Living and Learning – Libraries and Affordable Housing

By Ed McDevitt, Class of 2010

Chicago now has three new library branches in buildings developed to co-locate affordable housing and library facilities. An initiative of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the idea of co-locating libraries and public housing came from similar efforts in Los Angeles, New York, and other cities.

When these sites were completed in 2019, Blair Kamin wrote, “Three new Chicago buildings, which combine public libraries and public housing, are head and shoulders above the Robert Taylor Homes, Cabrini-Green and the rest of the city’s dehumanizing, now-demolished public housing projects.” He notes that the cost of the projects was $41.3 million in Little Italy, $35.3 million in West Ridge, and $33.3 million in Irving Park. (1)

Kamin also cautioned: “The history of public housing is littered with examples of buildings that were camera-ready on opening day, then descended into chaos when housing authorities in Chicago and other cities failed to maintain them and they were overrun by gangs.” He suggests that things will be different here because the buildings are under private management.

Locations were chosen based on a neighborhood’s lack of affordable housing and its public library needs, according to Patrick Molloy, director of government and public affairs for CPL. (2) Molloy also observed that hybrid library-residential buildings are trending nationwide. Some offer market-rate housing, other cities like New York incorporate subsidized housing.

Independence Branch Library and Apartments

Independence Branch, Chicago Public Library (CPL photo)

Independence Branch interior (Ed McDevitt photo)

This library was established in 1901 through the work of the Irving Park Woman’s Club. Each member of the club donated at least one book or magazine to form a circulating library. (3) The branch was located in the Independence Park Field House (3945 North Springfield Avenue) from 1913 until 1928. It moved to a brick storefront at 3718 West Irving Park Road, remaining there into the early 1990s. In 1995 the library moved to the commercial storefront at 3548 West Irving Park Road; the site was destroyed by fire in 2015. (4)

Jackie Kazariian “Woman’s Work” 1996 (Ed McDevitt photo)

In 2019 the branch moved into its new building at 4024 North Elston Avenue as one of the Chicago Public Library/Chicago Housing Authority “co-location” sites, two of which provide a library mixed with senior affordable housing. John Ronan Architects designed the building, winning a first-place award from the Richard R. Driehaus Foundation for Architectural Excellence in Community Design. The 44 apartments above the library offer living quarters for seniors.

The interior space of the library is by far the largest and most open of the three co-location libraries. On the south wall of the library’s mezzanine is Jackie Kazarian’s 1996 painting “Women’s Work”, honoring “The Irving Park Woman’s Club – 1888 – 1994.”

Taylor Street Apartments and Little Italy Branch Library

Little Italy Branch, Chicago Public Library (Ed McDevitt photo)

This building at 1342 West Taylor Street was designed by Brian Lee of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill with interiors designed by Nia Architects. (Brian Lee also designed the oval-shaped Chinatown Branch Library.) It includes a one-story library and multiple community spaces along with two playgrounds and a turf field for recreational use. (5)

The residential development is not specifically for seniors. Thirty-seven of the units are for CHA families; the rest are classified as “affordable” or “market rate”. The total number of apartments is 73. Behind the building is a community garden; other amenities include a roof deck and gym.

Reserving multiple units for CHA families is appropriate for this site, once the location of the Jane Addams Homes. The first federal housing project in Chicago, it opened in 1938 and was demolished in 2003. The single building remaining from the Jane Addams Homes is currently boarded up while awaiting funds to turn it into the National Public Housing Museum.

The branch has various graphics on its walls but no commissioned art.

Northtown Branch Library and Apartments

Northtown Affordable Apartments and Public Library (CPL photo)

The Northtown development in West Ridge at 6800 North Western Avenue is a Ralph Johnson/Perkins + Will design and also combines a library with affordable senior housing. It is a four-story curvilinear building that ends in a large, cantilevered two-story slab atop a glass-enclosed lobby.

The residence section had at its opening “44 apartments for seniors aged 62 and older with 30 units for renters from the CHA waiting list and 14 affordable units,” according to the City of Chicago press release for the ribbon cutting. (6)

The library entryway of Northtown is graced by Chris Silva’s vibrant mural that reflects the history of Rogers Park and West Ridge, including reference to a zoo that once was at Indian Boundary in the area.

Will there be more? Let’s wait and see.

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