I've Seen This Before

The Blueprint For Separate Not Equal

Dubuque city leaders are proposing a $45 million affordable housing project that would be located on the property where the old bowling alley was. The project would include over 200 units of mixed-income housing, as well as commercial space. Bear in mind that KCRG called it mixed income and KWWL called it low income. There’s truth to both descriptions.

City leaders say the project is needed to address the growing demand for affordable housing in Dubuque. They also say the project will help to revitalize the Central Avenue corridor. Revitalization, ahh I see, don’t you dare say gentrification. Insert eye roll here.

Where have I seen this before?

The proposed affordable housing complex in Dubuque, bears a striking resemblance to the Altgeld Garden homes in Chicago. Altgeld Gardens was born in 1945. The purpose for building the homes was to house Black servicemen and they’re families looking for affordable housing after WWII. It turned into a slum area riddled by gang activity. The housing complex was built far south of Chicago proper, between a port where large ships would dock and unload their cargo, and the Calumet River which flowed close to a small industrial area. This means the people of Altgeld Gardens had to deal with awful smells and toxic fumes.