Robert Taylor Homes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robert Taylor Homes |
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2005 photograph of the last remaining Robert Taylor Homes (building 22).
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| Location | Bordered by Pershing Road, 54th Street, State Street, and Federal Street Bronzeville, Chicago, Illinois  United States |
| Coordinates | 41°48′45″N 87°37′39″W / 41.81250°N 87.62750°W |
| Status | Demolished |
| Constructed | 1961–62 |
| Demolished | 1998–2007 |
| Governing Body |
Chicago Housing Authority |
The Robert Taylor Homes was a very large public housing project located in the Bronzeville neighborhood. This area is on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. The homes were built along State Street, next to the Dan Ryan Expressway.
This project was named after Robert Rochon Taylor. He was an important African-American activist. Mr. Taylor was also the first African American chairman of the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA). The Robert Taylor Homes were part of a larger group of housing projects called the State Street Corridor. This group included other CHA projects like Stateway Gardens and Dearborn Homes.
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Robert Taylor Homes: A Big Housing Project
The Robert Taylor Homes were built to provide affordable places for families to live. They were a series of tall apartment buildings. These buildings were designed to house many people in one area.
What Are Public Housing Projects?
Public housing projects are homes or apartments built and managed by the government. Their main goal is to offer safe and affordable housing. This helps families who might not be able to afford other types of homes. These projects are often managed by local housing authorities.
Who Was Robert Rochon Taylor?
Robert Rochon Taylor was a very important person in Chicago. He was born in 1883 and worked hard for his community. Mr. Taylor was known as an activist, meaning he worked to bring about social change. He became the first African American chairman of the Chicago Housing Authority. This was a big step for civil rights and fair housing. The housing project was named in his honor because of his dedication.
Building the Robert Taylor Homes
Construction of the Robert Taylor Homes began in 1961 and finished in 1962. The project included 16 high-rise buildings. Each building was 16 stories tall. Together, they had more than 4,400 apartments. This made it one of the largest public housing developments in the world. It was built to help with the housing needs in Chicago.
Life in the Community
For many years, the Robert Taylor Homes were home to thousands of families. Children grew up there, went to school, and played together. The buildings created a large community. People lived close to each other and shared common spaces. It was a place where many families started their lives in Chicago.
Why Were the Homes Demolished?
Over time, ideas about public housing changed. Experts began to think that very large housing projects might not be the best way to help families. There was a move towards creating smaller, mixed-income communities. This meant building different types of homes in different areas. The goal was to offer more opportunities and better living conditions.
The End of an Era
Because of these changing ideas, the Robert Taylor Homes were slowly taken down. The demolition process started in 1998. It continued for several years, with the last building being taken down in 2007. This marked the end of a major chapter in Chicago's housing history. The land where the homes once stood has since been redeveloped. New housing and community spaces have been built there.
