| Building Name: | Rockwell Gardens |
| Location: | Chicago, Illinois |
| Coordinates: | 41.8767°N -87.6894°W |
| Status: | Demolished |
| Constructed: | 1958-1959 |
| Demolished: | 2000-2006 |
| Governing Body: | Chicago Housing Authority |
Rockwell Gardens was a Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) public housing project located in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States.[1] It was the first public housing development in the United States to be constructed using both federal and state funds.[2] The original structures were designed by Nicol & Nicol and covered . 1,126 units of land. The second complex (Maplewood Courts) were located along Jackson Blvd and were standard Walk-up units in row like formations. This section is now a park as of 2014. The entire complex was located approximately west of the Chicago Loop, bordered by Madison Street, Van Buren Street, Western Avenue, and Rockwell Street.[3]
In the late 1980s, Rockwell Gardens was a part of Chicago's "Operation Clean Sweep." This was a comprehensive government and police operation to clear city housing projects of the rampant gang activity, drug dealers, and other violent criminals who were a constant problem.[4] The ultimate failure of this (and previous) cleanup programs eventually led to the Chicago Housing Authority's plan in the 1990s to demolish and redevelop city projects.
Rockwell Gardens is a part of the Chicago Housing Authority's "Plan for Transformation," which encompasses a complete demolition and reconstruction of virtually all public housing projects in the city of Chicago into mixed-income communities. Demolition and complete redevelopment began in 2000, intended to provide a total of 750 housing units, of which 264 are reserved for current CHA residents.[3] Demolition was completed in 2006.