Agents of change: Reinvent Chicago Lawn neighborhood? Si, se puede! Yes, we can!
The reinvention of Chicago Lawn by the people who live there is starting to pick up speed.
Earlier this month, the Greater Southwest Development Corp., long an influential neighborhood group, purchased a former bank branch at 2734 W. 63rd St. for more than $400,000 for a free community health clinic.
The clinic, which will be run by the Inner-City Muslim Action Network, is now operating out of temporary quarters. The new building is expected to be open by June.
Meanwhile, neighborhood representatives will be meeting with design experts in mid-January to brainstorm about a new shopping center for a large vacant parcel at 60th Street and Western Avenue. Among the ideas to be discussed will be including apartments as part of the complex and maybe even a rooftop park, says James Capraro, executive director of Greater Southwest. He’s hoping to break ground in 2007.
With the backing of Mayor Daley, community leaders are moving forward with preparations for a tax increment finance (TIF) district to provide funding for public improvements for the new development. Daley’s housing commissioner, Jack Markowski, has provided strong support for the neighborhood’s anti-mortgage fraud efforts, Capraro says.
Planning is also under way for another gathering of 600 to 700 community leaders and activists, to be held probably in March.
It was just such a meeting a year ago that got the move to reinvent Chicago Lawn — by improving schools, beefing up job opportunities, cutting crime and strengthening community — into high gear.
