CNDA Ceremony Shows Growth in Field
About 1,400 community development professionals and other city leaders recently gathered for the 14th annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards to celebrate the growth in the field – both in the sheer amount of neighborhood improvement activity and in the comprehensiveness of projects and community planning throughout the city.
Before the CNDA ceremony, attendees were treated to "Outside In: The Second City's Take on Community Improv-ment."
Juan Francisco Hernandez
The ceremony Feb. 7 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago — sponsored by LISC/Chicago and co-sponsored by a plethora of banks, insurance companies, developers, realty agencies, non-profit organizations and others – began with a few laughs. Attendees were treated to “Outside In: The Second City’s Take on Community Improv-ment,” which featured skits that lampooned everything from the rationalizations of former protesters to the spinning of political candidates during a debate.
“CNDA has become a wonderful tradition,” said Andy Mooney, Executive Director of LISC/Chicago. “As always, we have terrific awardees tonight. It’s a chance for old friends to get together and share a few laughs, especially this year, with Second City.”
Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Habitat Company and a former commissioner of the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development and mayoral deputy chief of staff, recalled the first-ever CNDA ceremony, when organizers feared no one would show up. Surveying the more than 130 tables of attendees, she said, “It’s hard to believe that after all these years, we were able to accumulate the talent and enthusiasm we see here tonight.”
"CNDA has become a wonderful tradition," said LISC/Chicago Executive Director Andy Mooney.
Juan Francisco Hernandez
Mooney recognized the many top city officials in attendance, ranging from department heads, to city council members, to Mayor Daley himself, who took a break from meeting with the Secretary General of the United Nations to deliver the keynote address.
“It’s only with the level of collaboration and cooperation that we get from city officials that we get anything done,” Mooney said. “Our awardees demonstrate that richness of Chicago’s neighborhoods and the exciting things that are happening. We also need [city] leadership.” He praised Daley and his administration for “always supporting, always pushing to make our neighborhoods better.”
Daley thanks Mooney for his leadership and counsel. “Community organizations are the spirit of the city,” he said. “Some people see things and don’t think it’s going to change. You community people know it can change. I want to congratulate all of the awardees.”
Daley thanked members of the city council for their support in pushing through the state’s recent bailout of the Chicago Transit Authority. “It was not a perfect bill, but like anything else, at the last minute, what are you going to do? It’s easy to vote ‘no,’ ” he said. “Public transportation is important to every community.”
Mayor Daley, who gave the keynote address, chats before the ceremony with Richard H. Driehaus, who won one award and gave out three others.
Juan Francisco Hernandez
The mayor urged the state legislature, controlled by Democrats, to use that opportunity to fund schools at a higher level. He said Chicago’s schools have been improving, partly thanks to money from tax-increment financing (TIF) districts. “That’s money that can be used right in the community,” Daley said.
But perhaps Daley’s strongest passions were reserved for the mortgage foreclosure crisis, with 14,000 homes foreclosed across Chicago in 2007, and recent tax reassessments that he suggested have not accounted for the stagnating housing market. “That has to be dealt with immediately,” he said. “This is going to start destroying more and more communities. It is very, very alarming. This is a crisis now.”
Daley asked those in the room for their ideas and suggestions on how to solve that and other challenges facing Chicago and its neighborhoods. “You truly are the heroes of our city,” he said. “I want to thank you for all your help in the past and in the future.”
"To me, it's a miracle," says Christy Webber of Christy Webber Landscapes, whose Rancho Verde industrial park - designed for her company by Chicago GreenWorks - received recognition.
Juan Francisco Hernandez
“As always, the mayor leaves us a little breathless and with a full agenda to follow,” Mooney said, before turning the program toward the awardees, each of whom received a brief introduction from a CNDA sponsor followed by a short film about their accomplishments.
