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%2 Coastal Zone Information Center FAR SOUTHEAST tow S IWIL Lulw EIR JUN I zi 1977 DEVELOPMENT AR Department of Development and Planning dA City of Chicago, Richard J. Daley, Mayor Far Southeast Development Area City of Chicago, Richard J. Daley, Mayor Lewis W. Hill, Commissioner of Development and Planning December 1968 Contents page 2 Purpose of the Development Area Reports page 3 Introduction page 5 Planning Framework-Objectives page 6 Existing Conditions and Recommendations page 6 Harbor and Industry '@So page 9 Transportation page 11 Population page 11 Residence page 13 Education page 14 Recreation page 15 Commerce page 15 Social Programs page 16 Public Health and Safety page 17 Scheduled Capital Improvements page 18 Summary PURPOSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AREA REPORTS The Development Area reports have been prepared revising the Development Area reports: to inform Chicago citizens of the meaning of the -Each Development Area report will be dis- Comprehensive Plan's recommendations for each tributed to civic organizations and other private area of the city, to aid in the exchange of informa- groups, both within the local area and city-wide. tion about community needs between citizens and government that is necessary to the development -Representatives of city agencies will meet with of a cooperative planning process, and to facili- groups and individuals in each area to discuss tate the co-ordination of plans and programs for the report. Findings will be modified, other ideas community improvements. There are 16 Develop- sought, and approaches to resolving issues will ment Areas, covering the entire city, each with a be explored. population of 150,000 to 300,000 people and with a land area of 6 to 20 square miles. -Appropriate revisions in the proposals will then The Development Area reports suggest land use be made which will result in a planning framework changes, residential and industrial improvements, for the Development Area. After public discussion, transportation improvements and community fa- the planning framework will be adopted by the cilities and social programs needed to achieve the Chicago Plan Commission as a policy guide in goals of the Comprehensive Plan in each area. reviewing projects and programs for the area. The reports are intended to stimulate community -Using the planning framework as a guide the discussion of issues, problems, and solutions. This discussion will lead to formulation of a planning Department of Development and Planning will framework for each area to be used by govern- work with other agencies to modify and co- ordinate programs and projects to meet the area's ment and citizens for scheduling and co-ordinating critical needs and to achieve local objectives. programs and community improvements. The various kinds of projects that the city under- Chicago is constantly changing. Therefore, from takes need to be co-ordinated if they are to time to time, each planning framework will be produce maximum benefits for the communities reviewed and adjusted or amended to reflect new they serve. Experience has demonstrated that needs or changes in objectives as they are identi- Chicago is too large to deal with as a whole in fied in the continuing process of planning. co-ordinating and scheduling specific projects. Thus, the Development Areas represent a very From Plans to Action practical means of focusingthe planning process on localized needs and conditions while remaining In recent years new transportation facilities, urban within the context of city-wide Comprehensive renewal, and other public and private develop- Plan policies and goals. ments have greatly improved the city's appearance and livability, and the opportunities and capa- The recommendations in the Development Area bilities of its people. Still greater effort and further reports are ideas and suggestions for considera- improvement will be necessary if Chicago is to tion. They do not represent final plans for the meet its commitment to the strategic objectives areas, nor do they cover all issues: The reports of the Comprehensive Plan. In the coming years recognize that not all planning problems have sections of the city must be rebuilt or rehabilitated clear or immediate solutions and in some cases, to meet the rising expections for living standards questions are raised in the expectation that the of all its people. New ways must be found for best solution will evolve only through community meeting social concerns, for strengthening capa- discussion. bilities and for broadening opportunities. Achiev- ingthekind of cityenvisioned in the Comprehensive The Review Process Plan will call for the ideas, widespread support, Four steps will be followed in reviewing and and involvement of all of the people of Chicago. 2 FAR SOUTHEAST DEVELOPMENT AREA The Far Southeast Development Area is a of the city is the largest complex of compre- low lying, often marshy region, about one- hensive port terminals on the Great Lakes. sixth of which is occupied by Lake Calumet Facilities along the Calumet River and the and the Calumet River system. Although Calumet Harbor accommodate ships reach- the Development Area accounts for 18.6 ing Chicago from all parts of the world square miles, or about 8 per cent of the through the St. Lawrence Seaway as well city's land area, only 69,610 people, or as vessels from other Great Lakes ports, about 2 per cent of Chicago's population, and barge traffic coming from the Gulf lived there in 1960. The area is bounded on Coast via the Mississippi River, the Illinois the south and east by the city limits and Waterway and the Calumet Sag Channel. Lake Michigan and on the west by the Illinois Central commuter line. Its northern A massive rail network serves the industrial boundary is generally 95th Street, but has and portfacilities in the CalumetArea. There been extended to 79th Street east of the are also excellent connections with the Baltimore and Ohio-Illinois Central Rail- Federal Interstate Highway system through road tracks to include an industrial area. A the Calumet Expressway along the west small residential area south of 95th Street side of Lake Calumet. Internal vehicular cir- between Van Vlissingen and Torrence ave- culation systems, however, are in need of nues is included in the Southeast Develop- improvement. ment Area just to the north. Included with- The residential communities of the Far in the Development Area are all of the Southeast Development Area are essentially traiditional community areas of Pullman, enclaves within a primarily industrial area. East Side, Riverdale, and Hegewisch, the Most of their population consists of the Millgate area of South Chicago, and that families of workers in nearby industry. portion of South Deering which is primarily Housing quality ranges from very poor in zoned for manufacturing uses. some of the oldest neighborhoods to very As Chicago grew during the 1 9th century good in newer areas. Of the six communi- many industries-especially those which ties in the area, the two on its southern process raw materials, receive bulk com- periphery are experiencing new residential modity shipments, and require extensive development. One neighborhood, in South land-settled in the Calumet area. Attracted Chicago includes a Department of Urban by job opportunities, industrial and railroad Renewal improvement project. workers settled in nearby communities. In In general the residential areas need good 1963 about seven square miles of land in commercial centers and other neighbor- the Development Area were still vacant. hood facilities. Air and water pollution, These vacant tracts, primarily zoned for parily due to the nature of the surround- manufacturing uses, constituted nearly 80 ing industry, constitute serious environ- per cent of the city's vacant industrial land. mental problems. Serving industries in this area and the rest 3 79th @F;X 6' 8-7fh t U) v L v loath NII v v v LIL V v "D v LAKE % C_ 7111: 11. 