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

CALUMET Vast district combines industry, natural areas, and housing

The basin on the southern tip of was the industrial heart of Chicago’s steel industry for more than 80 years, supporting generations of families across multiple neighborhoods and retail districts.

But with steel no longer driving the local economy, the district is redefining itself around historic neighborhoods, natural areas, and clean industry. Still an unparalleled transportation nexus – served by multiple railroads, Interstate highways, and water routes – Calumet offers enormous opportunities for infill housing as well as mixed-use or industrial development.

Source: Calculations by Institute for Housing Home to 135,600 people in distinctive neighborhoods like Slag Valley, Irondale, and Altgeld Gardens, Studies at DePaul University using 2010 Decennial Census. the Calumet district contains a mix of African-American, Latino, and white communities, many with well-kept brick bungalows, historic rowhouses, and small apartment buildings. Almost 60 percent of the area’s 46,000 households are owner-occupied.

A major driver for investment in coming decades is the availability of large tracts of land once used for industry. Though some land remains contaminated by previous uses, the area boasts Chicago’s most diverse and expansive natural habitats, including roughly 6,000 acres in Chicago and adjacent suburbs catalogued by the Natural Area Inventory. East of Lake Calumet are the neighborhoods of South Deering, CALUMET DISTRICT OVER TIME 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 Hegewisch, and East Side, which grew up alongside the former Wisconsin Steel and Republic Steel plants. Despite the Population 184,007 185,318 164,845 158,526 135,643 loss of local jobs, Hegewisch and East Side have seen only a 3 Share of population in poverty percent decline in population since 2000, to about 32,500 9.3% 16.5% 20.4% 20.3% 24.6% residents in 2010. South Deering lost about 11 percent, to Percent owner-occupied/renter occupied 15,109 in 2010. 66/34 65/35 66/34 64/36 59/41

Sources: Calculations by Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University using U.S. Census data from US2010 Land uses around Lake Calumet are non-residential, including Project at Brown University. wetlands and natural areas as well as heavy industry, tank farms, closed landfills, sewage treatment, and composting. Much of this area is controlled by the Illinois International Port District, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, Chicago Park District, and Forest Preserves of Cook County.

West of the lake are four square miles of mostly residential communities, including the historic Pullman area where George Pullman built a model town around his railroad-car factory, as well as Riverdale, West Pullman, and Roseland. Population in these communities has fallen 10 to 20 percent since 2000, to about 88,000, driven by high rates of foreclosure and an exodus of African-American families. Because of enrollment declines, four local public schools were closed in 2013.

Changing land uses Calumet’s unique ecology and its industrial heritage have allowed for transformative redevelopments in recent years, suggesting the neighborhood’s future:

 Pullman Park is a Walmart-anchored shopping center built by Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives on the former Ryerson Steel site near 111th Street and Doty Avenue. The developer plans smaller stores and a sit-down restaurant in future phases.

 The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center on 119th Street in West Pullman is a $160 million facility that attracts 1,500 people a day on weekends with educational,

Chicago Neighborhoods 2015 Summary of Assets – Calumet – February 2015 – Page 2 sports, arts, and supportive programming. Opened in 2012, the 33-acre campus employs 200 people and has become an activity anchor for surrounding neighborhoods.

 Marshfield Plaza, also built on former industrial land, is a 461,000-square-foot retail destination with 30 stores including Target, Marshalls, Jewel-Osco, and Anna’s Linens. It is directly accessible from Interstate 57 at 117th Street, just west of the Calumet planning district.

 The Harborside International Golf Center was built by the Illinois International Port District on a 57-acre closed landfill at 110th Street and Doty Avenue. Two 18-hole courses, a practice facility, and clubhouse offer views of Lake Calumet and downtown.

