Build on vacant land in Black neighborhoods to stop exodus of Chicagoans

Chicago's Black population is dwindling at an alarming rate, with the city's non-Hispanic Black residents numbering just over 700,000, according to the latest census estimates. This number marks a significant decline from the peak of nearly 1.2 million in 1980, which translates to a staggering loss of half a million people over less than 50 years – or roughly 10,000 individuals every year.

The problems plaguing Chicago's Black communities appear insurmountable, with deindustrialization leaving a void in job opportunities and steady wages. The manufacturing industry that once provided employment for Black residents has been replaced, and despite court rulings and federal laws aimed at addressing housing discrimination, inequities persist.

Unemployment rates among Black Americans in Chicago are a staggering 14.5%, the highest among major US cities, further exacerbating the issue. Meanwhile, predatory lending, red light camera tickets, and disproportionate property taxes continue to drain the pockets of Black residents, resulting in median wealth of $0 in the city.

However, there is hope for revitalizing growth and development in these communities. One potential solution lies in building or creating more housing units in existing Black neighborhoods. The current state of affairs sees a decline in occupied housing units and an increase in vacant properties, highlighting a need for action.

The Chicago city-owned land inventory holds nearly 13,000 properties, with two-thirds located in Black communities that have collectively lost over 90,000 residents in the past decade. Furthermore, the city receives at least 5,000 reports of vacant or abandoned buildings annually, many concentrated in areas such as Roseland, West Englewood, and Englewood.

The solution lies not only in utilizing this available land but also in acknowledging the need for collective action to address the systemic issues plaguing Black Chicago. With nearly two-thirds of city-owned properties located in these communities, there is a significant opportunity to drive growth and development.

As Alden Loury notes, while shortcomings are evident, out-of-town planners see opportunities where others perceive challenges. It's time for Chicago to take a page from their book and harness the power of vacant land to invigorate Black communities. The will to act must be present if we hope to slow or reverse the decline of these once-thriving neighborhoods.

By prioritizing housing development and leveraging city-owned properties, it may be possible to stem the tide of population loss in Black Chicago. It's a daunting task, but with determination and collective effort, the future of these communities can be rewritten – and their residents given a chance to thrive once more.

its crazy how much the black community in chicago has lost over the years... like half a million people gone in less than 50 yrs thats devastating they need more affordable housing options ASAP gotta do something about those predatory lending practices and unequal property taxes too that's just not right but i think its heartening to see some ppl taking notice and wanna make a change like the city owning nearly 13k properties in black neighborhoods that's a huge opportunity for growth

I'm like totally torn about this whole thing . On one hand, I think it's insane that Chicago's Black population is dwindling at such an alarming rate - half a million people over 50 years? That's just mind-blowing . And yeah, the problems they're facing are super real, from deindustrialization to predatory lending... it's like, totally unfair .

But on the other hand, I'm kinda thinking that maybe, just maybe, this is a sign that we need to shake things up and try something new? Like, out-of-town planners might see opportunities where others don't - could that be the key to revitalizing Black Chicago? And if they can do it, why can't we?

I mean, I'm all about acknowledging systemic issues and whatnot, but at the same time... I think it's cool that Alden Loury is bringing a different perspective to the table. It's like, let's not be too quick to judge - maybe there are solutions out there that we haven't thought of yet .

So yeah, I'm all for exploring new ideas and trying to find ways to address these problems... but at the same time? Can someone please explain how this is all going to work out?

I'm reading this and I'm like "50 years ago there was 1.2 million Black folks in Chicago and now it's like 700k... that's a whole lotta people missing out on burgers, hot dogs, and deep dish pizza ! It's crazy to think about the decline of job opportunities and how that affects the community. I mean, who wants to work when there's no money, right? But seriously, it's time for Chicago to get its act together and build more housing units in those neighborhoods. Maybe they can even make some of those vacant properties into mini-parks or something ! The city's got 13,000 properties just chillin' in Black communities – that's like a whole lotta potential for growth and development! Let's hope the city can harness that power and give its residents a chance to thrive again.

omg 700k people is like such a small number considering chicago has over 3 million ppl its crazy how much decline in black population is happening ... deindustrialization has left a huge void in job opportunities, its not just about building housing units but also creating jobs and businesses that can attract young ppl to the area

I'm so bummed to hear that Chicago's Black community is dwindling like this . 700k people is still a lot, but half a mil over 50 yrs is crazy. It just makes me wonder what happened to all those jobs and industries that used to thrive in the city. I mean, I get that deindustrialization is a big deal, but can't we find some way to bring back the good old manufacturing days?

And on top of that, 14.5% unemployment rates are insane . You'd think cities would be doing more to support their own people. Predatory lending and property taxes are just the icing on the cake. I mean, how can you expect people to thrive when they're barely scraping by?

