MLK District Garden

Residents who participated in a discussion about beautification, clean up and greening initiatives in the neighborhood wanted to see a garden on 16th Street, next to where Martin Luther King, Jr. lived when he moved to Chicago with his family in January 1966. The MLK District Garden is a permaculture designed space that incorporates production gardens, fruit orchards and small farm animal management. Proceeds from the sale of produce generated from the garden are used to maintain the horticulture training and development programs that are given at the site to the community at large. The building where Martin Luther King, Jr. lived was replaced by the Dr. King Legacy Apartments, affordable rental units, and the MLK Fair Housing Exhibit Center. This represents the first phase of the MLK District, designed by Johnson & Lee Architects, to honor Dr. King's work to promote fair housing. This building, on 16th St. between Hamlin and Avers, is a block west of the MLK District Garden. MLK District Garden is managed by the North Lawndale Greening Committee.