This area of is one of those love/hate neighborhoods of Chicago's far south side.
On one hand there's the gorgeous library in the center of the place, beautiful greenery around, a solar facility, personal gardens everywhere, deer, cardinals, community bake-offs, parades, etc. You know, a quaint community full of people who cooperate with each other and work toward a common goal of maintaining a safe community.
However, due to very rampant drug trafficking, loud parties, secret clubs and fraternities, violent music artists, illegitimate businesses and institutions, underdeveloped homes and an over-saturation of empty fields, the area has yet to reach its full potential.
The parties, parades and events held here are usually reserved for those in-the-know with the community, with good reason. However, if you do a quick local search on Snapchat, IG or FB you should easily find something fun to get into.
Keep your wits about you at the events you attend though. It seems that from time to time people who are not from the area face prejudice in the form of interrogation and harassment.
However, if you don't make trouble and keep an understanding vibe, you may find out quite a bit about the history of this neighborhood and many others like it across Chicago. There are almost always "community guides" at these events, talking about their Chicago migration story and that of close friends. You may learn a lot if you remember everything from the night. They party pretty hard here and it's usually a block event.
The nightlife and events, in ways, make the area quite enjoyable, risky and fun. Yet, this hipster's paradise, on the skirt of Chicago, is going to have to keep the new developments coming in more ways than a few community events to survive.
It seems this area has a huge problem with maintaining a permanent regulated chamber of commerce. There is almost no retail in the area at all. This adds to the lack of diversity (90%+ AA) and increase of illegitimate businesses, like dispensaries ("trap houses") and pop-up candy stores.
These are alternatives and sometimes good ones but not always safe. As a result of these alternatives, makeshift institutions are started in homes, where people learn to invest in and keep these alternative businesses running. Thus, these unregulated businesses, which fuel competition and retaliation, usually violent, have become the financial backbone of this area.
Thanks to the work of former President Obama, current Mayor Lightfoot, other political and community activist there are regular presidential tours here; since Obama spent his younger years in Altgeld Gardens, a documentary on the area's relationship to musician R. Kelly, a new world-class library, a solar energy plant, a water filtration plant, forest preserve, home rehabilitation and building projects, and a new grocery store planned for the area before the year 2020.
It looks bright for this neighborhood. I would welcome you all to visit soon to witness the progression. It seems the city and community are working out some sort of permanent commercial solutions for this area, despite who's at fault. This historic community may regain its reputation from long ago as a semi-suburban Chicago community full of hard working young intelligent people ready to live, thrive and grow their community in Chicago.
Go see that gorgeous library and take some culture in.
Drop me a line when you visit.
I live here and I'm always willing to give a tour of the best spots in the area.
Tip
Give this area some slack. It was where the AA people who returned from WW2 were sent to keep the cities educated, veteran AA population high without allowing them near the city.
(My review considers...
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