SCAN ME!
ASSESSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN
BRONZEVILLE
DIMITRI NESBITT | HENRY WISHCAMPER | LOBNA ANOUS
THE BLACK METROPOLIS REBORN
The historic legacies of Bronzeville, the nation's Black Metropolis, continue along cultural, economic, and political axes. What have been series of interventions—from the neighborhood's influx of Black residents due to racist housing policies, urban renewal schemes that targeted the South Side, decades of disinvestment, and population loss—now coalesce into a burgeoning revitalization scene. Bronzeville is now home to one of Chicago's most active community development spaces, where local
organizations, business owners, and citywide and regional actors are identifying areas of opportunity. But is Bronzeville prepared?
Is there enough capacity to cope with the changes and investment happening in Bronzeville?
UNDERSTANDING INITIATIVES
Our team focused on three major initiatives that coordinate several of Bronzeville's notable community development actors. This strategy
Developing Vibrant Retail
Great Migration & Black Metropolis Feasibility Study
forms the starting point in assessing relationships between actors, recognizing contributions, and aggregating a picture of capacity. AT A GLANCE Invest South/West
205
ORGANIZATIONS $124,077,608
TOTAL EXPENSES 29
Community & Neighborhood Devt.
25
Arts & Culture
23
Education
BLACK METROPOLIS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA
B R O N Z E V I L L E
|
U P P
5 4 1
Key Players: Goals: Bronzeville Community Development Partnership 1. Preserve and promote Role: Leadership in initiative historical legacy of Bronzeville CMAP and the Black Metropolis; Role: Plan-making expertise & area studies 2. Promote heritage tourism and Authored 2013 Black Metropolis National Heritage generate economic activity and Area Feasibility Study. small business development. Revenue: $20,845,597 | Expenditures: $23,181,627 3. Support preservation of Governance: 21-member board, officials from important architectural, Chicago & 7-county metro area. historic and cultural assets. National Park Service Role: Oversees Nat'l Heritage Area program Budget: $3.3 Billion Governance: Division of the U.S. Department of the Interior Key Players: Bronzeville Alliance Role: Lead partnership of organizations Goals: Concerned Citizens of Bronzeville 1. Identify key corridors for retail Role: community engagement, initiative outreach dev't. through the Cross-Ward Quad Communities Development Corporation Economic Dev't. Arm (CWEDA). Role: Expertise, business recruitment, support 2. Attract small business retail, Administers SSA #47 services dining to preserve Revenue: $496,559 | Expenditures: $625,963 local character. Governance: 14-member board with committees 3. Develop strategies & best The Renaissance Collaborative practices for orgs. to support Role: workforce dev't., local retail capacity, CWEDA the plan. Revenue: $1,679,025 | Expenditures: $1,812,907 Governance: 14-member board of Black businesses & church leaders, committee structure
DEVELOPING VIBRANT RETAIL
INVEST SOUTH/WEST
Goals: 1. Re-activate neighborhood cores of historic focus. 2. Economically empower small businesses & youth through multiple funds & mentorship. 3. Integrate the community to identify priorities, goals, and key assets.
Key Players: Bronzeville Community Development Partnership Role: Leadership in initiative Black Metropolis Convention & Tourism Council Role: cultural & historic preservation, education & awareness, employment support & dev't. Revenue: $14,066 | Expenditures: $14,066 Governance: None. YWCA Metropolitan Chicago Role: women's support, sexual violence & social support, economic development Revenue: $21,532,082 Expenditures: $1,198,653 (x2 previous year) Governance: 53-member board, 260 employees, 100 volunteers
EVALUATION
STRENGTHS: Bronzeville has strong smallbusiness infrastructure. There is a focus on cultural dev't. & preservation. Trust exists between CD organizations & businesses. There are active fundraising & recruitment movements.
DETERMINATION
WEAKNESSES: Only 6.8% of orgs. are working on housing issues. Plans do not adequately address gentrification that comes with development. Recent population growth requires new strategies.
Bronzeville's noted cultural strength manifests in its economic adaptability that build upon its relationships. But the lack of coordinated housing initiatives and antigentrification measures in its CD system indicate an underpreparedness for the influx of people, attention, and development interests.