Continued...

Big Plans

The NSP proposals focus on communities and projects that are near transit, along the Calumet River, a long-standing industrial waterway, and/or part of successful redevelopment that has already been set in motion, according to the NSP 1 proposal to the state of Illinois.

Blue Island, a working class town of 24,000 with large Mexican, African American and white populations, though hard-hit by the deindustrialization of the latter part of the 20th century and the recent economic crisis, is the type of vibrant and entrepreneurial community perfectly suited to development incentive and subsidy programs. The state NSP proposal calls for demolishing one blighted property and then redeveloping a larger site with mixed-use rental as part of a joint transit-oriented development with neighboring Robbins. Blue Island community development director Jodi Prout notes that the project itself is dwarfed by the potential of the relationships formed or solidified during the NSP process.

“The actual project and amount of money won’t be that significant, I don’t know how much it will make an impact on foreclosures,” she said. “But the whole project is working with the other communities and having inter-jurisdictional efforts that help everyone.”

Robbins’ share of the project would include demolishing and land-banking 32 homes and redeveloping 109 units. Robbins is known as the first incorporated African American municipality in the north, was home to the country’s first African American-owned airport and was once known as the “Harlem of the Midwest ” for the cultural and academic achievements of its residents. The town of about 6,600, still almost entirely African American, has fallen on hard times as factories have closed, social institutions have collapsed and a third of residents live below the poverty line. But community leaders hope the regional collaboration can help it recover, especially since it is close to multiple train and bus routes and one of Chicago’s major airports.

In Dolton, a working class majority African American town, planners want to revamp the aging, deteriorating infrastructure. The winding streets are too narrow to safely accommodate emergency vehicles, according to Herzog, and sewage infrastructure is outdated. “This is a new opportunity to address some of the underlying problems,” said Herzog. The village will acquire 25 homes to be land banked and rehab 40 more for homeownership. This activity will take place near the border of Riverdale and its rail line. The areas planned for renovation include many foreclosed or otherwise abandoned properties, as well as houses that are largely rental, inhabited by mostly transient occupants.. He notes the brick in houses slated for demolition will be recycled in new homes.

In Riverdale, also largely African American in its demographic makeup, is a village of 15,000 just south of Chicago’s border, 10 homes near the train station will be rehabbed and resold. Morrissy, who previously served as director of economic and community development for the Riverdale mayor’s office, noted that many Riverdale residents commute into Chicago to work and socialize, and are unaware of what their own community has to offer. She hopes revitalizing the area and improving public transportation within Riverdale, a move which could be sparked and facilitated by the NSP development, will encourage Riverdale residents to feel more of a connection to their home. “A lot of the citizenry don’t even feel like it’s their community,” she said. “They go back into Chicago to worship and shop. Part of our plan is to bring that community stability.”