Chicago Crusader 09/21/13 E-Edition

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www.chicagocrusader.com

Blacks Must Control Their Own Community

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VOLUME LXXIII NUMBER 22—SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2013

PUBLISHED SINCE 1940

25 Cents and worth more

Parkway basking in $100 million makeover By Glenn Reedus A $100-million capital infusion has transformed Parkway Gardens from a severely blighted complex to a sprawling development, reminiscent of it early years as an enclave for the Black middle class. When it was built six decades ago, Parkway Gardens attracted well heeled Black residents, but over the years has suffered from neglect and economic downturns. The Related Companies is leading the redevelopment of the 694-unit site spanning three blocks from 66th to 63rd street along Martin Luther King Drive, and from King Drive to Calumet Avenue. The announcement of the renovation was made during a recent news conference that included Related executives, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Twentieth Ward Alderman Willie Cochran, Illinois Housing Development Authorities, and Kesa Thurman, principal of Dulles Elementary School, which is adjacent to the apartments. Besides an overhaul of the apartments, Related transformed what Thurman termed “a concrete jungle” into “a field of dreams.” The 8,410-square-foot field will accommodate

CURT BAILEY, PRESIDENT of The Related Companies Midwest operations tells the audience at a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony why the company invested in the Parkway Gardens in the 6400 block of King Dr. (All photos by Worsom Robinson)

MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL, who was credited with helping broker the deal that brought a $100-million investment to Parkway Gardens, talks with students from the neighboring Dulles Elementary School. mostly Dulles students, as 90 percent of them for the first time in the school’s history.” He added, “As a direct result of this private live in Parkway Gardens. Joining Thurman were members of the Dulles Tigers football partnership, here at the Parkway Gardens we team as well as some of the school’s cheerlead- are investing in a path to a brighter future for ing squad. The backdrop of the news confer- our children that starts with a supportive ence was peppered with students’ shouts, gig- home and continues into a challenging classgles and playful banter which Emanuel room. Before this green field, the area where referenced several times driving home the we are standing now used to be asphalt and point that the Parkway/Dulles investment the principal was spending thousands of dollars every year on Band-Aids because it wasn’t changed lives. According to Emanuel, “This is an opportu- safe. Thousands of dollars can be spent better, nity to have recess and sporting events outside and we don’t need Band-Aid solutions for our

PARKWAY GARDENS RESIDENTS and Dulles Elementary School have a new state-of-the-art football and soccer field. The Related Companies included the field as part of its renovation of the neighboring Parkway Gardens Apartments. kids – we need relentless standards for educaThe Related Companies, according to Curt tion and a positive environment that pro- Bailey, president of the corporation’s Midwest motes safety,” the mayor explained. operations, “saw an opportunity to make a reIn 1946 the units, designed by the former al difference in the landscape of the city.” BaiHolsman, Holsman, Klekamp & Taylor ar- ley explained Related manages a range of chitectural firm, opened on the idyllic 13-acre properties from North Lake Shore Drive luxsite and was soon housing some of the city’s ury accommodations to other affordable sites most well heeled Black residents. Time, ne(Continued on page 3) glect and several sour local and national economic downward spirals morphed Parkway Gardens into an eyesore festering with out-ofcontrol crime.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

The Modern Slavery and Apartheid (See story on page 2)

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