CHICAGO: NEAR WEST SIDE

Chicago’s Near West Side before and after “urban renewal” and freeway construction.

Much of the neighborhood was demolished in 1963 for the construction of a new campus of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), as well as for the Dan Ryan (I-90) and Eisenhower (I-290) Expressways (the Eisenhower is seen here). Home to a large population of Greek and Italian immigrants and their descendents (making up roughly 46% of the total population of the area) as well as African-Americans (roughly 53% of the population), in 1960 the Near West Side was one of the most integrated neighborhoods in the country. (Source: Chicago Museum).

Led by legendary activist Florence Scala, residents fought the city’s plan to raze the neighborhood for the university. Scala, the daughter of Italian immigrants who had spent her entire life in the dense, lively neighborhood, organized members of the Italian, Greek, and Black communities to take legal action. Engaging directly with Mayor Daley and City Hall, Scala elevated the issue to the attention of the Supreme Court itself. Unfortunately, the court sided with the university. The case was closed on March 28, 1963, and demolition began shortly after. More info at UIC’s Florence Scala Collection.

Interestingly, UIC was originally named University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, referencing the nearby freeway interchange between I-290 and I-90, making it the only university in the world I’m aware of which was named after a freeway.