According to the latest Census figures reported by the Chicago Tribune, the population of Englewood declined by nearly 25% since 2000, to 30,587.
In 1960, Englewood had 97,575 residents, more than three times its current population.
According to Census and Postal Service data made available by Chicago Muckrakers, the residential vacancy rate exceeds 30% in several Englewood Census tracts.
The list of Englewood’s problems is well known: frightening levels of crime and gang activity, rampant foreclosures, business abandonment, crumbling infrastructure, environmental problems (video), and troubled schools, for starters.
The median price of the small sample of homes sold in Englewood last month was $9,000, according to Redfin. A renovated two-flat at 5929 S Carpenter St that sold for $21,000 a year ago inexplicably resold for $340,000 earlier this month. I don’t know any of the facts behind this transaction, but suspect it’s not, in any way, a sign of hope for Englewood.
Is there any hope for Englewood? In the above video, I posed that question to Orlando Hill, who grew up in Englewood and returned for a day to help repair his grandmother’s home as part of the Rebuilding Together program.
You can see more YoChicago video from Englewood at this YouTube playlist.
I try to think Englewood can’t go down any further, but I try not to be naive. I almost got into an argument with Joe Zekas about how I view Englewood. IRC he said it’ll be very difficult for Englewood to come back. Now I’m of this view although my vision is to get back to the days when 63rd & Halsted was bustling. But that’ll be a very tough task.
Levois,
I don’t recall the near argument, but your recollection of my take on Englewood is likely accurate.
The glory days of 63rd and Halsted, when it was the #2 shopping area in Chicago, had passed even before I got to Chicago in 1974.
The new Kennedy-King campus sunk 100s of millions into trying to revitalize the 63rd and Halsted area. It doesn’t seem to be having much impact.
I don’t get to Englewood that often of late. When I do I find myself profoundly angry at the conditions in which the rest of Chicago has abandoned Englewood’s children.
I need to check Yo more often…
I just read an article about how there is a major pent up demand for urban housing. I suspect Englewood could eventually benefit from it. What it would take would be development to the north and east to spill over the Dan Ryan.
I know I harp on it, but I think a development of office and tech businesses along Garfield between the Dan Ryan and Washington Park could eventually be the catalyst for major development throughout this area. I’m of the belief that a full city is better for the city as a whole than an empty neighborhood (by this I mean vacant lots, loss of residential population, etc). I don’t like seeing people displaced from their homes (I suppose I could research the homeownership rates in Englewood) but if they were homeowners it would certainly be a benefit for the residents.
Sheridan, don’t want to be negative, but…
WHAT development to the N and E? Have you been to 63rd and King?? It isn’t a better neighborhood. And Back of the Yards is sliding downhill big time. By the way, Back of the Yards is very far North and separated not only by a very distressed stretch of Garfield Blvd, but also by a rail viaduct.
Englewood’s big problem is that it’s physically cut off from all directions except West, where there’s… an even worse section of Englewood!!! Pretty much the hope is to the South where Auburn-Gresham is a marginally more solid nieghborhood. But it requires stretching 79th development North passed the viaduct and beefing up 69th. 69th and Halsted is one of the last pockets of intact commercial fabric left in Englewood since 2 of the 3 original corner buildings at 59th and Halsted came down last year.
The saddest thing is that this is a government policy screw up.. FHA redlining, low income housing subsidies, the Daleys’ over eager demolition programs, welfare, urban renewal at 63rd/Halsted, the highway nearby completely destroying the economic model the hood was built on. To be honest, Englewood has been screwed from on high. Until that is understood, the path forward looks bleak.
If you really want to get to the root of them problems in Englewood, it’s jobs. Build a factory in Englewood, get some money pumping through the neighborhood, because when that happens other businesses will start to follow. Until then, you wont be seeing any pretty little two flats like you see on the north side popping up anytime soon.