Welcome to CornerSpotter, Curbed's new and fast expanding weekly game in which you—fair readers—consult archival streetscape photos or postcard illustrations to identify the building(s) and/or location presented. Time to tap that reservoir of urban minutiae and flaunt it before your fellow readers. Fire away in the comments, and we'll reveal the correct identity and backstory on Friday.
Well, the first guess ventured nailed it. But we're not distressed. We applaud the homework that produced such accuracy, and we're glad to have opened a brief forum on the topic of urban renewal. We can't be sure what mechanism led to the demise of this block, but we know what followed: the crisp new (as in 1960s new) Judge Slater Senior Apartments. Not the worst use, but a pretty disastrous design. Scan around on google maps and you'll recognize a couple buildings from the backdrop of the 1965 photo, but beyond those there's a mix of new-build townhomes, vacant lots, and a blank-faced Community Service Center. A lot of the older stock is gone, and with it, neighborhood cohesion. Ah well, at least we're not building 'em like this anymore. Or are we? Thanks for playing and we'll see ya next week!
·Hint: Baby Step In The Systemic Change of South Side Housing [Curbed Chicago]
·CornerSpotter [Curbed Chicago]