CAPCC blog on "South Looping" Chatham and turning into Detroit

Today we'll start with the text of yesterday's CAPCC blog question:

Would "South-Looping" Chatham be good for the future for long-time residents and newcomers, and would it rid Chatham of all of the vacant storefronts up and down 75Th and 79Th Streets between State Street and Cottage Grove Avenue and the many boarded-up vacant foreclosed houses and apartment buildings that dot the neighborhood, while erasing all of the damage low-income "riff-raft" of the younger generation have done to public and private property in Chatham?

So that is one place where "South Looping" can start. Should these vacant storefronts be replaced by newer buildings? Or can we find businesses that can take up residence in the existing buildings?

One idea if these vacant storefronts should be replaced perhaps there could be some mixed use buildings where not only could these buildings be used for commercial purposes but also for residential purposes as well. Think about it condos along 75th and 79th Streets. In addition to the commercial areas on Cottage Grove. I'm not sure if that could be considered "South Looping" however. I'll let you make the call.

The next post entitled "Just Like Detroit!" Well let's start with this...

As well, will we have a glimpse of the future for Chathamites in the pre-Olympic era with a gentrification wave from whites and a crime wave from blacks designed and intended to force long-time residents to sell their homes and move, in what could be called "residential bullying?"

In the YoChicago post, "Changes in Chatham", by Joe Askins he makes a good point...

The possibility that they want to live there is never raised.

Another point from Joe Zekas, also of YoChicago from that same post...

Chatham is one of the jewels of Chicago's south side. Talk about "gentrifying" Chatham is almost laughable, since it's home to many of Chicago's African-American gentry.

And this is perhaps why the CAPCC blog is officially saying Chatham is just like Detroit:

We, at the Chatham Avalon Park Community Council, note that 79Th Street from State Street to Cottage Grove Avenue, seems to have a young thuggery element walking up and down the sidewalks and driving up and down as well, some to intimidate and harass long-time residents. There are loud police and fire sirens heard every hour on the hour every day.

In early May 2009 I blogged about a comment made at the CAPCC blog about Chatham turning into Detroit.

I feel like comparing Chatham to Detroit is a bit of an exaggeration. Although crime is already a concern, but I can't say that crime is at anything resembling Detroit proportions. Whatever that might be considered?

As for Chatham "gentrifying" well that remains to be seen. It remains to be seen what this will entail. It remains to be seen that whites are driving this. That is to say that they're grabbing the properties that was formerly owned by blacks or that there is a concerted effort to turn the neighborhood white (assuming that this is what the CAPCC is concerned about).

Honestly I want to get away from the G-word (gentrification) in talking about Chatham. Especially if the neighborhood residents seek a revitalization that will bring new activity into Chatham. At the same time Chatham should be open to residents of different backgrounds who choose to move in.

As for Chatham "South Looped", I'm working on a new post. There is a new element to be added "Hyde Parked". Also for getting away from the G-Word I propose a new word for Chatham's revitalization, RENAISSANCE. Perhaps in the future there will be posts on that as well.