Do Now: Read article and respond to these questions

1. Do Now: Read article and respond to these questions • How do you feel about the gentrification happening in Bronzeville? • Is it better, worse, or the same as other instances of gentrification?

2. History of Pilsen 1800’s to present

3. Who has lived here in the past?? • Pilsen has been a “Working Class” neighborhood since the 1800’s. • First immigrants to live here were: • Polish • Czhechoslovakians • Lithuanians • Drawn to the area for good paying entry level jobs • This population remained in the area until the 1950’s.

4. Why the Change in 1950? • Latino (primarily Mexican) immigrants begin to move into the community. • By 1960’s only the Polish community still outnumbered the Latino populations. • Why did they come? • Their original community had been displaced due to the construction of UIC • By 1970, Pilsen was the first majority Latino community in Chicago.

5. The importance of Pilsen to the Latino Community • Important hub for new Latino immigrants both to the country or just to Chicago • In 2001, 49.1% of the population was foreign born (chicagoareahousing.org, 2004) • Center for a variety of Latino organizations serving the Chicago Area • Focus of many political movements focusing on needs of Latino community

6. Pilsen’s Qualifications for Gentrification • Location • Easy access to the Blue Line (and thus to the Loop) • Located near the 4 major highways, and easy access to get on and off quickly • Real Estate • Affordable, Low Cost properties • History/Architecture • Not touched by the 1871 Chicago Fire. Original and Historic buildings still exist.

7. Attempts at Gentrification • Chicago 21 Plan : Goal to change working class communities into middle class communities for downtown workers. • Created parking structures and parking options for the downtown area, using portions of Pilsen • Pilsen Triangle : Attempts to make Pilsen a tourist destination similar to Chinatown. (Mexitown) • Promoted by outside interest groups, not the residents of Pilsen

8. Yuppies out of Pilsen

9. Stakeholders in Pilsen

10. Pilsen’s 1 component that does not fit the four qualifiers • Pilsen is not a location that is well-designed for vast improvements or changes. • There are not many empty lots, and there in general is not a lot of space • Few abandonded buildings due to high levels of renting

11. Fear of Displacement • Residents still remember the displacement of the 1950’s that sent them to Pilsen in the first place (UIC consctruction) • Have had hints of it in recent history as well • Demolition of buildings to build parking structures in Eastern Pilsen in 1980’s • University Village – developed out of the UIC campus • Development of Roosevelt Square (2004) slated to be completed next year

12. Summary • For 70 years Pilsen was a primarily Eastern European neighborhood • 1950’s demographics begin to change to become more Latino (majority Mexican) • Communities were pushed into Pilsen due to construction of UIC • 1980’s Pilsen begins to see pressure from outside groups to try to develop and re-structure the neighborhood • Pilsen has been resistant to change for the most part due to higher renters than home owners and strong community organization

13. Exit Ticket • Pilsen has changed before, do you think the current population has a “right” to demand that other people stay out, when they had taken over the neighborhood in the past? Why or Why Not?