Imagine living in a place designed to improve lives. That place is Julia C. Lathrop Homes. It stands as one of Chicago’s first public housing projects.
Completed in 1938, Julia C. Lathrop Homes aimed to replace poorly built dwellings. It wanted to offer better housing. The project began during the New Deal. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Public Works Administration commissioned it.
The Housing Division of the Public Works Administration managed the project. They followed planning ideas from Clarence Stein and Henry Wright. These collaborators designed Sunnyside Gardens in New York. They also designed the Radburn community in New Jersey. The early projects featured low-rise buildings. These buildings had gardens with play areas. For many tenants, it was their first chance to live in new homes. These homes had fully equipped kitchens and bathrooms.
In 1935, the Housing Division bought an unused industrial site. It was east of the Chicago River. Instead of hiring one firm, they assembled a team. This spread work around. Robert DeGoyler led the team. He was known for designing luxury apartments. Jens Jensen, a landscape architect, designed the street layout. He also designed the original landscape. It included kitchen gardens for many residents.
Julia C. Lathrop Homes has 925 units in 29 buildings. There is also an administration building. A powerhouse provided heat. Diversey Parkway divides the complex into north and south sections. The buildings line the streets with courtyards. These courtyards lead to open play spaces.
The architecture features thoughtful simplifications of Colonial styles. Wide stone arches mark entrances. Stringcourses and cornices individualize each building. The Housing Division controlled floor plans. They wanted to maximize efficiency. Units had one to three bedrooms. Kitchens came with sinks, stoves, refrigerators, and cabinetry. Bathrooms featured tile floors and essential fixtures.
Initially, Julia C. Lathrop Homes was meant for white families. After World War II, the Chicago Housing Authority integrated its projects. Many white residents left. By the 1960s, most projects were mainly African American. Julia C. Lathrop Homes remained diverse. It housed African Americans, Latinos, and whites.
In 2006, the CHA planned to demolish Julia C. Lathrop Homes. Residents and preservationists protested. Julia C. Lathrop Homes was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.
Today, Julia C. Lathrop Homes is undergoing restoration. It is being converted into a mixed-income development. The goal is to create a cutting-edge community. The Lathrop Community Partners are working with the Chicago Housing Authority. They plan to build 1,116 units of mixed-income housing. They are adding retail and community spaces. Enhanced landscaping will open the site to the community. A riverwalk connects the north and south campuses. It encourages people to use the river.
Julia C. Lathrop Homes stands as a testament to both past ideals and future possibilities. It represents a commitment to providing quality affordable housing.