The nine awardees in seven categories were as follows:
The Chicago Community Trust Outstanding Community Strategy of the Year award went to Lawndale Christian Development Corporation, a lead agency in LISC/Chicago’s New Communities Program. Trust CEO Terry Mazany said LCDC has brought together “strategically and harmoniously” all the elements of strategic, comprehensive community development, from housing and commercial development to schools, parks and job training. LCDC Executive Director Kim Jackson thanked her staff, funders and residents of North Lawndale. “Without those who helped lay the foundation, I would not be able to stand here this evening,” she said.
The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Outstanding Non-Profit Real Estate Project went to the Center on Halsted, the new home of the Horizons Community Service Center for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Chicagoans. “We in Chicago’s LGBT community are honored and humbled to be included in such an outstanding roster of awardees,” said Jim Alexander, vice chair of the center. “We work in a honey of a building.”
About 1,400 people attended the 14th annual awards, which have grown tremendously in size and breadth.
Juan Francisco Hernandez
Outstanding For-Profit Neighborhood Real Estate Project Award went to Chicago GreenWorks for the Rancho Verde industrial park, built for Christy Webber Landscapes and other landscaping companies. “To me, it’s a miracle,” Webber said. “It is, to me, following the dream of the mayor and working with the city that helped us put it together. To be able to develop something on the West Side … is an honor and a privilege.”
The Special Recognition Award went to the St. Leo's Campus for Veterans in Auburn Gresham, which presenter Julie Chavez of Bank of America said “meets the spiritual needs of a too-often-neglected population.” Bill D’Arcy from the campus said the project is the result of a four-year dream that Fr. Michael Bolan of Catholic Charities wanted to pursue. “It’s a wonderful campus,” he said. “It’s a dream come true.”
The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Architectural Excellence in Community Design went to Landon Bone Baker Architects (first place), Stanley Tigerman (second place), and Murphy/Jahn (third place).
Landon Bone Baker won for La Casa Norte's Solid Ground Supportive Housing Building in Humboldt Park, a residential and service center for 16 homeless teens that’s run by a key partner in the New Communities Program in Humboldt Park. “Our firm feels really fortunate to have worked on a project like this,” said principal Jeff Bone, who lauded the client, neighborhood, program, building and contractor. “It’s a real joy for us as architects” to visit the project now and meet the teenage residents.
Stanley Tigerman received second place for the new home of Pacific Garden Mission, which can provide food and shelter for 1,000 men and women a day. “We welcome you to come see it, regardless of your economic status,” Tigerman said.
Carlos Nelson (center), executive director of Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corp., received the new Norman Bobins Leadership Award.
Juan Francisco Hernandez
Murphy/Jahn got third place for Mercy Housing Lakefront's Margot and Harold Schiff Residences, which provides energy-efficient housing for low-income residents. “Few would have thought that architectural excellence and community development had so much in common,” said presenter Sunny Fischer of the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. “Our work has gotten tough as the quality of the projects has deepened,” said Jesus Garcia of Little Village Community Development Corp. and a member of the Driehaus Award Jury.
The Friend of the Neighborhood Award went to Richard H. Driehaus, a fitting tribute as the Driehaus Awards turn a decade old. “To receive the Friend of the Neighborhood Award in this city of neighborhoods gives me great satisfaction,” Driehaus said, recalling the original impetus for the Driehaus Award: “Wouldn’t it be a good idea to have better design in our neighborhoods? What about an award?” He added that 2008 marks the 100th anniversary of Daniel Burnham’s plan for Chicago. “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood,” he said, quoting Burnham. “Make big plans, aim high and hope.”
The new Norman Bobins Leadership Award that honors emerging community development leaders went to Carlos Nelson, executive director of the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation, another New Communities Program lead agency that has made big plans, aimed high and stirred hope in its community. “The first winner of this award sets a very high bar for future awardees,” Jarrett said. “Carlos Nelson has been a hidden treasure – until now, that is.” Nelson recalled that his parents encouraged him to work for and with his people and to remain humble. “Receiving an award like this is a very humbling experience,” he said. “This work is not work at all, but an immeasurable joy.”