Cabrini Building Shut Down, Displacing Residents
By Staff in News on Apr 10, 2009 4:20PM
Last month the Cabrini-Green building at 412 W. Chicago Ave. was closed due to concerns about violence and gang activity. The building, now gutted and boarded up with the gates welded shut, awaits the wrecking ball sometime this spring or summer. The Chicago Housing Authority says all 25 families living there have found a place to live but community advocates are concerned this may not be accurate. One former resident told the Chi-Town Daily News that the time-line to find a new home was too short and left people homeless and forced to take up residence in shelters or move in to overcrowded apartments with family.
A CHA spokesperson says these claims are incorrect. According to the CHA, of the families housed in Cabrini-Green at the time of the closing, 18 have moved to buildings at 364 and 365 W. Oak St., and three are living in new mixed-income replacement housing at Parkside of Old Town. Four other families moved to housing in the private market or relocated elsewhere. Peter Holsten, developer for Parkside of Old Town, confirmed that three of the families have moved in so far, and more applications are being processed.
Kevin Canon, president of the local advisory council at Cabrini-Green says most of the Cabrini’s former residents won’t qualify for a mixed-income unit because of the work requirement. Getting a unit in new mixed-income housing means residents must pass a credit check, criminal background check and drug test, as well as a review of work history and a home visit and interview. Canon told the Chi-Town Daily News, “In essence, public housing is like a safe haven,” says Canon. “If they went to Parkside or another mixed-income community, they would be put out. That would make Chicago’s list of homeless people much greater.”
Since the building has closed, Chicago Police say there have been no further incidences of violence but criminal activity hasn’t been driven from the neighborhood. New graffiti which appeared on the building last week was considered “tagging” and not gang-related.
Post by Camela Furry