Protesters Demonstrate Outside Historic Humboldt Park House Slated To Be Torn Down For High-End Homes
(CBS) -- Several dozen people held a protest Saturday outside a historic home in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, not far from the new 606 elevated trail, that's slated to be torn down for high-end homes.
People from the neighborhood, preservationists and others held signs and chanted in front of the 1880s home at 1724 North Humboldt.
Lynda Lopez, of Grassroots Illinois Action, told WBBM that $900,000 homes are not a good fit for the neighborhood.
"It's definitely beyond the price range of working class families, people of color in this community and with the gentrification happening with the 606 we felt like we needed to respond," Lopez said.
Dolly Hernandez grew up in Humboldt Park and says "It happened (gentrification, prices pushing people out) in Lincoln Park in the 60s and now it's happening over here, they're taking over here and I'm here to save my community."
Ward Miller with Preservation Chicago says the house should be part of the Chicago Landmark District and told WBBM that, "landmarks and affordability and landmarks and healthy communities go hand-in-hand."
WBBM has reached out to the developer, Perry Casalino of Newcastle Development, for comment but has not heard back.