Other Projects
Introduction
As a part of GCI’s commitment to an engaged university, GCI has produced or worked on community-based plans with communities throughout the region aimed at improving the quality-of-life for residents.
Back of the Yards Community Plan
Beginning in the Summer of 2016, the Great Cities Institute (GCI), in collaboration with the Back of the Yards community, has engaged in a planning process to create a community plan. This ground-up planning process involves key neighborhood stakeholders such as community organizations, service providers, elected officials, property owners, business owners, and residents.
Back of the Yards Community Plan
Rosemoor and North Pullman Neighborhoods Plan
With the recent designation of the Pullman site as a national monument, the adjacent communities of Rosemoor and North Pullman are increasingly concerned with preserving the affordability and character of their neighborhoods, while looking to direct the national monument investment to improve their communities in the residents’ vision.
To produce a plan that reflected community values and priorities, the Roseland office of Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago and UIC Great Cities Institute engaged in a collaborative planning process involving residents, businesses, community organizations and other key stakeholders to develop a vision for the future of both communities.
Rosemoor and North Pullman Neighborhoods Plan
Chicago Avenue Corridor Plan
In 2015, the Great Cities Institute (GCI) provided data and performed preliminary work for a planning process for revitalization of the West Chicago Avenue commercial corridor in Chicago’s Austin community. In collaboration with neighborhood-based community organization Austin Coming Together, GCI assisted with the beginning stages of a community-based planning process with key neighborhood stakeholders such as residents, business owners, additional community organizations, service providers, and elected officials. The process was carried forward by Austin Coming Together in partnership with LISC Chicago and released as the Austin Quality-of-Life Plan in December 2018.