Find updates and events also in our Facebook
fanpage.
Here: Hot now, Introduction,
List of what's hot, ongoing, resolved and
emerging...
(and
which of these next update pages have their discussions:)
Superhot: Harper Ct funding by 53rd TIF- developer ask approved
by TIF council, now going to city approvals
On Presentation and request for TIF funding at
July 12 TIF meeting, see Vermilion
July 12, Harper Court
Sale home, and TIF
Advisory Council Meetings.
(July 12 Harper developer presentation in pdf is in http://www.hpherald.com)
Update
pages on Hot Topics and Community Issues: Accessibility/Getting
Around. Affordability.
Development. Quality.
Schools. University
of Chicago
Find out more about these and more at these hubs or pages:
(Learn about weatherization opportunities in the Affordable
Housing page.)
Hot Now
Neigbhborhood Club
changing to youth focus, seniors concerned. Services and arts catching traction
despite recession (see in News
of Collaborers). Jazz Society stymied by inability of Room
43 to get license. Sutherland calming down. Review slams U
Police procdures.
A
brief introduction
THE
CRUX OF THE MATTER: The sustainability of communities is largely determined
by how well communities first invest citizens with a having
a say in community change and decision-making and second keep
people coming there-- connecting, staying in a place that gives a sense of character,
quality of life, ability to work and thrive, and provide sufficient
amenities, a sense of good schools and public safety. Sustainability depends
on how well the people work together to manage challenges and opportunities.
One of the strongest measures of such a community is its diversity and
inclusion-- and that has long been a hallmark and pride of Hyde Park
and Kenwood, but some fear it is eroding. It should not be surprising
that the majority of the hot topics are related to guarding or enhancing the
qualities enumerated above. (See Profiles
and looks at Hyde Park.)
Hyde Park has
had several defining moments: Lakeshore suburban resort after Paul Cornell won
one of the first commuter stops in the country. Growth after
the Chicago Fire to become a larger resort with mansions and
hotels. Annexation to Chicago, then World's Columbian Exposition, founding
of the 2nd University of Chicago, and creation
of huge parks were followed by fill-n and maturation of an upper middle
and upper class solid neighborhood that also had room for belts of its cottage
homes, commercial districts that served much of the South Side--all while keeping
its resort cachet. In the 1920s the Illinois Central was electrified,
leading to a dense belt of high rises in the east and three-flat infill to the
west. Decline and crowding of housing and commercial and changing demographics
by postwar era lead to a crisis in which the University, neighbors and city
undertook massive urban renewal while keeping a varied historic
housing stock. At
the change of millennia, new unease arose--is Hyde Park being left behind by
revitalizing parts of the South Side? Is it becoming unaffordable? Is it too
sparce especially in retail--or conversely having its character challenged by
new development and density? Should it be a destination community or
not? Many
new approaches, especially growing the arts are stepping forward. And still,
there is the ambivalence about the 800 pound gorilla that plays such an important
role in defining Hyde Park.
Some
specific Key Hot Topics and Subjects and which of the hot topics pages hold
their discussions
53rd Street
& Lake Park Business and TIF District (Development, University)
Accessibility and Complete Streets walkable in all seasons (Getting Around)
Affordability, ability to stay (Affordability)
Development, Community Planning, Managing Growth, and Preservation
Doctors Hospital Site (Development)
Harper Court (Development, also University)
Harper Theater (Development, also University)
Chicago Theological Seminary reconstruction of historically sensitive place
(Development)
Health Care changes, diminishment (Quality, University)
MAC Properties/Antheus Capital (Affordability, Development, see also Antheus,
Affordable Housing)
Nonprofit and Service Sectors healthy, working together (Quality)
Parking meter conversion and rising costs, parking on the lakefront (Getting
Around)
Parks, Lakefront and Green and Open Space (Quality)
Preservation and restoration (Development)
Public Safety (Quality)
Schools and Kids, Youth Programs and Opportunities, schools on probation
Shoreland Redevelopment (Development)
Sustainability (Quality)
Transit and Parking (Getting Around))
University of Chicago- role, community programs and engagement, growth, properties,
policies, Town-Gown relations
Unresponsive officials...
"Top
remaining" list at the end of 2009:
Harper
Court and Theater,
61st Garden (Development,
University, Quality),
University of Chicago civic engagement,
Health
Care Services/Policies,
Crimes (seriousness and vulnerability despite overall decline),
Schools on probation/CPS policies (but good things happening also),
Shoreland,
Nonprofits,
businesses, residents, public services and places suffering from the recession,
Recessionary threat to city services,
Worry about effects of city, state corruption and limited ethics reform,
Continuing wars and events at home and abroad
Went away by
later in 2009:
Olympic
impact, apparently any Obama Effect, Hopes for keeping the 61st Garden and
for a non-UC facility redevelopment of Doctors Hospital, Blue Gargoyle Service
Center (could not be saved); Short term starts on virtually any development
projects (although MAC remodeling's continue)
Emerging or
May Come Back- Watch for these:
Hyde Park
Neighborhood Club
The Sutherland low income housing redevelopment
Chicago Theological Seminary buildings reconstruction of historically sensitive
place.
A pre and primary U of C Lab School facility at Doctors Hospital site
Future of Meadville School and what happens if they and or McCormick Seminary
sell their buildings
Future of Elm Park
A slump in city services?
Promontory Point shoreline reconstruction- Promontory
Point home and Promontory
Point Latest and as linked from these
Newly present or to be grateful
for:
Campus
projects including Logan Center for Arts; Hyde
Park Alliance for Arts and Culture and a generally positive year for arts
venues and organizations; growing jazz festival and many other festivals/fairs/community
events; the Op Shop; better health of the Neighborhood Club; many new businesses
opening - exceeding closures - including new grocers coming to the shuttered
47th Co-op space and 57th St, majority of businesses displaced from Harper
Theater and Harper Court found new spaces locally.
