Thursday, August 21, 2008

Public housing museum moves closer to a permanent home

Chi-Town Daily News:

The Chicago Housing Authority plans to donate a historic West Side housing project for the creation of a museum telling the story of public housing in America.

Acquiring the land and property at 1322-24 W. Taylor St., part of Jane Addams Homes, will be a major step forward for the National Public Housing Museum, which began a decade ago as the brainchild of Deverra Beverly, president of the local council for the CHA's ABLA Homes.

"It's a huge, significant milestone for the museum," said project director Susanne Schnell. "This sends a positive signal to all potential funders that we have a permanent home."

The donation is contingent upon the nonprofit raising the $17 million it will cost to build the museum, but the blessing from the CHA's board of commissioners will make it easier to attract funding from both the federal government and private philanthropists.

This museum will have oral histories in addition to educational programs around the city. I wonder what other type of exhibits they'll have in store for this museum. While I'm sure there will be positive stories, there should also be some bad stories about public housing. The lesson at least should be what happens when governmental agencies fail to either police these units but also maintaining them. Perhaps even the folly of policy with regards to public housing.

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