Englewood, Chicago

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**Englewood (Chicago, Illinois)**
Community Area 68 - Englewood Location within the city of Chicago
Latitude Longitude	41°46.8′N 87°38.4′W / 41.78°N 87.64°W / 41.78; -87.64
Neighborhoods	Englewood Hamilton Park
ZIP Code	part of 60621
Area	8.00 km² (3.09 mi²)
Population (2000) Density	40,222 (down 15.0% from 1990) 5,025.8 /km²
Demographics	White Black Hispanic Asian Other	0.44% 97.8% 0.86% 0.07% 0.79%
Median income	$18,955
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services

soccer team 1908

Shopping Center, circa 1974

Mall Beautification Program Kick-off, 1976

Englewood, with about 40,000 inhabitants, is one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago. It is located on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois. Englewood was once known as "Junction Grove" [1].

[edit] History of Englewood

The original inhabitants of what is now Englewood were Mascouten Indians. The land was swampy. In 1840, Englewood was officially documented as habital land to the United States Government Land Office in Chicago. In the 1850s and 1860s, as Chicago was becoming a city of railroad tracks and economic prosperity, Englewood was just another supporting neighborhood. But in 1871, when the Great Chicago Fire destroyed a large portion of Chicago, residents moved to the outskirts. Englewood's railroad connections to downtown Chicago made it a convenient location, and the neighborhood's population grew rapidly. Englewood Station once served many railroad passengers; at one point over 1,000 trains would pass through Englewood every day in 1889.

Englewood was the home of Dr. H. H. Holmes, one of the first published murderers in America. His hotel located at Wallace and 63rd streets was the scene of most of his crimes. His story is featured in the best selling book "Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson.

Currently, many of its buildings are falling apart and 43% of the residents live below the poverty line. Over 700 murders have occurred there in only 10 years.

[edit] Englewood Shopping District

The Englewood community was largely defined by the Englewood Shopping Center, (63rd & Halsted) a large pedestrian mall. The City, social services, and mall management worked with community leaders and groups to integrate the mall with the community. The goal was to make the mall a vital part of the community, and a central part of everyday life. It was the site of numerous community events, parades, outdoor concerts, live radio broadcasts and the like. This was spearheaded by the Englewood Business Men's Association and its Director, Richard Drew. Mr. Drew died in 1978, and with his passing the Association lost its community focus.

In the 1980’s the shopping center struggled as it lost almost all its anchor stores. Wieboldt’s, Sears and others closed their doors or relocated elsewhere. It became a hodge-podge of smaller, specialty stores such as liquor stores, shoe stores and one grocery store. A large number of stores were Korean owned, and tensions were high in the area between Korean shop owners and local African Americans. Additionally, a disproportionate number of stores were owned by those outside the community. This state of affairs left those in the community feeling disenfranchised. Most of the residents rely on the government for everything from food to healthcare and to housing. This on going cycle has led to generations of people relying on wellfare to support their children, which is in a way part of the problem.

[edit] Kennedy King College

In 1999 this 30 year decline was finally addressed, when Mayor Richard M. Daley announced a $256 million revitalization plan for the area. The keystone of the program is the relocation of Kennedy King College to the former site of the Englewood Shopping Center. Shortly thereafter the city began an aggressive buyout and relocation program for mall merchants.

Groundbreaking for the new location occurred on November 9, 2005. This marked the end of an era for the community, and the beginning of what many hope will be a rebirth. The 40-acre (160,000 m²) campus is scheduled for completion in 2007. One immediate result were skyrocketing property values. What many considered a blighted community was suddenly a hot spot. Some homes that were impossible to sell 10 years ago for next to nothing, are now selling for over $200,000.

[edit] The Future

Many believe that the area is still in dire need of improvement. The infrastructure is crumbling, there is a decided lack of medical care available, crime is still among the highest in the country.

[edit] Attempts For Change

Since the 81 murders in Englewood, which took place between January and April, 1991, a small group of adults has stepped up to create a safe place for the youth in Englewood. The main goal for this center, named P.E.A.C.E. (People Educating Against Crime In Englewood), is to provide an intermediate place for kids ranging from 8 years of age to 18, focusing on preventing crime and drug abuse by occupying children's time with activities and a loving family-like atmosphere. A square meal is served each day to the children who attend (free of charge), with an emphasis on healthy eating habits. For some of the kids, this is the only full meal they will receive that day. While the PEACE center attempts to subvert crime, its facilities are lacking. With a full gym and theatre on the second level, PEACE has great potential, but the lack of community generated funds prevents the improvement efforts. The residents as a whole have a complete disrespect for life and lack what it takes in life to move foreward in society.

[edit] External links

Englewood, Chicago

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Contents

[edit] History of Englewood

[edit] Englewood Shopping District

[edit] Kennedy King College

[edit] The Future

[edit] Attempts For Change

[edit] External links

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