Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 6 Background ................................................................................................................................................. 8 SECTION ONE ........................................................................................................................................ 11 Regional Context and History ................................................................................................................ 11 History of Bronzeville ......................................................................................................................... 11 Regional Setting ................................................................................................................................. 14 Relationship to GO TO 2040 Regional Comprehensive Plan ............................................................ 15 Land use planning and zoning ........................................................................................................... 16 Planning process ................................................................................................................................. 18 SECTION TWO ....................................................................................................................................... 21 Previous Plans and Studies ..................................................................................................................... 21 SECTION THREE ................................................................................................................................... 28 Community Outreach .............................................................................................................................. 28 SECTION FOUR ..................................................................................................................................... 37 Demographic Profile ................................................................................................................................ 37 Key findings: ....................................................................................................................................... 37 Population and households ................................................................................................................. 38 Race and ethnicity............................................................................................................................... 40 Age and Income .................................................................................................................................. 41 Educational attainment ...................................................................................................................... 42 Employment status of Bronzeville residents ....................................................................................... 42 SECTION FIVE ........................................................................................................................................ 43 Economic Assessment ............................................................................................................................. 43 Key findings: ....................................................................................................................................... 43 Employment trends ............................................................................................................................. 44 Commercial property .......................................................................................................................... 49 SECTION SIX .......................................................................................................................................... 52 Land Use and Development ................................................................................................................... 52 Key findings: ....................................................................................................................................... 52 Land use in the commercial corridors ................................................................................................. 53 Zoning ................................................................................................................................................ 59 Page 3 SECTION SEVEN ................................................................................................................................... 62 Housing ..................................................................................................................................................... 62 Key findings: ....................................................................................................................................... 62 Housing type and age ......................................................................................................................... 62 Housing occupancy, tenure, value, and foreclosures .......................................................................... 63 Public-housing in the Bronzeville study area ..................................................................................... 66 SECTION EIGHT .................................................................................................................................... 68 Transportation and Circulation ............................................................................................................. 68 Key findings: ....................................................................................................................................... 68 Functional classification and design of roadways............................................................................... 69 Public Transit ..................................................................................................................................... 71 Walking and Bicycling ....................................................................................................................... 74 Transportation indicators ................................................................................................................... 76 SECTION NINE ...................................................................................................................................... 79 Natural Environment .............................................................................................................................. 79 Key findings: ....................................................................................................................................... 79 Green infrastructure ........................................................................................................................... 79 SECTION TEN ........................................................................................................................................ 82 Community Facilities and Services ....................................................................................................... 82 Key findings: ....................................................................................................................................... 82 Crime and safety ................................................................................................................................. 87 LOOKING FORWARD ......................................................................................................................... 89 Future Land Use Directions ............................................................................................................... 89 Related Recommendations for Future Consideration ......................................................................... 91 Page 4 This Existing Conditions Report is organized in the following sections: Introduction Section 1: Regional Context and History Section 2: Previous Plans and Studies Section 3: Community Outreach Section 4: Demographic Profile Section 5: Economic Assessment Section 6: Land Use Section 7: Housing Section 8: Transportation Section 9: Natural Environment Section 10: Community Facilities and Services Looking Forward Funding Acknowledgement CMAP would like to thank the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for funding the development and production of this document. This project is funded through HUD’s Sustainable Communities Regional Planning grant, which supports CMAP’s Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program Page 5 Introduction This Existing Conditions Report is derived from two years of research, analysis, and community engagement activities. It provides an overview of the current conditions in three key commercial corridors in Bronzeville: 43rd, 47th, and 51st Streets. It also outlines the current conditions in the neighborhood surrounding the study area. It is designed to provide a starting point for creating a shared vision of the future of these three retail corridors. The driving force in planning is always the need for change, the need for improved management of community assets and resources, or the need for a significantly altered pattern of land use due to changing circumstances. Planners face many challenges when developing a plan to revitalize