Altgeld Gardens Homes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Altgeld Gardens-Phillip Murray Homes |
|
|---|---|
2009 photograph of the Altgeld Gardens housing project.
|
|
| Location | Bounded by 130th and 134th Streets and S. Doty and St. Lawrence Avenues Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°39′19.08″N 87°36′10.80″W / 41.6553000°N 87.6030000°W |
| Status | 1,541 units (renovated) |
| Constructed | 1944–45 |
| Governing Body |
Chicago Housing Authority |
Altgeld Gardens Homes is a large public housing community in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is located on the far south side of the city, near the border with Riverdale, Illinois. Most of the people living here are African-American.
The community was built between 1944 and 1945. It has 1,498 homes, mostly two-story row houses, spread out over 190 acres (about 0.77 square kilometers). Because it's so big, people who live in Altgeld Gardens often call parts of it "blocks" instead of using street numbers. This can be confusing for visitors. These "blocks" are numbered 1-17, but they are not in perfect order. Their names come from traditions passed down through families.
Altgeld Gardens has faced challenges with community safety over the years. Different groups have struggled for control of areas within the complex. Because it is large and somewhat isolated, no single group controls the entire area. The community has also struggled with limited resources. These include public schools, grocery stores, and reliable public transportation. Altgeld Gardens and nearby areas are among the poorest communities in Chicago.
Contents
History of Altgeld Gardens
Altgeld Gardens was built by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It was created to provide better homes for African American veterans after World War II. In 1956, the Chicago Housing Authority took over managing the project.
Altgeld Gardens is located in an industrial area on Chicago's South Side. It was named after John Peter Altgeld, who was the governor of Illinois in the 1890s. This community was one of the first public housing developments in the United States. Because of its history, it can be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, about 3,400 people live in the Altgeld / Murray complex. This area has its own public schools. The Housing Authority also provides maintenance staff, social services, and medical facilities for residents. Altgeld Gardens is bordered by 130th Street to the north and 134th Street to the south. To the east are George Washington Carver Military Academy and the Beaubien Woods Forest Preserve.
Altgeld Gardens is also known as the starting point for the environmental justice movement. This movement works to make sure that all people, regardless of their background, have the right to live in a healthy environment.
The 'Toxic Donut' Problem
Altgeld Gardens earned the nickname Chicago's 'toxic donut.' This was because it had the highest number of dangerous waste sites in the United States. There were 50 landfills and 382 industrial factories nearby. Many of these sites were not properly regulated. There were also 250 leaking underground storage tanks.
These sites were close to rivers and lakes. This made the water unsafe for drinking or swimming. Studies found high levels of harmful chemicals in the area. These included lead, mercury, and other dangerous substances. Residents were also exposed to fumes from factories and asbestos in building materials. The drinking water was contaminated, and the community had a very high rate of cancer.
These environmental problems caused many health issues for residents. People suffered from asthma and other breathing problems. The air often had a chemical smell. The water from the taps was sometimes light bronze and had low pressure. A survey in 1992 showed health concerns for babies born in the area.
People for Community Recovery
In 1979, a resident named Hazel M. Johnson started a group called People for Community Recovery. She wanted to fight against the environmental problems and unfair treatment her community faced. This group helped local people speak up about these issues.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the group achieved important victories. One of their first successes was getting the city to install clean water and sewer lines for Maryland Manor. This was a nearby area where many older people lived. For 25 years, residents there had paid taxes for contaminated well water.
In 1980, People for Community Recovery also organized a campaign to remove harmful insulation from homes. Former US President Barack Obama helped with this campaign when he was a young community organizer. He wrote about his experiences in his book, Dreams From My Father.
The group continued to work for better conditions. They successfully pushed companies to clean up the pollution they had caused. For example, a company that used electrical transformers had to clean up oil spills. Another company had to properly get rid of waste from old railroad operations. The organization also trained workers on how to reduce lead dust during apartment renovations in 2002. Thanks to their efforts, the environment in Altgeld Gardens began to improve.
Hazel Johnson's work influenced President Clinton. He signed an order that told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to include environmental justice in their work. This meant making sure that no group of people is unfairly harmed by pollution.
Current Situation
Altgeld Gardens is a community where 99% of the residents are minorities. About 8,000 people live there. Most residents (90%) are Black, and 63% live below the poverty line. The community has the highest percentage of people living in poverty in Chicago. In 2015, the average income per person was $11,515. This was lower than the poverty line of $12,082.
Many factories, steel mills, and waste dumps are located near Altgeld Gardens. Residents are worried about the number of deaths from cancer and other diseases. They believe these illnesses might be linked to the environmental dangers in their neighborhood. Because the community is low-income and mostly minority, they have less political power. This can make it harder to fix toxic conditions. However, groups like People for Community Recovery are making progress toward environmental justice.
According to Cheryl Johnson, the current head of People for Community Recovery, health problems in Altgeld Gardens include lead poisoning, asthma, and other breathing illnesses. While much of the lead came from old paint, there is also lead in the soil.
In 2013, Chicago's mayor, Rahm Emanuel, closed the city's Department of Environment. This was due to money concerns. This means less government help for communities facing environmental problems. So, People for Community Recovery continues to work hard to clean up their neighborhood. For example, they offer programs to teach residents about preventing lead poisoning. They also discuss how nutrition can help reduce lead absorption in children.
Community Air Monitoring
In August 2017, the Altgeld Gardens community started a program to monitor air quality. They record levels of toxic air in the area. This data helps residents make decisions about community action. It also helps influence policy changes, especially when government funding is low.
Solar Energy and Green Jobs
In May 2018, the Chicago Housing Authority signed a contract to create a solar energy training program. This program helps residents learn skills for solar and energy efficiency jobs. It aims to promote entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency. In October of the same year, Chicago asked developers to build a solar farm next to the community. This project is part of a city plan to build solar farms on old industrial sites. The goal is to power public housing with 100% renewable energy. A law called the Future Energy Jobs Act provides money for this project. It helps train people for new energy jobs, like solar installers.
The idea for solar and green jobs came from the work of People for Community Recovery. The organization hopes to lower the unemployment rate in the area. The unemployment rate in Riverdale is five times higher than the city average. Providing jobs nearby will also cut down on long travel times for workers.
Ongoing Challenges
In 2017, the Trump administration suggested cutting the budget for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This would mean fewer staff and less money for programs. These programs aim to reduce pollution and protect air and water quality. For example, programs to clean up Lake Michigan could lose millions of dollars. Funding for cleaning up dangerous sites would also drop. The EPA's power to fine polluting companies would also be reduced. The head of the EPA also suggested removing the environmental justice program.
Without enough help from the EPA, the community must collect its own data. This data helps show the health problems and the need for policy changes.
In December 2018, a plan was released to reduce childhood lead exposure. This plan focuses on children's health because their bodies are still developing. Lead exposure can have long-term effects. Minority children are often more affected by lead exposure. The plan has four main goals:
- Goal 1: Reduce children's exposure to lead sources.
- Goal 2: Identify children exposed to lead and improve their health.
- Goal 3: Communicate better with everyone involved.
- Goal 4: Support research to reduce lead exposure and health risks.
However, experts say the plan does not fully commit to ending lead poisoning. They also note it lacks clear timelines and specific details. It does not say which groups will provide input or where funding will come from. Experts also point out that the 2018 plan re-evaluates old reports instead of collecting new data. More specific actions and commitment are needed to truly improve childhood lead exposure.
