@85bears46 The U of C is likely to put up a few more buildings south of 60th, but major expansions past 61st would be a much bigger step. To make a long story short, the university has a longstanding agreement with the Woodlawn community not to build anything south of 61st.
For a longer version, here’s what I wrote on another thread a few days ago:
Back in the days of Saul Alinsky and his partners (most notably a local reverend whose name escapes me), the University’s idea of “urban renewal” meant clearing out poor, nonwhite people. Woodlawn residents organized to protect their community against steady encroachment by the University, the U of C agreed not to build new buildings south of 61st.
That agreement is still there, despite several attempts to flout it. Each time the University’s drawn up plans to build past 61st, they’ve been made public and the University has promptly denied any intention to act on them (In that case, why draft the plans in the first place?). The community made an exception for the Orthogenic School on 63rd, which the University pitched as a clean, new space that would be open to the community (as Logan Center on 60th purports to be). Instead, the new building has doors and windows to the north - and a wall of cement facing south. Not a very welcoming look, and it didn’t help build trust. A University-run charter school being built on 63rd, another exception to this agreement, seems like it’ll be more helpful; most places will be earmarked for Woodlawn residents, with a small share made available to top students from across the city. Still, even if things go well when the charter school opens next year, it’ll be one bright spot in a long and acrimonious history.
Maybe the community will allow new construction south of 61st, or maybe the University will back a new group of community leaders and local elected officials who promise to support the administration’s plans, but otherwise I don’t expect Woodlawn’s impending gentrification will include new construction by the University on 63rd.