housing developers to our target sites, there are several government
sponsored programs that North Lawndale is eligible for pertaining to residential
development:
(LIHTC) Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.
Allows corporations to invest in affordable housing production in return for an absolute
credit on their income tax bills. Its success in Chicago has been tremendous; leveraging
more than $151 million in private investments produced 10 thousand affordable homes
and apartments for low-income families and individuals over an 8 year span (1987-1995)
H.U.D.H.O.M.E. PROGRAM
Federal block grants for affordable housing development and rehabilitation.
Capital Improvement Program
The City’s five-year plan for infrastructure improvements across all sectors, funded by a
combination of local, state, and federal funds.
New Homes for Chicago
Encourages developers to construct affordable homes by selling City-owned lots at
reduced prices, giving construction subsidies, and waiving the cost of permits.
13
Phase III: Commercial Development
As the third major component of our three pronged strategy for economic
development in North Lawndale, commercial development will leverage the industrial
and residential development components to attract new businesses to the area. A new
industrial workforce living in newly constructed housing means more residents with a
stable income to consume goods and services locally. This projected growth in
consumption can be used as an enticement to start up new businesses, or expand existing
ones.
Why develop new businesses?
There are three main reasons we feel commercial development is important to the
revitalization initiative. In fulfilling our overall goal of creating more tax revenue for
North Lawndale, turning vacant lots into income producing properties is crucial since
property tax contributes much of the total tax revenue. We specifically target currently
vacant property for all of our development goals, commercial development included.
Next, even though we are using the projected increase in demand for local goods and
services as a bartering chip in bringing in new businesses, the new industrial workforce is
going to have genuine consumer needs that may not presently be adequately supported in
the neighborhood. Without an increase in the goods and services available in North
Lawndale, the effort to attract and retain a new industrial workforce could suffer. Finally,
we would like the existing North Lawndale population to have more access to more
goods and services as well.
Our Primary Focus: Grocery Store
Our marketing strategy for attracting new businesses attempts to rely on pulling rather
than pushing business prospects to the area to the greatest extent possible. The initial
objective would be to attract some type of anchor store to a target site. The thinking is
that if this anchor store generated ample foot or car traffic to the premises, smaller
businesses that can benefit from that traffic would be interested in establishing
themselves nearby. This is the strategy most commonly employed in the development of
shopping malls, with anchor stores typically taking the form of large department stores
14
like Sears. But instead of a department store, we have determined that a grocery store
would be the optimal anchor for the target site.
Thinking in terms of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, new and existing residents are first
going to require basic necessities like food and personal items before most other types of
goods or services. Grocery stores provide these goods. Additionally, the jobs created by a
new grocery store have relatively low experience and education requirements, which
could offer opportunities to current local residents who have not been able to find work in
the area they were qualified for.
Target Site
Courtesy: Cook County Tax Assessor
The target site is a series of adjacent vacant properties along W Ogden Ave and S
Christiana Dr. The majority of the Ogden strip through North Lawndale is commercially
zoned, including our target site. The two parcels we have determined suitable for the
development of a grocery store are 059 and 060, seen in the above tax map. Parcel 059
has no tax history and currently has exempt status, which suggests it is one of the many
city owned vacant properties in North Lawndale, and covers 3,949 square feet.9 Ideally,
15
the land could be obtained for use as commercial property from the city on favorable
terms. Parcel 060 is privately owned and thus acquiring the property is contingent on the
owner’s willingness to sell. Possible cost savings in acquiring parcel 059 from the city
could be used to pay an above market price for parcel 060 if the owner is hesitant to sell.
Parcels 057 through 053 are smaller properties adjacent to 059 and 060 that are also
vacant and could be used for the establishment of the new businesses attracted by the
grocery store, or for expanding contiguous space for the grocery store itself should a
larger facility be desired. Across S Christiana Dr, there is an additional 7 vacant lots that
would be able to benefit from the grocery store’s presence if developed for new
businesses.
In addition to the large concentration of vacant lots the target site possesses, preliminary
market research suggests the site would be among optimal locations within North
Lawndale. Grocery stores experience among the strongest competition and consequently
some
of
the
lowest
margins
in
the
retail
industry.
Radius .25 mi Radius .50 mi Radius 1.0 mi
1,325
4,906
19,380
$20,963
$21,647
$28,276
Per Person
$2,441
$2,533
$2,960
Total
$3,234,774
$12,427,174
$57,361,707
# Households 2006
Median Household
Income
Food Eaten at Home
ESRI Business Analyst Online
However, as the above map shows, within a quarter mile radius of the target site,
$3,234,774
10
was spent in 2006 on food items consumed at home. The grocery store
would potentially draw in customers farther out as well, such as in the half mile or mile
radius, but within the quarter mile radial operating area, it would be the only grocery
store present.
16
Further, this thematic profile analysis of North Lawndale which indicates that the target
site experiences among the highest proportion of grocery sales when compared to the rest
of the neighborhood.
Tax Incentives
The target site is eligible for consideration in numerous tax incentive programs.
Perhaps most notably, the entirety of North Lawndale qualifies as an Enterprise Zone
which can result in substantial cost savings in operating, but most of all starting up a new
business or expansion project.
Enterprise Zone Program

