CHICAGO’S SOUTH SIDE ENDS 2019 WITH A BANG OF SURPRISES

Since construction began in 2015 on the Positioning Pullman 2.0 in Pullman, $56 million has been invested in the project that organizers said would ultimately increase tourism on the Far South Side. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson
Since construction began in 2015 on the Positioning Pullman 2.0 in Pullman, $56 million has been invested in the project that organizers said would ultimately increase tourism on the Far South Side. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson

CHICAGO’S SOUTH SIDE ENDS 2019 WITH A BANG OF SURPRISES

BY WENDELL HUTSON, Contributing Writer

The South Side of Chicago, whose population is predominately black, according to census data, had a surprising yet interesting year in 2019 with construction underway on historic buildings to an unexpected guilty plea by a popular alderman and a new, state-of-the art public high school built in one of the most violent neighborhoods in the city.

Education

In February 2018, the Chicago Board of Education voted to close four, public high schools (Harper, Robeson, TEAM Englewood, and John Hope), where enrollment was consistently low, and replaced the schools with Englewood STEM, a new, $85 million high school that opened in September at 6835 S. Normal Blvd. where the focus is on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

And despite Englewood being one of the most violent neighborhoods in the city, more than 400 students enrolled in the first freshman class. There has not been a new public high school built in Englewood since the 1970s when Robeson first opened its doors.

Chicago Public Schools officials said they foresee no problem with filling up the school by 2022 with all four grades and keeping it that way for years to come.

“I think in the past we said we were gonna do something, and in some cases it didn’t happen,” Janice Jackson, CEO of CPS, said on opening day of the new school. “And people just didn’t trust that it was going to happen. This moved quickly and I think it’s gonna go a long way to show that when we commit to doing something, it’s actually gonna happen.”

One high school, John Hope College Prep at 5515 S. Lowe Ave., still remains open even though no students are currently enrolled. But there’s a reason why the nation’s third largest school district with 355,000 students is keeping the building open.

“There is a state-mandated school closure process that the district must follow. This includes required community engagement and a public hearing,” said Emily Bolton, a spokeswoman for CPS. “The district could not move to close the school prior to completing this process.”

Politics

Shortly after Lori Lightfoot was sworn into office as the first black, female Chicago mayor, a popular South Side alderman, who is also a retired Chicago police officer, started a one-year prison sentence.

Former Ald. Willie Cochran (20th), whose ward includes several South Side neighborhoods like Woodlawn and Englewood, pleaded guilty in March to one count of wire fraud.

In an exclusive interview with the Citizen, Cochran said he did not violate his oath and did not steal money from the “20th Ward Activities Fund” as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois alleged he did in a 13-count indictment.

“I am innocent of these charges and if I had the money to fight this case, I wouldn’t have plead guilty,” contends Cochran.

In a plea deal, the U.S. Attorney’s Office acknowledged that Cochran contributed monies into the Fund, but withdrew more than what he paid.

“While defendant personally donated in excess of approximately $32,000 to the Fund, he withdrew money, and used that money for his own personal expenses in excess of that amount,” the plea deal stated. “Defendant acknowledges that between January 2010 and April 2014, he took approximately $14,285 in excess of what he donated from the 20th Ward Activities Fund, and converted the money to his own personal use.”

In the end, Cochran said he accepts responsibility for his actions regardless how flawed the government made it seem, and is ready to move on with his life.

“I don’t want to make excuses because this falls on me. I should have made better choices,” said Cochran.

Development

The Pullman neighborhood on the Far South Side is home to several developments underway on historic buildings most notably the Positioning Pullman 2.0 project. The development, which began in 2015, stretches along Cottage Grove Avenue from 111th to 103rd streets, and upon completion will feature a visitor center, hotel, pedestrian walkways, bike trails, public space, community rooms, exhibit halls, and the historic clock tower would be renovated. The history of the Pullman site dates back to 1880 when industrialist George Pullman developed the site initially as the first American industrial town.

The goal of the project is to redevelop old, historic buildings in Pullman as a way to improve the community from transportation to tourism, which would ultimately help boost the local economy as well, said Lynn McClure, senior Midwest director for the National Parks Conservation Association.

“This project will sit on historic grounds and so it must be preserved in a way that keeps its original structure,” added McClure. “The visitor center could be open as early as 2021 but as far as when the total project will be complete, there’s no completion date for this project although ideally I’d love to see it wrapped up in the next five years.”

But not far away from Pullman is the Jackson Park neighborhood which is set to become home to the 500-acre Obama Presidential Center (OPC) by 2021. OPC officials contend that despite parkland being used to build the library named after President Barack Obama, the center will be a new landmark for the South Side and an economic engine for the city of Chicago. They add the OPC will attract thousands of visitors annually thus boosting tourism on the Far South Side. Ald. Anthony Beale (9th), whose ward includes Pullman, said he agrees with that notion.

“Can you imagine the possibilities for the Far South Side if a casino is built nearby? We’re talking about Metra stations already in Pullman and the Bishop Ford Expressway at our front door, so transportation getting this way is no problem,” said Beale. “And let’s not forget the Obama Presidential Center that will also be built on the South Side. Tourism is about to go through the roof for the Far South Side, an area rarely visited by tourists coming to Chicago.”

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

100 Black Men of Chicago, Chairman David Day