Chicago Neighborhoods 2015: Assets, Plans and Trends – A project of The Community Trust

STONY ISLAND South Chicago: Change on the Horizon September 2007

Community Area: South Chicago

Claretian Associates, LISC, Camiros, Kym Abrams Design

South Chicago: Change on the Horizon is a quality of life plan created to build on South Chicago’s existing assets. The plan identifies these assets as pools, parks, social service and recreation programs, and a small community of artists. The plan proposes nine steps that leverage these assets to create a stronger community that supports the needs of residents. The nine steps each include specific projects that address how South Chicago will become a place for institutions, businesses, new development and social opportunities.

General Recommendations: Create an identity for South Chicago that builds connections to its history, institutions and each other; Create a mixed-income, sustainable community that embraces green building technologies and includes market rate and affordable housing; Beautify the neighborhood with new and improved parks, community gardens and green space and reconnect South Chicago to the lakefront; Build family wealth by attracting businesses with living-wage jobs, and by improving employability, legal knowledge and financial skills; Strengthen Commercial Avenue as South Chicago’s “downtown;” Create better social, recreational and enrichment opportunities for youth and families; Expand student and parent programs that enhance academic achievement; Improve security so that children and families can walk safely throughout our neighborhoods and better utilize community resources; Develop a strong arts community in South Chicago and use art as an innovative and powerful tool for community restoration.

Specific Recommendations: Strengthen existing block clubs and establish new block clubs through mentorship and small grants; Establish a Community Welcome Wagon to greet new residents and invite them to become active community members; Construct a community website to keep residents informed and connected, and to attract visitors to South Chicago; Host the South Chicago “Art Attacks;” Compile and present oral histories of Bush neighborhood residents, steel workers and other long-time South Chicago residents; Install public art to create gateways to South Chicago; Install a public art piece to honor the generations of South Chicago workers who ran the South Works steel mill; Provide opportunities for local musicians and other performance artists to participate in sidewalk sales, back-to- school shopping events and other chamber of commerce activities; Acquire and preserve land for affordable housing and other community needs; Transform South Chicago from a “Steel Town” to a “Green Town” by encouraging environmentally friendly development; Rehabilitate existing affordable housing for families; Preserve affordable housing that is at risk of contract expiration; Construct new affordable housing for families and seniors; Renovate old buildings for affordable housing or live/work facilities; Establish a Park Advisory Council to work with the Chicago Park District to plan, develop and program new park space at the South Works lakefront and at 89th Street and Mackinaw Avenue; Establish a network of greenways, bicycle paths and walking paths throughout the neighborhood and to the new lakefront park; Build a new community arts garden on Commercial Avenue and enhance the community gardens at Russell Square Park, Bush and Millgate; Reclaim vacant land and enliven

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abandoned or under-utilized spaces; Promote the Center for Working Families; Increase placement of Southeast Side residents in jobs related to new development; Connect youth interested in careers that require skills training with existing programs that provide needed training; Expand alcohol and drug rehabilitation treatment and outreach to help those recovering from substance abuse return to school or work; Help community residents access legal information and assistance through workshops, consultation with attorneys and alternative dispute resolution; Revitalize the north end of Commercial Avenue through clean-up efforts and code enforcement; Install an information kiosk on Commercial Avenue; Display artwork by neighborhood artists, seniors and youth in empty storefronts on Commercial Avenue; Improve the availability of fresh produce and other healthy foods, with a long-term goal of opening a new full-line grocery store; Expand access to arts programming by establishing a South Chicago Art Center satellite in Bush and more in-school programs; Work with Ada S. McKinley, the Chicago Park District and other community groups to expand and improve cultural programming; Establish free and regular teen-specific and family-friendly activities; Replicate the SUCCESS program at another neighborhood school; Expand and continue the READ program to engage parents in their children’s education; Expand the capacity of Pilgrim Baptist to provide social and academic enrichment services to more community youth, including those not enrolled in school; Create a parent-to-parent initiative that promotes participation in community programs for parents; Initiate a college-readiness program for high school students; Expand the Southeast Anti-Gang Initiative; Conduct the Better Block Blitz twice a year; Host a police and youth basketball tournament; Set up a formal system for residents to report crime-related concerns to the alderman’s office; Build a cultural and fine arts center for visual and performing arts; Facilitate information-sharing, networking and learning among artists, businesses, organizations and residents; Provide opportunities for artists to work together on projects in this plan.

Plan Maps and Data References: Study area map, p. 1; Community asset map, p. 3; Community vision, p. 10; Key projects, p. 12; Walking and bicycle trails, p. 18; Residential street median schematic, p. 19; Commercial Avenue revitalization plan, p. 23.

Highlighted Accomplishments: Extended Chicago’s lakefront to reconnect with South Chicago; Relocated US 41 to a new alignment on the South Works site; Featured artists’ works in the Chamber of Commerce’s office; Held new family-friendly events on Commercial Avenue, sponsored by the Chamber and the SSA; Reconstituted the SSA in 2013 for an additional fifteen years; Developed new single family homes developed through New Homes for South Chicago program; Launched the Healthy Block Clubs University program; Developed and opened the Victory Center of South Chicago senior center and assisted living facility.

Key Unfinished Projects: Redevelop the South Works steel mill site; Strengthen existing neighborhoods adjacent to South Works with a new park, upgraded streets, renovated and new homes; Continue Commercial Avenue’s historic role as the neighborhood’s core retail; Support city efforts to attract a new developer to the Solo Cup parcel on the southern end of South Works, a 187-acre shovel ready “signature site;” Install public art to create gateways to South Chicago.

