Halsted Street the gateway to 11^th Ward revitalization

By April Galarza

As Halsted Street undergoes revitalization, it will grow into the gateway to a new and improved 11th Ward, benefiting the ward’s Bridgeport, Armour Park, Canaryville, McKinley Park, and Hoyne Park neighborhoods.

“Halsted Street is just the beginning,” said 11th Ward Alderman James A. Balcer. “We are a great city and we can only get better. I believe in the Mayor’s vision of the city, of education, reducing crime, and keeping businesses in the city.”

Halsted Street’s upgrade will start on Archer Avenue at the Chicago River and work its way south to 49th Street. Changes include a new bus station and carwash near the intersection of Archer and Halsted. Also, from Archer to 26th Street, Halsted recently has been street-scaped with new sidewalks, curbs, streetlights, and flower boxes, and from 30th to 33rd Streets pedestrians are enjoying new brick crosswalks.

Plans are the works to turn the old quarry on Halsted and 26th into a nature retreat that includes a hill, a pond, and an athletic field. At 31st Street and Halsted, a new police station is under construction, and a senior citizens building has been completed.

North of 31st Street, several new or refurbished businesses have been established such as Ace Bakery at 3241 S. Halsted St. From Archer Avenue to 31st Street along Halsted, cyclists now benefit from freshly painted bike lanes, and healthy green trees line the sidewalk. Cannatello Field bustles with activity, and bright lights illuminate the field for evening baseball games.

Phase two of the Halsted revitalization project includes streetscaping for either the stretch from 31st to 36th Streets and, separately, from 36th to 49th Streets; plans specify new sidewalks, new brick cross walks, fresh pavement, new streetlights, and flower boxes. The vacant land along Halsted south of 31st is designated for residential buildings, and a fountain has been installed at 34th Street with a new cul-de-sac providing plenty of green space.

Plans for the Ramova Theater are undetermined, but the theater will not be demolished, Balcer asserted. After saying his primary concern is safety, he noted he will try to salvage as much of the building as possible as he consults with developers on potential uses for it. Meanwhile, the old Brenner’s liquor store has been transformed into modern white brick townhouses, and plans are in place to expand both Allen Brothers wholesale meats and Boyd’s Park. A new local union office will move in at 38th Street and Halsted as well.

Some residents object to multi-unit dwellings, such as townhouses and condominiums, in the area. Balcer assured the community that, although some townhouses will be built based on community needs and the practicality of particular locations, his general intent is focusing on single-family housing.

“There are spots where you cannot put a single-family home but you still want residential areas, such as the building on 35th Street and Morgan Street,” Balcer said. “Also, a loft is an affordable alternative to buying a home and may draw new residents.”

Although the White Sox have brought considerable revenue to the ward, Balcer said the area needs more financial support. Both Balcer and Cook County Commissioner/11th Ward Committeeman John Daley are focusing on bringing more businesses into the ward.

The 11th Ward is a "great place to live," Balcer observed. “It’s located close to the Loop, is easily accessible to the Chicago Transit Authority Red and Orange Lines, and has Halsted, Archer, and the Dan Ryan and Stevenson Expressways as major thoroughfares.

“I try to keep the ward’s money in the ward," Balcer concluded. "I try to buy in my ward. My home, for example, was built by guys from this ward. I patronize the restaurants and other businesses here in the ward as much as I can. I try to keep whatever I do in the City of Chicago. That’s what my goal is, to build up the business district here and keep it going forward. It’s always been a good neighborhood and it can only grow stronger.” For more information, call Balcer's office at (773) 254-6677.