1. v v CALUPAEr v k cr f V) ZZ v V E:J v z V 9 v VII v 1301h It. Ar -N L C v Iij Cr v LU v v >N, a- 41 4x, Planning Framework Objectives 6. Improve the quality and supply of low Improvement programs in the Far South- and moderate cost In ousing through hous- east Development Area should be directed ing code enforcement and selective reha- Characteristics toward the achievement of the foil owing bilitation and rebuilding programs. Encour- Far Southeast Development Area objectives based on the improvement plan age the use of .high standards of design i .n component of the Comprehensive Plan: new construction to create pleasing resi- dential environments with a broad choice Residence in Good Condition 1. Continue to encourage the settlement of of housing types and unit sizes on an equal industry which can derive maximum bene- opportunity basis for all residents. Residence in Need of fits from ready access to ocean, lake, and 7. Assure educational opportunities of the Some Improvement inland waterways navigation, and the avail- highest quality to all residents. Upgrade ability of unexcelled rail and highway con- library service to bring adequate service to Business Concentration nections. all residential communities. 2. Create employment opportunities in the 8. Improve the usefulness of existing open Industry in Good Condition district by establishing new industries in space by making forest preserve land at- Chicago's last major reservoir of vacant .nclustrial land. tractive to adjacent residents for neighbor- Industry in Need of I' hood park use. Increase the availability of Some Improvement 3. Encourage further development of ma- year-round recreation facilities offering a jor comprehensive port terminal facilities variety of indoor and outdoor programs. Institution for ocean, lake, and inland barge shipping 9. Consolidate deteriorating strips of com- and explore the economic feasibility of an mercial development into more compact Park and Forest Preserve interstate port in Lake Michigan near the business centers. Locate community ser- mouth of the Calumet River. vices such as health clinics, employment offices, libraries and youth clubs in such A Area of Architectural and 4. Simplify the railroad and highway trans- centers to help focus community activities. Historical Significance portation patterns within the area In order 11 It to eliminate costly duplication while im- 10. Increase the quality and availability of B Obsolete Commercial proving service for local industries and necessary social programs, including day residents. Improve major streets to reduce care services for children, planned activities C Garbage and Refuse Dumping congestion and remove unwanted traffic for the elderly, and special programs for a Blighting Influence from local streets. Remove grade-level rail- youth. Emphasize the importance of inter- road crossings from major thoroughfares. group understanding through comprehen- D Discontinuous Major Street 5. Eliminate or minimize environmental sive human relations programs. conditions which are detrimental to both 11'. Strengthen comm .unity support for E Interstate Tollbridge industrial and residential development in crime and fire prevention programs, and the area. These include air pollution, water provide modern Police and Fire Department V Significant Vacant Tract pollution, garbage and refuse dumps, and facilities as needed. heavy truck and automobile traffic on 12. Provide adequate public health ser- some local streets. vices accessible to all residents of the area. 5 Existing Co nditions and Recommendations Harbor and Industry The Far Southeast Development Area con- Company, International Harvester's Wis- offered for sale to industrial developers. tains Chicago's heaviest industrial concen- consin Steel Works, and the Interlake Steel trations. The area lining the southern shore Corporation, are active within the city Associated with the of Lake Michigan, the Calumet River and limits. An ocean shipping terminal has Calumet and Little the west side of the Lake Calumet Basin is taken over part of the former site of a fifth Calumet rivers south part of a larger industrial region. Extending steel company. The South Works of the of 1 30th Street are a from Porter County, Indiana in the east to United States Steel Corporation, located group of small ma- Joliet, Illinois in the west, this region con- on the lake shore between 79th Street and rinas and boatyards tains the greatest steel production aggre- the Calumet River, has received legislative which specialize in gation in the world as well as a large permission to expand its site by filling 194 the construction, ser- number of other industries of international acres in the lake adjacent to the present vicing and storage of importance. plant. small craft. Also lo- Since the I 880's the Calumet region within In the same general area are grain eleva- cated in this area are the Chicago city limits has been a principal tors, a large flour mill, and two shipyards several metal fabricators and large brick area for the settlement of basic raw material specializing in maj .or repairs, the conver- and lumber yards. conversion industries. Most such industries sion of large lake vessels and the construc- are capital -intensive rather than labor-in- tion of tow boats. The area also contains a Now projected for the tensive; they employ a decreasing number large Ford automobile assembly plant. north end of Lake of persons per acre as they become increas- Calumet, between ingly mechanized and automated. In the 103rd Street and future, these industries probably will not be Other important in- 11 5th Street west of able to employ lower-skilled persons of the dustries are located L Stony Island Avenue type initially attracted by opportunities for west of the Calumet is the Metropolitan employment in the Calumet region. As a Expressway north of Chicago Food Center, result, high priority must be given to the 130th Street. Two a wholesale food dis- provision of retraining programs to teach major employers in tribution facilitywhich new or higher skills to persons made job- the area are the Elec- would be privately less by technological change. tromotive Division of financed. Much of the 640-acre center General Motors Plant would be located on sanitary land fill No. 2-the country's created over a number of years by refuse The iron and steel largest supplier of disposal operations. Developers of the cen- mills on the shore diesel locomotives-and Sherwin Williams, ter expect to consolidate enterprises now of Lake Michigan and which manufactures paints and related operating in the city's scattered markets, the banks of the Calu- chemical products. A group of smaller thereby freeing valuable property for re- met River from 79th modern plants housing a diversity of indus- development. Present estimates set the Street to I 26th Street tries Is in the northwest corner of this 'dis- working population of the proposed center make up this area's trict. Here, also, stretching from 103rd to at 23,000 people, including approximately R I, most important in- 111th streets are the partially idle proper- 6,800 newly created jobs. If for any reason dustry. Nearly half of ties of the Pullman Car