Chicago Gang History
The Projects

The Projects

Relive the Life and Death of The Projects. Learn how urban blight gave way to gangs, bordellos and drug trade in the heart of Chicago. Discover controlling gangs, project phases, locations and more…

CIVILIZATION IS A METHOD OF LIVING, AN ATTITUDE OF EQUAL RESPECT FOR ALL MEN.

Jane Addams

At a glance

Altgeld Gardens And Phillip Murray Homes
Bridgeport Homes
Cabrini Green
Clarence Darrow Homes
Dearborn Homes
Grace Abbott Homes
Harold Ickes Homes
Harrison Courts
Henry Horner Homes
Ida B. Wells Homes
Jane Addams Homes
Julia C. Lathrop Homes
Lake Park Properties
Lawndale Gardens Homes
Leclaire Courts
Loomis Courts
Lowden Homes
Madden Park Homes
Maplewood Courts
Ogden Courts
Parkway Gardens
Prairie Courts
Racine Courts
Raymond Hilliard Center
Robert Brooks Homes
Robert Taylor Homes
Rockwell Gardens
Stateway Gardens
Trumbull Park Homes
Washington Park Homes
Wentworth Gardens

Projects Overview

Altgeld Gardens And Phillip Murray Homes

Hood(s) Riverdale;
Location

130th Street on the north, 134th Street on the south, Doty Avenue on the east, Langley Avenue on the west

Lifecycle 1944–1945, Construction;
Controlling gangs Black Disciples; Gangster Disciples; Black P Stones; Vice Lords;

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Bridgeport Homes

Hood(s) Bridgeport;
Location

31st Street on the north, 32nd Street on the south, Halsted Street on the east, Lituanica Avenue on the west

Lifecycle 1943–1944, Construction;
Controlling gangs Satan Disciples;

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Cabrini Green

Hood(s) Near North Side;
Location

Clybourn Avenue on the north, Chicago Avenue on the south, Orleans Street on the east, Halsted Street on the west

Lifecycle 1942–1945, Construction of row houses; 1955–1957, Extension; 1957–1962, Construction; 1995–2011, Renovation of low-rises; 1995–2011, Demolition;
Controlling gangs Mickey Cobras; Gangster Disciples; Vice Lords; Imperial Chaplins; 14th Street Clovers; Black Disciples;

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Clarence Darrow Homes

Hood(s) Oakland;
Location

38th Street on the north, Pershing Road on the south, Evans Avenue on the east, Langley Avenue on the west

Lifecycle 1961–1961, Construction; 1996–2000, Demolition;
Controlling gangs Black P Stones; Gangster Disciples;

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Dearborn Homes

Hood(s) Douglas;
Location

27th Street on the north, 30th Street on the south, State Street on the east, Federal Street on the west

Lifecycle 1949–1950, Construction;
Controlling gangs Gangster Disciples; Mickey Cobras; New Breeds;

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Grace Abbott Homes

Hood(s) Near West Side;
Location

Roosevelt Road on the north, 15th Street on the south, Loomis Avenue on the east, Ashland Avenue on the west

Lifecycle 1952–1955, Construction; 2001–2007, Demolition;
Controlling gangs Vice Lords; New Breeds; Imperial Chaplins; 14th Street Clovers;

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Harold Ickes Homes

Hood(s) Near South Side;
Location

Cermak Road on the north, 25th Street on the south, State Street on the east, Federal Street on the west

Lifecycle 1954–1955, Construction; 2009–2010, Demolition;
Controlling gangs Gangster Disciples; Black P Stones; Vice Lords; New Breeds;

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Harrison Courts

Hood(s) East Garfield Park;
Location

Congress Parkway on the north, Harrison Street on the south, Francisco Avenue on the east, Sacramento Boulevard on the west

Lifecycle 1958–1958, Construction;
Controlling gangs Vice Lords;

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Henry Horner Homes

Hood(s) Near West Side;
Location

Lake Street on the north, Washington Boulevard to Adams Street on the south, Hermitage Avenue on the east, Oakley Boulevard on the west

Lifecycle 1957–1969, Construction; 1996–2010, Demolition;
Controlling gangs Four Corner Hustlers; Gangster Stones; Vice Lords; Gangster Disciples; Imperial Chaplins; 14th Street Clovers; Mickey Cobras;

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Ida B. Wells Homes

Hood(s) Douglas;
Location

37th Street on the north, Pershing Road on the south, Cottage Grove Avenue on the east, Martin Luther King Drive on the west

Lifecycle 1939–1941, Construction; 2000–2011, Demolition;
Controlling gangs Gangster Disciples; Black P Stones;

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Jane Addams Homes

Hood(s) Near West Side;
Location

Cabrini Street/Ada Street on the north, Roosevelt Road on the south, Racine Avenue on the east, Loomis Street on the west

Lifecycle 1938–1939, Construction; 2002–2002, Demolition;
Controlling gangs New Breeds; Vice Lords; Imperial Chaplins; 14th Street Clovers;

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Julia C. Lathrop Homes

Hood(s) North Center;
Location

Clybourn Avenue and Wellington Avenue to Oakdale Avenue on the north, _Damen Ave and the Chicago River on the south, Clybourn Avenue to Damen Avenue on the east, Chicago River on the west

Lifecycle 1937–1937, Construction;
Controlling gangs Gangster Disciples; Black P Stones; Latin Kings; Insane Deuces;

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Lake Park Properties

Hood(s) Oakland;
Location

Oakwood Boulevard on the north, 42nd Place on the south, Lake Shore Drive on the east, Lake Park Avenue on the west

