Renovate the infrastructure [Altgeld Gardens (AG) and Murray Homes (MH)], site and interior spaces (MEP and Architectural) in 162 buildings/1498 units (Altgeld Gardens). Improve electrical, heating, and plumbing in the units. Provide ADA compliant units. Provide exterior building improvements. Demolish and rebuild all electrical/mechanical rooms. Provide site improvements including new site utilities, parking lots, sidewalks, landscaping, etc. Provide remediation of all environmental hazards.

The combined projects (Altgeld Gardens and Murray Homes) include roughly 225 buildings, 1998 dwelling units over 17 block groups within 190 acres. It is the most self-contained and comprehensive public housing development ever constructed in Chicago.

Altgeld Gardens and Murray Homes (Altgeld-Murray) are located on the far South Side of Chicago in the Riverdale Community Area. Boundaries extend from 130th Street on the north to the City limits at 138th Street on the south, and between the railroad tracks on the west and the Bishop Ford Freeway (I-94) on the east. The Calumet River traverses the Altgeld Gardens and Murray Homes (Altgeld-Murray).

Altgeld Gardens
Altgeld Gardens is the older portion of the CHA development. Its 1,498 two-story units were constructed in 1945. It was the response of the federal government and the CHA to one of the greatest needs of war-worker housing for black workers in the Far South Side—Lake Calumet industrial area.

Included in the center of the development is a shopping center, privately developed on land sold by the federal government. It originally contained a cooperatively owned food store, drug and variety stores, doctor’s offices, beauty and barber shops and a tavern.

There are also the standard features of public housing developments: playgrounds, a community center, and city park. In 1950 an interdenominational church was built, under sponsorship of the Church Federation of Greater Chicago.

Murray Homes
Murray Homes was completed nine years later in 1954, adding 500 units to the development for a total unit count just shy of 2,000.

The two-story row houses, designed by Naess and Murphy, were similar to, if somewhat simpler than, the adjacent houses of Altgeld Gardens. The Murray project also included additions and alterations to the Altgeld community buildings.