Jeanne Gang’s Proposal Transforms Chicago’s Rundown Cicero Into a Thriving Neighborhood

Like many areas throughout the country, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero,_Illinois" target="_blank">Cicero, Illinois</a> is blighted with a large percentage of foreclosed and rundown properties. As part of the MOMA exhibition <a href="http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1230" target="_blank">Foreclosed: Rehousing the American Dream</a>, <a href="http://inhabitat.com/8-green-valentines-for-the-architects-and-designers-we-love/design-crush-jeanne-gang/">Jeanne Gang</a> has created a new vision for the area which could transform it into a thriving and healthy neighborhood. <a href="http://studiogang.net/work/2012/gardeninthemachine" target="_blank">The Garden in the Machine</a> is a proposal that uses nature and technology to improve the land, while combining housing and jobs within new, flexible live/work structures interwoven with a variety of public green spaces.

Cicero is a suburb of Illinois on the west side of the downtown area, but before you get out to the well-known suburb areas like Oak Park.

Known as an industrial town, the area has been down on its luck as businesses and factories have closed down or moved away, leaving many of the residents without work.

Foreclosures on homes and businesses has compounded the problem resulting in a rundown and a largely immigrant population faced with unemployment, poverty, and environmental degradation.

It's a sad state for Cicero like many other former industrial areas around the country.

<a href="http://studiogang.net/work/2012/gardeninthemachine" target="_blank">Jeanne Gang</a> was asked to come up with a vision for the area to transform it into a vibrant and sustainable town.

Making use of the existing infrastructure, Gang came up with <a href="http://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2011/11/30/foreclosed-thoughts-on-cicero-and-collaboration-with-jeanne-gang" target="_blank">"The Garden in the Machine"</a>, which demonstrates how the remains of Cicero’s industry—its lands, building materials, and existing rail infrastructure could be the foundation for a new and better town.

The new vision calls for an influx of vegetation, trees and gardens to improve the green space of the area.

Housing would largely transition to new live/work units and would require a change in zoning and regulations to allow a different form of ownership - one that allows citizens to purchase and sell shares corresponding to the live/work units they occupy.

A variety of flexible housing options would be occupied by families of all sizes and a new economy would be created through residents who live and work in the same area.

Transforming traditional housing typologies into more sustainable versions that would help revitalize the town.

Rather than raze the entire area and start again, Gang sees that the existing infrastructure can be utilized to build a better, more sustainable city.

Use of existing industrial infrastructure to rebuilt Cicero.

Disassemble, Heal, Settle, Inhabitat and Grow.