INTRODUCTION

Austin, one of Chicago’s largest community areas on the City’s west side, is a rich history. Its creation in the 19th century as a temperance community gives it a relaxed charm, while its history of being forcefully annexed into the City of Chicago gives it an independent streak unique among other neighborhoods in the city. Austin contains many old and historic houses dating back to its founding and is home to many longtime residents. The community faces serious problems. After turning from a white immigrant community to a primarily Black community in the 1960s during the era of white flight, Austin suffered from racist housing and investment policies that left the community with a legacy of decay, crime, and poverty. Its housing stock, walkability, public transportation, and location are enviable. Its solid and well-defined sense of community and independence is a unique quality whose value is impossible to quantify.[i]

Austin is one of the city of Chicago's 77 officially recognized community zones. It is located on the city's West Side and is the third-largest community area in terms of population (after the Near North Side and Lake View) and the second-largest physically (behind South Deering). The Belt Railway is Austin's eastern boundary, located immediately east of Cicero Avenue. North of North Avenue, the northernmost portion North Avenue, extends west to Harlem Avenue, abutting Elmwood Park. In addition to Elmwood Park, Austin also borders the suburbs of Cicero and Oak Park (See Figure 1).

After decades of under-investment, the City of Chicago is looking at ways to help Austin reach its full potential by directing funds toward development and planning in the community’s “Soul City” business corridor on Chicago Avenue.[ii] The community has found a renewed spirit, captured in a community “quality of life” plan put together in 2018.[iii] Austin 2042 builds on and updates these plans to account for new realities, including the recently-announced closure of the Galewood Mars factory.