Chicago: Halted decay and coming revival

[mendelman]

Below are sets of pictures I took on a late Sunday morning in September of 2005. They mainly consist of shots of the Westside (Austin, East Garfield Park, area around the United Center) and the mid Southside (Kenwood/Oakland).

I like to do these photo expeditions on my bike, because it is much more accessible than a car and easier to deal with.

Let's start on the Westside. I usually ride my bike through the entire Westside when heading toward the Loop, because I live in Oak Park which shares a border with Chicago in the Austin neighborhood.

Here are the EL Green Line tracks covering W. Lake St:

I moved on to the east side of Garfield Park to checkout some early Frank Llyod Wright on W. Walnut St around the corner from the California Ave. Green Line EL stop.

These are the Waller Apartments. FLW designed these early in his solo career (after splitting with Louis Sullivan). They represent a transition period for FLW. I first learned about these buildings in the book Unexpected Chicagoland by Jose Camilo Vergara (he also did American Ruins & The New American Ghetto) Basically, these buildings are about midway between any potential revival coming from the Loop or coming from Oak Park, so it might be awhile.

One of the units is missing, so the orginial continuity has been compromised. (disregard mendelman's bike in the foreground)

Here are a couple small rowhouses around the corner from the Waller Apartments with the California Ave. Green Line EL stop in the background:

The red one was for sale recently for $240,000 - way over priced, I'd say.

Then I continued eastbound toward the Loop on W. Warren Blvd. This part of the Near Westside is the next front of the Westside

[MJLO]

that's outstanding Mendelman. I never would have guessed you're so much into shooting this kind of stuff. I used to think you were AA based just because of where I saw you posting. I love seeing this kind of stuff.

[mendelman]

that's outstanding Mendelman. I never would have guessed you're so much into shooting this kind of stuff. I used to think you were AA based just because of where I saw you posting. I love seeing this kind of stuff.

[GRDadof3]

Excellent photo tour Mendelman! I love essays like this. One question, in the aerial it looks like there is a large linear park that runs along S. Drexel Blvd. with criss-crossing walking paths. Is that what it is? And do a lot of people use it for biking/running/blading/etc.?

[mendelman]

Excellent photo tour Mendelman! I love essays like this. One question, in the aerial it looks like there is a large linear park that runs along S. Drexel Blvd. with criss-crossing walking paths. Is that what it is? And do a lot of people use it for biking/running/blading/etc.?

[mgk920]

Excellent photo tour Mendelman! I love essays like this. One question, in the aerial it looks like there is a large linear park that runs along S. Drexel Blvd. with criss-crossing walking paths. Is that what it is? And do a lot of people use it for biking/running/blading/etc.?

[eagle]

Live those row houses.

[H0wl]

Great pictures. I was recently in Bronzeville doing a school project. The housing stock in that neighborhood is incredible! Although there are a lot of boarded up and abandoned lots, MLK Dr and Indiana streets are filled with 19th century grey stone mansions:

Some boarded up: