In a sign of battles that are coming to growing Bronzeville, a developer group is seeking to convert unsold condos into high-rent apartments in the three-building Woodland Park by the Lake complex, 606 East Woodland Park Avenue.
KOCO is stepping into work with Black working-class homeowners who are pushing back against this deconversion that would force them out of their homes.
The homeowners are trying to block the developers from acquiring 75 percent of the condos. Under state law, if 75 percent of the owners in a condo building agree, the building can be renovated and converted to apartments. The Woodland Park units would no doubt be priced out of the range of current residents, many of whom are seniors who do not want to move.
We have seen these displacement stories play out in other Chicago communities where Black residents call home. We’ve seen families forced out of the Cabrini-Green housing development on the North Side. We will not let that happen in Bronzeville.