But I do like that Alden Loury is pointing out all these vacant properties and city-owned land. Maybe it's not too late for Chicago to make a change. If we can just get some collective action going on, I think we might be able to turn things around. Housing development and community growth could be the way forward .

Diagram: A simple graph showing the decline of Chicago's Black population from 1980 to 2025:

Peak (1980): 1,200,000
Current (2025): 700,000

The number is dwindling at an alarming rate! It's like a never-ending slide.

I think the city should focus on creating more housing units in Black neighborhoods. It's time to put numbers into words and make it happen.

For instance, imagine 2,000 new apartments in areas like Roseland or West Englewood. That would create a ripple effect, bringing in fresh ideas, money, and talent!

But we gotta act fast! We can't just point fingers and talk about change; we need to make it happen.

I'd love to see more community involvement and collective action on this issue. We can work together to create a brighter future for Black Chicago.

I'm so sorry I missed this thread ... anyway, it's crazy that Chicago's Black population is dwindling at such an alarming rate! 700k people isn't nothing, but 1.2 million in 1980 was a lot . I feel like we're seeing the effects of deindustrialization and lack of job opportunities all over the country right now. And 14.5% unemployment rates for Black Americans in Chicago? That's insane .

I think building or creating more housing units is a great idea, but it's also super complicated. I mean, what about gentrification? What if new housing developments displace existing residents and make the area less affordable for them? We need to be careful with our solutions and make sure they're not gonna perpetuate the same problems we're trying to solve .

I love that Alden Loury is talking about harnessing the power of vacant land, though. That's a great way to drive growth and development in Black communities without displacing existing residents. And I think it's time for Chicago to take action and prioritize housing development on city-owned properties. It's not gonna be easy, but if we work together, we can slow or even reverse the decline of these neighborhoods .

I mean, what's going on in Chicago is just heartbreaking . A decline of half a million people over 50 years? That's insane . And it's not like they're moving away or anything, it's more like the city is losing its soul . The stats are just mind-boggling - 14.5% unemployment rate, median wealth of $0... what can you even do with that?

But at the same time, I think there's hope . Building or creating more housing units in existing Black neighborhoods is a great idea . And it's not just about utilizing city-owned land, it's also about acknowledging the systemic issues and working together to address them .

I mean, out-of-town planners might see opportunities where others see challenges, but I think Chicago has the potential to be a leader in revitalizing growth and development in these communities . It's time for the city to take action and give its residents a chance to thrive once more .

The stats are scary, 10k people leaving every year is a huge number ... I feel like we're looking at this all wrong though, instead of just focusing on numbers, what if we try to see it from the community's perspective? We know that Black communities have been left behind in terms of job opportunities and steady wages, but what can they control? They need support, not just a solution. The city can create jobs, invest in education and training programs, but the people themselves have to want to work hard and lift each other up ... it's not going to be easy, but I think that's where the real power lies – in the collective effort of a community coming together to rebuild their homes, literally and figuratively.

man, chicago's black community is literally dying out like 10k people every year it's crazy! all those ppl leaving behind homes and jobs and stuff...deindustrialization hit hard and now there's only a few hundred thousand left gotta do something about that housing shortage ASAP , like build more units or renovate existing ones...and utilize those city-owned lands that'd be a great start . but it's not just about construction, there needs to be some systemic change too gotta address the predatory lending and red light camera tickets and all that ...and we need more affordable housing options ASAP ️ can't let this decline continue

I'm really worried about what's happening to Chicago's black community . The numbers are just mind-blowing - 700k non-hispanic blacks is still a huge number, but it's a decline from 1.2 million in 1980? That's crazy! And the issues they're facing, like unemployment and predatory lending, are just so unfair.

I think one of the most interesting things I read about was the city-owned land inventory - nearly 13k properties and two-thirds of them are in black communities that have lost over 90,000 residents in a decade . It's crazy to think that there's all this available land that could be used to stimulate growth and development.

But what really got me is when it says "it's time for Chicago to take a page from out-of-town planners' book". I mean, I get it - they might see opportunities where others don't. But we need to acknowledge the systemic issues plaguing black chicago too .

I think building or creating more housing units in existing black neighborhoods is a great start. And with nearly two-thirds of city-owned properties located in these communities, there's definitely an opportunity to drive growth and development. It won't be easy, but if we can work together, I truly believe the future of these communities can be rewritten.

We need determination and collective effort to make this happen .

I think we're way overthinking this one . If the solution is just to build more houses on city-owned land, that's it? No addressing the root causes like poverty, lack of job opportunities or education? It feels too easy and convenient. We need to dig deeper than that. What if the real issue is that the government isn't doing enough to support these communities in the first place?

