End of the End: Chicago's Cabrini Green
Some of the final buildings of one of the nation's most notorious public housing communities is coming down. Since the late 90's demolition has removed almost 15,000 units concentrated in highrise towers around the neighborhood. Most of the buildings have been replaced by mixed income housing units consisting of rowhomes, walkups, and midrise buildings of similar character of what once used to exist on this site. Affluent neighborhoods of River North, Gold Cost, and Lincoln park have over the past decade swallowed up land once occupied by housing projects. Assuming [[hopefully) all the former residents were relocated to better housing as the program promised, the federally mandated destruction of Cabrini Green into a vibrant and safe neighborhood "the new Oldtown," has been an incredible success.
But one city block remained of highrise towers, that was a reminder of this areas troubled past. The 1st of the three remaining towers once part of a wall of 14 story towers known as "The White Walls" is coming down. Only 2 towers remain functioning......... just barely. Maintenance has been minimal only to satisfy the few residents that remain. For example you can see what hallways have residents just by what light bulbs have been replaced. Units that caught fire are simply boarded up from the inside leaving large scars on the exterior. Scaffolds are set up around the base of the building to protect residents from falling concrete.
I've gotten a few pictures over the past few years. A couple of them I also took today.
1 / 18 / 2008 "Reds" await demolition http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2279/...5cb8689777.jpg
A shot of "Headquarters," one of the reds being demolished
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/...26e9cc35a9.jpg
Front view of headquarters
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/...6b62bd3823.jpg
From poverty to prosperity. That elevated track in the distance could be the gates to hell or heaven depending on what direction you are heading. The skyscrapers in the distance are John Hancock Tower and 900 N. Michigan, which contains one of the city's most posh shopping centers.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2066/...2f1ab317a3.jpg
The final end of Cabrini-Green forever and ever and ever.
The End of Cabrini Green Forever
As the pieces were slowly chipped away from this once massive community of towers and lowrise buildings, the final phase of demolition is set to begin.
The Non-Rehabbed rowhomes will go.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...,1189088.story
As with the rest of Cabrini Green, it will likely be replaced with market rate housing and some subsidized housing. Currently a Target Store is set to break ground where three towers once stood. They will offer jobs to CHA residents.
Rehabbed rowhomes that will remain
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/...c79e6d62_z.jpg
Midrise condo building that replaced towers
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1150/...c0ebb855_z.jpg
Finally, the section that will be entirely wiped out
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Chicag...,63.84,,0,1.67
The Cabrini Rows were originally built in the 1940s to house Italian immigrants