Washington Park planning effort takes off

I suppose I can call this Chi-Town article required reading for when I start writing about what it means for Chatham to be "South Looped". Since this is about the Washington Park neighborhood let's be sure that Chatham is no where near what Washington Park is today. Although I seem some ideas to play with in that article:

Washington Park has less than a third of the residents that it once did, and is battling crime and foreclosures.

But residents and officials say they hope new parks, and a revitalized commercial district that puts a focus on the area’s rich history, will ultimately make the neighborhood a great place to live.

Many turned out over the weekend to hear details of the new Washington Park quality of life plan, which lays out a path forward for the neighborhood.

“We can do great things in Washington Park,” said Alderman Willie Cochran.

Cochran, elected in 2007 after serving for 25 years as a police officer, began the planning process about 18 months ago, assembling a group that included residents, church leaders, business owners and several neighborhood associations.

“Today, we have a viable plan to move our community forward,” he said.

The Washington Park Consortium, a new nonprofit organization, will be responsible for carrying out the plan.

 “The quality of life plan is a document that says what the community wants,” said Brandon F. Johnson, the consortium’s new executive director.

The plan includes development of new and rehabbed housing, preventive health care maintenance, and closer partnerships with area schools and churches.

Read the whole thing!

I suppose how they are coping with making a change in their neighborhood, shouldn't be much different than if we ever wanted to make a change here.