Company, once the the Metropolitan Food Center Project the metropolitan steel largest manufacturer of railway cars in the should not be realized, the filled area north production capacity world. The Chicago plant has been used in of 11 5th Street should provide prime sites is located within Chicago. However, the recent years for scrapping of old Pullman for labor intensive industries. construction of new steel mills on the cars and the building and remodeling of Indiana shore and in Hennepin County, rapid transit cars. Some of the oldest struc- Throughout the Far Southeast Develop- Illinois will change this balance in the fu- tures on the plant site have been cleared, ment Area may be found numerous smaller ture. Four major steel producers, the United while others have been rented to incubator industries with products as varied as potato States Steel Corporation, Republic Steel industries. Parts of the site have been chips, printing, crates, and chemicals. Some 6 of these industries utilize the inland water- ways to barge raw materials and finished goods. In order to remain competitive, most large plants in the Far Southeast Development $111114 fop Area m ust undergo a constant cycle of a, renovation and renewal. As these changes 74" reflect technological necessities little atten- tion has been paid in the past to aesthetic considerations or environmental amenities. The elimination of uncontrolled refuse 7;W dumps and unkempt open storage areas, as well as the reduction of untreated industrial waste emission, must now be considered 4 of primary importance. City air and water pollution control ordinances must be strengthened and enforcement actively in- creased if a clearing of the air, cleaning of the waterways, and purification of Lake Michigan is to be achieved. Since air and water pollution recognize no political _4 boundaries, collaboration with neighboring authorities in the enforcement of controls is extremely important. 6Lj _7 In many places in the Area noise and vibra- tion are nuisance factors. Heavy truck traf- _77 fic and employee parking spilling into neighboring residential areas create prob- lems particularly in the South Chicago neighborhood. The transition from residen- Much of the vacant land in the Lake Calumet tial areas to heavy manufacturing districts basin is either swampy or parched. Any develop- could be made less abrupt either by creating ment here will require extensive site preparation such as drainage, land fill, and the provision of landscaped areas with tall trees for visual streets and utilities. screening or by encouraging land uses such as light industry in the intervening Heavy industry along the Calumet River should be zone. Better fencing should be used to encouraged to remain and expand in the Develop- ment Area. Enforcement of the city's air and water reduce the visual blight of junk yards and pollution control ordinances will be essential for other open storage areas. the improvement of environmental conditions. Development Potential of Vacant Land Some 7.7 square miles, over 50 per cent of all Zk remaining vacant land in the City of Chicago, was located in the Far Poo* 0.-0 -,row Southeast Develop- Ilk' ment Area, according to the city's 1963 sur- vey of vacant land. The vast majority of this 00@@ vacant land, close to 7.5 square miles, was zoned for industrial use. These figures do not include the partly W vacant tracts under control of the Chicago Regional Port District. &L ,z@ X There are several reasons why large tracts N_ of land remain undeveloped in the Far Southeast Development Area. Much of the 7 vacant land is low-lying, and swampy be- assemblage of saleable parcels of land, site a scrap iron and steel reduction and trans- cause of poor drainage. Large stretches improvement with properly compacted fill shipment center. The Port Administration are littered as a result of past dumping and the installation of needed facilities and expects to find developers for a container practices. Ownership tends to be multiple, utilities. The Commission has been in touch freight shipping facility in the near future. and titles are frequently unclear. Sub- with the Mayor's Committee for Economic To max' 'mize the usefulness of the terminal stantial structures and the building of roads and Cultural Development and with the facilities of the Regional Port District, the and sewers will require extensive filling and .Department of Development and Planning six miles of Calumet River connecting the soil compacting operations. In an effort to stimulate future activity in port facilities with Lake Michigan have this area. I A serious consequence of the environmental been deepened to the Seaway standard of image of the Calumet basin is the fact that Port and Related Activities 27 feet, sharp turns are being straightened, labor-intensive light industry has so far Lake Calumet, the Calumet River and the and obsolete center pier bridges replaced shown little interest in settling there. City Calumet Sag Channel provide the most by bascule spans. Similarly, the Calumet significant port terminal complex of the Sag Channel is being deepened to 9 feet services, such as Istreets, lighting, sewers, Great Lakes. This area is the terminus of and w, dened to 225 feet to permit modern and adequate drainage would have to be much St. Lawrence Seaway and Great barge tows to pass freely between the Lake provided to encourage such enterprises to Lakes shipping. The Lake Calumet facilities Calumet Port and the Mississippi Waterway come in. Open dumping must be stopped, of the Chicago Regional Port District con- System. As a result, the Seaport of Chicago although the use of refuse for sanitary land I fill can be justified in several low-lying sist of more than one mile of berthing space, presents a unique opportunity for the direct swampy parts of the area, provided such modern transit sheds, a warehouse, an of- transshipment of goods between water- fice building, two grain elevators, and miles way barges and Great Lakes shipping. It is operations are carried on under strictly con- of railroad switch tracks and truck roads. estimated that total port-related employ- trolled procedures. All district facilities are leased and operated ment will reach 2,000 persons. The Calumet Area Industrial Development by private firms. Recently completed on Upon completion of development north of Corporation, recently formed by business- Port District land was a bulk terminal for 11 5th Street and of currently projected port men, bankers and industrialists active in the liquid cargo storage and dock space for facilities, approximately one and one-half region, includes among its stated goals the several tankers. Now under construction is linear miles of Lake Calumet shore will remain available for future port extension. An opportunity exists for the eventual I'shment of an interstate port in Lake Michigan, extending from the mouth of the Calumet River to Indiana Harbor, for the benefit of industries in both Indiana and no is. A@11 11 4 N, The Regional Port of Chicago at the base of Lake Calumet has facilities for processing 16 ships simultaneously. 8 of land, and frequent grade crossings im- pede street traffic. Some of the railroads crossingthe Development Area have already merged or are involved in negotiations con- cerning mergers. The resulting consolida- tion could have many advantages. Excess land might be released for prospective non-carrier uses, a number of railroad- highway grade crossings could be elimi- nated, and some of the lift bridges over the Calumet River could be removed for more f efficient movement of water traffic. 