Know Your History

 

 

 

 Ever wonder, with the rich history that is Ford City Mall and Ford City Condominiums, why we don't have a historical landmark or historic district disgination?

 

 

Check out the history of the Ford City Mall by clicking here.

 

 

The history of the Ford City Condominiums is intertwined with that of the mall.  Our complex was built by the same developer that developed the mall.  Harry F. Chaddick originally planned for the complex to be called Chaddick Village but changed it to Ford City Village.  According to the August 6, 1968 Chicago Tribune, Our complex was orginally designed to include three 15 story, fourteen 5 story, and five 2 story buildings.  There were suppose to be a whopping 1,050 units in our complex and it was suppose to take up all the land between Pulaski and Kostner on the east and west, and 76th street and Ford City Drive on the north and south.  As you can see, that didn't happen.

 

In 1968 in one of the huge parking lots used by Dodge Chicago Plant/Ford Motor plant, Harry F. Chaddick developed the land and built the Village Apartments. In 1975 the gold, five story office building was built at 76th Street and Kostner Avenue. The Ford City Village apartments were sold to Astor Investments in 1979.  Astor then began the process of converting the apartments to what is now known as The Ford City Condominiums.  The condo homes were celebrated as being a new idea in housing specifically because each unit was all electric [heating and cooking].  The completed conversion project cost between 16-20 million dollars.  The condos sold for between $23,000 and $35,000.

 

In announcing the passing of Mr. Harry F. Chaddick, the Chicago Tribune wrote

 

“Chicago real estate developer Harry F. Chaddick made his early fortune in trucking and opened the city's first and most successful shopping mall (Ford City Mall).” The Tribune continues:

 

“In 1924, at the age of 22, Mr. Chaddick founded American Transportation Co. when he bought his first truck for $350. During his years in trucking, he popularized "piggyback" transportation, which expanded the country's goods delivery system by integrating rail and trucks. His trucks were among the first to use two-way radios.”

 

The Tribune relates that as a part of his duties in 1934 as a member of a truck company owner lobby, Mr. Chaddick  “often engaged in heated discussions with Teamsters President, Jimmy Hoffa.” As stated in the article on the history of the neighborhood, Mr. Chaddick is a significant historical figure that shaped the past and present of the area, the Ford City Condominiums, and the City of Chicago. The Tribune continues

 

“By 1957, Chaddick was divesting himself of his trucking interests and moving into urban planning and commercial development. That year, he drafted Chicago's first Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, requiring more plaza space in new Loop buildings, such as the Daley Center, First Chicago Plaza and others along Dearborn Street.  He turned unused vacant land into a very successful place for shopping.  Chaddick's 1961 Ford City Mall project was among the city's first enclosed malls and some predicted it would become a 'white elephant'.  Mr. Chaddick also developed Brickyard (which was eventually torn down).”

 

The Tribune also states:

 

“Despite his success, Mr. Chaddick got involved in helping less fortunate people.  He helped start the Salvation Army's social service center on Chicago's South Side, where meals and family counseling are offered free. Mr. Chaddick was key in developing a 51-unit senior citizens residence for the charitable organization.” 

 

The 1994 article ends with a mention of the Harry F. Chaddick & Elaine Chaddick Foundation and the Chaddick Institute for Urban Affairs at DePaul University.

 

DePaul University states, “During World War II, Harry's knowledge of transportation earned him an appointment to oversee the transport of men and materials to North Africa, when others couldn't do it.". The Southwest Herald reports, "Harry F. Chaddick’s redevelopment of the Ford City Complex was a major contribution to the economical growth of the Southwest Side of Chicago and surrounding suburbs."

 

 

Wonder why the name Chaddick Village was dumped for The Ford City Village and eventually the Ford City Condominiums.  Wonder why a complex designed and constructed by a Chairman of the City Zoning Board of Appeals  and real estate mogul wouldn't proudly carry his name.

 

 

Source:

 

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-06-01/news/9406010031_1_trucking-successful-shopping-malls-chicago-real-estate-developer

 

http://las.depaul.edu/centers-and-institutes/chaddick-institute-for-metropolitan-development/about/Pages/about-harry-chaddick.aspx

 

https://www.facebook.com/SouthWest.News.Herald/posts/683987501647010