Accelerating Community Renewal - In Woodlawn and Beyond

Reading the daily headlines, you would think there
was little good happening in Chicago’s South and
West Side neighborhoods – but that’s far from the
whole story. There are places where good things are
happening – from new manufacturing plants and jobs
in Pullman and Calumet, to new stores and
employment in Bronzeville and Englewood.
CRIME
Another such neighborhood is Woodlawn, where
POAH has worked for the past eight years.
With its population and employment growing (in
2016 Woodlawn experienced the first population
increase in 40 years) at the same time crime is
declining, we believe the story of Woodlawn’s
renewal offers solutions to challenges confronting
cities across America. It is a story of how POAH, with
community, government and institutional partners,
turned a $30.5 million federal grant into $400 million
of investment that produced good jobs, housing,
additional resources and hope for a brighter future.
POPULATION
But mostly, Woodlawn is a story of community
involvement, collaboration and partnership.
Investment and Collaboration
Set the Stage
POAH began its work in Woodlawn at the
invitation of community leaders and the City of
Chicago to oversee the demolition and building
of the long-outdated and troubled Grove Parc
Plaza housing development. In 2011 POAH and
the City applied for and earned one of the first
Choice Neighborhoods Grants from HUD – a
grant that HUD hoped would finance new
housing and be the springboard for broader
community revitalization.
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