This study outlines a proposal for the strategic rebuilding of "North Washington Park," a small section of Grand Boulevard, located in the Mid South region of Chicago. Despite the underdeveloped, destabilized physical character of the community, active community residents and community-oriented organizations have significant internal resources and strengths which, if adequately articulated, can contribute to rebuilding of the overall neighborhood. Provident Hospital, as a development catalyst, will have significant overall economic and broader social development impacts on the community and its diverse residents. There are many examples of partnerships for community development between communities and major hospitals as anchor institutions. If appropriately organized, area residents can have significant interactions with Provident Hospital. The Hospital has emerged as the major anchor institution in the immediate community. The study makes strategic recommendations on ways to move forward by building on the relationship between Provident Hospital to its neighbors, capitalizing on the immediate, regional and citywide development climate. Principally, it is suggested that area residents and the Urban Development Corporation reach an accommodation and forge partnership with the hospital to accomplish a variety of tasks. Among these are improving the local economy, local resident employment linkages and social support structures.
The report encourages UDC to play a leading role in forming a community-directed strategy for leveraging the hospital's institutional resources to contribute to area redevelopment. The report further asserts that local resident leadership in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the redevelopment process is crucial to long-term community-building in 'North Washington Park' and the broader area.