F21_A Tale of Two Cities_Research_Chapter 04

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

Bahia Blanca + Chicago

UTK IARCH475 + UNS COPILOT STUDIO FALL 2021

Foreword...

The following material results from collaborative teamwork from the University of Tennessee School of Architecture - 4th-year Interior Architecture Design Studio, and the Explorative Design Studio in Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina. The co-pilot program, developed between both universities, proposes students elaborate projects in two specific sites: Fulton District, Chicago (USA) and Mercado Victoria, Bahía Blanca (Argentina). There were three main objectives to reach through the research phase of the studio: The first goal was to recognize the collaborative efforts from two different universities from different countries. Teamwork strategies encouraged students to work together despite their differences in language, cultural and educational background. The challenge was to communicate and form an idea through constructive discussions and execute the statements in architectural language.

Solely relying on online platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams became the primary communication tool to understand and create an open dialogue between the team members. It was through these frictions of difference to come up with the site.

The second objective for the studio is to approach the distinctive site holistically as an urban intervention. The work relied on research and analysis of the site's physical, environmental, social, economic, and cultural aspects to frame program proposals.

Existing urban conditions from warehouses to examining the industrial artifacts helped to discover series of issues to enrich the discovery as part of the process.

The third goal for the studio is to understand and come up with a design proposal that initiates from the macro-level of urban conditions to the micro-scale of the interiority of space. The challenge is to recognize the set of issues and use those issues as part of the design tool to develop creative alternatives.

Through the initial phase of the research, we will continue to develop architectural suggestions to come up with environmental and social development.

01

wellbeing

02

community

03

involvement

04

equity

05

connectivity

06

passive

07

inclusivity

04

Brooklyn Poff Camryn Weekly Julieta Allende Lucia Bugatti

Statement This chapter places a major emphasis on realizing the inequities that Chicago has dealt with historically, and how these issues are still prevalent today. Affordable housing, segregation, green inequity, and the displacement of marginalized groups are a few examples of where the research led. Fueled by this research, a conclusion was drawn that the studio project must encompass the exploration of mitigating these issues and hopefully drawing conclusions through an architectural media.

Affordable Housing

Locations of affordable housing in the Near West Side of Chicago

Affordable Housing Unit(s)

Fulton Market District Boundary

Not all the affordable housing units shown

lucrative, white collar industries, many families

above are considered to be within the Fulton

can no longer pay the skyrocketing rents and

Market District, but these are the closest units.

therefore were displaced. The COVID-19

The area shown is a snapshot of the Near West

pandemic has only exacerbated the need for

Side, which houses a few neighborhoods such

affordable housing.

as the Fulton Market District and Greek Town.

The lack of affordable housing in the area speaks to the past two decades of gentrification. Due to rapid growth in more

Supply/Demand Gap for Affordable Rental Housing 600,000

500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

0

2012

2013

Supply

2014

2015

Gap

2016

Demand

This bar graph shows the dire need for

affordable, and this requirement locks the price

affordable housing across Chicago by

in for the next 30 years. This will help alleviate

highlighting the growing gap between the

the housing crisis that Chicago is facing, and

supply and demand. The data trend shows that

especially addresses the housing inequity in the

the supply is growing at a much slower rate

Fulton Market area.

than the demand, which is increasing over the observed four year period. Recently, Fulton Market has mandated that all new residential buildings must have 30% of its units be

Affordability For a rental property, affordability is defined as a household earning up to 60% of the area median income (AMI).

Household Size

Area Median Income (AMI) Limits in Chicago (2021) 30%

40%

50%

60%

80%

100%

120%

140%

1

$19,600

$26,120

$32,600

$39,180

$52,200

$65,300

$78,360

$91,420

2

$22,400

$29,840

$37,300

$44,760

$59,650

$74,600

$89,520

$104,440

3

$25,200

$33,560

$41,950

$50,340

$67,100

$83,900

$100,680

$117,460

4

$27,950

$37,280

$46,600

$55,920

$74,550

$93,200

$111,840

$130,480

5

$30,200

$40,280

$50,350

$60,420

$80,550

$100,700

$120,840

$140,980

6

$32,450

$43,280

$54,100

$64,920

$86,500

$108,200

$129,840

$151,480

7

$34,700

$46,240

$57,800

$69,360

$92,450

$115,600

$138,720

$161,840

8

$36,900

$49,240

$61,550

$73,860

$98,450

$123,100

$147,720

$172,340

Affordable units MUST remain affordable for 30 years

AMI Fluctuations Through the Years

Inclusionary housing must be accessible and affordable Recognizing different market conditions is vital to equity

