Cabrini-Green Hallways

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Lore & Background

The Cabrini–Green complex was constructed over a 20-year period: the Frances Cabrini Rowhouses (586 units, completed in 1942), Cabrini Extension North and South (1,925 units, completed in 1957), and the William Green Homes (1,096 units, completed in 1962). The extension buildings were referred to as the 'Reds' due to their red brick exteriors, while the William Green Homes were called the 'Whites' because of their reinforced concrete construction. Many of the high-rise buildings featured exterior porches called open galleries. Later developments, such as the William Green Homes, were constructed with limited budgets, leading to issues related to poor construction quality and long-term maintenance challenges. Many buildings lacked interior hallways; instead, units were accessed via exterior concrete walkways enclosed in chain-link fencing, exposing residents to weather conditions, including harsh winter temperatures.

In Their Own Story

The 1992 horror film *Candyman*, set in Cabrini–Green, was released. The complex had become a metonym for problems associated with public housing in the United States. Beginning in 1995, the CHA initiated the demolition of the mid- and high-rise buildings, with the final structure removed in 2011. On March 30, 2011, the last high-rise building at Cabrini–Green was demolished, accompanied by a public art presentation. Most of the Frances Cabrini rowhouses remain, though many are in poor condition or abandoned. A total of 150 Frances Cabrini Rowhouses, located south of Oak Street, north of Chicago Avenue, west of Hudson Avenue, and east of Cambridge Street, have been renovated and remain occupied.

Reader's Guide

The Cabrini–Green complex was located at the boundary of two of Chicago’s wealthiest neighborhoods, Lincoln Park and the Gold Coast, and less than a mile from the Magnificent Mile. The area had historically been associated with poverty and organized crime; a 1931 map labeled the intersection of Oak Street and Milton Avenue (now Cleveland Avenue) as 'Death Corner,' noting it as the site of approximately 50 murders. The initial residents of the Cabrini rowhouses were primarily of Italian descent. By 1962, the majority of residents in the full complex were African American. In 1966, the lawsuit *Gautreaux et al. v. Chicago Housing Authority* was filed, alleging racially discriminatory practices in public housing placement. The CHA was found liable in 1969. From March 26 to April 19, 1981, Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne temporarily moved into Cabrini–Green to draw attention to crime in the area.

Did You Know?

• At its peak, Cabrini–Green was home to 15,000 people.
• The extension buildings were called the 'Reds' and the William Green Homes were called the 'Whites'.
• A 1931 map labeled the intersection of Oak Street and Milton Avenue as 'Death Corner,' noting approximately 50 murders.
• Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne temporarily moved into Cabrini–Green from March 26 to April 19, 1981.
• The last high-rise building at Cabrini–Green was demolished on March 30, 2011.