Lifecycle 1952–1963, Construction; 1991–1991, Demolition of everything except 3983 S. Lake Park Avenue;

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Lawndale Gardens Homes

Hood(s) Little Village (South Lawndale);
Location

25th Street on the north, 26th Street on the south, Washtenaw Avenue on the east, California Avenue on the west

Lifecycle 1942–1942, Construction;
Controlling gangs Vice Lords; Gangster Disciples; Latin Kings;

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Leclaire Courts

Hood(s) Garfield Ridge;
Location

43rd Street on the north, 45th Street on the south, Cicero Avenue on the east, Lavergne Avenue on the west

Lifecycle 1949–1950, Construction; 1953–1954, Construction; 2009–2011, Demolition;
Controlling gangs Gangster Disciples; Vice Lords; Black P Stones; Four Corner Hustlers;

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Loomis Courts

Hood(s) Near West Side;
Location

14th Street on the north, 15th Street on the south, Racine Avenue on the east, Loomis Street on the west

Lifecycle 1950–1952, Construction;
Controlling gangs Vice Lords; New Breeds; 14th Street Clovers; Imperial Chaplins;

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Lowden Homes

Hood(s) Roseland;
Location

91st Street on the north, 95th Street on the south, Wentworth Avenue on the east, Eggleston Avenue on the west

Lifecycle 1942–1943, Construction;
Controlling gangs Black P Stones; Gangster Disciples;

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Madden Park Homes

Hood(s) Oakland;
Location

37th Street on the north, Pershing Road on the south, Lake Park Avenue on the east, Ellis Avenue on the west

Lifecycle 1969–1970, Construction; 1999–2005, Demolition;
Controlling gangs Gangster Disciples; Black P Stones;

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Maplewood Courts

Hood(s) Near West Side;
Location

Jackson Boulevard on the north, Van Buren Street on the south, Maplewood Avenue on the east, railroad tracks on the west

Lifecycle 1961–1961, Construction; 2014–2014, Demolition;
Controlling gangs Four Corner Hustlers;

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Ogden Courts

Hood(s) North Lawndale;
Location

13th Place on the north, Ogden Avenue on the south, Talman Avenue on the east, Fairfield Avenue on the west, 2650 W. Ogden Avenue and 2710 West Ogden Avenue

Lifecycle 1953–1954, Construction; 2005–2005, Demolition;
Controlling gangs Vice Lords;

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Parkway Gardens

Hood(s) Greater Grand Crossing;
Location

63rd Street on the north, 66th Street on the south, Martin Luther King Drive on the east, Calumet Avenue on the west

Lifecycle 1950–1955, Construction;
Controlling gangs Gangster Disciples; Black Disciples;

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Prairie Courts

Hood(s) Douglas;
Location

26th Street on the north, 29th Street on the south, Martin Luther King Drive on the east, Prairie Avenue on the west

Lifecycle 1950–1952, Construction; 1998–1998, Relocation of tenants; 2000–2001, Demolition;
Controlling gangs Gangster Disciples;

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Racine Courts

Hood(s) Washington Heights;
Location

106th Street on the north, 107th street on the south along Racine Avenue

Lifecycle 1951–1951, Construction;
Controlling gangs Gangster Disciples;

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Raymond Hilliard Center

Hood(s) Near South Side;
Location

Cullerton Street on the north, Cermak Road on the south, State Street on the east, Clark Street on the west

Lifecycle 1966–1966, Construction;
Controlling gangs Gangster Disciples;

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Robert Brooks Homes

Hood(s) Near West Side;
Location

Low rises Roosevelt Avenue on the north, 14th Street on the south, Racine Avenue on the east, Loomis Street on the west. High rise extensions – Roosevelt Road on the north, Blue Island Avenue and Racine Avenue on the south, Blue Island Avenue on the east, Racine Avenue on the west

Lifecycle 1942–1943, Construction; 1960–1961, Extension of high-rises; 1998–2001, Renovation; 1998–2001, Demolition;
Controlling gangs Vice Lords; New Breeds; Imperial Chaplins; 14th Street Clovers;

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Robert Taylor Homes

Hood(s) Douglas; Washington Park; Grand Boulevard;
Location

Pershing Road on the north, 54th Street on the south, State Street on the east, Federal Street on the west

Lifecycle 1959–1962, Construction; 1998–2006, Demolition;
Controlling gangs Gangster Disciples; Black Disciples; Mickey Cobras;

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Rockwell Gardens

Hood(s) Near West Side;
Location

Madison Street on the north, Van Buren Street on the south, Western Avenue on the east, Rockwell Street on the west

Lifecycle 1958–1959, Construction; 2003–2006, Demolition;
Controlling gangs Vice Lords; Gangster Disciples; Four Corner Hustlers;

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Stateway Gardens

Hood(s) Douglas;
Location

35th Street on the north, Pershing Road on the south, State Street on the east, Federal Street on the west

Lifecycle 1955–1958, Construction; 2000–2007, Demolition;
Controlling gangs Gangster Disciples; Black Disciples;

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Trumbull Park Homes

Hood(s) South Deering;
Location

105th Street on the north, 109th Street on the south, Bensely Avenue on the east, Oglesby Avenue on the west

Lifecycle 1938–1939, Construction;
Controlling gangs Gangster Disciples; Vice Lords;

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Washington Park Homes

Hood(s) Grand Boulevard;
Location
Lifecycle

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Wentworth Gardens

Hood(s) Armour Square;
Location

37th Street on the north, Pershing Road on the south, Wentworth Avenue on the east, Princeton Street on the west

Lifecycle 1944–1945, Construction;
Controlling gangs Gangster Disciples; Mickey Cobras;

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