Block Club Chicago: For 2 Decades, A Historic Pullman Home Has Been Vacant Under CHA’s Watch

“Now gutted and in disrepair, a two-story, multi-unit row house on South Corliss Avenue has plywood and metal guards for windows and doors.

“The inside of the home, which is owned by the Chicago Housing Authority, is in rough shape, too. Photos appear to show grime and water-damaged paint bubbling up on the walls, along with holes in the ceiling, according to documents received through a public records request. A hole in the roof appears to keep getting larger.

“The CHA acquired the Corliss home to house people in need. But after letting the house sit empty for nearly two decades and racking up violations with the city’s Department of Buildings, the CHA announced this fall the home was one of more than 40 scattered site properties the agency would rehab, restore and sell so families can live in them.

“The Corliss property, which is near East 105th Street, is part of Pullman, a South Side neighborhood with a rich labor history that’s a city, state and national landmark.

“Yet CHA officials say repair costs for the home they’ve let sit empty now ‘exceed its value.’ A needs assessment in November found the cost to repair and rehab the units and the exterior of the home would be more than $495,000.

“‘At this point we are focused on moving forward with alternative plans for Corliss (which could include selling the property or demolishing it),’ Aguilar said in a statement. ‘We are still determining the specific next steps, but it will be addressed within the Restore Home timeline. Our intentions are to find a pathway that can return housing to the site.”

“In 1969, Pullman was designated an Illinois Historic District. Then, in 1970, the area was given National Historic Landmark status, and in 1972 the area south of the factory was designated as one of the first landmark districts by the city, according to the Historic Pullman Foundation.

“Preservationists said they would urge the agency to sell the property rather than demolish it.

“Mike Shymanski, a retired architect and urban planner, has lived in Pullman since 1967. In 1973, he was a founding member of the Historic Pullman Foundation and one of the leaders in the efforts to establish the Pullman National Monument and, later, the Pullman National Historical Park by President Joe Biden in 2022.

“Shymanski said it’s important the CHA sells the home to ‘a responsible buyer who is conscious of landmark requirements and has the ability and resources to restore the facade and rehab the dwelling units.’

“Though the CHA says demolition could be an option, Eleanor Gorski, CEO and president of the Chicago Architecture Center, said repairing the row house and others like it allows developers a chance to ‘uplift’ a whole row of homes.

“The CHA’s work is ‘complementing a lot of what the community has already been working on,’ she said, nodding to groups like Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, which owns homes in the area.

“Gorski said she would ‘strongly urge’ CHA to reconsider any demolition plans and give, or sell, the home to Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives.

“The city’s landmark ordinance attempts to prevent demolitions by neglect, requiring owners to seek approval from the Commission on Chicago Landmarks or the city council. Without that approval, they could face legal action, Gorski said.

“‘It’s disappointing to learn that demolition is now being considered,” Gorski said. “It seems like it could be related to some form of neglect. If I were still involved with landmarks, I would advocate for preserving the property, as demolition could lead to legal complications. I think they should provide a clear justification for their plans and carefully reconsider if this is the best course of action.” (Hinton, Block Club Chicago, 5/6/24)

Read the full investigative report at Block Club Chicago

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