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A two-acre plot of land that plays host to carrots, beets, and turnips during the warmer months is at risk of being turned into a construction site because its original owner, The University of Chicago, wants it back. The university plans to turn the garden into a staging area for their new Chicago Theological Seminary building on the southeast edge of campus, with construction due to start in the spring.
Jack Spicer, 62, a gardener, spoke to the Chicago Sun-Times about the communal vibe of the garden. "This is the kind of thing that people are hungry for in city living," Spicer said, describing the unique community that has flourished with the garden including a weekend farmers' market, a coffee shop that drops off its compost, and countless weddings, memorials, and anniversaries.
"I sit at a computer eight hours a day," said gardener Avi Schwab, 27, to the Sun-Times. "Being able to come out here with a till and some shovels is really satisfying." Nevertheless, university spokeman, Steve Kloehn, said that there's always been a mutual understanding that at some point, the university would need to use the land. The university has even offered to find the gardeners new land, but to Kloehn's knowledge, "no one has responded to that offer."
"All kinds of people come here who would never have otherwise known each other," Spicer said about the gardeners decision to not take the university up on their offer.
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They are only turning it into a construction site temporarily. After they're done, it will be the new Theological Seminary. They had to put it somewhere since the Milton Friedman Institute is going to be taking up residence in its old building. I was on UChicago's campus for four years during my time as an undergrad student and I really don't see the big loss. IMO, the most scenic place on campus is the Botany Pond. It's also much more centrally located. The "beloved garden" always looked like a patch of weeds near the athletic fields to me, so it goes both ways.
freeAgent, it may have looked like weeds from the outside, but if you wandered in, it was bursting with tomatoes, pumpkins, cabbage, flowers. It was incredibly beautiful. I don't think anyone can say this was unexpected. It sucks that the garden will be shut down, but I hope they'll find a new home.
Ugh. The whining over this community garden. Cripes. The well-heeled HydeParkers (and some not-so-well-heeled) have been yammering over this forever now. Folks, its the University's land. They were nice enough to have let you use it for many of the breathless happy feelings that you like to babble on about. Remember those happy feelings and move on... Its not like there aren't PLENTY of open lots in the communities surrounding Hyde Park. Come to the Washington Park neighborhood. Come to Oakland (north of Kenwood if you were unaware). Heck, I live in Grand Boulevard, just northwest of you---plenty of open lots that aren't going anywhere any time soon. We'd love to have you do some gardening up here. The communities thirst for that same experience---and could use your leadership and experience.
But I won't hold my breath. Because as near as I can tell the bulk of the "gardeners" just like another excuse to shake their fists at the University. Its why they haven't shifted to the alternative location. And why they certainly won't try out a less tony neighborhood for their squatter's garden. Please, please, please stop covering these folks.