A Chronology of Urban Renewal in the Old Town Triangle Neighborhood

1948 / 1949 / 1952 / 1953 / 1954 / 1955 / 1956 / 1957 / 1958 / 1959 / 1960 / 1961 / 1962 / 1963 / 1964 / 1965 / 1966 / 1968 / 1973 / 1975 / 1976 / 1977

1948

The Old Town Triangle Association (OTTA) is established "for the purpose of promoting a realistic community plan for improved living, working conditions, recreations, education, shopping, and other necessary reforms," according to the organization's charter. The founding members originally worked together in Civil Defense. The Association stresses the inherent value of a low-density, family-oriented residential community close to the center of a great city.

1949

The U.S. Housing Act of 1949 is passed. Title 1 addresses the issue of slum clearance:

"The Congress hereby declares that the general welfare and security of the Nation and the health and living standards of its people require housing production and related community development sufficient to remedy the serious housing shortage, the elimination of substandard and other inadequate housing through the clearance of slums and blighted areas, and the realization as soon as feasible of the goal of a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American family . . . . "

Federal aid is available as long as the project area is residential, regardless of what replaces the residential buildings.

October 13

OTTA meeting at the Menomonee Club, 1749 Sedgwick, focuses on improvements of the area bounded by North Avenue, Clark Street, and Ogden.

October 14

Chicago Northside Planning Council invites citizens to attend its meeting. The topic is "Proposed Planning Survey of the North-Ogden-Clark Triangle."

1952

OTTA adopts bylaw and incorporates itself as a not-for-profit corporation. Its purpose is "to improve conditions of life, work, recreation, health, and safety; to develop a neighborhood plan; and to assist and sponsor activities in the Triangle."

1953

Illinois Urban Community Conservation Act

1954

The U.S. Housing Act of 1954 provides for urban renewal. C. Theodore Koebel writes:

"The Act introduced two new FHA programs to provide assistance for the prevention and rehabilitation of slums (Section 220 and 221 mortgage insurance). To qualify for assistance, localities were required to prepare a "workable program" for the elimination and prevention of the spread of slums and urban blight. The Section 221 program was targeted to families displaced as the result of government action and in each locality could not exceed the number of units needed for the relocation of displaced families. The Slum Clearance and Urban Renewal program was expanded to include assistance to help prevent the spread of slums and urban blight through the rehabilitation and conservation of blighted and deteriorating areas, as well as slum clearance and redevelopment."

Spring

The Lincoln Park Conservation Association is formed as an umbrella organization for the OTTA, Mid-North Neighborhood Association, and the Lincoln Park Community Conservation Council.

1955

In the Old Town Art Fair book, John Cook comments, "Who can predict the future without knowing the past and present . . . . We have no precise boundaries. There is more to the Triangle than its area of Clark, Ogden, and North. Our community extends beyond these and the whole area plans for the future in the LPCA."

1956

Chicago Department of Planning formed.

The Community Conservation Board designates the Lincoln Park area as a conservation area.

1957

A comprehensive zoning ordinance is enacted.

1958

Central Area Plan released.

The Sheffield and Lincoln Central Neighborhood Associations join the LPCA.

1959

The Ranch Triangle Association joins the LPCA.

In an OTTA brochure: "One of the prime purposes of OTTA is to provide a forum for the consideration of matters affecting the well-being of Old Town including traffic control, zoning problems, youth activities, municipal housekeeping, preservation of old buildings, and community planning. It seeks to discourage overcrowding . . . . Currently the Association is engaged in a long-range tree-planting project. In the past, spot planting has been undertaken successfully; now a test planting of flowering trees on Lincoln Park West is the first step in a major venture that eventually will cover the entire Triangle area."

1960

July

The federal Urban Renewal Administration approves the Chicago City Council's application for planning funds.

1961

Urban Renewal agencies are unified.

The mayor appoints the Lincoln Park Community Conservation Council (LPCCC) . Lyle Mayer of the Lincoln Central Association becomes first president of the LPCCC. Any neighborhood renewal plan requires formal approval by this body before it can be enacted by the City Council and then by the federal URA.

