115th & Michigan

We can add these pics to the historical pile in the future. As of May 2025 when I took these pics, this is how this corner looks. And it will be a stop on the CTA Red Line extension, and I've shared proposals for what should be built next to the future L stop. I suppose this block would be ripe for some transit oriented development. The Red Line extension is currently underconstruction and the future is here!

Chicago Yimby: Finalist Revealed For Roseland RFQ Along Red Line Extension

Check out the two proposals to develop the long vacant lot on the southwest corner of 115th & Michigan which used be home to a retail strip back in the day. The development would be perfect for the soon to come CTA Red Line extension where a stop would be located nearby.

A grocery store would be a good pick-up for that corner and certainly a cafe or restaurant. In addition to whatever retail that may come there will be some housing with some green space. And then of course a park & ride for those who will be taking the Red Line.

When you see these proposals what are your thoughts? What would like to see at 115th & Michigan?

CharlieBo313: Chicago south side Roseland hood/Wild 100s

 

[VIDEO] CharlieBo on YouTube driving around Roseland primarily along South Michigan Avenue from as far south as 119th Street to about 108th Street. That YouTuber primarily drives around urban areas, seemingly decaying urban areas.

One could look at South Michigan Avenue as a decaying area, however, I like to look at what could be. A lot of vacant lots and boarded up buildings, houses, etc. Fortunes could change and as it seems has been said a lot on this page with the Red Line extension there's an opportunity there.

Sun-Times: CTA launching 'Frequent Network' bus service on some routes that will arrive every 10 minutes or sooner

CTA

 Old news but the longtime President of the Chicago Transit Authority - Dorval Carter - had retired in January. Many viewed him as the main problem as far as improving service on the rails and the buses. 

Then this recent article from the Sun-Times which affects many south side bus routes:

The Chicago Transit Authority said it will launch “Frequent Network” bus service that will arrive every 10 minutes or sooner beginning later this month.

Buses on eight routes will arrive every 10 minutes or sooner between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends beginning March 23, the CTA said in a news release.

The first routes to be part of the network are the J14 Jeffery Jump; No. 34 South Michigan; No. 47 47th Street; No. 54 Cicero; No. 60 Blue Island/26th; No. 63 63rd Street; No. 79 79th Street; and No. 95 95th Street.

The program is expected to increase service by at least 25% on the J14,  No. 34, No. 47, No. 60, and No. 95 routes, the transit agency said.

...

The service will be added to another 12 routes by the end of the year, the CTA said.

The riders who thought this was good news had often complained about waits for buses. It seems to be an ongoing complaint over the years about service, the wait times for a bus or train. Another issue was safety and I have my own story about that.

If you're a frequent CTA rider do you think this is a good development? Are you riding any of those routes above and have any experience with long waits for service? 

Three Sisters on Michigan Avenue #tbt

 Another photo found through the Roseland History Facebook group. This photo is undated though I do remember the Three Sisters chain which had locations throughout the city.

This photo I really like because these days the shopping area on Michigan Avenue seems depressed boarded up and those business that are open are often locked up with burglar bars when they're closed for the evening. And you see wide open windows with displays and this would be a nice thing to find in the neighborhood at least for those businesses which would be benefit from this.

#TBT Michigan Avenue in Roseland

Long time no see. Allow me to wish you all a Happy New Year. Hopefully the past holiday season was a wonderful and joyous one.

I found the three pics below in the Roseland History Group on Facebook and just though this was a great look back at Michigan Avenue in the past. And my hope is that one day it could go back to its former glory. Especially once that Red Line extension is finally built

The first two pics shows the area surrounding the long demolished State Theater which is about one block north of 111th Street. It appears these two photographs below are shown on the Cinema Treasures site credited to Dr. Gene Ossello and was taken in 1967.

The future of the Gately's sign #Ward09

Nitram242/flickr

At least we get one good thing out of the loss of the former Gately's People's store landmark sign. The building was destroyed by fire earlier this month and the city is in the process of demolishing the former longtime department store which closed in 1981.

After fire gutted the old Gately’s Peoples Store in Roseland last week, Ald. Anthony A. Beale (9th) said he’s working with members of the Gately family to save the store’s historic neon sign.

“The sign deserves a place in a museum where it can tell our community’s story to present and future generations, and help inspire everyone to work together to make Roseland the thriving and bustling destination it once was,” the neighborhood’s alderman said Monday.

Beale said he went to the fire Friday and saw Gately family members at the scene. He was already planning to preserve the sign, he said, adding that Gately family members said they would help raise the money to make sure the sign is taken down, preserved and put up at a later date.

The sign was not damaged in the fire, but the blaze damaged the century-old building at 11201 S. Michigan Ave. so bad, demolition crews began to take it down Friday night.
...
The sign remains on the building but will come down in the coming days. Beale said it will go into storage for a while and eventually go on display — but he didn’t reveal specific plans in mind to display it.

It does deserve to be somewhere to help tell the story of the Roseland community. And it's great to know the family that owned this business is still around to discuss plans to preserve this landmark.

It's awful to know about the fire, but to hear everyone - especially online or even in soundbites from any news reports - talk about their memories of the now closed store is definitely fascinating. 

1970: 95/Dan Ryan CTA terminal

As of now the CTA terminal at 95th endures. It has undergone some changes over the years, a reconstruction in 2003-04, the shutdown & reconstruction of the Red Line south in 2013, and of course the expected overhaul expected to be completed in 2018. The ig post below from the CTA's ig profile shows a scene not too unfamiliar to today's transit riders who begin or compete their commutes at 95th street.

This 1970 photo (from our historical photo collection) shows a busy 95th/Dan Ryan bus terminal as people get off of buses and make their way to the train, not long after it opened. In 2014, construction began on the 95th Street Terminal Improvement Project, which will expand and greatly improve the 95th/Dan Ryan station (the south terminal of the CTA Red Line). #cta #cta70 #chicago #ctaredline #buses #terminal #busterminal #princetonpark #westchesterfield #roseland #longwoodmanor

A post shared by Chicago Transit Authority (@chicagocta) on Mar 11, 2017 at 5:20pm PST