$120000

$100000

The leasing process should be efficient and equitable

$80000

The goal is to achieve 30% affordability to create a thriving mixed income community

$60000

Until 2021, there had been a hold on building any new residential buildings in the fulton market area Now, the ordinance was lifted, and residential buildings can be built as long as the building meets the threshold of 30% of all units being considered “affordable”

$40000

$20000

$0 2000

2010

2017

Household Income

Historical Districts

Fulton Market Innovation District Boundary

Character Buildings

Landmark District

Kinzie Corridor Overlay

Open Space (1.5%) Single Family Residential (4.1%)

Mixed Use (1.3%)

Vacant (5.2%) Industrial (8.1%)

Multi Family Residential (10%)

Land Use in Fulton Market

Commercial (10.9%)

Transportation and Other (43.3%) institutional (15.7%)

The Fulton Market has designated certain zones to aid in the planning effort to grow the district more. It breaks the zones from a macro to micro scale, going from the entirety of the Fulton Market area, to the landmark district, the historical Kinzie Corridor, and even down to “character” buildings. These are buildings that hold a lot of historical value to the area, and have been around for decades. In the landmark district, buildings must have a facade that is historically appropriate. Historic preservation is very active in this area, and there are many building codes and ordinances that architects and builders must follow. The Kinzie Corridor has been an area of the neighborhood that has stood the test of time during the life span of the Fulton Market. Originally, ordinances blocked the development of residential buildings in the Kinzie Corridor, but this was lifted in 2021 due to the commitment to affordable housing (which the Fulton Market is seriously lacking).

Employment

The tan bars (manufacturing, wholesalers, and

collar jobs are higher paying than its blue collar

utilities) showcase historically popular industries

counterparts, the Fulton Market is experiencing

that once caused the Fulton Market area to thrive.

an identity crisis as it distances itself from the

Today, the Fulton Market area has transitioned to

formerly established working class persona.

a work force that is largely white collar jobs as opposed to its blue collar roots. While the white

Professional Finance/Insurance Healthcare Education Retail Information Manufacturing Hospitality Real Estate Administrative Entertainment Construction Government Whole Salers Other Services Transportation Utilities Agriculture 0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Demographics

Non-Citizen 14.47% Male 50.23% Citizen (not US born) 7.44%

Citizen (US born) 78.09%

Female 49.77%

Fulton Market District 0%

10%

20%

30%

Chicago 40%

50%

60%

70% 77.8%

White1 5.3%

Hispanic2

4.2%

Black

10.5%

Asian 2.2%

Mixed

1

non-Hispanic

2

not including Black and Asian Hispanics

A Garden City When Chicago first became a city, it adopted the nickname of “Garden City” because of the how many green areas there were within the city. There are over 600 parks all around the city.

Today however, there is a green inequity issue that Chicago is facing.

In the more affluent areas, such as the Loop, there are a lot more parks and the density of green space is higher than in areas such as Cabrini-Green (which is not as affluent). The amount and density of parks decreases drastically as you move westward from the waterfront area.

Parks Timeline

1868

1875

1895

Lincoln Park Zoo established, oldest free zoo in US

Sheep flock lawn mowing service instated in all Chicago area parks

First public outdoor pool in Chicago

1943 Victory gardens in the Chicago parks to support WWII

1935 Free concerts in Grant Park

1905 Neighborhood park typology created

1966 Freedom rally at Soldier Field for civil rights

1968

2005

2013

First Special Olympics held at Soldier Field

ADA compliance committee for parks is formed

Chicago Plays program brought 300 playgrounds in Chicago up to date (completed 2016)

N. Ada St.

Surrounding Building Analysis

N. Elizabeth St.

W. Fulton St.

Commercial

Healthcare

Grocery

Green Space

Proposed Site

Mixed Use

Potential Program Park/Green Space

Urban Trails

Amphitheater

Chicago History

Public Space Welcome Center

Cafe Typology

Public

Library

Urban Farm

Private

Community Garden

Educational Space

Multi-Family Housing

Typical Units (20%)

Controlled Rent Units (50%)

Affordable Units (30%)

