icon Blueprint for November

Barack’s Blocks

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3 min read

By the time you read this, we will have elected a new President. The Obamas have reported they will relocate from the White House to a lovely home in the Adams Morgan area of DC until Sasha finishes high school at which point Michelle and Barack will likely return to their family home in the Kenwood neighborhood of Chicago. At that juncture, on those days when the President walks south down South Lake Avenue through Hyde Park where he grew up, past the University of Chicago where he taught and into the Woodlawn neighborhood (where his Presidential Library will be built), he will likely see quite a different scene than when he left to relocate to Washington eight years back. And that change reflects a part of the President’s governing philosophy that I feel got lost amidst all the whines and cackles of the past eight years.

Obama was the first President since Franklin Roosevelt to encourage cabinet departments to conduct themselves as collaborators rather than islands. He advocated sharing expertise, budgets and achievement. My long-time friend and one time business partner Rocco Landesman served as head of the National Endowment for the Arts during Obama’s first term and would enthusiastically rave about his working relationships with Secretaries Shaun Donovan at HUD, Ray LaHood at Transportation and Kathleen Sibelius at Health and Human Services. What were the arts doing with housing, transportation and health? They were aiming to create neighborhoods, not just buildings, transit routes or health centers, but all of that together.

This issue is devoted primarily to neighborhoods. Our cover story features the flourishing of the Woodlawn neighborhood, directly adjacent to the blocks where Barack grew up, thanks to impressive work over the past decade by the not-for-profit POAH (Preservation of American Housing). The photos on our cover are just a sample of the community face-lift and accompanying spirit lift which our staff writer Bendix Anderson captures for you. (The New Old Neighborhood)

Another (and not so rosy) side of what we will remember about the Obama Era is chronicled by staff writer Mark Olshaker in the “Ruckus in Rockford” where the Gorman Companies have battled against strong community opposition to a planned new affordable housing development that has resulted in law suits filed by both sides. Gorman has had strong backing from HUD in upholding their AFFH directive. It would be nice to think the days of these local protests are over, but they are not, and Mark’s story prepares you if you ever face one.

A new neighborhood option for older adults seems to be blossoming throughout the country as senior living facilities of various kinds and with various services are being constructed on available land at universities and colleges. In addition to continued learning, many of the schools have hospitals, entertainment options and attract the construction of public transportation, thus providing convenience it may be difficult to duplicate elsewhere. Staff writer Joel Swerdlow provides an overview of this trend. (The Real Seniors on Campus)

Finally, this month both of our columnists, NH&RA Executive Director Thom Amdur and guru David A. Smith, attended a discussion on Naturally Occurring Affordable Communities (NOAH), an outside the box look at an alternative method of increasing needed homes, and were so inspired, they each wanted to tell you about it.

Now that the addictive, if disturbing, election bickering is no longer sating our living rooms, you should have plenty of leisure time to stroll with us and enjoy our visits through these interesting neighborhoods.

Marty Bell, Editor