'r Expressways and Streets In the Far Southeast Development Area, access to the metropolitan expressway and interstate highway systems is provided by the Calumet Expressway which connects with the Dan Byan Expressway and Stony Island Avenue in the north, and with the Tri-State Tollway, leading to Indiana and Wisconsin, in the south. Grade separated exits and entrances now exist at 1 03rd, 111 th, and 11 5th streets. An interchange scheduled for early construction at 103rd Street and Stony Island Avenue would facilitate the distribution of traffic likely to be generated by the proposed food center and a projected junior college. 4 The Chicago Skyway traverses the north- eastern part of the Development Area, but there are no convenient access or exit Open refuse dumping is one of the greatest deter- ramps available within the area. Studies rents to the settlement of light labor-intensive should be initiated to investigate the extent industry in the Lake Calumet area. to which its capacity can be better utilized. The primary and secondary thoroughfares of the Far Southeast Development Area do not tie in well with those serving the rest of the city, as discontinuities are created by bodies of water and railway embankments. The Comprehensive Plan of Chicago rec- ommends developing major streets at one- Transportation mile intervals to carry through traffic, to connect with expressways, and to channel The Far Southeast D *evelopment Area has world. It is served by all major eastern trunk heavy traffic away from residential streets. need of a variegated and flexible transpor- lines and its switching lines and branches The capacity of these streets would be tation system to serve both industries and connect to all major industries within the increased as required through widening or regional port facilities. This system should district. Several classification yards and other improvement techniques, such as create minimal interference with residential local transfer lines provide the area with eliminating curb parking, rebuilding within patterns and the free flow of persons seek- links to other trunk systems serving the the existing right-of-way, or establishing ing access to work, shopping or recreation. region. one-way street pairs where appropriate. To accomplish this task, an intricate net- Ease of rail access and a location at the Design would be determined after a careful work of railways, highways, navigable periphery of the city makes this a desirable study of local conditions and needs. waterways, and pipelines has been devel- area for new industry. Yet, in some. respects, Furthermore, the Comprehensive Plan oped. the great number of rail lines constitutes a stresses that final determinations of major Railroads detriment. Rails cut across residential parts street alignments should be studied as part The Development Area has one of the finest of the area, extensive switching yards and of the Development Area process. With a - flf_t h 7=M aggregations of railroad facilities in the other railroad properties preempt large tracts view of impending changes in the Lake 9 Calumet Area, the following major east- west street alignments are suggested for EW ideration: 95th Street east to Ewing cons Avenue: 1 03rd Street with a connection to 106th Street at Torrence Avenue; 111th Street east to Torrence Avenue, possibly functioning as a distributor road through the proposed Metropolitan Food Center, or 115th Street from Cottage Grove Avenue to Torrence Avenue at the southern perim- eter of the proposed food center if a major thoroughfare through the development would 'nterfere with its internal operations: 1 30th Street, linking w th I 27th Street via Cottage Grove Avenue in the west, and continuing to Avenue 0 in the east. Major north-south thoroughfares whose We'! capacity should be increased to primary road standards are: Cottage Grove Avenue to connect with Indiana Avenue at I 30th Street; Torrence Avenue south via Colfax Avenue from South Chicago Avenue; Ew- ing Avenue south of 95th Street leading Its high accessibility, by water, rail and road, makes into Avenue 0 at 106th Street; Avenue 0 the Far Southeast Development Area one of the south of 1 06th Street. city's most desirable locations for industry. In some cases new rights-of-way will have to be created to make these connections The Calumet River is lined with shipping facilities. possible. Right-of-way studies are also The waterway is spanned here by the Chicago needed to determine the best routing of Skyway in front and one of several railway lift through traffic between Ewing Avenue and bridges in the background. South Shore Drive. Two alternatives might be considered: 1. Keep the present routing of U.S. High- way 41 along Ewing, Mackinaw, Burley and Brandon avenues which carry heavy traffic through the middle of the Mill- gate area. _now 2. Route traffic across the Calumet River at IN 95th Street and create a new road along the right-of-way of the Illinois Central commuter line via Exchange Avenue to South Shore Drive at 71 st Street. iin a Oki in, The second alternative would cause mini- mal interference with community life the Millgate area, the 87th and Mackinaw Urban Renewal Project provides an oppor- tunity for implementing the first stage of such a change. To make the vacant tracts east of Lake Calumet accessible for industrial develop- ment it is recommended that studies be made of a project involving land reclama- tion and the provision of roadways and utilities. In such a project, Stony Island ,40 Avenue might be extended from 103rd V@ I ,P@ Street to 1 22nd and 1 22nd Street con- 10 structed from Stony Island Avenue to existing structures might have to be wid- community's overall income and employ- Torrence Avenue. ened. Railway consolidation may eliminate ment profiles. Because of relative inaccessibility, low some existing bridges. Residence population density, and distance from the A strip of vacant Lake Michigan shore land Central Business District, residential com- between Calumet Park and the Illinois- In 1960 the Far Southeast Development munities within the Far Southeast Devel- Indiana state line should be reserved for Area accounted for 19,897 housing units, opment Area have poor public transit future access to the 'interstate port. only 1.6 per cent of the city's total. Resi- connections. The Illinois Central Railroad clentially, the area is characterized by the commuter lines provide rapid service from Population geographic separation of its various com- the central city to Pullman and South munities, and the absence of large multi- Chicago, and Hegewisch is served by the In 1960 nearly 70,000 people, about two unit apartment buildings. Only 22 per cent South Shore electric line. Feeder buses per cent of the city's populat on, lived in of the residential structures contained connect other parts of the Development the Far Southeast Development Area. All three or more housing units. Except in Area with the Jackson Park rapid transit communities except Riverdale, which was South Chicago and Riverdale, where the line. Generally, the trip to work in the 90 per cent Negro, had large percentages of figures were substantially lower, owner vicinity must be accomplished by private foreign stock, mainly of Polish, Mexican, occupancy varied around 66.5 per cent, automobile, since the bus and commuter Italian, or German descent. about twice the city average. lines provide service primarily to and from In all community areas except Riverdale the Separation bywater, railroads, industry, and downtown. age distribution was similar to that of the vacant land, has given these communities city as a