Exemption from city & state sales tax on building materials purchased in
Chicago
17

6.25% sales tax exemption on machinery and equipment used in
manufacturing or assembly, or pollution control

Exemption from the state tax on gas and electricity as well as
administrative charges

Exemption from real estate title transfer tax

$500 income tax credit for each job created for disadvantaged or
dislocated workers

Investment tax credits

Property tax reduction

Low interest loans
Tax Increment Financing (TIFs)

Expenses eligible for TIF assistance include:
o Studies, surveys and marketing expenses
o Acquisition of land, site preparation and environmental cleanup
o Rehabilitation or repair of existing public or private buildings, fixtures and
leasehold improvements
o Construction of public works improvements
o Job training or retraining programs, including “welfare to work” programs
18
o Certain financing, relocation, and capital costs
Cook County Tax Incentive Program Class 7A

An incentive designed to stimulate smaller commercial development in areas "in
need of commercial development".

Projects or those portions of projects which qualify will be assessed at 16%
during the first 10 years, 23% during the 11th year and 30% during the 12th year.

N. Lawndale is in an Enterprise Zone and thus is eligible
Bank Participation Loans

Low interest financing for 50% of eligible project costs. City participation will
not exceed $250,000.00 for commercial projects.

Funds can be used for construction, renovation and fixed assets.
All tax information taken from PropertyTax.com
These tax incentives, coupled with the projected growth in consumer demands as well as
a local market that holds promise of already being a profitable operational area has the
potential of presenting a persuasive economic argument for the development of a grocery
store at the target site.
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Phase IV: Suggested Use of New Revenues.
“The most successful enterprise zones have been ones in which the government has
assumed a prominent role in working with business to provide necessary job training and
placement programs, child care facilities, and transportation improvements along with tax
incentives and regulatory relief” (Euchner and Mc Govern, 122). The role of government
also includes infrastructure and crime control. In order for N. Lawndale to continue to
thrive once Phase I to III have been set in motion, government participation and
responsibilities will have to be emphasized. Furthermore, strong community involvement
will be needed, focusing on social issues such as job training, education, childcare,
substance abuse and prevention programs, and demanding access to healthcare. If North
Lawndale is to thrive in the near future, success must stem from a healthy and motivated
community supported by local government.
Six priorities have been identified in order to accomplish this:

