About two-thirds of the area is being redeveloped with mixed-income housing. In addition to the 1.5-mile State Street corridor from 43rd Street to Garfield Boulevard, the 47th and State project area stretches a half-mile east to King Drive between 51st Street and Garfield. Included in that area are some 16 historic buildings, particularly greystone multi-unit buildings as old as 100 years.
"One of the things we want to make developers understand is the need to preserve buildings with historical characteristics," says Steve Patterson of the department's finance division. "We want to save the greystones and other pieces of great architecture."
Although the department of planning and development has not targeted properties to be acquired, the plan notes 301 units within the Robert Taylor Homes will be redeveloped, while 61 buildings in the area containing 75 units are considered dilapidated, Patterson says.
"Anything we'd want to acquire in the future, we'd have to come back to the (community development commission)," Patterson says. "This is not a plan to acquire properties."
The plan allows the city to borrow against future real estate taxes to pay for public works projects, rehab properties and build affordable housing, Patterson adds. However, some property owners fear gentrification could result in higher property taxes that ultimately could force them out.
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