South Chicago
Peace Talks
The intersection of East 87th Street and South Commercial Avenue in South Chicago appears safe, spacious, and lively. Countdown timers usher groups of pedestrians across the wide streets, through an intersection framed by a dollar store, car dealership, and liquor store. The streets are made of solid and unblemished concrete, the buildings of weather-worn... »
They’ve Got Your Goat: Mexican goat stew lurks in a quiet corner of South Chicago
As a recent Michael Pollanite convert from vegetarianism, I have found myself surprisingly apathetic towards many kinds of meat. But I am drawn to goat. It has a uniquely intense, gamey flavor that makes the meat-eating seem worth it. It is also, conveniently, one of the only meat animals that is never factory raised,... »
Chicago’s Heartland
A tall man from Mississippi stands in the doorway to his little house near 95th and Colfax. Across the tracks from Lake Calumet and a couple miles from the Indiana-Illinois border, he invites our 44-person group in with an enthusiastic wave. The man’s name is Travis, and he is a visual artist, musician, Vietnam... »
From Slag to Sustainable: An eco-community rises from the ruins of a former U.S. Steel plant
It sounds like an architectural vision cut out of science fiction: a desolate industrial complex transformed into a new environmentally sound lakefront city supporting 12,000 residents. The plan, directed by Chicago’s Office of Community Development, will depend upon the integration of highways, trolleys, and the city’s street grid to create a new model for... »
The House That Green Built: Tim and Charles Heppner are building Chicago’s most environmentally friendly house in the heart of South Chicago
What comes next for an ex-competitive triathlete with a love for all things Russian and an expertise in carpentry? Building Chicago’s most sustainable house, apparently. »
