“Its the end of an era” said Chicago’s Housing Authority President Lewis Jordan.  The last tenants have moved out of Chicago’s infamous Cabrini Green public housing.  The broken down, dilapidated high rise structures, that lingered as a dangerous eyesore in the city’s downtown area for decades, are being torn down.

Cabrini Green now stands as an example of what didn’t work.  The projects were built by the government as an experiment in the 1950’s, with the idea that a lot of needy people could be housed together at low cost.  A series of high rises and mid rises were clumped together in one area.  At its peak, about 15,000 people lived there.   It was the largest concentration of poor people anywhere in the country.  It was like a small city within the city—but over the years it became more like a small, crime ridden, gang infested city.  There were rapes, robberies and murders on site.  Yet one of the most affluent neighborhoods of Chicago was just blocks away.

“Public housing initially was to be temporary housing…It was not designed for families, for generations of people…but it became permanent” said Northwestern University professor of social enterprise, Don Haider.  ”Once you put all the poor population in one place and you segregate them and you isolate them…it causes tremendous problems”.

The Department of Housing decided to tear it all down and start over again.  Its called “The Plan For Transformation”.  Residents of the decaying high rises were moved into other housing structures.  Some now live in rehabbed row houses.  The luckiest ones live in luxurious mixed income developments, that have hardwood floors, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and balconies with beautiful views of the city skyline.  There’s even a workout room downstairs.

Its a far cry from Cabrini Green.  ”My place is really really nice” said Deidre Brewster, who has been in and out of public housing for 15 years “I feel victorious living here”.

But there are some who question the tax dollars spent on some of the most expensive real estate in the city, as use for public housing “I wish I could afford to live in a place like this.  It doesn’t seem fair” said a nurse who didn’t want her name used.  ”Where the heck can I apply?” one man joked.

But experts say its this type of mixed housing that just might encourage people to turn their lives around and get off the dole.  Future generations of children will be encouraged by seeing their neighbors working and have better role models.  ”Income mix…has more beneficial impact than simply housing them all in one place.  Economic integration is far more important than simply racial integration” said Haider.

55 year old Brenda Lockett and her family were moved from Cabrini Green to one of the rehabbed row houses six months ago.  Its a big change for Lockett, whose lived in the high rise for 40 years.  ”I raised eight children in Cabrini Green” she says proudly.

“I love living here!” Lockett says about her new 2 story, 3 bedroom home “It really feels like a home.  I never want to leave.  Its like from the pit to the palace”.

Once again, Chicago is developing a housing experiment.  City leaders say only time will tell if it works.