If the UIC Campus had been built at Garfield Park (Chicago: sale, real estate)

[North Side Brandon]

I firmly believe if West Garfield and Austin had gotten the UIC Campus built on top of Garfield Park like they badly wanted in the late 50's early 60's those neighborhoods aren't slums today. In the 50's North Lawndale and East Garfield Park had become very dangerous. West Siders know they need a game changer to hold off the ghetto. West Siders wanted to get rid of Garfield Park which is the border between East and West Garfield Park because people were getting mugged there all the time and it wasn't safe and it was also falling into disrepair. West Garfield had the Pulaski & Madison shopping district one of the largest in the city and many great theaters especially the Marbro. In 1958 the University actually selected the Garfield Park site. However Mayor Daley wanted the University near downtown and used the park district to block the sale of the parkland. He destroyed the historic Taylor Street neighborhood Instead. It's Ironic that the Mayor had to call the guard out to put down the Madison Street riots in 1968 because if he lets them have UIC those riots never happen.

[marothisu]

City would have been cooler if that would have happened. Little Italy wouldn't have been 75% ruined and I think you're right - those areas probably would still be OK today, at least in some areas. I honestly can't believe they got rid of most of Little Italy for that.

[Irishtom29]

I'd still be living in Austin.

[jonnynonos]

The adjacency to downtown allowed that entire area west of the Loop to remain somewhat stabilized, and in many cases just barely. The alternate scenario is that the university goes to Garfield and who knows how much father into the city core the ghetto would have crept.

All the Italians would be long gone by now anyway.

[North Side Brandon]

It's so sad because Austin and West Garfield Park were the only ones that wanted UIC. Daley pushed it down the throat of Taylor Street. Look at how the University of Chicago saved Hyde Park. Now I think most of East Garfield at least South of Madison is likely gone no matter what and so is North Lawndale. My Irish Great Grandmother moved out of East Garfield Park in the late 50's Western and Van Buren because she pretty much feared for her life. It had become very dangerous at that point.

[North Side Brandon]

I think ghetto would have moved south into Pilsen and Little Village. The University blocks It's path West into West Garfield Park, Humboldt Park and Austin. I think the ghetto stays West of the River and out of Downtown no matter what. Even Oak Park is better off today. Yeah Oak Park is still a nice community but Oak Park on it's Eastern edge has crime because of Austin.

[jonnynonos]

If that's true then he made a major mistake, but the idea of a single institution saving virtually the entire west side might be wishful thinking.

[Vlajos]

What if UIC were in Englewood?

[jonnynonos]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

What if UIC were in Englewood?

WITH the Whole Foods?!

Real estate would be more valuable than Manhattan!

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by jonnynonos

WITH the Whole Foods?!

Real estate would be more valuable than Manhattan!

I agree!