Rockwell Gardens
| Rockwell Gardens | |
|---|---|
 Rockwell Gardens during demolition | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Location | Chicago Illinois  United States |
| Coordinates | 41°52′36″N 87°41′22″W / 41.876713°N 87.6894°W[1] |
| Status | Demolished |
| Construction | |
| Constructed | 1958-1959 |
| Demolished | 2000-2006 |
| Other information | |
| Governing body | Chicago Housing Authority |
Rockwell Gardens was a Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) public housing project located in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States.[2] It was the first public housing development in the United States to be constructed using both federal and state funds.[3] The original structures were designed by Nicol & Nicol and covered 17 acres (6.9 ha). 1,126 units were built, located approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west of the Chicago Loop, bordered by Madison Street, Van Buren Street, Western Avenue, and Rockwell Street.[4]
Operation Clean Sweep
In the late 1980s, Rockwell Gardens was a part of Chicago's "Operation Clean Sweep." This was a comprehensive government and police operation to clear city housing projects of the rampant gang activity, drug dealers, and other violent criminals who were a constant problem.[5] The ultimate failure of this (and previous) cleanup programs eventually led to the Chicago Housing Authority's plan in the 1990s to demolish and redevelop city projects.
Redevelopment
Rockwell Gardens is a part of the Chicago Housing Authority's "Plan for Transformation," which encompasses a complete demolition and reconstruction of virtually all public housing projects in the city of Chicago into mixed-income communities. Demolition and complete redevelopment began in 2003, intended to provide a total of 750 housing units, of which 264 are reserved for current CHA residents.[4] Demolition was completed in 2006.
Further reading
- Popkin, Susan J. "The Hidden War:Crime and the Tragedy of Public Housing in Chicago" (Google Books link), Rutgers University Press, 2000, pp. 39–84.
References
- ^ Google (27 August 2012). "Rockwell Gardens" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ^ Encyclopedia of Chicago: East Garfield Park
- ^ Chicago Housing Authority website "History"
- ^ a b "Rockwell Gardens" (PDF). FY2006 Moving to Work Annual Plan. Chicago Housing Authority. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Michael Gillis (1989-06-29). "'Secure' Rockwell Gardens pledged". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
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