Food Desert

Community

A strong sense of community throughout the city

ROGER’S PARK

EDISON PARK

WEST RIDGE

ED

FOREST GLEN O’HARE

NORWOOD PARK

JEFFERSON PARK

G

NORTH PARK

ER

LINCOLN SQUARE

ALBANY PARK PORTAGE PARK

IRVING PARK

DUNNING

UPTOWN NORTH CENTER

LAKEVIEW

AVONDALE

A OS

RM

RE

A CL NT

BELMONT CRAGIN

HE

MO

far north side

EW AT

northwest side

LINCOLN PARK

LOGAN SQUARE

HUMBOLDT PARK

NEAR NORTH SIDE

WEST TOWN

AUSTIN

north side

WEST EAST GARFIELD GARFIELD PARK PARK

west side central chicago

LOOP

NEAR WEST SIDE

southwest side

B

RI

SOUTH LAWNDALE

D

G

EP

O

D

D

SOUTH SHORE

GREATER GRAND CROSSING

AUBURN GRESHAM

CHATHAM

SID

CALUMET HEIGHTS

E

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS

SOUTH CHICAGO

AVALON PARK

RN BU

Our site, the Fulton Market District, is located in the Near West Side, extremely close to the Loop. The district is more reflective of the patterns of wealth and hardship present in the Loop than the Near West Side.

HYDE PARK

WOODLAWN

OO EW

Most of the area’s wealth is concentrated in the center of the city, primarily the Loop.

This area remains primarily white.

T D ES O W WO E GL

The 77 communities are grouped into 9 regions depending on their geographic location compared to the center of Chicago. Because the city grew out from this point, it serves as the central hub for the surrounding communities.

ASHBURN

N

CHICAGO LAWN

H PA ING RK TO N

GL

WEST LAWN

GRAND BOULEVARD KENWOOD

W AS

EN

GAGE PARK

EN

WEST ELSDON

CLEARING

There are 77 officially recognized communities in the Chicago area. Each one is comprised of multiple neighborhoods, each with rich and complex histories.

NEW CITY

LA

GARFIELD RIDGE

BRIGHTON PARK

DOUGLAS

FULLER PARK

ARCHER HEIGHTS

far southwest side

RT

AK O

MCKINLEY PARK

south side

ARMOR SQUARE

LOWER WEST SIDE

far southeast side

NEAR SOUTH SIDE

NORTH LAWNDALE

PULLMAN

BEVERLY

EAST SIDE

ROSELAND MOUNT GREENMAN

SOUTH DEERING

MORGAN PARK

WEST PULLMAN

RIVERDALE

HEGEWISCH

Community

Areas below the poverty line

ROGER’S PARK

EDISON PARK

WEST RIDGE

ED

FOREST GLEN O’HARE

NORWOOD PARK

JEFFERSON PARK

G

NORTH PARK

ER

LINCOLN SQUARE

ALBANY PARK PORTAGE PARK

IRVING PARK

DUNNING

UPTOWN NORTH CENTER

LAKEVIEW

AVONDALE

A OS

RM

RE

A CL NT

BELMONT CRAGIN

HE

MO

Neighborhood with 40%- 60% of population below the poverty line

EW AT

LINCOLN PARK

LOGAN SQUARE

HUMBOLDT PARK

NEAR NORTH SIDE

WEST TOWN

AUSTIN

Neighborhood with 20% - 40% of population below the poverty line

WEST EAST GARFIELD GARFIELD PARK PARK

LOOP

NEAR WEST SIDE

NEAR SOUTH SIDE

NORTH LAWNDALE

B

RI

SOUTH LAWNDALE

D

G

EP

O

MCKINLEY PARK

D

D

SOUTH SHORE

GREATER GRAND CROSSING

AUBURN GRESHAM

CHATHAM

SID

CALUMET HEIGHTS

E

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS

SOUTH CHICAGO

AVALON PARK

RN BU

In West and East Garfield Park, North Lawndale, Armor Square, Fuller Park, Washington Park, Englewood, and Riverdale, between 40% and 60% of the population lives below the poverty line.

HYDE PARK

WOODLAWN

OO EW

Out of the 77 officially recognized communities on this map, the Loop has the lowest hardship index (3) while Riverdale has the highest (98).

T D ES O W WO E GL

The outer edges of Chicago, particularly the south, struggle the most with poverty; they face more discrimination than those at the center of the city. Residents of communities in the Far Southeast Side have fewer resources and opportunities to improve their lives

ASHBURN

N

CHICAGO LAWN

H PA ING RK TO N

GL

WEST LAWN

GRAND BOULEVARD KENWOOD

W AS

EN

GAGE PARK

EN

WEST ELSDON

CLEARING

Chicago’s communities remain strictly segregated despite decades of post-segregation policy on both a federal and city level.

