Maurice Holmes stands in front of his former Henry Horner home in the fall of 2004. Holmes lived in Horner most of his life and collected scrap metal for income. He planned on being one of the last residents to move out of the old buildings. Photo: Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee
(jen’tra-fu-ka’shun) n. The restoration and upgrading of deteriorated urban property by middle-class or affluent people, often resulting in the displacement of lower-income people.
Henry Horner Homes, Chicago’s West Side.
What do the shoes mean? Drug dealing? Site of a gang murder? These days, according to some, it’s a symbol that a building has come down or will come down, and people will be displaced.
Mark Mlynaruyk checks out the view of the Eisenhower Expressway and Rockwell.
The expressway acts as a divider between the wealthy new comers and the low-income Rockwell Residents, but as old high rises are demolished the high-income condos will overtake the landscape.
Photos: Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee; hodgsonrigsbee.com
39th and State, Bronzeville.
The last building in the Robert Taylor Homes project is finally torn down. Completed in 1962, Robert Taylor was once the largest housing project in the nation, stretching for more than two miles along State Street in Chicago’s former Bronzeville neighborhood. Twenty-seven other buildings like it fell before this last one, displacing an estimated 27,000 people.
Photo: Xiao Guang Tse
Chicago and Western, border of West Town and Ukranian Village.
In a scene repeated over and over across the city, a beautiful terra-cotta clad structure from Chicago’s first century is soon to be replaced by a concrete condo building. The gouging out of the building by the back-hoe is symbolic — and chilling.
Photo: Chris Bernacchi; chrisbernacchi.com
Lake Shore East.
The developers plan to spend $2.5 Billion over ten years to turn this former nine hole golf course and driving range into an upscale neighborhood of fourteen high-rise condominiums and town homes for up to 20,000 people, and two office superstructures surrounding a six acre park. Lake Shore East is also home to Aqua, the stunning new residential high-rise with the undulating fascade designed by Chicago’s own Jeanne Gang (profiled in CC, December 2006).
Photo: Xiao Guang Tse
18th and Peoria, Pilsen.
“It’s hard to imagine most Latino families in Pilsen joining the couple on the billboard for the VIP list.” — DM
Photo: Dan Merlo
Division Street at the former site of the Cabrini Green housing project.
The Cabrini Mart is the last remaining structure on the south side of Division St. between Orleans and Halsted. Of all the redeveloped housing built around the Cabrini Mart, very few units were offered as replacement housing.
Photo: Alexandra Buxbaum
Central Station at Roosevelt and Michigan, which did not exist ten years ago. There are even bigger buildings under construction.
Photo: Xiao Guang Tse
Contrasting styles of architecture on Chicago Avenue.
Photo: Chris Bernacchi; chrisbernacchi.com
Block after block across the city.
Photo: Alexandra Buxbaum
18th Street Project.
“18th Street sits at the edge of a flow of new construction heading south engulfing Pilsen.”
— JB
Photo: Jennifer Bisbing; generationjennifer.com
The Maxwell Street stalls at old South Water Market, redeveloped as town homes.
Photo: Chris Bernacchi; chrisbernacchi.com
Chicago and Western.
“A Chicago classic is torn down to make way for a ‘bigger and better American dream.’” — DB
Photo: Devin Breen
In front of Filter, Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave.
The popular coffee shop will soon be replaced by a higher paying corporate tenant, Bank of America.
Photo: Lindsey Meyers; lindseymeyers.com