| IL6020 |
CLUI Archive Photo |
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Cultural |
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| A decaying shopping mall shuttered since 1979, the Dixie Square Mall is an economic reflection as well as centerpiece of the heavily depressed south-side suburb town of Harvey, IL once known as "the gateway to the south suburbs". Many attempts (including an ongoing effort by Jesse Jackson Jr.) have been made to have it converted for other uses or demolished entirely, but none of the these attempts have cleared political or financial hurdles. The buildings stand as they were when the mall was closed in 1979, with the slow but inevitable effects of harsh winter weather, vandalism, and a new growth forest slowly spreading across the crumbling parking lot. One year after it's closure, the mall was used as a location for the film "The Blues Brothers" in which police cars were driven through the stores and walkways. The west parking lot is being used by the Harvey Police Dept. as a heliport, and newer buildings on the property house the dept. headquarters complete with temporary jail facilities. Criminal acts in the mall include more than simple vandalism: multiple rapes and at least one murder have occured there over the years. |
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| From downtown Chicago, drive south on I-90/I-94 ~10 miles, merging with I-57. Continue for 8 miles, Take the 147TH ST/SIBLEY BLVD/IL-83 exit (exit #350) Turn Left on 147TH ST/SIBLEY BLVD 0.4 miles, turn right on WESTERN AVE 0.2 miles, continue on DIXIE HWY. The mall is at the 15000 block of Dixie Highway. All visitors must get permission from the Harvey Police Dept. to drive on / photograph the property. (phone: 708-210-5200 / address: 15301 Dixie Hwy. Harvey, IL 60426). |
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| Harvey, IL / 20 miles south of downtown Chicago. |
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| IL |
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| Cook |
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| 41-36-44.000N / 087-40-12.000W |
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http://www.deadmalls.com/malls/dixie_square_mall.html
http://www.fordfound.org/publications/ff_report/view_ff_report_detail.cfm?report_index=207
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