NEW CITY

LA

GARFIELD RIDGE

BRIGHTON PARK

DOUGLAS

FULLER PARK

ARCHER HEIGHTS

RT

AK O

Neighborhood with 0% - 20% of population below poverty line

ARMOR SQUARE

LOWER WEST SIDE

PULLMAN

BEVERLY

EAST SIDE

ROSELAND MOUNT GREENMAN

SOUTH DEERING

MORGAN PARK

WEST PULLMAN

RIVERDALE

HEGEWISCH

Transportation

Neighborhoods + L routes

Transfer Spot Red Line Orange Line Yellow Line Green Line Brown Line Blue Line Purple Line (Rush Hour Only) Pink Line

Chicago has a well-developed transit system that includes an extensive train routes, deemed “the L” by residents. The L is extremely reliable. Its routes provide easy access to the Loop and adjacent communities, but neighborhoods in the Far Southwest Side and Far Southeast Side are excluded.

The L routes do not extend far into the southern region of Chicago.

Because these residents have minimal train access, they are unable to rely on the Chicago Transit Authority for their transportation needs.

Chicago has an active bike culture supported by 303 miles of bike lanes and 13,000+ bike racks. In 2016, Chicago was named “Best Bike City in America.

Transportation

L routes + waterways + expressways

Expressway L Route Major River

Chicago is interwoven by various streams, canals, river branches, highways and train tracks. Beginning at the edge of Lake Michigan, the city grew outward from the Loop. As a result, most of the city’s major transportation routes lead back towards the city center.

Chicago’s waterway system consists of more than 156 mi of man made rivers and canals. The river and canals have been highly affected by industrial and residential development. The river is home to many species of aquatic life that is threatened by continual pollution.

Most of the current expressways were built after World War II as a part of the Chicago Planning Commission’s Comprehensive City Plan. This project cost about $2 billion when adjusted for inflation. Construction took place from the mid 40’s into the early 60’s

Transportation

Income + cars per person

Income per Capita (USD)

$125,000 $100,000 $75,000 $50,000 $25,000 $0 1.00

1.50

2.00

Number of People per Vehicle

2.50

3.00

Segregation

L routes + waterways + food deserts

L Routes > 200% of median income 150% - 200% 125% - 150% 75% - 125% of median income 60% - 75% 45% - 60% 0% - 45% of median income

It is clear to see that although the L is an indispensable tool for inner-city commuters, those who live on the outer edges of town lack access to this life-saving service.

Community members in more poverty-stricken areas tend to have less access to personal vehicles, making taking one’s one car to work unfeasible for most.

As a result, wealth that was originally concentrated in the city center, the most urban area in Chicago, has not spread far outside of that inner ring.

Segregation

Expressways + waterways + food scarcity

Expressway River Area of Food Scarcity

Originally conceived as part of Burnham’s plan for Chicago in 1909, city leaders knew that the further development of Chicago depended on reliable transportation in and out of the city.

Unfortunately, when the Chicago Planning Commission began planning expressways through the city, they intentionally used the project as an excuse to deepen the racial divide in the city. In 1943, the mayor expressed the city’s intent to “clear slum areas” and “rehabilitate blighted areas” to create “a truly adequate transportation system.”

This “clearing” and “rehabilitation” consisted of destroying an estimated 8,100 primarily black housing units. “Between 1948 and 1956, more than 6,000 Chicago families lost their homes to ‘highway takes.”

Segregation

Impoverished neighborhoods + food scarcity + transportation

Experiencing Food Scarcity Regional Boundaries Neighborhood Boundaries Expressways L Tracks River Residents Below Poverty Line

The division of communities resulting from the construction of Chicago’s expressways in the mid 20th century had a direct impact on food accessibility in poverty-stricken areas. Chicago’s food deserts have significant overlap with communities that live below the poverty line.

A food desert is defined as an area without a traditional grocery store within a 15 mile radius.

Residents in the highlighted areas are forced to depend on bodegas, convenience stores and fast food, as they are unable to afford other restaurants.

Under-served communities with minimal food access also have little to no access to expressways or L routes. “African Americans make up approximately one third of Chicago’s population, but almost 80 percent of the population of persistently low or volatile food access areas.”

Segregation

Impoverished neighborhoods + food scarcity + abandoned buildings

Impoverished Neighborhoods Areas with Abandoned Buildings Areas Experiencing Food Scarcity

In addition to the overlap between impoverished neighborhoods and food scarcity, Chicago also struggles with a surplus of abandoned buildings.

As the diagram to the right shows, abandoned buildings are concentrated in the same impoverished communities.

