Residents living in rent-controlled apartments near the site of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago have banded together to form a union. This move comes as they respond to fears of potential evictions and rising rents tied to the ongoing development. Longtime tenants from the Cheney Braggs Apartments gathered recently to voice their concerns, primarily over the possible sale of their building, which they think could disrupt the lives of families who have called it home for decades.
The community members mentioned that a prospective buyer from California is interested in the property, raising the possibility of renovations or even demolition. In a particularly disheartening move, tenants claim they were offered a meager $2,000 per household to relocate—an amount they feel is far too low to cover the expenses of moving in such a rapidly evolving area.
Many tenants currently pay between $700 and $800 in monthly rent, having lived in the building for 30 to 40 years, and they express anxiety over finding similar housing options in Woodlawn if prices go up or the property undergoes redevelopment.
In reaction to these threats, residents decided to create a tenant association aimed at preventing evictions and maintaining affordability within their building. This association emerged after the previous landlord abandoned the property roughly two years ago, leaving tenants to band together to address pressing maintenance and service issues.
Now, this network is being utilized to confront even bigger challenges posed by the substantial changes happening around the Obama Presidential Center, which is set to redefine the neighborhood. The potential sale of their building underscores a broader worry among residents about gentrification and displacement, particularly with the kind of investments the center brings.
While the sale of the building hasn’t been finalized yet and the identity of the potential buyer remains unconfirmed, residents have sought assistance from city and state authorities but say they have yet to hear back. Their struggle highlights the palpable unease in Woodlawn, as the Obama Presidential Center promises changes that evoke both excitement and anxiety, especially regarding possible job creation versus the risk of displacement.
As they await updates on their situation, residents plan to keep organizing. The Obama Presidential Center, which occupies 19.3 acres in Jackson Park, is set to open on June 18. This day holds special significance as it commemorates Juneteenth, a historical marker of freedom and civil rights. While President Obama has characterized the center as a “gift” to Chicago, it’s a gift that some feel carries a hefty price tag for local communities. Public infrastructure costs linked to the project have reportedly soared into the hundreds of millions, with city and state responses still lacking clarity on total expenditures.
