Washington Park is a historic South Side Chicago neighborhood, that had once been a thriving example of diversity in an suburban area. In the late 19th century, the community was composed of various ethnic groups with affluent statuses, that began to develop the community further as transportation routes were being constructed. By the turn of the century however, a racial transition began to take place as Chicago's African American community expanded southwards during the Great Migration. The transition was rapid and violent with protests and with much racial tension, the neighborhood became predominantly black. 

The neighborhood has since been associated with urban blight, poverty, under-developments, and has one of the highest concentration of public housing in America. With populations also declining, and increasing building vacancies how can design be used to stimulate a much needed look at redevelopment?