The Southside's Pot of Gold

-By Solomon Chelli

In the 1960's, teenagers, college students, newlyweds and families became one with the road as they traveled down Route 66. In search of adventure, these road warriors embarked on cross-country voyages armed with sunglasses and eight tracks.

Today, many travelers prefer wings to wheels to save time when traveling long distances. However, each mode of transportation has its benefits. Planes quickly transport passengers to their final destination but cars give individuals the opportunity to explore.

Perhaps spending fifteen hours behind the wheel is not appealing, but how about thirty minutes? Any dare devil willing to drive a few miles down the I-94 can discover Chicago's hidden treasures. Over this past weekend, I dug through this great treasure chest and found Englewood.

This Southside community may be one of Chicago's best-kept secrets. At first glance you will undoubtedly question my sanity. The abandoned homes, cracked sidewalks and overgrown weeds scream for attention, but do not let first impressions cloud your view. Although Englewood looks like it has been forgotten, the area has been lurking in the minds of investors and developers for several years.

The Community Reinvestment Act has inspired many to give Englewood a second chance. Among the many are Banks, which have played a valuable role in sparking the interest of potential residents. They have increased their lending to area buyers and began building branches in the community. First Chicago opened a branch on 63rd and Western and Northern Trust has opened a satellite at 78th and Dan Ryan.

Non-profit organizations also offer financing to those seeking home ownership. According the Chicago Tribune, The Neighborhood Housing Services' West Englewood office has "more than doubled its lending activity." The office wrote $800,000 in loans this year compared to the $200,000 written in the year before. Local churches are also sponsoring programs to boost home ownership rates.

St. Bernard's, a Catholic Church, school and hospital, builds houses for people with low incomes. By assuming the financing for the construction of newer buildings, the Church contributes to the growth and development of its community.

This recent attention has led to an increase in housing prices but homes in Englewood still cost considerably less than homes in neighboring areas. Two-four bedroom houses needing repair begin at $35,000 and houses that have already undergone rehabilitation begin at $85,000. Similarly sized homes, located in nearby neighborhoods Hyde Park or Woodlawn, cost over $200,000. Edward Spell, who has lived in the community for twenty years, admits there are areas that need work; however, the community still offers benefits.

One obvious distinction lies in the people. While some of us have never seen our neighbors and many of us limit our interaction with them to a curt hello, residents of Englewood actually interact with other members of their community. Spell and his neighbors describe the community as friendly and enjoyable.

Additionally, the Dewey Academy of Multicultural Studies, located at 54th and Union, draws a diverse group of students from around the city. Students at Dewey pursue studies in Asian, Hispanic, European and African cultures.

The presence of Dewey's student body encourages diversity within the community. High-school students who attend the Lindblom Technical High School also have something to look forward to. The Board of Education has approved $500,000 for improvements. According to the Chicago Tribune, this money will go towards the construction of the new science lab and learning resources to enhance the curriculum. The new curriculum provides students with the opportunity to study pre-medicine, pre-law, business finance and engineering.

These improvements give Lindblom students a necessary edge in their prospective fields. Tim "the tool man" Taylor could eat his heart out in Englewood because it is definitely a repairman's dream come true. However, the community has a lot of promise. Developers have recently begun to realize this but many of Englewood's residents knew this all along.

20-year resident Spell says, "All the people I knew when I first came here are still around." Maybe they found the hidden treasure before the rest of us did, but interested homeowners need not worry, there is plenty more to go around.

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