Quad Communities Development Corporation
TASK FORCE MEETING
MARCH 27, 2004
DRAFT—FOR REVIEW BY PARTICIPANTS
Approximately 55 people met at the Monumental Baptist Church on March 27th
to attend the first QCDC task force meeting. The group, which included
residents and leaders from the fields of education, business, the arts, human
services and law enforcement engaged in enthusiastic and informed dialogue.
INTRODUCTION
Sonya Malunda opened the meeting with an explanation of QCDC’s role in the
process, stating that the key words are convening and leveraging. QCDC will
play a convening role among existing organizations and people, and will
leverage resources for the community. There is already work underway,
including a planning effort to improve local Chicago Public Schools, a small
grants beautification program and the quality of life planning process.
THE TIME IS NOW
Fourth Ward Alderman Toni Preckwinkle explained why now is the time for the
planning process. Though there is still a lot to be done, the community has
already made great progress in terms of physical revitalization. Buildings have
been built on empty lots and vacancies are being filled. But in order to attract
and retain people and businesses and make the neighborhood a success, other
issues need to be addressed. Some of these issues are:
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Better schools
More commercial development to support the expanding resident base
Better transportation
Feeling and being safer
Giving an overview of redevelopment initiatives in the QCDC area, James
Wilson of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development discussed the
following:
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Madden Wells Redevelopment will be coming out of the ground soon and
will have 3,000 units. One third will list at market rate, one third will be
affordable and one third will be rented to CHA residents. Construction on
the first 200 rentals begins in May.
Jazz on the Boulevard will have 137 units with 50% at the market rate, 25%
affordable and 25% reserved for CHA. Construction will start this spring.
Lakefront Properties has 490 units and like Jazz on the Boulevard will have a
50/25/25 split. The first units will be available to tenants in May.
Construction of 24 condominium units at 39th and Ellis.
Agreeing with Alderman Preckwinkle that the time is now, Mr. Wilson noted
that the private sector, market driven activity ranks the area among the busiest in
the city in terms of housing construction. By Mr. Wilson’s count, there are a total
of 5,000 units either in construction or in legislative process for construction.
In response to concerns voiced by Harold Lucas that the targeted area is too
narrow and that the process is politically focused and not inclusive of lowincome people, Alderman Preckwinkle replied that she could not plan for
another ward, so it doesn’t make sense to go outside the 4th Ward. The south and
north ends of the Ward don’t need the attention so much as the middle does.
Additionally, through a series of community meetings held last fall, an effort was
made to include all elements of the community. Alderman Preckwinkle added
that she would take suggestions on others who should be a part of the process.
With the exception of the construction of public housing transformation, Muntu
Dance Theatre and the Lake Park Points Shopping Center, the community has
been rebuilt without residential displacement, Alderman Preckwinkle noted. As
part of the CHA Transformation process, residents can return to mixed-income
developments.
THE PLANNING PROCESS
Les Pollock of Camiros gave an overview of the planning process that included a
PowerPoint presentation. Ideally, the task force as a whole entity will have a
total of six meetings. The identification of issues takes place at the first meeting.
At the second meeting, the task force forms its subcommittees. Subcommittees
will be expected to meet and work out strategies for their particular issue area to
bring forward to the larger task force meetings.
The task force is then charged with developing a vision and forming strategies
that will bring the vision to life. The fourth meeting will involve fine-tuning
strategies and picking projects and programs. This will be followed by a project
review meeting, drafting of the plan by scribes and planners, setting roles and a
ratification meeting. The final plan will consist of four to five chapters, which
will include an introduction and chapters on the vision, challenges, strategies
and projects, and program implementation.
DISCUSSION OF ISSUES
At the three meetings held last fall, several issues concerning the community
were raised and documented. At this first task force meeting, the question
“What is missing?” was asked of participants. Several topics emerged. Though
many of these issues had come up at prior meetings, members felt that they
needed to be expanded upon and further developed. The topics are:
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EDUCATION
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, EMPOWERMENT AND EMPLOYMENT
TRANSPORTATION
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS
INFRASTRUCTURE
ENTERTAINMENT
HERITAGE TOURISM
EDUCATION
The concern is that current residents don’t have access to schools in the
neighborhood that have seen new development, nor do they have access to
“better” schools that are new to the community. Of particular concern are King
High School and Ariel Career Academy. Students who didn’t meet the
standards when King was named a college preparatory school were sent to Dyett
or Phillips High, which many contend is now chaotic because of gang turf wars.
