Summary Of Chicago Metropolis 2020

Analysis

Daniel Burnham’s plan of Chicago of 1909 was created to beatified Chicago and accommodate the vast amounts of the increasing population. The plan improved many areas and allowed for the development of the city. A person in who was particularly inspired with Burnham’s plan was Elmer W Johnson. Johnson used Burnham’s plan as an inspiration to create the Chicago Metropolis 2020 plan; A plan that aspired to prepare the city for the future. The Chicago 2020 plan addressed the wanting of the well-being of its residence, a prosperous economy and extended an invitation for residents to contribute their opinions. The plan also suggests the involvement of suburbs with the central city and social economical ideas. Although I disagree with Johnson

Unfortunately, there are many aspects of that divide people and contribute to the cities division. Johnson himself writes, “The third obstacle is posed by the high levels of concentrated poverty and racial and social segregation in our region” (10). Both racial and poverty situations often become the cause of social segregation. A strong regional economy could contribute to decreasing the high level of concentrated poverty. As stated by Johnson, “The hyper concentration of the economic order, has created levels of joblessness, social isolation, and family and community dysfunction that have severely handicapped their opportunity for better life” (10). Due to the lack of employment, many have little to no resources for income. The strong regional economy would allow for stable jobs to be available. However, the strong regional economy would not have much aid for racial segregation. Johnson explains, the barrier between a poor white and a poor black. Johnson states that it is more likely for a white low income family to live in a mixed income neighborhood than it is for an African American low income family (10). A strong regional economy may not guarantee that the African American would hold the same privilege as the white family. Although, the plan does not have an emphasis on each neighborhood we should be aware of the large possibilities the city has as a

Both Chicago and the surrounding suburbs depend on one another for a stable economy. As Johnson states, “Suburban residents earn nearly $14 billion a year at jobs in Chicago, almost twice as much as Chicago residents earn in suburban jobs” (4). Although, Chicago residents do earn less in the suburbs, as oppose how much a suburb resident earns in Chicago, it allows for there to be a connection between both. Many times the income that is made in Chicago by residents from suburbs is also spent in Chicago. This occurs through the visitations to many of the museums, theaters, and transportation Chicago has to offer. Another aspect that Chicago has to offer the suburbs is the use of both medical and educational facilities. Johnson points out “Patients from one part of the region, moreover, often depend on hospitals in another part of the region that specialize in certain surgical procedures” (2). Chicago houses many well know hospitals and research facilities, that are not only open to Chicago residents but to the general public. This is also the case for the universities that are in the city. In addition, Johnson also comments on the interest business corporations look into. “Business Corporations are… increasingly attracted by those regions that offer a large and diverse supply of highly skilled talent… large consumer markets; wide array of technical and