But now many turned away from the street, setting the structure further back on the lot and protecting the front yard. The designs themselves also become more defensive —in some cases, almost bunker-like, as if they were intended to occupy the neighborhood by force. These designs were most common in areas undergoing urban renewal and conveyed some of the racial and economic anxiety of the time. My examples here are from the Mid-North and Old Town neighborhoods, where they typically replaced older building types. The term "social control" became a common phrase for planners and developers.
At the same time, this was a very creative period for rowhouse design, with an emphasis on geometry and massing that used both traditional and new ornamental materials. There were also some notable strides in site planning, often using several lots to create rowhouse arrangements with shared common spaces.
In Sandburg Village, the rowhouse components were part of a larger plan that incorporated a variety of building types and sizes. Rowhouses were one way to connect the new development with existing buildings at the periphery, utilizing a similar scale. My image shows the homes' rear yards. This portion of the development turned its back on Clark Street, creating new interior streets that could be better regulated.
This generation of rowhouses also addressed the needs of cars, often through clustered parking or even below-grade parking structures. In some cases, the occupant could step from their car directly into their townhouse, without encountering any intervening space. This was really a suburban pleasure brought into the city for the middle class.
