Garfield Boulevard Master Planning Study

Alderman Willie Cochran (20th Ward) and Alderman Pat Dowell (3rd Ward)

On Tuesday, July 14th, Alderman Pat Dowell (3rd Ward) and Alderman Willie Cochran (20th Ward) held a community meeting in Bronzeville discussing needed development of Garfield Boulevard/55th Street. The study area covers Garfield Boulevard from Western Avenue to Washington Park. This historic boulevard is the gateway into Hyde Park, the home of President Barack Obama and the University of Chicago campus and hospitals. Washington Park, should Chicago host the 2016 Olympics, will have a stadium built and is the primary location selected for aquatics and hockey.

Alderman Dowell said that whether Chicago is granted the 2016 Olympics or not, the community needs a plan for the area. With the Olympic bid, the development could happen faster. Without the bid, development could take a bit longer.  She said that either way, a plan is needed.

During breakout sessions, the attendees discussed the following -

1.  What are the positive characteristics of the Garfield Boulevard study area?
2.  What are the issues facing the Garfield Boulevard study area?
3.  What opportunities for redevelopment do you see in the Garfield Boulevard study area?
4.  What are/will be the barriers to redeveloping the Garfield Boulevard study area?

(below) Bronzeville Residents Participate in Breakout Sessions

(above) Johnnie Blair, President of Bronzeville Chamber of Commerce

(right) Leroy Kennedy, IIT's VP of Community Affairs

The main themes from the breakout sessions included -

1.  Community services
2.  Jobs
3.  Plan as positive community
4.  More retail and better shopping
5.  Transit-oriented development
6.  Neighborhood/sense of community
7.  Safety, security, parks
8.  City and state support and development
9.  Image, identity, meaningful development
10.  Re-branding of the neighborhood while keeping the history
11.  Focus on retail operations
12.  Attract quality businesses
13.  Public-private partnerships

This meeting was primarily for research and discovery. The next meeting will focus on preliminary findings & analysis and will be Tuesday, August 25th at Dawson Tech. 3901 S. State Street at 6:30pm.  The final meeting will be Tuesday, September 29th and will bring final recommendations. Metropolis