Chicago
Chicago prides itself on being a city of
neighborhoods. But when the architectural spoils are
dealt, it's downtown that gets most of the good stuff.
Neighborhoods get cheapie strip malls, or townhouse
developments that are as uniform in color and size as
capped teeth. And who will end this insane war of
attrition between Walgreens and CVS that seems bent
on claiming every street corner in Chicago?
That's why the Gary Comer Youth Center is worth
heralding. Located in the working-class Grand
Crossing neighborhood on the city's South Side, the
Comer Youth Center will be home and practice space
for the explosive South Shore Drill Team &
Performance Ensemble, while doubling as a
community center. Designed by architect John Ronan,
the center is unexpectedly bold and colorful. The
building is not afraid of the street---often the case with
new buildings which are sited with so much fear of
graffiti and loiterers, they seem to shrink back from
the sidewalk. The Comer Center steps up to the street
edge to bring light and excitement to otherwise drab
and decayed South Chicago Avenue. According to
Ronan's firm, the building will feature a green
roof---irrigated by collected stormwater---above the
main gymnasium/auditorium space. Gary Comer,
former CEO of Lands End, grew up in Grand Crossing
in the shadow of Oak Wood Cemetery. He put his
money behind the center as a way to give back to the
neighborhood. The center officially opens Thursday,
May 25.
photo by Lee Bey