Pruitt Igeo, the assumed utopian solution to public housing. An 11 storied, 2870 unite apartment constructed on a large plot of 57 acres. A poor man’s dream house full furnished, equipped with state of the art amenities and a dream come true for every single resident. It was proposed to create a better image for the city and to contain the economically weaker society in an economical enclosure.
The enclosed space for residential living for people of similar backgrounds and economic stature was intended to create a sense of security, community and upliftment. This was readily accepted by the aspiring resident in exchange for freedom and will. The lack of planning for the future of these housing developments ultimately led to its downfall.
Primarily, public housing is a temporary housing solution for people of lower economic stature to reside in for low rents until they found better jobs, etc. Unfortunately Pruitt Igeo was set up in a period where the African American community was looked down upon, were discriminated, treated unequally and tried to isolate from the otherwise “white” America. This made it very it very difficult for the black community to find jobs and find better positions to sustain themselves, this further forced them to depend on the system which failed them on every level. …show more content…
Maintenance became the biggest issue, the lack of jobs for the community, the low rents and the low government funds could not afford the nigh maintenance costs of the state of the art facilities. The living conditions deteriorated, lack of safety and hygiene was predominant and the stench of poverty spread wide and fast in the projects. The lack of empathy, isolation and prejudice from the outside resulted in frustration and anger among the residents. Frustration and hate crimes increased inside which highly stigmatized the black community and the residents of the Pruitt Igeo
The enclosed space for residential living for people of similar backgrounds and economic stature was intended to create a sense of security, community and upliftment. This was readily accepted by the aspiring resident in exchange for freedom and will. The lack of planning for the future of these housing developments ultimately led to its downfall.
Primarily, public housing is a temporary housing solution for people of lower economic stature to reside in for low rents until they found better jobs, etc. Unfortunately Pruitt Igeo was set up in a period where the African American community was looked down upon, were discriminated, treated unequally and tried to isolate from the otherwise “white” America. This made it very it very difficult for the black community to find jobs and find better positions to sustain themselves, this further forced them to depend on the system which failed them on every level. …show more content…
Maintenance became the biggest issue, the lack of jobs for the community, the low rents and the low government funds could not afford the nigh maintenance costs of the state of the art facilities. The living conditions deteriorated, lack of safety and hygiene was predominant and the stench of poverty spread wide and fast in the projects. The lack of empathy, isolation and prejudice from the outside resulted in frustration and anger among the residents. Frustration and hate crimes increased inside which highly stigmatized the black community and the residents of the Pruitt Igeo