About Us > History > Community Renewal

Austin wears a new face

When we moved to the corner of Central and Washington Avenues, we could see 50 abandoned buildings in a two-block radius. Since that time, most of those buildings have been restored or replaced. Circle Christian Development Corporation participated in the restoration of 400 units of housing and the building of 11 single-family homes. While Circle no longer extends its reach into our neighborhood through CCDC, its impact can still be felt in the blocks around us.

Most notable among CCDC's achievements was the "Miracle on Parkside." This once notorious block behind our facility was once a haven for gangs and drugs. In a 1988 article, The Chicago Tribune quoted police who called the 100 block of Parkside "one of the most dangerous in the city." The focal point of the decay was the "Murder Building," so known by residents because of the frequency of violent crimes that occurred there.

Old Parkside (click photo to enlarge)