Cabrini Green Monitor Wants Disused Buildings Demolished
October 6, 2006
The Chicago Housing Authority's independent monitor says it's time for boarded-up buildings at the Near North Side Cabrini Green development to come down.
She also wants the CHA to target services to certain residents and focus on their credit problems so they can qualify for new mixed income communities.
Former public defender Rita Fry is charged with monitoring the Chicago Housing Authority's $1.6 billion overhaul of public housing.
It's the most ambitious project of its kind in the country.
Supporters praise it for tearing down poor, racially isolated high rises to be replaced with mixed income communities.
Critics blame the plan for resegregating residents and predict that few will be able to move into the new developments.
Rita Fry says in general, the project is going well, and residents are not falling through the cracks.
But she's concerned that it will take longer than the original 10 year time frame, leaving residents in limbo.
Her report has 5 new recommendations, and 6 from last year that she says still need action.
"Cabrini Green is the 800 pound gorilla in the room," she says.
Resident leaders from that development have filed 2 lawsuits against the CHA.
They're fighting over who moves out, where they go, when they come back, and what they come back to.
The litigation has slowed Cabrini's redevelopment.
Fry says it's time to get moving.
"I say tear them down. Then there are others that say we don't want them torn down until CHA demonstrates that they're going to build comparable housing on the site. But I think it's important to the overall community, meaning the city of Chicago, that people see some progress there other than boarded up buildings, " she explains.
For several years, reports from independent monitors have recommended more social services for public housing families.
That's critical, because to move into the new mixed income communities, residents must pass credit checks and meet work requirements.
The C.H.A. has increased social services over the years.
This time, Fry urges the agency to focus on helping people improve their credit.
But she also wants the C.H.A. to give the most help to residents who are likely to benefit instead of those with more serious obstacles, such as owing thousands of dollars in utility bills.
"Those problems exist, but they're not going to be immediately solved in the next year, or maybe in the next 3 years. So they need to be categorized in a different way, and perhaps services given to them differently, but certainly not be siphoning off services that will go to the people who have the opportunity to move to new housing and be successful," she elaborated.
A Chicago Housing Authority spokeswoman says the agency is considering Fry's suggestions.
In general, she says the agency is pleased with the report
She points out that in 2003, then independent monitor Tom Sullivan had more than 50 recommendations for change.
She also wants the CHA to target services to certain residents and focus on their credit problems so they can qualify for new mixed income communities.
Former public defender Rita Fry is charged with monitoring the Chicago Housing Authority's $1.6 billion overhaul of public housing.
It's the most ambitious project of its kind in the country.
Supporters praise it for tearing down poor, racially isolated high rises to be replaced with mixed income communities.
Critics blame the plan for resegregating residents and predict that few will be able to move into the new developments.
Rita Fry says in general, the project is going well, and residents are not falling through the cracks.
But she's concerned that it will take longer than the original 10 year time frame, leaving residents in limbo.
Her report has 5 new recommendations, and 6 from last year that she says still need action.
"Cabrini Green is the 800 pound gorilla in the room," she says.
Resident leaders from that development have filed 2 lawsuits against the CHA.
They're fighting over who moves out, where they go, when they come back, and what they come back to.
The litigation has slowed Cabrini's redevelopment.
Fry says it's time to get moving.
"I say tear them down. Then there are others that say we don't want them torn down until CHA demonstrates that they're going to build comparable housing on the site. But I think it's important to the overall community, meaning the city of Chicago, that people see some progress there other than boarded up buildings, " she explains.
For several years, reports from independent monitors have recommended more social services for public housing families.
That's critical, because to move into the new mixed income communities, residents must pass credit checks and meet work requirements.
The C.H.A. has increased social services over the years.
This time, Fry urges the agency to focus on helping people improve their credit.
But she also wants the C.H.A. to give the most help to residents who are likely to benefit instead of those with more serious obstacles, such as owing thousands of dollars in utility bills.
"Those problems exist, but they're not going to be immediately solved in the next year, or maybe in the next 3 years. So they need to be categorized in a different way, and perhaps services given to them differently, but certainly not be siphoning off services that will go to the people who have the opportunity to move to new housing and be successful," she elaborated.
A Chicago Housing Authority spokeswoman says the agency is considering Fry's suggestions.
In general, she says the agency is pleased with the report
She points out that in 2003, then independent monitor Tom Sullivan had more than 50 recommendations for change.
