Welcome to
Shops on Keeler
KEELERAVE KEEPER
Parking
THE
Keeler Commons Commons
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Creator: Emily Wright The “keeper” of Keeler Ave is a character who lives on Keeler Avenue in North Lawndale, Chicago. He represents the desires and needs of the current street residents while producing this informational guide to advocate future plans and potential of Keeler Avenue.
Sacramento
Central Park
Cermak
Douglas
Millard
21st
Ridgeway
Kostner
19th
Roosevelt
Lawndale
18th
15th
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Keeler
16th
s
Pulaski
Kilborn
15th
Karlov
14th
Avers
Harding
13th
Independence
Kildare
Greenshaw
California
Francisco
THE
KEELERAVE KEEPER
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Focusing between Roosevelt and 16th Street, Keeler Avenue is not only home to numerous housing typologies, but also two religious organizations and a daycare. Cook County is in the midst of a foreclosure crisis. Keeler Ave is no stranger to this issue with eight vacancies along this small four-block strip.
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Keeler Avenue
NORTH LAWN
The 7 scenarios of Keeler:
1. When one or more vacant buildings are close to busier, commercial street, new program such as retail and restaurants shall CFDPNF UIF HSPVOE nPPST
2. When 3+ vacant homes are located across residential street from a large neighborhood institution (ie: school, church, library), the building shall become housing for people in XIJDI XJMM CFOFmU GSPN PS CFOFmU UIF JOTUJUVUJPO Surface treatment shall be added in-between the two to connect the programs and slow EPXO USBGmD PO SFTJEFOUJBM TUSFFU BOE PS BMMFZ
PAST AND PRESENT To address the abundance of housing stock coupled with lack of appeal, I wanted to design a tool for the neighborhood to imagine methods to improve their surroundings, attract new people and programs into this area, as well as set forth the framework to have their voices heard and hands involved.
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It is home to a historic district of about 10 blocks with a range of housing typologies, ranging GSPN nBU CSJDLT UP nBU HSFZTUPOFT UP MBSHFS apartment complexes, and smaller one-story single family detached precursors to the Chicago bungalow.
For a number of reasons, including segregation and racism in homeownership and riots following Martin Luther King’s assassination in the 1960’s , its population has been declining for a number of years leaving many buildings vacant and others demolished. From its peak population of 125,000, it is now in the upper 30,000s, and still declining.
The layers of history are displayed in many of the buildings which have survived and remained constant throughout the ever-changing populations and demographics. For example, many of the once Jewish synagogues have Baptist Church signs above their engraved Star of David. Initiatives have been developed and implemented to preserve some of these monuments, as well as bring positive attention to the neighborhood, hosting historic district walking tours and forming “The Greystone Preservation Initiative.�
Institution
Occupied
Vacant
EXISTING VACANT TYPOLOGIES: Roosevelt Road
Vacant building north of vacant lot and south of occupied house
Vacant building in-between two occupied houses
Vacant building across residential street/alley from vacant lot
Vacant building north of occupied house and south of vacant lot
Vacant building in-between two vacant lots
Two vacant buildings in-between two occupied buildings
Three Vacant Lots
Vacant building across residential street/alley from neighborhood institution
Vacant building north of occupied house and south of vacant lot
Vacant building(s) near urban edge
NEW ARCHITECTURAL TACTICS: 1.1 Every vacant house located to the south of an occupied house shall alter ground to the south maintaining southern exposure of home.
1.2 When two vacant buildings are located next to one another, and the southern building is in substandard condition, the southern building shall be deconstructed to equal or less than one story. 1.3 When two vacant buildings are located next to one another, and the northern building is in substandard condition, resort to decision tree.
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Maximize Southern Exposure 1.4 When
two vacant buildings are located next to one another and both are substandard, the southern building shall be deconstructed to equal or less than one story, and the northern shall be renovated. 2.1 Every vacant house located to the south of an occupied house shall alter the ground to the south maintaining southern exposure of home. 2.2 In the event a vacant building is across a street or alley from a vacant lot, a surface treatment shall be implemented to develop a connection between the two.
Ground treatment
2.3 When more than one vacant lots are within 4 parcels of an institution, a surface treatment shall be implemented on the ground directly between both/all, disregarding the city grid.
