An Article on Neighborhood Concerns

Welcome to the first action project of my final year at GCE. In this class, Journalism, we've been discussing the knowledge we share publicly in the form of news. We looked into what it means to trust a source and how to apply that knowledge in the real world. For this project, I decided to look into the neighborhood of Woodlawn and its relationship to the University of Chicago. I decided to speak on this topic because I live in Woodlawn and have noticed some gentrification of the neighborhood. I shared some of these concerns with neighbors of mine and they too had similar perceptions of what's happening. 

University Of Chicago Impacting Woodlawn and Causing Gentrification

(Boston Public Library, 1945. Public Domain)

As the University of Chicago continues to grow, they are creeping into the up and coming neighborhood of Woodlawn. Is the University of Chicago going to bring in economic prosperity or cause the current neighbors to be overlooked? 

While the University of Chicago has had a reputation of being open and inclusive, it is also an academically rigorous and affluent institution. This has had an impact on the communities around it, including Woodlawn. The people who have lived in this community have expressed concerns about the continued gentrification of their neighborhood. “It's no secret the area is facing gentrification.”-A neighbor choosing to remain anonymous. 

Woodlawn is located just north of Midway Plaisance, the location used to host the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. This put a spotlight on the south side of Chicago that encouraged families to move to the south side, including middle-class Black families. Because of the growing population of Black families moving in, landlords began to raise rent in order to restrict those families from being able to afford living in the area. The Great Depression led to economic decline in the community and laws prohibiting the descrimination from landlords, a phenomenon known as ‘white flight’ occurred. White flight refers to the occurrence of white families moving out of neighborhoods that are diversifying. 

The term ‘gentrification’ is one to keep in mind with this subject. This is one familiar to the history of America, and Chicago in particular, and its capitalist and segregational tendencies. Gentrification is exemplified when neighborhoods that are low income and economically inefficient begin to succeed which causes property rates to go up. This can result in wealthy families moving into these neighborhoods and families that can no longer afford to live there be displaced. 

In the case of Woodlawn, it's been known as a place with a high crime rate and not much else. The University of Chicago’s main campus stretches from 61st and Cottage Grove to 55th and Stony Island, with lots more property in Hyde park, Woodlawn, and Downtown Chicago. In recent years, with the announcement of the Obama Presidential Center, along with the further growth of the University of Chicago, a spotlight for development has been placed on Woodlawn and some neighbors are worried about it. 

“I understand the reasoning behind both sides of the argument. On one hand, gentrification can indicate good revenue for homeowners but on the other hand, it can cause justified fear for those who cannot afford to live here.” This was written by a neighbor who chose to remain anonymous, but has lived in Woodlawn their entire life. 

“Ultimately, there is a balance needed that comes from a place of understanding and proactiveness. We need to spread awareness and hold people accountable so that those without a voice are heard.” Another neighbor expressing their opinion and choosing to stay anonymous. 

The University of Chicago has proved to have the resources to grow and has begun that process long ago. Neighbors want to be heard and not overlooked as this process continues.

Works Cited:

“Gentrification Definition & Meaning.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentrification. 

“The History of Woodlawn.” Chicago Studies | The University of Chicago, https://chicagostudies.uchicago.edu/woodlawn/woodlawn-history-woodlawn. 

“The Obama Presidential Center.” Obama Foundation, 28 Jan. 2022, https://www.obama.org/the-center/. 

“White Flight May Still Enforce Segregation.” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2021/10/white-flight-segregation.