“Is Lakewood home to Cabrini Green West?”

Guest post by Joan from Lakewood

My best friend Michelle came from Florida to spend Christmas with my family. It was the best present and made my Holiday. We were driving north on Union and at 4th I was pointing out the 59 acres of Federal land recently under contract and discussing a pending FOIA when she said, “It sounds like Cabrini Green.” “What?” I said. Michelle had grown up near Chicago and was always making Chicago references. “Cabrini Green,  a Housing project from the late 50’s and 60’s.  It was going to be utopia, gardens, open spaces and a roof over all but by the 70’s it was hell on earth. The gardens and open space were paved over. It started as two story row houses (Cabrini) and then there were extension of 17 story skyscrapers.”

 The gangs came in and took over the buildings. And people using public housing became afraid to leave their apartments. Cabrini Green became a political hot potato and there was no repair of the damaged buildings. By the late 70’s the project was so unmanageable that the city started to dismantle the buildings. By 1995 the area had being urban renewed and the high rises were gone. It was a failed experiment and a hugh embarrassment to the people of Chicago.

I pondered if we are under the best of intentions, with the vision of utopia and equity repeating history. With 15 acres under an EPA restriction because of unknown content of a previous munitions landfill, are we placing children in an unconscionable situation of exposure to God knows what? Is this the best choice for Lakewood?

I now think of the development as Cabrini Green West with the addition of the Bridge to Nowhere.

But some think I am a pessimist. Actually I have just lived long enough to see what often happens with the BEST INTENTIONS.