"The results of demolition work is seen at 862 N. Sedgwick St. in Cabrini-Green in 2008", 2008, Chicago Tribune
By the mid-1990s, the era of high-rise public housing was over. In the face of a pervasive drug epidemic, poverty, and gang violence, the consensus was clear: change was coming to public housing.
"Cabrini symbolizes all that is wrong with public housing.
"[We must] totally change public housing as we now know it."
~ Vince Lane, Chicago Housing Authority Chairman
"American women and children are living in a setting that is violent and demeaning and fearsome, and introduces their children to a world without hope."
~ Henry Cisneros, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
"The bottom line is that high-rise public housing does not work. Isolating low-income people in 10 or 20-story concrete boxes has failed."
~ Mayor Richard M. Daley
1995, C-SPAN
The debate remained over the future of public housing. As it rapidly decentralized, it was unclear as to how the government would provide for former tenants.
In response, Chicago declared a "Plan for Transformation" of public housing.
"Mayor Richard M. Daley, right, describes his plan for rehabilitating the Cabrini-Green housing area during a news conference June 27, 1996. Cabrini resident leaders were noticeably absent from the dais", 1996, Chicago Tribune
1996, New Day Films
Under the plan, high-rise public housing would be demolished and replaced with privatized mixed-income developments.
"This Near North development plan seeks to build a community where children have safe places to play and learn and where working families at every income level can pursue the American dream of owning a home...[it] will be a community with access to good jobs and a clear path up the ladder of success."
~ Mayor Richard M. Daley
1996, Chicago Tribune
This was met with widespread backlash from the residents, who believed that gentrification and economic investments were the ultimate motive. Years of neglect had fomented distrust of the government.
"This is some valuable, valuable land. And it's been valuable...for a long, long time. And you've got folks who've had their eyes on this land, they want this land, they salivate it."
~ US Representative Bobby Rush
c. 1990s, Ronit Bezalel Films
"A protest at a Cabrini-Green demolition site Nov. 6, 1995", 1995, Chicago Sun-Times
"We will be there. Not the rich white folks. Not the millionaires. But us. The poor, poverty-stricken people that has been here all the time."
~ Guana Stamps, Cabrini-Green Resident
"You [the government] put the cart before the horse. You should have come to our community, before you broke one ground, before you knocked down one brick...to find out what we want, not bring something from the mayor's office of what you want. You interrupted a way of life!"
~ John Stevens, Cabrini-Green Resident
Mixed-income developments in Cabrini-Green area
Left: 1998, Chicago Tribune; Right: 2007, Chicago Tribune
Despite the unified protests, the Cabrini-Green high-rises were demolished from 1995 to 2011.
"Cabrini-Green in the midst of demolition", 2011, AP
"Demolition begins on the last of the Cabrini-Green buildings March 30, 2011", 2011, Chicago Tribune
As urban renewal engulfs the area, mixed-income housing has become less affordable. Consequently, many former residents were forced into poor segregated neighborhoods.
"Since the first wrecking ball slammed into Cabrini-Green homes and towers two decades ago, a lot has changed. But in some ways, some things have remained the same. Former Cabrini-Green residents are still grappling with the trauma of losing their homes and being forced to relocate elsewhere, in some instances, with very little time to do so."
~ Mayor Lori Lightfoot, 2021
"Population by Race-Ethnicity, Chicago, 2013-2017", The Urban Institute, 2019
Left: 1986, Chicago Tribune; Right: 2021, Better Government Association
"If someone can...come in and snatch your whole world and livelihood from you, then what are you?"
~ Lyntessa Williams, Public Housing Resident
"These broken promises have been a real tragedy. There was a lack of respect, a lack of recognition for the communities that existed."
~ Elizabeth Rosenthal, Attorney for Cabrini-Green Residents