I’ve visited Chicago’s South Side a dozen times during the past two months, and much of what I’ve seen is dispiriting.
There are large stretches where every third lot is vacant and neighbored by a boarded-up building or a shuttered storefront church. Streets are in disrepair, parkways and curbs strewn with litter, stores closed. The young are leaden-eyed, their dreams prematurely smothered out. Residential segregation is near-total.
Real estate values, and the hopes and plans they sustained, have been obliterated, and it’s hard to imagine their recovering within decades, if ever.
Mortgage fraud played a major part in much of the recent wreckage on the South Side. Some of the fraudulent schemes are outlined in this Department of Justice news release (PDF) outlining charges lodged against sixty-defendants in a dozen major cases.
One of those defendants, Robert Brunt, was a principal in Harvard Pointe, pictured above, at 314 W 72nd St in the Grand Crossing neighborhood. One of the forfeitures requested by the government in a superseding indictment (PDF) against Brunt included “$4.2 million in US currency,” i.e. hard, cold cash.
If you look at the sign on Harvard Pointe you’ll see an offer of one of the standard tools in the mortgage fraud trick-bag: down payment assistance. You’ll also note the broker: the once-respected Sudler Sotheby’s. All over the South Side you’ll see signs for purportedly reputable firms hanging on disreputable deals.
The photos below are of the other three corners of 72nd and Harvard, opposite Harvard Pointe.
Joe,
Rick Telander from the Sun Times is writing a series on Englewood.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/7817531-418/can-basketball-help-derrick-roses-englewood-neighborhood.html
Not what you might expect from a sports columnist, but Telander isn’t a typical sports columnist.
IrishPirate,
I spent a couple Saturday afternoon hours in Englewood a few weeks ago. It’s nearly as bleak as Roseland, as hostile as Park Manor, as depopulated as parts of Austin.
Telander’s Part 2, due tomorrow, is “Murray Park regulars find newcomer Rick Telander to be a curious figure.”
No doubt Telander seemed a curious figure – the only white face I saw in several hours in Englewood was my own in the mirror.
Joe, it might have helped if you included the name of the neighborhood in the title. As you know the south side is immense and too many people think the whole south side looks like Englewood when it does not. I am a little sensitive about that. When people hear south side, those pictures above is what outsiders think of. They do not see the well tended yards of Chatham or Calumet Heights or the other neighborhoods and pockets of the south side. I’m sure you meant well, I do like your articles.
camille,
I agree with you that too many people have erroneous perceptions of the south side, and that’s why I’ve visited and interviewed people in and shot video and posted photos from many south side neighborhoods – including a great deal from Chatham.
I painted with a broad brush in this post because even the south side’s better neighborhoods are becoming endangered by what surrounds them. Chatham is a good example of a once great neighborhood beginning to fall prey to its environs. I find it immensely sad.
I’m always looking for guides to show me around their neighborhood in a video tour if you’re up for it. Email yojoe at yochicago dot com.
I visited Chicago for 3 weeks and got back just yesterday. I went to visit the south side neighbourhoods, despite being told not to and to be careful and that I would be the only white girl, I dont care – I liked those areas. Everyone was black but who cares, they are all very friendly indeed. Everyone was helpful when I asked directions and other stuff. I saw no sign of crime but saw lots of gangster type guys, but it didnt bother me one bit. I like to see all neighbourhoods in different US states. Went to many areas of New York which are similar and no probs. Even visited Tenderloin in San Fran where it is a no go area, great – loved it.
?
Robert Brunt and his trickin female are typical gangsta hoodrats that need to go where garbage and dooky go.
Keepin it real witcha all.