Residents of a Woodlawn housing complex say they feel betrayed by a plan that would force them to move.
Tenants’ advocates have been negotiating the future of the deteriorating buildings.
Chicago Public Radio’s Natalie Moore reports.
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Lonnie Richardson has lived in the Grove Parc Apartments for 20 years.
He and other tenants thought Grove Parc’s future included renovation of much of the development, some for affordable housing and some for market rate.
But they were surprised to hear that the Chicago office of HUD, the federal department of Housing and Urban Development, is recommending that all the buildings be demolished.
Richardson says the replacement housing wouldn’t help many families in Woodlawn, near the University of Chicago.
RICHARDSON: We know the upscale other condos are coming in. And it’s not affordable.
Tenants say the income requirements in the HUD plan would exclude them. They’d get vouchers to live elsewhere, and the option to return.
Grove Parc tenants and lawyers are meeting to fight the plan. HUD officials did not return phone calls.
I’m Natalie Moore, Chicago Public Radio.