Curious Researcher: Hyde Park Community (XI)

People:


The Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference, along with continuous support from the University of Chicago and unnamed private entities, have contributed to both, Hyde Park's political and economic development. In my research, I have no pinpointed one significant figure in this movement, though much can be profiled as to the roles and achievements the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference has made, in collaboration with state and local subcommittees and representatives. I find most interest in the real estate development that has occurred in Hyde Park along 55th and other major roads. Having also lived in the area in 2008, I find it very compelling to look at the relationship between political and economic leverage versus private commercial interests in the community. 

Trends:


On streets like 55th in Hyde Park, smaller businesses are being put out by larger commercial companies like Trader Joes'a and Crate and Barrel. Owners of these lots are purposely not renewing the leases of these smaller owners to make way for larger commercial chains. 


I also ran across the issue between the University of Chicago and younger members of the Hyde Park community who started a urban garden on a lot owned by the University of Chicago which was never used until recently. The new real estate development is a trend that seems to be making way for commercial businesses on a much larger scale than before. Hyde Park's main streets were traditionally filled with smaller shops and businesses, but now it's started to sort of mirror the south loop where you will find stores like Trader Joe's or Crate & Barrel on the main streets; peripheries of large residential areas. 

Controversies:


A majority of Hyde Park and Kenwood's gentrification process has been supported by the University of Chicago, which has also influenced much of the real estate investment in the community since it's establishment. Many people in the community argue about undeveloped areas, and what should be built on those lots, and who has the authority or the right to. The problem with the University of Chicago lies within the negligence of the institution to obtain a certain consensus from affected community members for the advancement of certain property and commercial projects.

Places:


I would break up my community into the following sub-groups, which pose are key actors in Hyde Park's politics and commercial development:


Hyde Park's Private residents
Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference (http://www.hydepark.org/)
University of Chicago (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki // University_of_Chicago/www.uchicago.edu)
Kenwood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenwood,_Chicago)
Hyde Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Park,_Chicago)
Woodlawn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodlawn,_Chicago)
South East Chicago Commission (http://secc-chicago.org // http://secc-chicago.org/)
Private commercial developers

Impact:


The Unversity of Chicago seems to have the most impact on people outside the community. These articles seems to lay out that notion clearly: 


The Chicago Reader: Hyde Park-Kenwood, University of Chicago, & Southside History


The Chicago Reader: A lot of Controversy in Hyde Park

Once you've spent some time writing and thinking about each of the things above, pick one or two ideas that seem to stand out for you. Now, write two or three interesting question about each of them--real questions that you would genuinely like to know the answers to!


Here are some main questions I have for my research:


How deep is the relationship between the Hyde Park, Kenwood and Woodlawn communities? 


In which ways are these communities affected by the policies and real estate development advanced by the University of Chicago? 


In the backdrop of the 1950's and early 60's as far as gentrification in Hyde Park brought on by the University of Chicago and it's committees administered by people who wanted to see urban renewal, or a "color wash-out", what are some of Hyde Park's main issues today?