SAM: The impetus that landed us in the area of Altgeld branch was an event promoting awareness of the CTA’s Red Line Extension Project (RLE). We all found things to get excited about: a bounce house for Nathan, chatting with CTA employees for Daniel, Ben ran into one of his work clients (New Moms and their candle business, Bright Endeavors), and delicious spicy popcorn for Ben and Sam from Poppin’ Dough.
Daniel, can you tell us more about the RLE?
DANIEL: The Red Line Extension Project will extend the CTA Red line south, from 95th Street to 130th Street, with stops at 103rd Street, 111th Street, and Michigan Ave. The project will cost approximately 3.6 Billion USD. The project will help Far South Side residents access jobs.
But as we must wait a while for the RLE to open, what is the Altgeld library building like?
SAM: Algeld branch’s building is one of the most elegant looking buildings we have visited thus far. I was caught off guard by how new the building was.
BEN: Sam is right – this is a gorgeous, brand new facility embedded in a multi-use Chicago Housing Authority building that also houses an early learning program. This library is architecturally unique among the branches we’ve visited, with a space clearly focused on functioning as a community gathering area. The staff member we chatted with indicated that lots of kids hang out, but not as many adults as they would like. She also is hopeful that the Red Line Extension will greatly improve resident access to the rest of the city and spur economic development in the area.
The investments made in this branch stand in contrast to its location, the Altgeld Gardens housing project, a 1,500-unit community built in the mid-1940s to house Black veterans returning from World War II. Altgeld Gardens is almost entirely surrounded by heavily polluted industrial sites, leading to its reputation as Chicago’s “toxic donut.” The toxic air and water in this area has been linked to high rates of birth abnormality and cancer. While advocacy efforts, most notably led by lifetime activist Hazel M. Johnson, have won some improvements, the area remains a deeply troubling example of environmental racism.
DANIEL: In my opinion, the library is better than its transit access. The Altgeld Public Library is served by CTA bus #34, and it has a stop right outside! If you walk 0.6 miles to Carver Military Academy, you also have access to the CTA Route #108. Also, if everything goes according to plan, then in 2030, the library will be 0.2 miles away from the 130th Street Station on the Red Line Extension!
If you are on Metra, your best bet is Metra Electric Riverdale Station, 2 miles from the library, and for Pace, Route #353. And by the way: If you are driving, this library has a parking lot.
My final review: 3.5, but in 2030, 4.5
I am not giving it 5 due to its lack of Metra access.
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