The redeveloped parcels coexist alongside EMPLOYMENT – CALUMET industrial, warehousing, retail, and transportation Top six employment sectors (# jobs) 2005 2011 sectors that employ about 10,400 people. Two pipe Manufacturing 6,345 5,478 mills, a cement plant, scrap yards, paint company, Health Care and Social Assistance 1,627 1,657 and food plants are clustered along the industrial Retail Trade 1,871 1,578 Transportation and Warehousing 1,967 1,393 waterfronts and on . The 113- Wholesale Trade 1,308 1,335 acre Ford Chicago Assembly Plant at 130th and Accommodation and Food Services 1,112 1,046 Torrence employs 4,100 people on three shifts – the Total # private-sector jobs in district 19,711 16,424 most in its 90-year history – using components District Citywide from 1,000 additional workers at the nearby Ford Unemployment rate 2012 18.0% 12.9%

Supplier Park and other factories in Chicago Sources: Calculations by Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University using Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics data (top sectors) and Heights and Indiana. Olive Harvey College is 2012 Five-Year American Community Survey (unemployment). building a $45 million facility to serve as the transportation, distribution, and logistics hub of the City Colleges system, to open in fall 2015.

A greener future Calumet has had an active environmental movement since the 1970s. Irondalers Against the Chemical Threat, People for Community Recovery, and the Southeast Environmental Task Force organized residents and environmentalists to close illegal dumps and raise awareness of the impact of pollution, waste incineration, and heavy truck traffic.

Chicago Neighborhoods 2015 Summary of Assets – Calumet – February 2015 – Page 3

Many of those hazards have been reduced in recent years, but the region continues to host scrap yards, waste-processing plants, and cement facilities. Along the Calumet River, mounds of the refinery byproduct petcoke have provoked neighborhood protests and new regulations, causing one of two storage-yard operators to close operations.

Recent investments suggest a greener future. On a 41-acre brownfield at 1201 W. 120th Street, the utility Exelon built a photovoltaic solar farm that generates power for 1,500 homes. At Pullman Park, the green-cleaner company Method is constructing a 150,000-square-foot factory that will seek LEED Platinum certification; it will employ 100, feature a 250-foot wind turbine, and grow vegetables in a rooftop greenhouse.

More than 10 years of work by the City of Chicago, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Calumet Area Industrial Commission, Openlands Project, and others have resulted in a series of land-use and open-space plans that outline a major initiative, now being implemented, called the Millennium Reserve.  Government agencies will create a Conservation Compact to protect and manage 23 ecologically important sites.  The Chicago Park District is developing the 278-acre Big Marsh Park near 116th Street and Stony Island Avenue; the $4.5 million first phase will open in 2016 for biking, fishing, canoeing, hiking, and bird-watching.  The Millenium Reserve Steering Committee recommends development of connecting trails to link shorelines, woods, marshes, prairies, and other features. The trails would connect to existing resources including the Burnham Greenway, Major Taylor Trail, and Wolf Lake trail system.

Integral to the Millennium plan is the proposed designation of a Pullman National Historic Park – now under review by the Department of the Interior – which would elevate the Pullman district from its current status as a National Historic Landmark. Built in the 1880s as a “model town” by railroad

Chicago Neighborhoods 2015 Summary of Assets – Calumet – February 2015 – Page 4 visionary George Pullman, the neighborhood features two districts of simple brick rowhouses – north and south of the factory complex – plus the Pullman Wheelworks at 104th and Maryland, whose 210 affordable units were recently renovated by Mercy Housing. The 1881 Hotel Florence, a Queen Anne structure at 111th Street and Forrestville Avenue, is being renovated with state funds to become a visitor center. A detailed assessment of the district is provided in The Urban Land Institute’s 2011 report, The Pullman State Historic Site, which identifies reuse options and recommends unified signage and design to cohesively define the district. The National Parks Conservation Association will work with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to develop recommendations on transportation access, parking, signage, and streetscaping.

Source: Easy Analytic Software, Inc., updated January 2014, as displayed on Woodstock Institute Data Portal.