3.1 In the event a vacant lot is near a commercial edge, it shall become a corridor for entrances to retail shops and residential buildings. 3.2 In the event a vacant is in-between two vacant buildings, the space between shall become a shared courtyard, with main entry to buildings within. 3.3 When street interrupts space between two corresponding programs/buildings, it shall detour around. Breaking the Grid
4.1 When a vacant building is within 4 parcels of an institution, the vacant building shall become an expansion of the institution’s program. 4.2 When a vacant building is within 4 parcels of an institution, the vacant buildings shall become affordable housing for the users of the institution. Program Coordination
5.1 Every vacant house located to the south of an occupied house shall alter ground to the south maintaining southern exposure of home. 5.2 When two vacant buildings are located next to one another, and the southern building is in substandard condition, the southern building shall be deconstructed to equal or less than one story. 5.3 When two vacant buildings are located next to one another, and the northern building is in substandard condition, resort to decision tree. New Program
5.4 When two vacant buildings are located next to one another and both are substandard, the southern building shall be deconstructed to equal or less than one story, and the northern shall be renovated.
6. When three or more vacant properties and the shared space between the properties correspond with one another, the road shall detour around the zone, providing parking nearby. 6.2 When street interrupts space between two corresponding programs/buildings, it shall detour around.
Road Change
Keith Age: 50 Maintenance Man Featured on Page 19
Meet Keith...
Charles Age: 60 Neighborhood Housing Services Neighborhood Director, North Lawndale Featured on Page 13
Meet Charles...
FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE: Frieda Age: 38 Mother of two, volunteers at Lawndale Community Church Featured on Page 31
Meet Frieda...
Meet Jeff...
Jeff Architect, Landon Bone Baker Architects Chicago, IL Featured on Page 25
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One or more vacancies near commercial street:
Welcome to
Shops on Keeler
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Using signage and neighborhood markers is a way to bring positive recognition to the neighborhood, showing pride in accomplishments and history. WELCOME TTO O
KEELLEER
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Meet the neighbors: Sherrie and Mark are a active couple running a small grocery store on the ground level of their building and living above.
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Welcome to
Shops on Keeler
Looking for: Young professionals seeking non-permanent homes close to a commerical edge with nearby amenities, as well as desired retail owners.
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In one year, the change on ground and surface treatments, as well as signage, would provide resources and higher safety for neighborhood
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Introducing new program to transform this vacant, underutilized shared space between to buildings, into the main entry way, as well as a destination point instead of dangerous zone.
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When a vacant building is near a neighborhood institution, the space separating the two becomes an extension of the shared program.
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Meet the neighbors: City of Refuge Ministries
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Three or more vacancies near institution:
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“Lawndale will end up being a better place than it ever has been..recognizing that it has always been a tough community in many respects.�
Charles Age: 60 Neighborhood Housing Services Neighborhood Director, North Lawndale
Meet Charles...
“North Lawndale is a poor community, in terms of per capita income. It is resource poor in terms of the amount of retail that people have access to, as well as, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables..neighborhoods are often referred to as ‘food deserts.” Given that we exist within a market based economy, I understand how getting more amenities into the community is going to depend of what kind of demand there is for those amenities. There is a significant concentration of greystones that follow the city’s boulevard system; it really is a very distinctive belt around the core city of Chicago. Lawndale is the buckle on that greystone belt. So that gives us something to brand North Lawndale with, something to talk about. And we’ve been able to do that by creating the City of Chicago Greystone Initiative in an effort to celebrate the building type, as well as help people to understand the importance of this building type. And try to come up with some creative strategies to take care of these buildings and restore them.
What we can do in Lawndale involves trying to get a lot of other folks and entities at the table, to interact with community residents to think strategically about where communities can go and what we can do in terms of design. I think design is really important in neighborhoods in terms of what we can do to revitalize communities.”
The adults can use as an extension of their own yards to gro� foo� or �o�ers� as well as just relax outdoors.
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Two or more vacant lots next to one another:
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This open land can be used as both a resource for �oca� gro�n �ro��ce� as �e�� as an e��cation too�� teaching the neigh�orhoo� �i�s a�o�t composting and gardening.
Near these open lots are families with children and e��er�y� �oo�ing for o�t�oor space. In addition the head start daycare and both churches are just a short �a�� a�ay�
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Vacant building located across from vacant lot:
Meet the neighbors: Vacant Lot with good soil conditions.
