The Community Development Commission has approved the potential land transfer for two gardens on the South and West Sides. Located at 3024 W 5th Avenue in East Garfield Park and 3302 E 92nd Street in South Chicago, both community gardens will replace vacant lots with much needed recreation space for locals. Although unlikely, the approval grants a small grace period in which other proposals for the lots will be considered prior to transferring the sites to land trust NeighborSpace.
Design Inspiration for both gardens via CDC
NeighborSpace is the only nonprofit urban land trust in Chicago that preserves and sustains gardens on behalf of dedicated community groups, created by the city itself; it operates over 130 sites across almost all neighborhoods as the land owners. Now if no other proposals are found for the two sites, they will be transferred to them via a $1 sale per lot which the commission approved.
Site plan for 3024 W 5th Avenue via CDC
The garden at 3024 W 5th Avenue will be roughly 0.34 acres in size made up of eight city lots and be managed by the Garfield Park Community Council. With the approval of the current Alderman, it will complement an existing garden across the street and include a picking garden, play forest, small stage, dry river bed with a bridge, fruit tree orchard, and more. Overall it will cost $333,000 to complete and be funded via Open Space Impact Fee Funds, Chicago Recovery Program, and Christopher Family Foundation.
Site plan for 3302 E 92nd Street via CDC
The garden at 3302 E 92nd Street will be around 0.64 acres in size made up of 10 city lots and one private lot currently being negotiated and be managed by the Claretian Associates. With a proximity to the Calumet River, the garden will boast a wood fort building with a stage surrounded by bridges, slides, seating areas, and more with plenty of native plantings and trees. The project comes with a price tag of $1.3 million partially covered by the Chicago Recovery Fund, Fifth Third Bank, and the National Fish and Wildlife Federation.
Site context plan for 3302 E 92nd Street via CDC
Both gardens will be able to be built as planned without any re-zoning, but will require some remediation work as the sites previously held coal storage, gas stations, and more. At the moment no construction timeline has been announced for either, although these projects can take time to execute they will provide needed space for new nearby residential developments. A presentation for both can be found here.
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I know nothing about the traffic patterns at the 92nd Street site. But based on what can be seen, I wonder if the cul-de-sac is really necessary or could it be converted into more garden space.
Good point. I don’t think it’s necessary.
The city need a single plan to create a united path for the entirety of the city, to connect, South, West and North sides vis its other waterfront. Lori did almost nothing to advance this and Johnson probably has no vision for this but it needs to happen and happen in less than 3-5 years max vs the 100 at this pace.
The city need a single plan to create a united river path for the entirety of the city, to connect, South, West and North sides vis its other waterfront, the Chicago river. Lori did almost nothing to advance this and Johnson probably has no vision for this but it needs to happen and happen in less than 3-5 years max vs the 100 at this pace.