South Chicago: Change on the Horizon

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Chicago Lakeside Development June 2010

Community Areas: South Chicago

McCaffery Interests

The Chicago Lakeside development is a proposed $4B, 50,000 resident community built on the former South Works steel mill site. The site’s master plan shows 589 acres located at the edge of Lake Michigan, featuring 13,000 homes and high rise units, a new high school, restaurants, retail and service businesses and a 1,500-slip boat marina and harbor. There are also 125 acres of open space/parkland with bike paths. Chicago Lakeside is proposed to be a LEED-ND certified community. Full plans for the Chicago Lakeside Development have yet to be released, and the developer, McCaffery Interests, estimates that it will take 25-45 years to reach completion.

Plan Maps and Data References: N/A

Highlighted Accomplishments: Opened the $64M South extension in October, 2013; Obtained zoning approvals for master plan goals.

Key Unfinished Projects: Release full plans have to the public; Begin construction on retail and residential development, which is anticipated for 2015-16.

Chicago Lakeside Development

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South Lakefront Corridor Transit Study November 2012

Community Area: Douglas, Grand Boulevard, Oakland, Kenwood, Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore, South Chicago, Washington Park, Avalon Park, Calumet Heights, Greater Grand Crossing, Burnside

Chicago Department of Transportation, Cambridge Systematics, URS, O-H Community Partners, EJM Engineering, MKC Associates The South Lakefront study area (the lakefront on the east, the Stevenson Expressway on the north, the Dan Ryan Expressway/Norfolk Southern rail yard/Cottage Grove Avenue on the west and on the south) is served by a variety of transit services, including local and express bus routes, the Red and Green lines and the Metra Electric District. This study was initiated in order to identify gaps in the ability of the mass transit’s existing network to meet current and future needs and to develop, evaluate and recommend improvements. The recommendations are intended to enhance mobility for residents of the study area communities and increase access to jobs located throughout the city and surrounding areas.

General Recommendations: Focus improvements on safety, travel times, key linkages, customer comfort, frequency of service, seamless travel, knowledge of services and economically viable neighborhoods.

Specific Recommendations: Improve safety and security features; Provide better coverage with high- capacity, high-speed modes, targeting areas where walking distances to stations are above 0.5 miles; Enhance travel time and reliability; Identify and strengthen connections and travel options within major east-west corridors to serve work and discretionary trips; Improve station and bus environment for users who are waiting; Improve frequency of service to match demand, especially bus service, in key areas; Integrate the network of transit service so users can easily go from one mode or one transit provider to another; Offer more integrated, seamless transfer and fare policies; Increase creative marketing efforts to ensure that those who have Internet access are aware of these features; Increase information options for those without Internet access; Highlight opportunities to cluster development around existing transportation hubs, particularly rail stations; Complement the transit system improvements with pedestrian, bicycle and other enhancements to station access.

Plan Maps and Data References: Map of study area, p. 2; 2006 typical weekday boardings and alightings, p. 9; Average weekday entering ridership at Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) stations, p. 10; Average weekday ridership on current CTA bus routes, p. 12; Key characteristics of the population, p. 15; Characteristics of work and non-work trips, p. 17; Transit market share, p. 20; Study area land use, p. 22; Stakeholder identification of goals and objectives, p. 29; Evaluation screening criteria, p. 33; Candidate projects by category, p. 35; Alignment of Jeffery Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), p. 38; Comparison of example project improvements, p. 42; Location of the nine example improvement projects, p. 42; Stations with transit oriented development (TOD) potential, p. 48.

Highlighted Accomplishments: Completed the Red Line South Reconstruction Project (9 stations from 95th Street/Dan Ryan to Cermak/Chinatown) including improved pedestrian, security, way-finding and lighting infrastructure; Installed new CTA bus shelters throughout the area with a select number (including along the J14 Jeffrey Boulevard Jump route) having the CTA’s Bus Tracker displays; Undertook Red Line track and structure repairs to reduce commute times.

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Key Unfinished Projects: Establish new bus route on 83rd Street; Create Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive Express bus service; Develop bus priority on South Lake Shore Drive; Explore Cottage Grove Bus Rapid Transit; Explore Cottage Grove Avenue streetcar; Explore 55th Street/ corridor Bus Rapid Transit; Explore 79th Street corridor enhanced bus; Explore development of the Gold Line; Integrate CTA-Metra fares; Explore Transit-Oriented-Development potential at stations.

South Lakefront Corridor Transit Study

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Jeffery Jump Bus Rapid Transit August 2013 Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Department of Transportation

Community Areas: Loop, Near South Side, South Shore, Avalon Park, South Chicago, South Deering, Riverdale, Hegewisch

The Jeffery Jump features:

 Dedicated bus lanes between 67th Street and 83rd Street during congested periods  Fewer stops to increase travel speeds, with the exception of the #15, which will continue all local stops, including shared stops at all Jump stations  Queue jumps via bypass lanes, which will allow a Jump bus to advance through an intersection  Transit signal priority  High quality stations, including lighted shelters with Bus Tracker displays, high-visibility kiosks and ADA-accessible sidewalk ramps  Select locations will also feature bike racks, benches, trash cans and landscape planters  Unique graphics identifying Jump service for easy identification  On-board Bus Tracker displays that display arrival times at key destinations  Non-stop service from 11th to 67th Streets  Dedicated bus lanes  Commercial area showcase station at Jeffery Boulevard and 71st Street  Residential showcase station at 100th Street and Paxton Avenue

Plan Maps and Data References: N/A

Highlighted Accomplishments: Service is active; Dedicated lanes are in use; Showcase stations have been built.

Key Unfinished Projects: The project has been fully implemented.

BRT Jeffery Jump

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