The Last Robert Taylor Homes Hi-Rise Demolition

On the second day of demolition, bobcats with claws and tiny hammers have already torn out the top of the elevator tower and are chipping away at the roof of the last remaining of 28 Robert Taylor Homes high-rises.

Around back, backhoes and cranes are attacking the bottom.

Frankly, I think the city is missing an opportunity. They should have left this building standing and turned it into a Public Housing Museum, like the Tenement Museum in New York. Stonehenge for 1960's urban renewal. But the city fathers want it gone.

London has St. Mary-Le-Bow Church. Berlin has the Kaiser Wilhelm Cathedral. Rome has its Forum. Hiroshima has its Peace Memorial, in a domed building partially destroyed by the 1945 a-bomb blast. Having a 17-story ruin this monumental couldn't hurt Chicago's tourism industry one bit. Certainly less pie-in-the-sky and less expensive than an Olympics.

And the timing of this particular demolition, in the dead of winter (single-digit high temps, thank you) less than three weeks before our municipal elections (Feb. 27) is -- well, somewhat curious. Your thoughts?

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  News & Politics

[qwandiddy]

Was that by 51st/ State?? I know that one was the last one remaining few years after all other ones along State st. been demolished.

Now about time that Inkies Projects on Cermak/ State are going down, only 1-2 remaining as current.

[artistmac]

It was just south of 51st St. on Federal, a block west of State.

[TheEvilOyo]

where did they send all those people, the stateway and RTH were like cities in and of themselves

[artistmac]

Most of the former residents moved out over the years. You could tell how vacant the buildings were getting by all the boarded-up and fire-charred windows. Those who were still there when the government tore the buildings down got Section 8 vouchers for housing in other neighborhoods and in the suburbs.

My next-door neighbors worked, saved their money for a house, and got out of Robert Taylor in the late 60's before things got out of control.

[MysteryManoLove]

I remember watching parts about "Gangleader for a Day" and describing this area. What happened to all the people?

[artistmac]

They moved to other city and suburban neighborhoods, using mostly Section 8 vouchers. But many of the apartments in these buildings were vacant for years before they finally closed.

[kytyria]

Well, I let people know all the time that I am from Robert Taylor Projects... Although I have not lived there in 27 years...It's not about bragging but showing how far one has come... I now reside in another state with a Master's Degree. I would not take anything away from growing up in the projects in the late 1970's and early '80s, As a matter of fact, I spent the best years of my childhood there.

[sombrekarma]

Just hope that the people that moved out will have the chance to have a quiet life, and a happy future

[k3taboo508]

:(

[sonick808]

i know they were torn down for good reason, but it still feels like it's not Chicago without them and Cabrini on the skyline driving

[ChicaGOrilla4CHN]

WTF is INKIES? you mean the harold ICKES?

[shauntampa]

what language is that?

[rarobins17]

Watching this building go down as the last of the Robert Taylor Homes is somewhat devastating. All the memories and the history. Whole neighborhoods were established in these places. I used to live in 4101 S. Federal (10th floor) and 4022 S. State (9th floor) and I did not become a gang member nor am I a drug addict. there were positive upbringings here. Like I said, unfortunately...some of this could have been preserved.

[GOONSQAD100]

MANE IM FROM LOUISIANA U HRD MEH,,,DEZE CRACKERZ DIZ WUT DEY DO,,,,,FIGURE OUT WAYZ 2 DA DESTROY DA BLACK,,,,N DA POOR,,DEY COLD TRIPPN

[qwandiddy]

Thats by South State and 51st. by Dan Ryan.