Woodlawn Central is an 8.5-acre mixed-use district designed to keep wealth, culture, and opportunity in the hands of the people who built this community. It’s a direct response to displacement, disinvestment, and outside forces trying to reshape Woodlawn without its people.
Located on 63rd Street near the 63rd Street Station, Woodlawn Central is a transit-connected district that brings together affordable and market-rate housing, Black-owned businesses, performance venues, creative workspaces, and faith-based community resources. It’s designed to be a place where entrepreneurs can launch, artists can create, families can plant roots, and the community can gather.
This isn’t about
the South Side. It’s about it.
owning
owning
“reimagining”
“reimagining”
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Woodlawn Central is a commitment to self-determined Black progress—a space that blends technology, culture, hospitality, and commerce to shape the future without erasing the past.
A major faith-based center that anchors the community’s spiritual and social life.
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Multigenerational housing that keeps families in the neighborhood.
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A business incubator that supports Black entrepreneurs.
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Festival streets and performance venues to showcase music, art, and cultural events.
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Workforce housing and luxury living options for a balanced, inclusive community.
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Walkable plazas and transit connections that make the district easy to navigate.
It features:
The Crash & The Comeback
The Crash & The Comeback
Disinvestment hit hard. Factories shut down. The city turned its back. But Woodlawn doesn’t break. It reinvents. It rebuilds. It refuses to disappear.
And now? We’re making sure the next chapter is written by us.
From Migration to Momentum
From Migration to Momentum
They came from the South—families chasing something better, building businesses, making music, carving out a future. By the 1950s, Woodlawn was a powerhouse of Black culture and commerce.
The History of Woodlawn
The History of Woodlawn
Woodlawn didn’t happen by accident. It was claimed, brick by brick, by people who refused to be erased.
Power to the People
Power to the People
The system tried to push us out. We pushed back. When the University of Chicago expanded, The Woodlawn Organization (TWO) fought for the right to stay. When redlining cut off opportunity, Black entrepreneurs built their own pathways.
An Investment in the Future of Our Community
Woodlawn Central is an 8.5-acre mixed-use district designed to keep wealth, culture, and opportunity in the hands of the people who built this community. It’s a direct response to displacement, disinvestment, and outside forces trying to reshape Woodlawn without its people.
Located on 63rd Street near the 63rd Street Station, Woodlawn Central is a transit-connected district that brings together affordable and market-rate housing, Black-owned businesses, performance venues, creative workspaces, and faith-based community resources. It’s designed to be a place where entrepreneurs can launch, artists can create, families can plant roots, and the community can gather.
Explore the Vision
2000s - Present
The History of Woodlawn:
Community-led efforts focus on rebuilding—expanding affordable housing, supporting Black businesses, and preserving cultural spaces. The Obama Presidential Center sparks investment and debate over gentrification.
NOW
Woodlawn Central is a community-driven, 8.5-acre district designed to keep wealth, culture, and opportunity in the hands of the people who built this neighborhood. With housing, Black-owned businesses, creative spaces, and public plazas, Woodlawn Central ensures that the future of this community is shaped by those who call it home.
Late 1800s - Early 1900s
Woodlawn emerges as a rail and streetcar hub, attracting white middle-class families and early businesses.
1910s - 1970s
The Great Migration transforms Woodlawn into a thriving Black community, fueling homeownership, business, and activism.
1940s - 1960s
Black-owned businesses, jazz clubs, and churches flourish. The University of Chicago expands, displacing Black families and sparking resistance.
1960s - 1970s
The Woodlawn Organization (TWO), led by Rev. Arthur Brazier, fights back—blocking displacement and securing resources for Black homeowners.
1980s - 1990s
Factory closures, redlining, and disinvestment take a toll, leading to job loss, vacant buildings, and rising crime.
The Future of Woodlawn is Now
GET INVOLVED
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We honor the past while building the future—a space where community, commerce, and creativity thrive together.
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Woodlawn Central is a direct response to a history of displacement, disinvestment, and community resilience.
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It builds on the legacy of self-determination and activism, ensuring that wealth and opportunity stay within the community.
It honors the entrepreneurs, artists, and leaders who made Woodlawn a beacon of Black excellence while adapting for the future without erasure.
Our Community ● Our Community ● Our Community ● Our Community ● Our Community ● Our Community ● Our Community ● Our Community ● Our Community ●
