Eight Forty-Eight for 03.26.12

Eight Forty-Eight for 03.26.12
A foreclosed upon home in Pacific Junction Flickr/get directly down
Eight Forty-Eight for 03.26.12
A foreclosed upon home in Pacific Junction Flickr/get directly down

Eight Forty-Eight for 03.26.12

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

Since the housing crisis, many foreclosed homes have ended up in states of disrepair. Left vacant, they’re stripped of all valuable materials. Instead of attracting potential buyers, the houses attract crime and sink property values. That’s why some communities are tearing them down. Richard Monocchio, executive director of the Housing Authority of Cook County, says demolition is one part of a multi-faceted approach to preserving communities. David Gonzalez, the mayor of Chicago Heights, explains what’s being done with the more than 300 foreclosed upon and vacant homes in his struggling suburb. What’s happening in your area? Call 312.923.9239 to join the discussion. The idea of having a national jazz museum in Chicago is not new. There was a failed effort to build one about a dozen years ago.Now, plans are underway to create the International Jazz Hall of Fame, a downtown museum and showcase for top-tier musicians. Chicago Tribune critic Howard Reich discusses the vision and its potential impact on the city and its musical heritage.