whole. However, in Riverdale, 63.0 divergent residential character. Accord- Altgeld Gardens and Murray Homes in per cent of the population, or twice the ingly, each community will be considered Riverdale with a 1967 population of 9,900 city average, was under 18 and only 2.7 separately in the following discussion. persons are without CTA service. As a per cent, less than one-third of the city result, some of Chicago's neediest families average, was over 65 years of age. South Chicago depend upon the services of a private bus The northeast corner line for trips to and from the central parts All communities except Riverdale had fam- of the Development of the city. The fare for this service is 33 ily incomes close to or slightly above the Area is formed by that per cent higher than CTA bus fare. Simi- 1959 city median of $6,738. The median part of South Chicago larly, Calumet Harbor facilities can only be income for Riverdale was $3,261. Unem- which is known as reached by private transportation, thus ployment ivaried near the city rate of 5.2 Millgate. Housing confining visiting merchant seamen to per cent in all community areas except here is generally old port. In view of the new commercial and Riverdale, which had 16.1 per cent of its and in many cases de- industrial developments now under con- labor force unemployed. Only in Riverdale fic'ent.1 The southern sideration for the Calumet Area, studies had adults attained more than the city ha@f of this section, sh Iould be made concerning the feasibility median of 10.0 school years completed, has been designated of extending the Dan Ryan rapid transit while for other communities the figures an urban renewal study area. The 87th and line from its present terminal at 95th Street ranged from 8.8 to 9.6 years. Mackinaw project, currently in the planning along the Calumet Expressway to a termi- Most residents in the Development Area stage, calls for residential redevelopment nal at I 30th Street. Such an extension held blue collar jobs in 1960. Only 19.4 per including such necessary community facili- would serve not only Altgeld Gardens and cent of the employed males in the Far ties as schools, parks and convenience Calumet Harbor, the proposed Metropoli- Southeast Development Area reported shopping. The northern half of Millgate, tan Food Center and the industries of white collar occupations, compared with where the 1960 Census showed a 61.4 per Pullman- Kensington, but also the future the city average of 37.0 per cent. cent housing deficiency rate, could also state college at 95th Street and South benefit from a community improvement Parkway, and the proposed city junior col- During the period from 1950 to 1960 the program. lege at 103rd Street and Stony Island Far Southeast Development Area had an Pullman Avenue. Feeder buses could serve new in- overall population increase of about 3 per The three residential dustries on the east side of Lake Calumet. cent, including a 65 per cent increase in the enclaves which make non-white population. Riverdale and Hege- up the community Waterways wisch showed 16 and 25 per 'cent gains in area of Pullman are It is important to limit the number of population respectively, while South located between Cot- bridges across the six-mile stretch of Calu- Chicago lost nearly 16 per cent of its 1950 tage Grove Avenue met River which serves as entrance to the population. Most of the increase in River- and the Calumet Ex- Regional Port of Chicago. The passage of dale and Hegewisch can be accounted for pressway, stretching each major vessel requires the lifting of all by new housing construction. Recent de- from 95th Street in such bridges and delays land and water velopment of middle-income housing in traffic. The major thoroughfare plan advo- Riverdale has increased the number of fami- the north to 11 5th cated in this section would not require lies of a higher socio-economic level and Street in the south. I has probably led to an improvement in that 'Defi lent housing includes all those units which were dilapidated, construct on of additional bridges although detecriorating. or standard but lacking some or all plumbing facilities according to the 1960 Census. OPP __7 The London Towne Homes recently completed in Pullman comprise 811 units for middle-income families. Pullman, originally planned as a company town, should be preserved as an historic landmark be- East Side cause of its architectural distinction. East Side, located be- The southern and central sections were United States Department of the Interior is tween the Calumet constructed as a comprehensively planned presently evaluating the town of Pullman River and the city limits north of 118th company town in the early 1880's by the for designation as a National Historic Land- founder of the Pullman Palace Car Com- Street, has deficient pany. mark. The renovation of older buildings and housing only in a the addition of new structures in the historic small area generally The northernmost section of Pullman, sepa- zone should respect the integrity of the north of I 03rd Street rated from the rest of the community by the architectural ensemble. and west of Ewing west leg of the Dan Ryan Expressway, is South Deering Avenue.In 1960 31 a neighborhood of recently constructed The small residential per cent of the hous- well-maintained homes. Immediately south ing in this older area was considered defi- of.the expressway the new London Towne portion of the South cient, as compared with a 7 per cent defi- Homes development provides middle- Deering community ciency rate for the rest of the community. income housing for 811 families. located in the Far Southeast Develop- Opportunities for attractive new residential At the time of the 1960 Census, 70 per cent ment Area is almost development exist in the largely vacant of the dwelling units in the southern part of totally surrounded by tracts adjacentto Washington High School, Pullman and 20 per cent in the central sec- industry. Most of its extending from 114th Street to 122nd tion werecleficient. Since 1960 somedilapi- predominately single- Street between Avenue 0 and the Eggers dated buildings have been removed, others family homes were Woods Forest Preserve and Wolf Lake have been repaired or rehabilitated, and built before 1940. State Park. many new housing units have been built in Many of the older homes in the isolated Riverdale all parts of the community. section south of 1 00th Street show signs of U nti I recently, most of The historic southern and central sections blight. Vacant lots north of 100th Street the homes In River- of Pullman, separated from each other by a could be used to relocate good houses from dale were the row part of the old Pullman Works, have retained the southern section and to build low-cost houses and garden the sense of architectural unity and scale replacement housing units. The vacated a p a r t m e n t s of which distinguished the original town. land south of 100th Street might provide Altgeld Gardens and Brick row houses and three-story walk-ups suitable sites for industrial expansion. Murray Homes. These of unified design along tree-shaded streets, The possibility of residential development projects include a a church of green serpentine rock, an ar- on vacant land now zoned for manufactur- number of supportive caded market circle, and a picturesque Vic- ing between Jeffrey Manor and the Penn- facilities such as torian hotel combine to make this area Central Railroad tracks paralleling Van VIis_ schools, shops and unique among Chicago neighborhoods. The singen Avenue should be investigated. social service offices. This self-sufficiency, 