Challenges and opportunities Transportation improvements, tourism, and execution of the Millennium Reserve plan will be powerful investment drivers that help the region address long-standing weaknesses in its housing and retail sectors.

Much of the area west of Lake Calumet has experienced severe housing deterioration, with more than 8,000 housing units lost since 1990. More than five percent of housing units have been vacant for more than 24 months in Pullman, Roseland, and West Pullman; in some areas more than 30 percent of non-

Chicago Neighborhoods 2015 Summary of Assets – Calumet – February 2015 – Page 5 condominium property transactions are for $20,000 or less (map on following page), signaling very weak demand.

The City of Chicago’s Micro Market Recovery Program is targeting two areas, in North Pullman and West Pullman. With partners Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, Neighborhood Housing Services Chicago, and Far South Side Community Development Corporation, the program has rehabbed and reoccupied 78 units since program inception. Also in West Pullman, Habitat for Humanity is helping families rebuild an entire block between 119th and 120th Streets at Union, just east of the Halsted commercial corridor.

Likely to invigorate both residential and retail markets is the CTA’s planned Red Line Extension. Now in the second phase of Environmental Impact planning, the estimated $2.3 billion project will add 5.3 miles of new service with new stations likely at 103rd Source: Calculations by Institute for Housing Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue/116th Street, and 130th Studies at DePaul University using data from Cook County Recorder of Deeds via Property Insights, Street. The project will bring frequent rail service to an area that Cook County Assessor. has been poorly served for decades, cutting up to 20 minutes from the trip to downtown.

The Red Line extension will run through Roseland, West Pullman, and Riverdale, creating opportunities for retail and housing development around the stations and along the neighborhood’s traditional spine, Michigan Avenue. The CTA has worked closely with the Developing Communities Project and other organizations to identify opportunities and partners. At the extended Red Line terminus is the geographically isolated Chicago Housing Authority Altgeld Gardens-Phillip Murray Homes and adjacent Golden Gates neighborhood, whose more than 6,800 residents will benefit from better access to jobs and commercial districts. The 2013 Altgeld Gardens-Phillip Murray Homes Master Plan calls for renovation of more than 500 homes, better interim connections to transit, a sidewalk and

Chicago Neighborhoods 2015 Summary of Assets – Calumet – February 2015 – Page 6 bike trail on 130th Street, and development of a small commercial district, library, and childcare facilities.

Farther west along Halsted Street, the Far South Side Community Development Corp. has worked with the city and private developers on recent new investments. A visioning exercise identified Halsted at 119th Street as a promising crossroads, dubbed Halsted Crossing, near the new LEED-certified West Pullman Library and other anchors. In 2015, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning will conduct a Local Technical Assistance project along 119th Street from I-57 to Union Avenue.

Transportation upgrades The Red Line Extension is one of several transportation improvements underway. The CTA instituted enhanced service on the J14 Jeffrey JUMP route in 2013 to speed travel from 103rd Street to downtown. Bus-only lanes along part of the route and a “queue jump” allow the bus to get ahead of traffic; it carries about 13,000 riders a day.

The other major passenger carrier is Metra, which serves Millennium Station downtown and the south suburbs. Most commuters travel to the 115th Street (Kensington) station for its more frequent service and parking, creating 1,081 boardings there on weekdays. The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District’s station at Hegewisch has 1,449 boardings per day. Other Metra stations have very low and declining ridership and infrequent or “flag-stop” service, primarily serving residents who can walk to the train from their homes. These stations are typically in poor condition, but have the potential for higher ridership if conditions are improved, new housing is built nearby, and more frequent service is offered.