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Applying signage, ground and surface treatments to enable outdoor living spaces; this giving immediate neighborhood an extended backyard.
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Shops on Keeler
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Hosting events to bring visitors and non-locals into the neighborhood.
Looking for: Families or persons looking for a home with garden, as well as willing and able to maintain landscape.
Meet Keith...
Keith Age: 50 Maintenance Man
“I think North Lawndale is a really good area. It seems that the collective community is working towards uplifting people and motivating people in the right direction, more so than I’ve seen anywhere else in the Chicago area. I find it to be a very good thing. I think it’s been very helpful for a lot of people. There are a lot of programs available in terms of social needs, as well as, interim housing, medical needs, health, spiritual being very high on the list, obviously most important. I think it has done a tremendous amount of good for the area.”
5 Vacant building located in-between two vacant lots:
Meet the neighbors: Our Lady of Lourdes
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Keeler Daycare
Looking for: family or individuals willing and able to run a day care facility. The property JT B nBU XJUI TUPSJFT available, with both sides offering a secure closed in outdoor side yards.
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Shops on Keeler
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Re-utilizing street as more pedestrian friendly space and slowing down USBGmD BOE WFIJDMF STOP usage between.
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BIKE LANE ONLY
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Shops on Keeler
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“There’s a not in my backyard mentality, but affordable housing can have different levels. It can have communities that are mixed, they have seniors, they have children, they have families, single people, they have different people. It can richen the community.
On a certain level you need people who have expertise in certain areas. It’s really about connecting people and finding the right team. There can be this energy that happens; talk about it, talk about what you’re trying to do. It can be fun. Sometimes neighborhoods just need this interjection, and this jolt of excitement. I think as architects being able to offer up some of these projects that you might not think can happen, but if people get excited about it, it can happen. It’s pretty fun.
Meet Jeff...
Jeff Architect, Landon Bone Baker Architects Chicago, IL
Vacant lot located to the south of a vacant building:
Outside can be strategically arranged to hold a garden area with lots of sunlight, as well as, deciduous trees to block harsh summer sun.
Maximizing operable windows on south side of house to allow, as well as block, natural sunlight and air circulation.
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Aligning doors and windows throughout the house to maximize natural air circulation.
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Looking for: environmentally friendly family/person desiring a home with southern exposure and large yard.
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Maximizing southern exposure may interest families looking for a permanent home with a yard.
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One or more vacancies close to commercial street:
Near a commercial edge, this location can maximize accessibility for individuals working nearby who are in and out often. Also creating an outdoor shared courtyard between the two houses.
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Looking for: Families or persons for aon the go! If you Looking looking for: individuals large nearby yard orthe park, nearby hospital or along aswork well as willingat and able Roosevelt, location of this property to maintainthe landscape. along with the endless nearby amenities, is perfect for you.
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Meet the neighbors: Roosevelt Road Amenities
Welcome to
Shops on Keeler
“North Lawndale is a comeback-thriving community. It once lost all hope, and now with the concerns of a few individuals, it is starting to rebuild itself back into a thriving community. It was a dope infested community, which still dope is in the area, but they have taken one street at a time and revitalized it; bring it back to where Joe-public is wanting to come back to it and revitalize the area. We just pray that it happens; we know it’s not going to happen over night and right now, this about 30 years in the making. All things take time, so hopefully it will come within the next 4-5, 10 years. But maybe it won’t even be in this lifetime completely, we just pray that it happens.”
Meet Frieda... Frieda Age: 38 Mother of two, volunteers at Lawndale Community Church
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Creator: Emily Wright The “keeper” of Keeler Ave is a character who lives on Keeler Avenue in North Lawndale, Chicago. He represents the desires and needs of the current street residents while producing this informational guide to advocate future plans and potential of Keeler Avenue.
Sacramento
Douglas
Millard
Cermak
Central Park
21st
Ridgeway
Kostner
19th
Roosevelt
Lawndale
18th
15th
4QSJOHmFME
Keeler
16th
s
Pulaski
Kilborn
15th
Karlov
14th
Avers
Harding
13th
Independence
Kildare
Greenshaw
California
Francisco
THE
KEELERAVE KEEPER
STOP
Welcome to
Keeler Commons Commons
Parking
Shops on Keeler