12 together with a lack of access to other parts of the city and low occupant income limits, made this community socially and economi- cally isolated. The recent construction of middle-income housing west of Altgeld Gardens and Murray Homes has already begun to bring socio-economic diversification consistent H with the policies for housing choice ex- 'mom pressed in the Comprehensive Plan. Un- developed land along the Little Calumet lip CAX 11 am., River might be used for housing which would be attractive to higher income families. Marina facilities are readily avail- able nearby. On either side of the river near Indiana Residential areas in the northern half of Milgate are The northern half of South Deering is incompletely Avenue is part of the original rural settle- often mixed with incompatible uses and exposed developed. Much of the area is built up with ment of Riverdale. Inhabited mainly by to heavy traffic generated by nearby industry. recently constructed homes, but large tracts are still vacant. lower-income white families, this small area had a 'housing deficiency rate of 31.5 per Education tary School, built on a site less than a city cent In 1960. A community improvement By the fall of 1967 public school enrollment block in size, has nine mobile units. A program, possibly involving both private in the Far Southeast Development Area had branch of Clay Elementary School consists and public action, will be needed to prevent reached 15,127, an increase of 15 per cent entirely of nine mobile units. The Board of further deterioration. [I I I over 1965. Located in the area were 17 Education's 1968 budget includes the ap- A large tract of swampland immediately elementary schools, two high schools, and propriation of funds for an addition to the east of Riverdale, bounded by the Calumet one educational and vocational guidance Riverdale branch, andforthe constructionof Expressway, 1 30th Street, the Calumet center. Seven of the elementary schools a new school at 1 28th Street and Escanaba River, and the city limits at I 38th Street, used a total of 43 mobile classrooms in the Avenue to replace the Clay unit branch. could be opened up for residential develop- fall of 1967. Thirteen elementary schools 2 Carver and Washington high schools need 11 ment. This new residential community were overcrowded . In two schools ne .wly improvements and additions; in the fall of would have excellent transportation con- assigned mobile units have substantially 1967 they were operating at 144.5 and nectionf; with the rest of the metropolitan lowered class sizes. Six of the elementary 133.6 per cent of their respective capacities. area via the Calumet Expressway, and a schools are over 50 years old and are prob- Present Board of Education building plans suggested rapid transit extension to 1 30th ably in need of extensive remodeling. include a new Carver High School for Street. The Riverdale Branch of Scanlan Elemen- Riverdale and the possible expansion of 2overcrowding is defined as having a pupil per classroom average this facility into a cultural-educational Hegewisch greater than 33 pupils per room, the present Board of Education standard. cluster. Bowen High School, situated just Located in the far Aw*k southeastern corner of the Development -:o Area. Hegewish is -IL41111111110M 0__ J largely bounded by @1 . - , _A V industry and vacant 'T, land. Most of the 14 -Z per cent deficiency rate reported by the 4r 960 Census was lo- cated in the old core area where community improvement action is needed. also Other parts of Hegewisch contain well maintained homes, many of which were built recently. New development is notable north of 1 30th Street. Further opportunities New residential construction in Riverdale brings problems as well as advantages. In the background is the for residential development could be pro- recently completed Golden Gate middle-income housing development, which has brought many new families into the area. To the left is the north bank of the Calumet Biver which could be developed with vided by rezoning of vacant land in this area. attractive housing and a promenade. In the foreground is Carver High School. 13 outside the Development Area, was oper- proportionate number are members of At present there are two Head Start pro- ating at 210 per cent of capacity in 1967. minority groups. Recent busing programs grams operating within or just outside the Its Thorp Elementary School Branch is in various cities have resulted in raising the Development Area, in Riverdale and South located within the Development Area. achievement levels of advantaged students Chicago, respectively. If new residential An addition planned for this high school as well. construction continues at its present rate in should benefit adjacent Far Southeast com- Race-related attitudes more conducive to the southern half of the Development Area munity areas. constructive social values are expected to expanded school facilities at the pre-school The importance of equality of educational become more prevalent in students attend- level will become increasingly necessary. opportunity cannot be emphasized enough. ing interracial classes. As has been noted in a national study, "Racial isolation in the Also serving the area are 16 parochial Integration with more advantaged students schools fosters attitudes and behavior that schools with a 1966 enrollment of 7,866. has been found to result in a rise in the perpetuate Isolation in other important areas In accordance with the Comprehensive achievement levels of students from dis- of American Life. 113 Plan, planning for both public and private advantaged backgrounds of whom a dis- 'U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Racial Isolation in the Public Schools, schools should be done in conjunction with Vol. 1P. 110. the Park District, for optimum coordination VOW, of school and park facilities. A new Chicago City College Campus is planned to be located within the Far South- east Development Area near the Pullman community. It will replace the branches _AIL now located in Chicago Vocational School and Fenger High School. Adult education is provided by evening elementary and high school classes in Carver High School, and Ft@ 71@ by adult education and Americanization classes offered at the South Chicago Com- munity Center. Such programs should be expanded to provide opportunities for con- Wolf Lake State Park, if joined to the forest pre- tinuing education in all parts of the area. serves north and south of it could become part of an attractive regional recreation area. Libraries Calumet Park, with its wide choice of recreational Serving the Far Southeast Development activities, provides a welcome relief from the heavy Area are one branch and three sub-branches industrial uses lining the lake shore south of 79th of the Chicago Public Library. The service Street. districts of these branches adequately cover present residential portions of the Develop- ment Area. However, new residential con- struction and population growth will require an increase of library facilities. Eventually, the three sub-branches now in rented space should be relocated to library-owned build- ings related to other community facilities. Recreation The communities in the Far Southeast De- velopmentArea, exceptforthe Millgate area of South Chicago, have adequate amounts of open space within their boundaries. 