Following World War II, the neighborhood transitioned to become the first African-American community on Chicago’s west side. As a community experiencing frequent waves of migrants and cultures, Lawndale was a testing ground for ideas and activism. Its residents provided important contributions to Zionism, civil rights, housing policies, industrial psychology and scientific management, community organizing and the Black Power movement.
In addition to its significant social and historical assets, Lawndale has an incredible “built environment” that has been celebrated by a number of architectural and historical advocacy groups. Several charter schools have opened in an effort to enhance the community’s educational infrastructure, including the award-winning Power House High School and the Legacy Academy (K-8). North Lawndale’s proximity to Chicago’s Loop, the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Illinois Medical District, and other important Chicago institutions makes it a highly desirable location for investment, both residentially and commercially.
North Lawndale is also the “buckle on the Greystone belt”, containing a high concentration of historic homes with limestone facades. NHS has recently launched the Historic Chicago Greystone Initiative ® in North Lawndale, a project which promotes the documentation, preservation, and repair of these beautiful buildings.