OTTA newsletter reports, "Construction of a Four Plus One at the corner of North Park and Orleans. This was originally slated for a park but could not be stopped because the GNRP (General Neighborhood Renewal Plan) was not law."

January

OTTA board sends letter to Commissioner Mackelman of the Community Conservation Board. At that time, CCB was at work on the GNRP. The letter points out that the resurgence of the Triangle area has taken place counter to the general movement to new apartment buildings and to the suburbs. The letter also discusses zoning, traffic, parks, play areas, public services, lightning, sewers, and parking.

LPCA meets with Department of Urban Renewal (DUR) officials to recommend an area within the area of the General Neighborhood Renewal Plan for the first project area. Three to four project areas are contemplated within the entire area. Project 1 includes the Old Town Triangle, Mid-North, and Lincoln Central neighborhoods.

June

The board of the LPCA approved the General Neighborhood Renewal Plan and the Lincoln Park Project 1 plan. A letter from OTTA President David Landis to Urban Renewal officials discusses minimal land clearance, Ogden Avenue planning, the LaSalle School playground, density, and non-conforming issues.

1962

May

LPCCC approves the GNRP and Lincoln Park Project 1.

June

Ira Bach, Commissioner of City Planning, submits a report regarding the GNRP and Project 1 to the Chicago Planning Commission.

Testifying before the City Council, Roy Russinoff, planning chair, comments, "We believe that the physical variety of our street patterns and buildings is of great importance to the character and identity of our area . . . . One of the most crucial of the problems that must be dealt with is that of exploitation of existing zoning and of non-conforming uses for purposes directly contrary to the goals of the GNRP. We urge that immediate authority be given to the Department of Urban Renewal to prevent such exploitation. Authority to rezone will serve not only to lower cost materially but to assure implementation of the GNRP as proposed."

August

LPCCC begins working on Project 1 and considering their role in coordination, education, public relations law enforcement, and research-development functions.

Fall

OTTA Planning Committee considers details of Project 1 and Ogden Area redevelopment.

September 10

Chicago Sun-Times features a picture of a Four Plus One and comments, "The problem: How to control or prevent construction that although legal under present zoning, does not conform to the GNRP plan and often does serious damage."

November 12

In a letter to the LPCCC, Roy Russinoff writes, "Zoning through the GNRP should be downgraded as a device to discourage interim, speculative development."

December

OTTA Newsletter writes, "Except for a few commercial areas and scattered convenience shopping, low density residential zoning should be established for the whole Triangle. Also the proliferation of coffee houses and fireplace bars adjacent to and on the perimeter of the Triangle area makes it increasingly important to protect the residential character of the neighborhood from illegal, speculative, or picturesque exploitation."

1963

February

The DUR announces the federal approval of the GNRP, making federal matching funds available.

March

Public meetings held regarding the development of Ogden Avenue.

November

OTTA Newsletter item: Area now occupied by 1960 Clark high-rise was rezoned R7 for a 28-story building by James McHugh.

1964

LPCA Planning Committee discuses plans for Oz Park.

1965

June

DUR adopts Lincoln Park Project 1.

1966

OTTA publishes a progress report on urban renewal.

Acquisition of buildings continues and some demolition begins.

OTTA newsletter comments on the 31-story high-rise at 1960 Clark, built with private funds but also benefiting from the federal financing provision applicable in urban renewal areas.

1968

OTTA produces a second progress report on urban renewal.

1973

Library reposed for North-Larrabee site.

LPCA sponsors a conference on historical landmarks.

1975

Comprehensive rezoning letter from LPCA.

1976

Allan Rappaport's special report in newsletter: "On Zoning and Land Use in Lincoln Park."

The OTTA Newsletter reprints a Chicago Tribune article by Paul Gapp regarding the designation of the Triangle as a landmark. Such a designation provides the "architectural control" that was mentioned in Bach's 1962 report.

1977

August

City Council committee recommends landmark designation for Triangle.

September

Landmark designation made by City Council. Old Town Triangle becomes an historic district.


  • Return to Urban Renewal and Gentrification in Lincoln Park's Old Town Triangle Neighborhood.
  • View Essay.
  • View Images.
  • Take the Tour.
  • View Other Sources of Information.

    Last modified 6/00