Infrastructure Improvement

Law Enforcement Expansion

Job Training and Education

Childcare Expansion

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Programs

Healthcare and Medicare Awareness
Infrastructure Improvement
While North Lawndale offers a great location and has sufficient vacant land for
development, it still lacks an efficient and attractive infrastructure base. In contrast to
many of Chicago’s neighborhoods, the area has been under funded and the infrastructure
is rapidly decaying. As a result, the current environment has become rather unattractive.
Considerable investment will be needed in the current infrastructure of North Lawndale.
Street paving and sidewalks must be improved as well as curbs and gutters. Street
lighting is also crucial as it provides a better sense of safety.
The Department of
Transportation will be more inclined to do such improvements once the neighborhood
becomes vibrant again and revenue increases. On the long run, public transportation
improvements will have to be made, especially on the Blue Line serving N. Lawndale
20
and in regards to the frequency of bus routes. With more revenue, the Chicago Park
District will also be more inclined to improve and increase green spaces in North
Lawndale. Current available parks are in poor condition and must be remedied to.
Playgrounds and athletic facilities should also be demanded for they provide good
gathering places and can reinforce any community’s sense of pride and belonging. They
also offer a wide range of activities for children raised in urban settings such as North
Lawndale.
Law Enforcement Expansion
Because of the current high crime rates in North Lawndale, law enforcement must be
expanded. Improving security is a basic step in attracting more business and developers.
While it is the government’s responsibility to ensure safety, the community of North
Lawndale can participate by encouraging Neighborhood Watch associations. This
strategy has proven to be very successful in many cities on a national scale and offers the
community a chance to participate in bettering their neighborhood. Additionally, the
community should encourage investors and business owners to create a business
improvement district in which businesses tax themselves and use the proceeds to hire
their own private security force. Doing so would allow for the police to be better attentive
to serious crime while petty crime can be managed by private security. This strategy has
also proven to be successful in
other cities. Government should
also
consider
incarceration
alternatives
for
to
nonviolent
drug-related offenses. Given that
57% of North Lawndale residents
were involved in the criminal
justice system in 2001, the
community may be interested in
pushing such legislations forward
(Center for Impact Research).
The majority of North Lawndale residents over the age of 18 that have been involved in
the criminal justice system were arrested for drug related offenses rather than violent or
21
dangerous crimes. Decriminalizing certain drug offenses and offering alternatives to
incarceration can reduce crime rates without condemning North Lawndale resident’s
future.
Job Training and Education
Unemployed residents in North Lawndale simply lack education and the resources
needed to access good education. As the neighborhood improves and funds become
available, education should become a focus for North Lawndale’s youth. There is a very
real need for improvement in local schools, for the schools are rated among the worst in
the state of Illinois. There are various ways to do so, but charter schools seem to be a
plausible way to tackle the problem. As more residents move in, more children will have
to be educated. This alone should attract funding for school improvement and the opening
of charter schools. There also remains the issue of adults that lack basic education to
acquire jobs. Often times, it is not will that is lacking but the funding to get education.
Government funds could be used to make the GED test more accessible to low income
adults needing the credentials for employment. Additionally, given the current trends of
crime involvements, legislation could also be implemented to assist those with nonviolent criminal records to obtain professional licenses. Funds can also be allocated to
assist persons reintegrate with their communities after release from prison.
Unemployment in North Lawndale is very high compared to Chicago standards and
aiming revenue at solving this crisis would in the city’s best interest. (Center for Impact
Research)
Childcare Expansion
As more and more residents become more active in the work force, it is clear that there
will be a shortage in childcare centers. Additionally, lowincome residents will need government assistance to
manage the cost of putting their children in childcare
centers. If parents have a safe and healthy place where their
children can be cared for, they will be motivated to seek
jobs and become more active in the community.
Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Programs
22
Since 57% of North Lawndale residents have been involved in the criminal justice
system, there is a clear need for prevention and rehabilitation programs. After all, any
problem is better solved when tackled at its root. Such programs should be aimed at both
the youth and adult population of North Lawndale. Incarceration has not proven to be
successful in lowering crime rates in North Lawndale and maybe it is time to adopt new
strategies. “For example, Illinois HB 1961 provides Cook County judges with the
authority to sentence women detained in Cook County Jail for certain nonviolent felony
offenses to a pilot Residential Treatment and Transition Center rather than state prison.
As of yet, no funds have been allocated to support the pilot center” (McKean and
Raphael, 3). There is therefore a need for expanded access to substance abuse prevention
and treatment programs and, as mentioned above, for alternatives to incarceration for
nonviolent drug-related offenses. (Center for Impact Research)
Healthcare and Medicare Awareness
North Lawndale residents do not always have access to healthcare and often lack the
knowledge and understanding to gain access to government programs such as Medicare.
Federal, state and local authorities must find ways to provide healthcare information to
inner city residents such as those of North
Lawndale. As population increases in North
Lawndale, there will also be a need for more
health clinics. (Center for Impact Research)
23
Conclusion
After examining the current economic and social condition of North Lawndale we
agree that there are three possible futures for the community. The first is that it will
remain in its current impoverished, marginalized condition, or will degrade even further.
The second possibility will yield wide scale renewed development interest, but North
Lawndale’s community will greatly suffer from it as the neighborhood becomes more and
more gentrified. Upper and middle class residents will move in rapidly, thus displacing
the current community. The third and final scenario we foresee is for new development to
take place, guided with existing community interests in mind that will result in both
revitalization of the community and profitability for investors, developers, and new
businesses. Through onsite and academic research and the community’s best interest in
mind we have concluded that the third scenario would be the best approach to take in
attempting to revitalize N. Lawndale.
We therefore have proposed a four-phase plan that will pave the way for a vibrant
and prosperous community stemming from cooperation among current community
residents, local government, the manufacturing and commercial industry, and developers.
The first phase is to redevelop an industrial corridor and attract green environmentally
conscious manufacturing industries. The second phase is to provide homes for the
working class and redevelop a residential area that will attract home owners and renters.
The third is to redevelop a commercial sector to provide goods and services for new
residents and workers. The fourth and final phase suggests ways in which newly
generated government revenues can be spend to further enhance the vitality of North
Lawndale. Through the implementation of this plan, North Lawndale, the community of
hope, will become a more vibrant community with a strong economic foundation that will
ultimately benefit the city of Chicago.
24
References
1
Steans Family Foundation, www.steansfamilyfoundatio.org/lawndale/index.html
Lawndale Business & Local Development, www.lbldc.org
3
History of North Lawndale, www.steansfamilyfoundation.org/lawndale/index.html
4
IBID
5
http://www.steansfamilyfoundation.org/resources/docs/ducharme.pdf
6
http://www.steansfamilyfoundation.org/lawndale/today.html
7
Chicago Sun-Times, November 25, 1998, p10
8
http://www.mcdonough.com/writings/living_city.htm
9
Cook Country Tax Assessor Office Website, 2007, http://www.cookcountyassessor.com
10
ESRI Business Analyst Online, 2007
http://www.esri.com/software/bao/index.html
City of Chicago Website, 2007, http://www.cityofchicago.org
http://www.propertytax.com/services_taxincentives.cfm
Google Maps, 2007, http://maps.google.com/
Chicago Historical Society, 2007, http://www.chicagohs.org/
2
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