Shannon Scott

Bronzeville Stoop

An ownership-based housing model focused on the individual dwelling while remaining deeply connected to the whole community. The project is supported by youth-focused amenities and locally rooted services. The objective of the project is to support society’s most vulnerable members—children—while serving the current residents of Bronzeville and encouraging the growth of families within the neighborhood. As young families increasingly leave the city for the suburbs, they become disconnected from urban life, weakening community continuity.

By diversifying age groups and housing typologies, the project aims to create a more resilient and sustainable neighborhood fabric. The development integrates flexible community spaces, daycare, an internet café, a grocery store, and locally owned businesses that support everyday life while strengthening the neighborhood’s economic ecosystem. These businesses honor the deep-rooted history of Bronzeville and the rich legacy of African American entrepreneurship and community resilience.

At its core, the project fosters a sense of ownership and collective investment in the community. As large-scale rental developments continue to encroach on the area, this proposal introduces diverse housing typologies that allow a broader range of residents to remain and thrive. While the transit-oriented location leverages proximity to the Green Line, the inclusion of neighborhood-scaled retail and small businesses reinforces Bronzeville’s historic identity as a center of local enterprise and self-determination.