1 4 1 Eleven community parks provide a total of 129 acres of outdoor recreation space. Sev- eral large school playgrounds also serve as nei "n ghborhood parks. In addition, the De- 4@ velopment Area contains one lakefront I Alli,; park, four forest preserves, and one state W-1 ark, which serve regional as well as local p nee ds. The community parks, although 14 large and well-equipped, are not always well located. In order to supplement exist- ing facilities small amounts of forest pre- serve land bordering residential areas should be developed for neighborhood park use with passive areas and play lots for smaller children. VI Calumet Park, the southernmost of Chicago's lake shore parks, is separated from the rest of the public lake shore by the industries at the Calumet River. The possibilities of relat- ing this park to the other lake shore recrea- tion areas, and of finding ways of improving Y the transition between lake shore industry and adjacent recreation and residential uses are under investigation as part of a city- wide lakefront study. Outdoor recreation space in Millgate is cur- rently below the recommended minimum ratio of two acres per 1000 population, However, plans for the 87th-Mackinaw project will include additional open space. Burnham Woods and Eggers Woods forest The core of Hegewisch, centered on its aging com- preserves and Wolf Lake State Park would mercial strip, would benefit from a community be more effective as regional attractions if improvement program. they were connected to form a continuous expanse of natural parkland. The creation In South Chicago, East Side and Hege- rates. Nevertheless, additional services are of bicycle paths and landscaped walkways wisch the existing shopping areas follow needed throughout much of the Develop- along the banks of the Little Calumet River the strip commercial pattern typical for mentArea. One problem is the lack of mean- would help provide access to nearby Beau- older neighborhoods. Frequently, the poor ingful activities, such as community volun- bien Woods and prove a pleasant feature condition of such retail facilities reflects the teer work, available to older people. in the Riverdale community. aging of the surrounding residential com- Throughout the Development Area active munity, and a reversal of the trend can only Indoor recreation in the Far Southeast De- be expected as a result of overall com- community organizations could play a use- velopment Area is provided mainly by munity improvement programs. ful role in resolving a wide range of com- churches and other private organizations. munity problems. To relieve tensions arising In Pullman, however, few indoor activities Collaborative efforts between local mer- from racial or ethnic differences, compre- or meeting places are available to young chants and active community groups are hensive human relations programs can be people. Here such facilities as a gymnasium needed if modern, compact, convenient of value. With the exceptions of Riverdale and a swimming pool are badly needed. In neighborhood shopping facilities with suf- and South Chicago, the communities in this Riverdale, the increase in child population ficient parking space are to be achieved. Development Area have no social service due to the newer housing developments Such public agencies as the Small Business offices located inside their boundaries. may call for more indoor recreation facili- Administration of the federal government In the Riverdale community, where a large ties. Throug 'hout the Development Area and various departments of the city stand proportion of the community's population more recreational activities such as those ready to give assistance in planning and received public assistance in 1962, social offered by the Board of Education "lighted financing. The location of new public and schoolhouse" programs should be provided. private facilities such as library branches, services within the community include an health clinics, social service agency offices Urban Progress Center of the Chicago Com- Commerce and recreation centers in, or adjacent to, mittee on Urban Opportunity, a branch of The residential areas of the Far Southeast neighborhood shopping concentrations the Cook County Department of Public Aid, Development Area are not sufficiently large should be encouraged. and an office of the Illinois State Employ- to support major shopping concentrations. ment Service. H iowever, each area has convenience shop- Social Programs Millgate is not representative of the South ping facilities. Two major shopping con- In 1962 all of the communities in the Far Chicago community as a whole. Whereas centrations- Roseland and 95th Street at Southeast Development Area, except for social needs were about average for the Commercial Avenue-are located a short Riverdale, were average-to-low on a city- entire community, they were much greater distance beyond the Development Area wide basis, in residential over-crowding, in this section. The relativeiy large numbers boundaries. unemployment, delinquency, and crime of unemployed fathers and working mothers _41 4 7 % 77 Ito Shown here is the city incinerator at I 03rd Street and Stony Island Avenue. I n the foreground may be Z* seen sanitary landfill operations now in progress. @L '% @.7. in Millgate indicate that this area needs mortality rates are among th 'e highest in the Program should have beneficial effects more employment and welfare-related ser- city. General and mental health services upon environmental health conditions.' In- vices, family and individual counselling, must be expanded in all communities within cluded are proposals for one new sewage and day care. the Development Area. treatment works, a new pumping station Service provided by the one day care center Environmental Health and extension of a feeder water main. Also in the area should be supplemented by Air and water pollution, primarily by- scheduled i's an experimental refuse baling press to supplement the capacity of the city additional free or low-cost units. Now pro- products of heavy industry, are a threat to incinerator. The press will yield material viding counselling and youth group work health and must be c .urbed by modern which may be used for sanitary land fill. are five community service centers, two of techniques. Of extreme importance will be which are in need of physical improvement. the implementation of the city's air and Safety New construction in both East Side and water pollution control ordinances and of The Police Districts in the Far Southeast north Pullman has brought more popula- federal programs involving interstate coop- Development Area have average to low eration. One such program for cleaning the crime and juvenile delinquency rates. How- tion, including a greater number of children, south end of Lake Michigan is now being ever, there are no police stations the area into both areas. There is a growing need I for such services as family and individual developed between the Department of the and patrol cars must cover excessive dis- counselling in these communities. Interior and the states .of Illinois, Indiana, tances. The establishment of a new 4th Michigan and Wisconsin. District station now proposed in the Public Health and Safety Public sanitation facili ties now located 'in Capital Impro vemen ts Program s h o u I d h e I p The Far Southeast Development Area pres- the Far Southeast Development Area in- alleviate this problem. ently lacks many needed health services. clude the city's first large scale incinerator Two new fire stations are also proposed to Few facilities are located within the area for garbage and refuse, on a 50-acre tract supplement the service already provided in and residents must rely on those in distant at the southwest corner of 1 03rd Street and the Area. parts of the city for health care. Stony Island Avenue, and the Calumet Effective police and fire protection also Because of the low level of service available Treatment Plant, located north of 1 30th necessitates community support. The Police and the low economic status and mobility Street near the western boundary of the Department is currently working to improve Development Area. This plant, one of three of many Riverdale residents, this community major sewage treatment facilities's operated its c'ommunity relations. .Better intercom- is in special need of conveniently located munication and cooperation between both public health facilities. Better pre- and post- by the Metropolitan Sanitary District. departments and the communities in this natal care facilities are of particular impor- Several projects now scheduled in the area will be indispensable to the achieve- tance in Pullman and Riverdale where infant 1967-1971 Joint Capital Improvements ment of a safe environment. 