East 39th Street Commercial Corridor Plan by Chris Devins

EXISTING LAND USE ON EAST 39TH STREET
than $500,000 and employs a staff
of 4. Mastercare Family Medical
Center employs the same number of
people and has approximately the
same revenue as Bronzeville medical
center. Both of these health centers
offer managed health care.
Store Front Churches
When African Americans first began
to move into Bronzeville they
brought with them a number of
churches. In spite of the survival of
several congregations in the neighborhood
religious institutions have
not always prospered nor remained
in the neighborhood. The economy,
racial changes, and urban development
have all had an effect upon the
religious nature of the community,
especially since the fifties. As church
members began to move out of the
community, some churches left,
leaving behind buildings that were
abandoned. Two large churches, Holy
Angels and Apostolic Church contribute
positively to the area. However,
there are three store church buildings
on the corridor that contribute
negatively to the appearance of the
corridor. They are Beersheba Bible
Church, St Joseph Baptist and Bible
Mission Church. They are located in
dilapidated structures that are physically
unattractive and do not reflect
their importance to the community
and their congregations. These structures
are on shallow lots that push
up against lots zoned residential.
Figure 11 Storefront Church at 39th and Langley
Source: The Author
Public Uses
Public buildings are part of the infrastructure
of the community. Every
neighborhood is anchored in its
buildings, which include its churches,
libraries, civic buildings, schools and
hospitals. A planned Chicago Firefight
Department training station for
Engine Co. 19 and the Association of
Letter Carriers both positively affect
the corridor, adding jobs and stability
to the corridor.
Residential
The CHA Oakwood Shores Development
will provide 3000 mixedincome
units to the corridor, though
it is unclear when exactly they will
be completed. Information on the
development’s timeline is scarce
and developers, looking at the losses
mounting on their pro-forma statements,
have been focusing on selling
the units already completed before
beginning other construction phases
11 . Joseph Williams, of Oakwood
Shores developer Granite Partners,
describes his efforts to continue development
as “missionary work.”
However, when the total development
comes online and a significant
portion of the units have been sold,
the resulting surge in population
could create demand for new shops
and restaurants on East 39th Street.
11 “Plan for Transformation a Tough Sell in Weak Market
- Chicago Tribune.” Featured Articles From The Chicago
Tribune. 10 June 2011. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.