Sharnette Brown: This process actually started back in the
mid-90s. CHA, the Chicago Housing Authority, received our Hope VI grant, which is a federally
funded grant in the amount of $50 million. With those funds, we began relocating families
from buildings, which included funds for demolition, as well as bringing back new housing. At that
time, residents became a big voice in the process, which brought about what we work
under now, which is a consent decree. One of the things that's made this happen is the
partnerships that we have in the surrounding communities. So one of the things is that
the Mayor Daley was a big push in bringing all of the agencies together and letting them
know the importance of this community and what it's all about, and making a healthier
community for all families of different income levels. And so there's been a great partnership
that's made this happen, as well as the private developer and their team of architects and engineers.
Pat Fitzgerald: What is now referred to as Parkside is a portion
of what was once the infamous Cabrini-Green Development, at various times identified as
one of the probably most dangerous and least successful public housing projects in the
country. Those buildings were all subsequently taken down and are being replaced by what
we're building. This is an amalgam. It is market rate housing. It is affordable housing,
which is housing that is partially subsidized. And it is -- and it contains a number of CHA
units, which are fully subsidized. It's what's called a mixed income community.
Sharnette Brown: The building that's behind me is a midrise
building, it's a home ownership building, but one of the things that makes our community
unique is that we have not only public housing, but we have affordable and we have home ownership.
So what you will find in that building is a mix of units, which are indistinguishable
from the exterior, which is one of the things we wanted. We didn't want you to be able to
point out the different income levels that are within the development. So as you walk
by, you would not be able to tell which unit is a public housing unit versus a home ownership unit.
Steven Ryniewicz: The midrise buildings that front some of the
busier streets of the project have a lower portion of the roof that's actually an overlook
for the upper level units. So what we did there was we created the green roofs on the
lower portions of the building and utilized them as an amenity.
Pat Fitzgerald: Part of our thought in planning this was that
there would be small scale green spaces spread throughout, rather than aggregated into a
few parks.
Melvin Thompson: A lot of these buyers come from the suburbs,
and one of the first questions I get is, you know, have -- you know, is this integrated
already? And so we really like to point out that yes, it is, and you're taking part in it.
Raelie Kaplan: This city is full of -- it's so vibrant, it's
dynamic. We can walk anywhere and be near the lake. We can go to Old Town. We can be
near -- we're near the Gold Coast. We walk all over. You can't do that in the suburbs.
[kids shouting]
Sharnette Brown: The parks, the infrastructure, everything
was a big part of what we're doing here at Park Side of Old Town to help it -- make it
a real community that's accessible to not only downtown, but the areas north of here.
So we have the train station that's not far from here, we have two stops currently. They're
going to be looking at implementing new stops within the area. We also have the bus, which
runs down Division Street. They're also looking at implementing new bus stops, making the
area more user friendly, and walker friendly, and biker friendly.
Clarence Norwood: I like Park Side because of the proximity
to downtown is perfect for me. My wife works downtown. I work a little further away, but
it's better for her and the kids. Just convenient just being right here. It's almost like centralized.
We're a straight shot to the south side. A straight shot to the north side, and straight
shot downtown or out west.
Raelie Kaplan: I love living in the area where the people
are so diverse and I have -- I mean, every day I just -- I'm -- I feel more alive just
being outside here. It's a wonderful feeling.