Metra Electric District Ridership (weekday average morning boardings 2006 and 2014) 103rd St. 111th St. 115th St. Stewart West (Rosemoor) 107th St. (Pullman) (Kensington) State St. Ridge Pullman Racine Ashland 2006 70 34 27 1,577 85 61 24 53 165 2014 43 31 19 1,081 54 37 21 33 98 Source: Metra Commuter Rail System Station Alighting/Boarding Count, Summary Results, Spring 2014. Note: 2014 ridership was counted in the spring, versus fall counts in 2006, and thus reflects a roughly 5 percent lower, seasonal ridership level. Any greater variance than -5% is likely reflective of changes in population, employment, usage, and other factors.

Chicago Neighborhoods 2015 Summary of Assets – Calumet – February 2015 – Page 7

The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) program has several projects that affect the district, most notably the $101 million underpass and rail bridge at 130th Street and Torrence Avenue. The project will reduce both train and auto tie-ups while improving efficiency for the adjacent Ford Assembly Plant.

Finally, the Chicago International Port District offers opportunities for investment in water- and rail- oriented freight businesses. The 2012 report, Illinois International Port District, A Strategic & Capital Needs Study, provides a detailed assessment of the district’s aging infrastructure and identifies substantial development opportunities, though major capital investment will be required.

Examples of development opportunities Place Location Status Notes Illinois International Around Lake Calumet and at Iriquois Much of the land is vacant or underutilized. 2012 study recommends consolidation, improvement Port District Landing in South Chicago to industrial sites to improve efficiencies. Pullman Park 107th Street at I-57 100 acres available Development of outlot for Advocate Medical Group and retail stores planned as of October 2014. Major industrial sites Various including former Wisconsin Steel, Republic/Acme Steel Infill housing Numerous locations Micro Market Recovery Program is active in North, West Pullman; Habitat in West Pullman Ford Calumet Identified for further study in Millennium Design by Jeanne Gang for 27,000 sq. ft. center has Environmental Center Reserve plan; design commissioned by Chicago won awards, critical acclaim; funding is not in place. Building Commission, 2008 Altgeld Gardens 520 units being renovated Opportunity for retail development near CTA Red Line extension Kohn School (closed 10414 S. State St. 4.3 acre site; needs mechanical and building Includes two WPA-era murals; building may be 2013) envelope repairs eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Reuse could have positive impact in challenged Roseland neighborhood. Owens School (closed 12450 S. State St. 2.35 acre site; mechanical repairs needed Building is not a priority for historic preservation. 2013) Songhai School (closed 11725 S. Perry Ave. 3.61 acre site; needs building envelope repairs Building may be eligible for the National Register of 2013 Historic Places. Reuse could have positive impact on surrounding West Pullman neighborhood. West Pullman School 11941 S. Parnell Ave. 4.29 acre site; mechanical and building envelope Building may be eligible for the National Register of (closed 2013) in good shape Historic Places. Reuse could have positive impact on surrounding West Pullman neighborhood.

Chicago Neighborhoods 2015 Summary of Assets – Calumet – February 2015 – Page 8

Data note: Demographic and other data is compiled by Chicago Community Area, which may differ slightly from the boundaries of the CN2015 Planning Districts. Community Areas included in this profile are East Side, Hegewisch, South Deering, Riverdale, Pullman, West Pullman, and Roseland.

Research support for Chicago Neighborhoods 2015: Assets, Plans and Trends was provided by a team convened by The Chicago Community Trust. The summary of assets for this planning district was created by LISC Chicago and Teska Associates with materials from Metropolitan Planning Council, Place Consulting, Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, and many other sources. Author: Patrick Barry.

Learn more about Calumet and Chicago Neighborhoods 2015 at cct.org/CN2015/Calumet. Learn more about data and sources at cct.org/CN2015/DataSources.

