Arthur Jerome “Jerry” Chambers, 48, executive director of the Greater Roseland Community Development Corp., was the prime mover in pulling together a coalition of public and private industry leaders and resources to develop an 18 1/2-acre site next to the Pullman Bank at 111th Street and the Bishop Ford Freeway.
A resident of Calumet City, he died Sunday of a heart attack on his way to church. “He was totally about improving the Roseland and Pullman communities,” Patricia Arnold, who worked with him, said. “It was pretty ambitious of him to see that land, develop the plan and work toward it becoming reality. He was a marvel.”
Mr. Chambers had been working on the project for more than two years. He had previously been director of economic development at Olive-Harvey College.
The 18 1/2 acres had formerly belonged to Ryerson Coil Processing Co. He initially approached Ryerson with his idea of developing the land. Eventually plans evolved for a shopping area that will include two anchor developments, many local shops and an business incubator. Just weeks ago, he was able to announce that the project had received a $600,000 grant from the federal government.
“Ground is about to be broken,” Arnold said.
“The community has lost one of its greatest leaders,” Ald. John Buchanan (10th) said. “I met the man the day he arrived at Olive-Harvey College and recognized immediately that he was a doer. And, here, he suddenly is taken from our midst. Some of the plans that he had must be continued. And that’s my intention.”
Survivors include his wife, Claudia; four daughters, Michelle Jones, Angela Morris, Kimberly Anderson and Stephanie; two sons, Arthur and Michael; a stepdaughter, Shaunielle McDowell; a step-son, Jermaine McDowell; a sister; two brothers and many grandchildren.
Services were held in Chicago.