The city routinely underfunds and underinvests into these communities, leaving abandoned buildings to rot. Most of the empty structures are warehouses or manufacturing spaces no longer utilized by industrial groups.

Big employers in black neighborhoods began to move out/away in the 60s; most of factories have moved overseas or to the suburbs, leaving fewer employment opportunities for people without much education.

Segregation

Education + museums + green space + impoverished neighborhoods

Private Schools Elementary Schools Middle Schools High Schools Parks + Green Space Universities Underserved Neighborhood

Chicago is home to 600 parks, 500 playgrounds, 70 nature/bird sanctuaries, 26 miles of open lakefront, 29 beaches, 307 sports fields and 8,300 acres of green space.

Although the city’s official seal includes the phrase “Urbs in Horto” (a Latin phrase meaning city in a garden), most of Chicago’s public green space is concentrated in the center of the city.

Residents living further from Central Chicago have restricted access to these spaces.

The communities without an abundance of parks or green space coincide with impoverished neighborhoods in Chicago.

Historical Buildings in an effort to attract commission merchants displaced by the closure of the south water market, Randolph Street was widened again from Sangamon west to Union Park in 1922. investors began building commission houses during this time to further attract merchants, such as the Howard Building and the Central Market Building.

Central Market Building

Latam Machinery Company

Howard Building

In addition to produce, meat, and poultry, the Fulton Market District includes warehouse and manufacturing buildings that were built during the rapid industrialization of the Near West Side during the turn of the twentieth century.

Davis and Rankin Building

Foote Brothers

Edward Katzinger & Company

Morgan & Wright Company

Arthur Harris & Company

Urban Grid

Fulton Market District,

Fulton Market District,

1850 - 1908

2021

Even through the rapid development of the Fulton Market District over the many years, the orthogonal street grid remained in tact. Although, it was altered to be more equipped for a modern city. the only interruption to the grid is the I-90 highway, as it curvilinearly bisects Fulton Market from the downtown Loop.

From 1850 to 1908, the widened street contained the West Market Hall and later a farmer’s market

Congress Parkway In 1908, the widened section was extended from N. Halsted to Sangamon to expand the farmer’s market

In 1923, the street was widened yet again to Ogden Avenue to attract the merchants that were displaed from South Water Market

Burnham’s Vision for Chicago Arterial Street Widening 120 miles of streets were widened during the 1920s due to increased use of the car

New Diagonal Avenues Ogden Ave extended N.E. from Ashland by the 1930s, Chicago Ave to Lincoln Park was removed by 1993

Congress Parkway The super highway began construction in the 1930s and opened in 1958

Railroad Stations A new Union Station was built in 1925 near the new North Western Station, but all the railroad stations were never combined

Civic Center Began construction downtown as the Plan of Chicago was being written

Chicago River Straightening Finished in 1929, but the through streets were never opened due to railroad facilities never being removed Roosevelt Road Widened in 1914 as part of the “Outer Circuit” plan for roadways to route traffic around the central business district

Two Level Riverfront Drives Wacker Drive replaced the city’s produce market in 1926 Michigan Avenue Bridge Double level boulevard bridge opened in 1920, expanded business district across the river

Link Bridge Lakeshore Drive Bridge opened in 1937 east of anticipated location for extension of South Park Avenue

Grant Park Cultural center of museums and libraries, blocked by Montgomery Ward court decisions

Municipal Piers Pier Np. 2 was completed in 1916, but was instead built at Grand Ave instead of Chicago Ave

Northerly Island Landfill constructed by South Park Commission in 1920s.

Former airport, site for Century of Progress Exposition

Regional Highways Highways were constructed started in the 1920s to connect the region

Tourism

Tourist sector grows New jobs created

Growth Flow Chart Goods and services sold More tourists come

Money improves tourism activities and zones

Income generated for government, companies, and citizens

Tourism and COVID-19

Consequences after the pandemic

Tourism Sector Percentage of Total Economy

Spain (14.3%)

Italy (13%)

China (11.3%)

Germany (9.1%) Great Britain (9%)

United States (8.6%)

France (8.5%)

Iran (6.8%) Chicago

Lost 55% of income Lack of manpower In 2019, 22,000 job positions had been generated thanks to tourism. After COVID-19, most of them were lost.

The Hidden Face of Tourism Segregation

Two sides of the same coin

Less Diverse

rists tou to

Gentri fy t he

ke it more at tra ma o ct t iv ti y

e

c

More Diverse

Displace marginalized communitites to create a “utopian” Chicago, without providing any resources to the recently displaced groups