Chicago Neighborhoods 2015 Summary of Assets – Calumet – February 2015 – Page 9 CALUMET PLANNING DISTRICT ASSET MAP CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS 2015

Iroquois Landing

95th See South Side Planning District See Stony Island Planning District Former CPS Building Marsh ES LAKE MICHIGAN Far South Community Taylor ES Development Corp. Evergreen Park YCCS Charter Olive Harvey Calumet Beach

90 Fernwood ES Bennett ES Olive-Harvey College WASHINGTON HEIGHTS Corliss HS Noble Charter Butler 103rd 4th Gallistel ES

Garvey ES MICHIGAN 103rd St. Smith, W ES Hughes L ES North Pullman MMRP EAST SIDE Washington Heights Julian HS Former Kohn ES Vodak-East Side Mount Vernon ES ROSELAND Poe ES Pullman Wheelworks 57 Cullen ES Burnham Greenway 107th St. 94 Bright ES Nkrumah Charter Method Harborside Int’l Golf Course Addams ES MORGAN PARK PULLMAN Dunne ES Pullman Park Lavizzo ES Foundations Charter Roseland HS US Bank Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives St. Augustine College Pullman Magic Johnson Bridgescape NHS Roseland 111th St. 5th 111th Brooks HS Calumet Area Chicago Excel Roseland E

Pullman Park Industrial Commission C N

Shoop ES Hotel Florence E

Fenger HS E D

E Harborside

R T

D

T Washington, G HS Washington, G ES A Pullman ES R

N S

T Marsh

A

L

O S

L Cooperation Operation T A Haley ES Kensington

H

STONY ISLAND STONY H

S O

A 115th Curtis ES Roseland Nbrd Health Ctr. IL International Port District

CICS Prairie E

Whistler ES U

WEST PULLMAN Pullman N West Pullman E Higgins ES Former Songhai ES Industrial Corridor V Marshfield Plaza MMRP A West Pullman 119th Collegiate Charter SOUTH DEERING Calumet Kroc Center Habitat for Humanity Lake Calumet Colemon ES Industrial Corridor MiFab, Inc. Former W. Pullman ES W. Pullman Halsted Crossing Industrial Corridor Racine Ave. Exelon City Stewart Ridge State St. West Pullman White ES Solar Gompers ES Metcalfe ES Ford Supplier Park Major Taylor Trail Former Owens ES MWRD Calumet Park Brown ES 127th Ford Chicago Assembly Plant INDIANA MWRD Grissom ES RIVERDALE Altgeld Hegewisch People for Community Recovery Gardens The Clinic at Altgeld Wolf Lake Trail Aldridge ES Carver HS Altgeld Hegewisch Marsh CICS Altgeld Murray Clinic Clay ES Blue Island Joe Louis Golf Course Dubois ES Southeast Environmental Task Force Lloyd Carver ES Bond CICS Beaubien Forest Preserve Hawkins Marina HEGEWISCH Riverdale 138TH MWRD Dolton Calumet City Burnham

DATE | 01.16.2015 CALUMET PLANNING DISTRICT WARD/TIF/SSA MAP CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS 2015

See Stony Island Planning District See South Side Planning District South Chicago

95TH Commercial Avenue

LAKE MICHIGAN See Far Southwest Side

E East Side Chamber of Commerce

N T

A

Planning District A T

G

I S

H

Far South CDC C

I

North Pullman M T

103RD R

A

W

O

E

E

T

SSA#41 C E

S

N

U

E N

Roseland/Michigan R

E R

V Ewing Avenue

O

A T 105th/Vincennes

119th & I-57 Redevelopment SSA#45 SSA#40

S

T

O

Western Avenue/ N

Y

I Rock Island S L

A

N

Greater Roseland D 115TH Chamber of Commerce 119th/Halsted 10th Ward Lake Calumet Ind. Cord.

D

West Pullman N

A

L

H

S

A 9th Ward

126TH 126th/Torrence

CaluCalumetmet Pa Parkrk 127TH

Blue Island

E L L I Blue Island S 134th Street and Avenue K 134TH Riverdale Calumet River 138TH

Dolton Calumet City Burnham Posen Dixmoor

(NBDC) serves this district but main o ce may be located o the map

*This planning area is located within the Calumet Area Industrial Council (LIRI)

DATE | 01.16.2015