Introduction

In 1868, Richard Rusk bought a few acres of land, which would eventually turn into the most culturally diverse neighborhood in Chicago—Albany Park. More and more settlers came to inhabit the region, resulting in the area becoming a neighborhood. After the first generation of people living there was gone, all businesses started to go down the drain. Albany Park was basically just a ghost town until some angry townspeople decided they’d had enough, and started to do something about it. Without new buildings being made and rent being raised with the help of the government and upset residents, Albany Park would still be the haven of empty buildings for gang bangers, prostitutes, and drug dealers that it was 30 years ago.