Hilliard Towers Apartments facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hilliard Towers Apartments
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Hilliard Towers Apartments in 2010
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 Location in Chicago metropolitan area
Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2013 South Clark Street, Near South Side, Chicago, Illinois,  United States |
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| Built | 1966 |
| Architect | Bertrand Goldberg |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001072 |
| Added to NRHP | September 13, 1999 |
The Hilliard Towers Apartments are tall residential buildings in Chicago, Illinois. They were once known as the Raymond Hilliard Homes. These buildings were designed by a famous architect named Bertrand Goldberg. They are located on the South Side of Chicago, near Clark Street and State Street. In 1999, the buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historic sites in the United States.
Contents
Designing the Towers
The idea for Hilliard Towers began in 1963. At that time, many cities needed more affordable homes for people. There was also a growing interest in projects that would improve city areas.
A Unique Design Idea
Architect Bertrand Goldberg wanted to create homes that people would be proud of. He believed that other public housing projects sometimes felt like a punishment for being poor. Goldberg designed Hilliard Towers to be different.
The buildings are supported mostly by their strong outer walls. This is different from some other buildings, like Goldberg's Marina City, which are supported by a central core.
Who Lived There?
The people who moved into Hilliard Homes were carefully chosen. This helped create a safe and friendly community. Because of this, the buildings had fewer problems than many other public housing projects. In fact, Hilliard Homes was the only project that never needed police officers on duty all the time.
The two round towers were built for senior citizens. The two half-circle buildings next to them were for families who needed affordable housing.
Bringing the Buildings Back to Life
By the early 1990s, the Hilliard Towers buildings started to show their age. They needed repairs and updates.
A New Beginning
In 1997, a big project began to fix up the buildings. This project took nine years to complete, finishing in 2006. Today, Hilliard Towers is a "mixed-income" community. This means that people from different income levels live there.
Some residents pay the regular market price for their homes. Other residents are families and seniors who receive help with their rent. This mix helps create a diverse and vibrant community.
