Chicago, Illinois
USX South Works Redevelopment Plan

The USX South Works site on Chicago's southeast side was once the site of one of the country's largest steel plants. In the mid 1950's, the 600 acre facility employed over 20,000 workers. Fundamental changes in the steel industry and the gradual obsolescence of this manufacturing plant, brought about the decline and eventual closure of steel making operations in the early 1980's. In spite of its many amenities, redevelopment of the site has languished. The site has over 800 feet of frontage on Lake Michigan and is one of the largest single tracts of land available for redevelopment in the city. However, factors that have hindered redevelopment include the lack of easy access to the expressway system and blighted conditions in the surrounding neighborhood.

Camiros prepared a plan of mixed residential and industrial use on behalf of prospective codevelopers, the Habitat Company and Hiffman Shaffer Associates. The northerly third of the site was devoted to residential redevelopment, designed as a traditional urban neighborhood, consistent with the principles of the "new urbanism" movement. A mix of ownership and rental units was proposed, appealing to people of varied income levels. The street system was designed as a modified grid, promoting unity and interaction within the neighborhood, but also providing visual interest through the creation of boulevards, squares and other small open spaces. A lakefront promenade and linear park were proposed along the entire lake frontage, with a lakefront neighborhood park serving as the community focal point. A 30 acre commercial shopping area was located immediately west of the residential area to provide complementary services.

The balance of the site was devoted to industrial/distribution use. The rail service that once moved raw materials and finished steel products on and off the site was still in place and served as a vital mode of transportation for the large scale distribution users. New spur lines were constructed to serve these new distribution users, creating opportunities for intermodal operations. Over 6.5 million square feet of industrial/distribution development was proposed, providing thousands of new jobs. The plan was used as the basis of negotiations between USX and the Habitat Company/Hiffman Shaffer Associates.