“The perception of many low-income people is that they are not
being served by the educational system. Something new comes to
the neighborhood and people who have lived here for years don’t
trust it because they’ve had nothing to do with it. This issue of
perception needs to be addressed.”
Conrad Worrill
The contention that the Mid-South schools planning effort was not created for
current residents was challenged by Shirley Newsome and Rebecca Janowitz,
who are both a part of that process. The focus of the schools planning group is to
make the community schools better for the community. If residents are in the
attendance area of the school, then their children should be able to attend the
school. It was suggested that there be forums on education to address the
concerns of long-term residents who feel threatened and left out by the changes
taking place.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, EMPOWERMENT AND EMPLOYMENT
Several participants said that the youth in the community need so much more
than what is available to them now. There is a strong feeling that they’re being
lost to the perils of the streets and that they won’t grow into productive citizens.
Many young men don’t even see education as an option to attaining a good life.
The community needs something that will engage the youth early on and let
them know that they have choices. It was suggested that something beyond the
traditional boys-and-girls club and parks is needed. Suggestions include:
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Developing programs that will teach them about choices, quality of life issues
and give them vision
Encouraging civic involvement so they know that they help shape the
community
Encouraging volunteerism
Emphasizing community history in the educational curriculum
Creating year-round jobs for teens, something that will last longer than the
summer and will give them an alternative to gangs
Using grassroots efforts and working with individual families to encourage
youth to go to school
TRANSPORTATION
The community needs more choices when it comes to public transportation. The
need for more alternatives is growing with the growth of the community.
Suggested options are:
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As there are no stops on the Electric Line between 27th and 47th streets, reopen the Metra station at 39th.
Improve bus routes in area by extending hours and route of 43rd Street bus,
which only runs until 7 p.m. and doesn’t run on Sundays. Additionally, the
planned overpass at 43rd Street will need a good feeder service to the park.
Achieve access to federal T-21 funds (highway bill), which could provide
funding for jitney service.
Reverse commuting services (transportation that is specifically for picking up
residents and taking them to far-off job sites).
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS
Religious institutions can be helpful in the planning process and can benefit from
the process at the same time. By utilizing them, we can also help them.
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Assist in beautification efforts
Encourage new residents to worship in the community with welcoming
activities
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Use church facilities as community facilities (meeting space, daycare), thereby
helping defray expensive maintenance costs
Enhance the capacity of churches to do development (housing, community
betterment)
Coordinate church outreach to senior buildings
INFRASTRUCTURE
As the community grows and development increases, the infrastructure of the
area needs to be kept in mind. If the infrastructure isn’t maintained or is
weakened, then all of the commercial and housing development won’t survive.
The following should be maintained, upgraded or in some instances, replaced as
development happens throughout the community:
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Streets, curbs, gutters
Water systems, sewers
Street lighting
Additionally, respect for maintenance of public and open spaces should be kept
in mind, while expanding the number of functioning block clubs to enforce civil
culture, e.g. picking up garbage and cleaning up after dogs.
ENTERTAINMENT
Entertainment venues could be used to draw people to the area and sustain the
economy. While keeping congestion to a minimum, an entertainment district
consisting of theaters, nightclubs, cyber cafes and sports bars could be
developed.
“We want all the things here that people
get into their cars and drive to the North
Side for.”
Eric Stackhouse
HERITAGE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
Cultural tourism should be a priority in the planning process. The area has a rich
history and culture and it needs to be used to its best advantage to bring people
into the community. Capitalizing on available funds and integrating into
regional efforts, efforts could:
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Make area a tourist destination by using Black Metropolis heritage
Use the community’s proximity to Sox Park as a draw
Leverage the community’s connection to McCormick Place
Other issues that were raised or reiterated include:
 Environmental protection and education
 Political action as a community development tool
 Make health and safety separate issues
 Economic empowerment of local people and youth
 Senior programs
 Use technology as a tool: “digital network infrastructure” to connect people
in the community
In addition to the issues raised, there were concerns around gentrification and its
implications and that the planning process seems to be more of a top-down one
instead of a bottom-up one. Other residents responded that the plan will be a
diagram of the community’s vision for its future and will be composed of ideas
from community residents and leaders.
Ray Bentley, the new NCP Director was introduced and will facilitate the process
going forward. The full task force’s next meetings will be held on April 17th and
May 15th. A larger community meeting is planned, but no date was set.
Direct comments to:
Ray Bentley
NCP Director
Quad Communities Development Corporation
773.702.6607
ray361@hotmail.com
Or to:
Lisa G. Riley
NCP Scribe
773.472.8261
auteurauteur@aol.com