I'm low-key concerned about what's happening to Chicago's Black community . The numbers are just crazy - half a million people gone in like 50 years? That's devastating. I get that the manufacturing industry has moved on, but it's not like they can just replace all those jobs overnight .

The fact that unemployment rates are so high (14.5%) is just a kick in the teeth. And predatory lending and property taxes? Forget about it . It's no wonder their median wealth is basically zero. But I'm also seeing some glimmers of hope - like, have you seen those vacant properties on city-owned land? They're literally sitting there waiting to be developed.

I think what's missing here is that sense of collective action and ownership. If the community comes together to drive growth and development in these areas, it could really make a difference. And I love how Alden Loury is framing this as an opportunity for Chicago to take a step forward, rather than just seeing challenges .

We need to start seeing some real progress on these vacant lots and properties. It's time to get the community involved and invested in their own future .

This is super worrying - 700k non-Hispanic Black people in Chicago is already a decline from just 50 years ago, let alone the fact that they're losing half a million people over less than 5 decades! It's heartbreaking to think about all those families having to leave their homes and communities.

I feel like we need to start addressing these systemic issues ASAP - predatory lending, red light camera tickets, and high property taxes are just some of the things that are really draining Black residents. And it's not just the lack of job opportunities or steady wages, but also the fact that median wealth is basically zero in the city .

But there is hope! I love that Alden Loury mentioned out-of-town planners seeing opportunities in these areas - we need to take a step back and look at what other cities are doing right . Building more housing units, especially in existing Black neighborhoods, could be a game-changer.

It's crazy that the city owns nearly 13,000 properties, mostly in Black communities, but also that there are over 5,000 reports of vacant or abandoned buildings each year . We need to start utilizing this land and working together to drive growth and development in these areas. It won't be easy, but if we want to give Black Chicagoans a chance to thrive again, we gotta try

this decline in chicago's black population is wild, almost like the city's just giving up on its own ppl... but i think there might be some hope here? they gotta utilize that city-owned land & prioritize housing development in those areas. it's not rocket science, but it takes will & collective effort. if we can't even do this for our own people, what else can we say?

Man, this is like super disheartening ... But at the same time, it's also like, kinda hopeful? I mean, think about it, if we just acknowledge that there's a problem and then start working on solutions, maybe we can actually make a difference. It's not just about building more housing units or whatever, it's about recognizing that these communities are worth fighting for . And I love what this Alden Loury dude said, like he's trying to see the opportunities instead of getting caught up in all the challenges . We need more people with that kind of mindset if we want to turn things around. It's not gonna be easy, but if we work together and support each other, I think we can make a real difference .

.. 700k black people in chicago is crazy low considering how big the city is it's like they're disappearing before our eyes. I've been there with my friends back in the day and it was all about the manufacturing jobs, but now it's all just abandoned buildings and vacant lots everywhere

I feel like the system is just too broken for these communities to recover on their own. They need real help from the city and other organizations to get them back on track. I mean, 14.5% unemployment rate is wild that's not something you can just ignore.

But you know what they say - "there's a silver lining" and I think it's true in this case. If we can turn these abandoned buildings into housing units or community spaces, it could be a game-changer for these neighborhoods. It's like, imagine being able to live in your own community again without having to worry about predatory lenders or getting fined for parking tickets

It's time for the city to step up and take action. They have all this land just sitting there, collecting dust ... it's crazy that they're not using it to help these communities thrive. We need more than just words - we need real change

It's super sad to see Chicago's Black community dwindling so fast ! Like, I get it, deindustrialization is a huge issue, but 14.5% unemployment rates are just too much . And don't even get me started on predatory lending and property taxes - that's just a recipe for disaster .

But here's the thing: there's hope for revival ! Building or creating more housing units in existing neighborhoods is a great start . And with over 13,000 city-owned properties to work with, it's a huge opportunity to drive growth and development .

I love how out-of-town planners see the potential in Chicago's vacant land, but we need to take action ASAP ! It's not just about leveraging existing resources, it's also about collective effort and determination . If we can come together to address these systemic issues, we might be able to slow down or even reverse the decline of Black Chicago communities .

Let's get to work on revitalizing these neighborhoods and giving their residents a chance to thrive once more ! #ChicagoDeservesBetter #BlackCommunityMatters #RevitalizeAndRebuild

this is so sad, i mean chicago is one of the biggest cities in usa and you got such a huge black population dwindling like that its just not right... manufacturing industry just disappeared leaving alot of people without jobs or steady income... 14.5% unemployment rate is crazy high... how r they gonna get back on track? maybe we cud see some progress if the city builds more housing units in black neighborhoods thats a good start... and using city-owned land inventory cud be a great way to stimulate growth & development... its all about collective action now