Lathrop Homes: Replacing History with an “Iconic” Experiment
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One of the largest vacant parcels of developed land on the North Side is the historic Julia Lathrop Homes. The future of this public housing site has been coming into focus in recent months, and the process has created a bitter confrontation between former residents, neighbors, community activists, and the Chicago Housing Authority.
Lathrop Homes during construction in 1937. Photo courtesy of Paul Sajovec
An Early and Lasting Success
Lathrop Homes were built to provide housing to those in need (at the time, returning WWII soldiers), but also to provide work for architects, designers, builders, and other related professionals. One of the first federally funded housing projects in Chicago, it was large in scale and involved the most prominent of Chicago architects. This point was made in 2007 when the homes made Preservation Chicago’s “Chicago 7” list of the most endangered historic properties:
During the depths of the Great Depression, the Federal government was determined to create much-needed public housing, and, at the same time, provide jobs for unemployed architects and building trades workers. To find a solution to the perpetual problem of creating livable public housing, the government assembled a “Dream Team” of the best and brightest architects from Chicago.
Lathrop Homes during construction in 1937. Photo courtesy of Paul Sajovec
When it made Preservation Chicago’s list again in 2013, a more succinct point was made on its importance:
Arguably, Julia Lathrop Homes is the best public housing development Chicago has ever built, representing a racially mixed, remarkably stable community for generations of Chicagoans. Beautifully sited along the Chicago River with a magnificent and mature landscape, the buildings are low-rise and gently ornamented, creating an intimate, humane atmosphere.
John Morris/Chicago Patterns
Modest, but Durable and Functional
With regard to architecture, Chicago pre-1929 had little restraint and a penchant for the exuberant. This changed with the war and Great Depression, but architects and designers still had a love of their craft and this is evident in Lathrop Homes.
The structures are symmetrical with very light Art Deco ornamentation in a Georgian Revival mode. Although featuring subtle classicist form, function was spared little expense.
Lathrop Homes fire contained to one unit, from Milcor Steel publication
Technologically Ahead of its Time
Among the many other technological innovations included in the design was the use of Fire-Safe Metal Lath and Plaster Partitions. As the name suggests, it was a radically advanced construction method which made housing fire resistant. Other qualities of the partitions include sound/noise insulation and temperature regulation.
This was illustrated in a Milcor Steel Publication, when an early fire was contained to the originating unit.
John Morris/Chicago Patterns
Like nearly every neighborhood, the area had ups and downs over the years, but stood in stark contrast to the violent and crime-ridden high rise projects that had been built decades ago.
John Morris/Chicago Patterns
Opaque Planning
Despite how well built and structurally sound this vast complex of homes was, in 2006 Chicago Housing Authority announced plans to raze every building on the site. In its place were to stand apartments, condominiums, and town homes.
CHA later retreated from the scorched earth policy of complete demolition, and after several years with little to no communication, plans emerged in 2010. CHA handed over 35 acres of prime North Side real estate to Lathrop Community Partners, a consortium of real estate developers.
In a 2012 article, Lynn Becker summed up plans as well as motivations for decreasing the amount of available public housing unit at Lathrop Homes:
The Plan for Transformation formula for redevelopment is one-third market rate, one-third affordable housing, and one-third public housing. A Related Midwest executive told Curtis Black that at Lathrop market rate, which requires demolition and new construction, is non-negotiable, for two reasons: “to attract retail development, and to qualify for TIF financing.”
John Morris/Chicago Patterns
Aldermen With Opposing Views, and the “Iconic” Building
A minority portion of the site sits in Alderman Scott Waguespack’s ward, and he has expressed opposition in a letter to CHA [PDF] to some elements of the plan. One of his objections is a high rise tower, referred to as an “iconic building” by the development group.
The majority of the site sits on Alderman Joe Moreno’s ward, and he has voiced support in favor of more market rate housing. This makes it likely that despite recently gaining status on the National Register of Historic Places, many of the existing structures will be bulldozed and the project will go forward as planned.
Developers Love Developing
While CHA and other public housing entities nationwide have moved away from the high rise tower model, it’s puzzling that many of the low-rise structures generally deemed as a better fit are being demolished to make way for a new tall building.
The net result of all this demolition and construction is 50% fewer public housing units and more market rate units. The motivation to build a tower appears to be a result of developer desire more than any specific housing or urban planning need.
In all fields related to building things, it is more exciting to build new things rather than renovate or improve what exists.
John Morris/Chicago Patterns
Remnants of Another Era
Walking along the grounds there are many common elements, including mosaic murals such as the one above. Also present on many of the buildings are rare yellow street signs that were replaced by today’s green ones in the early 1970s.
John Morris/Chicago Patterns
This well-preserved time capsule of an exterior is available for viewing and photographing, but expect harassment by overzealous security guards, even if on the public right of way and not CHA property.
John Morris/Chicago Patterns
A Long Lasting Experiment with Questionable Motives
Demolishing and rebuilding is almost always more expensive than rehabilitation. In some cases the end result is a good investment–our skyline is living proof of that.
But in the case of Lathrop, the plan and motivation are dubious at best. Demolishing a large number of structurally sound units in a low rise neighborhood to build a high rise in the new urbanist style, but without a nearby train station is a plan that would not likely launch in a purely private venture.
In 10 years, it’s possible that this project will be considered a success by CHA and some Chicago residents. Unfortunately in the process we will have lost an intact parcel of New Deal architecture that bucked the stereotype of the deeply violent and troubled housing project, while many in need were kept on a waiting list.
Construction is slated to begin in mid-2015.
Resources and Additional Information:
- Housing project preserves quality in time of tear-down (Chicago Tribune)
- Alderman not budging on Lathrop Homes redevelopment (Crain’s)
- Chicago 7 Most Threatened: Lathrop Homes [PDF] (Preservation Chicago)
- Ald. Waguespack Letter to CHA on Lathrop Homes [PDF]
- Lathrop Homes highlight CHA vacancy boondoggle (newstips.org)
- Lathrop Homes Construction Photos (Paul Sajovec)
- Two Gated Communities: Will the Lathrop Homes be drowned in a River of Gentrification? (Architecture Chicago)
I saw a book at a used book store that listed quite a few successful people who pulled themselves up by their boot straps after living in Lathrop Homes. That is the way public housing is supposed to work.
By the way as I write this in October of 2016 nothing has happened to redevelop the site.
Wonderful article!
I grew up in Lathrop homes and I’m interested in both historical and current news about the projects.