16 Major Capital Improvements in The Far Southeast Development Area The map illustrates major projects included in the 1967-1971 Joint Capital Improve- mentsProgram, aswell asa numberof addi- tional projects scheduled since completion of the report. The Capital Improvements Program covers a five-year period and is revised annually and submitted to the Chicago Plan Commission for approval. The Plan Commission, under the inter- agency planning referral procedure, also reviews each project prior to construction to insure that projects are in conformity with The Cornprehensive Plan of Chicago. The projects identified on the map are at three different stages of development: proj- ects recently completed, projects under- way, and projects proposed within the next five years. Some area-wide projects, such as the recently completed comprehensive alley lighting program, are not mapped. A study currently underway in the Far Southeast Development Area is to select a site for a new 4th District Police Station. In addition, several public agencies have ini- tiated city-wide development plans which will result in additional recommendations for improved public facilities and services in this area. Water Feeder Main School Improvement Intersection Improvement -Ti Harbor Improvement Street Improvement Sanitation Facility (New) Bridge and Viaduct Improvement L Park Improvement Pumping Station Improvement Fire Station (New) 17 Summary Planning Framework Far Southeast Development Area Residential Business Industrial Park Institutional The map on the opposite page is intended to J. Conservation and improvement programs are A Industrial Opportunity Area illustrate the major concepts and development needed in aging neighborhoods throughout the opportunities suggested in this report, and to show Development Area. B Improvement of Port Facilities how each of these would fit into the total context K. Some vacant tracts adjacent to existing com- of the Development Area. munities present opportunities to create new C Potential Interstate Port A. Large tracts of vacant land provide opportuni- residential areas. tiesfor industrial expansion. Special effortsshould L. Recreational opportunities should be improved be made to attract labor-intensive industries. by making the edges of forest preserves available D Major Street System Improvement B. The improvement of shipping channels should for neighborhood park use. be accelerated, and further development of com- M. The joining of Wolf Lake State Park with the E New Industrial Service Roads prehensive port facilities encouraged. Eggers Woods and Burnham Woods forest pre- C. The creation of an interstate port in Lake serves would form a green belt of regional Michigan near the mouth of the Calumet River signif icance. F Reduce Railroad Crossings at Grade would be of benefit to industries in both Illinois N. The shores of Lake Michigan should be de- and Indiana. A strip of shore land between Calumet veloped for recreational use in accordance with G CTA Extension to 130th Street Park and the state line should be reserved for a comprehensive lakeshore park study now in access to such a port. progress. Continuity of lake shore recreation areas D. The traffic distribution system should be and the screening of industry by suitable planting H Pullman: Proposed Historic Restoration logically developed and major thoroughfares should be pursued to the greatest extent possible. improved. 0. A park-esplanade along the Little Calumet j Neighborhood Conservation and E. To serve new industry in the Lake Calumet River could prove an important asset to the River- Improvement Programs basin, 122nd Street and Stony Island Avenue dale community. should be extended and necessary utilities P. It is recommended that deteriorating commer- K Residential Opportunity Area installed. cial strips be consolidated into modern neigh- F. Idle rail lines and unnecessary duplication of borhood convenience shopping clusters with rail rights-of -way should be eliminated to achieve off-street parking. L Forest Preserve Improvement greater economies and reduce the number of grade crossings. Where rail crossings with major The continuing modernization of the physical plant m Create Green Belt by Joining State Park thoroughfares are unavoidable separation struc- that supports community services is illustrated in with Forest Preserves tures should be built. the Capital Improvements section of this report. In Further Develop Lakeshore Recreational G. It is recommended that a study be made of the every area of community service-recreation, N Opportunities feasibility of extending the CTA rapid transit to a education, public safety, environmental health, point near the intersection of 1 30th Street and the and social services- program improvements that Calumet Expressway to stimulate development of are tailored to meet the needs of people must also 0 Proposed Riverside Promenade the Calumet basin. continue. In the Far Southeast Development Area, such improvements should emphasize stronger P Consolidate Commercial Strips into Modern ff. It is recommended that old Pullman be re- supportive services for presently disadvantaged Shopping Centers stored and preserved as an historic landmark. groups. 18 @:7 -7- 41`i-,@ I 'Az 4e, L-,e IL ff -IJ AL @NN@ s LAKE CALUMET HARBOR AT 0 10 Lu WOLF LAKE 0 u Department of Development The preparation of this report and Planning was the responsibility of: City of Chicago Martin R. Murphy Eric G. Yondorf Lewis W. Hill Commissioner Among the department staff who made significant contributions Robert W. Christensen to the content of this report: Deputy Commissioner Lisa S. Blair Jerral T. Harper Eric G. Yondorf Assistant Commissioner Others who contributed to the report: Martin R. Murphy John G. Doolen Assistant Commissioner Dennis A. Harder Thomas Kapsalis S. Dwight Scott Those who aided in the production of the report: James C. McInerney Samuel Mazzone Laurence T. Young, Jr. John H. Taaffe Donald P. Granzin Robert Hayes Guy Herman James M. Miller, Sr. Robert J. Ollry William Salzman Bernard J. Wagner Photographs: Art Dahl Eric G. Yondorf This report has been prepared as a discussion document. Many city departments and agencies, private organizations, and community groups have already made contributions to this report, and their assistance is gratefully acknowledged. The Department of Development and Planning looks forward to continuing and expanding these relationships in the future, as Development Area proposals are reviewed. Assisted by a grant administered by the Renewal Assistance Office of the Department of Housing and Urban Development under Section 405 of the Housing Act of 1959. 20 lilfl[l @11@lllillflll