High-Risers: Cabrini-Green and the Fate of American Public Housing

High-Risers tracks the complete arc of Chicago's Cabrini-Green public housing project, from its hopeful beginnings in the 1940s through its demolition in 2011. The book follows multiple residents across generations while documenting the policies, politics, and social forces that shaped the complex's trajectory. Through interviews and historical research, Austen reconstructs daily life inside Cabrini-Green's towers, including its tight-knit community bonds and the challenges residents faced. The narrative incorporates perspectives from tenants, police, politicians, and housing officials to create a multifaceted portrait of this iconic development. The book places Cabrini-Green within the larger context of American public housing policy and urban change. This examination reveals how race, poverty, and power intersected in ways that continue to influence cities today. The story of Cabrini-Green serves as both a specific chronicle of one housing project and a broader exploration of American attitudes toward class, race, and the government's role in providing shelter for its citizens. Through this lens, the book raises fundamental questions about segregation, inequality, and urban policy in the United States.

Readers found the book balanced and well-researched, offering multiple perspectives from residents, police, politicians, and housing officials. Many appreciated how it humanized Cabrini-Green residents through personal stories while examining systemic policy failures. Readers liked: - Clear explanations of complex housing policies and their impacts - Vivid personal narratives that span multiple generations - Thorough historical context without getting bogged down - Objective treatment of a politically charged topic Readers disliked: - Some repetition in the middle sections - Occasional jumps in timeline that could be confusing - Limited coverage of other public housing projects for comparison Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (230+ ratings) Several reviewers noted it reads "like a novel" while maintaining journalistic integrity. One reader commented: "Austen lets the residents tell their own stories without imposing judgment or drawing heavy-handed conclusions."

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🏗️ Cabrini-Green originally contained 23 high-rise buildings and housed up to 15,000 residents at its peak, making it one of America's most densely populated public housing projects. 📺 The opening sequence of the TV show "Good Times" featured Cabrini-Green's distinctive red and white high-rises, though the show was set in a different Chicago housing project. 🎬 The 1992 horror film "Candyman" was set in Cabrini-Green and sparked controversy for its portrayal of public housing, leading to protests from residents who felt it reinforced negative stereotypes. 👥 Author Ben Austen spent over four years interviewing former residents, police officers, activists, and city officials to create a comprehensive narrative of Cabrini-Green's complex history. 🏢 The last high-rise building of Cabrini-Green was demolished in 2011, and the area has since been transformed into mixed-income housing, with luxury condos now occupying land where public housing once stood.