Wisconsin Steel After Closing in 1980
Wisconsin Steel, the first mill to open on the southeast side in 1875, closed in 1980. The closing of the steel mill left 2,700 workers without jobs. It also left a site that was heavily polluted. In February of 1988 many former Wisconsin steel workers met to talk about their past and what was in store for their futures. Navistar International Transportation Corporation made a settlement offer of $14.8 million, which the workers accepted even though they had originally asked for $90 million. The demolition of Wisconsin Steel was completed in March of 2000. However the site is still not cleaned up and therefore not yet up for sale. Testing of the extent of environmental damage is completed. After testing is done a remediation plan will have to be approved and implemented.
U. S. Steel at Present
U.S. Steel South Works was closed on April 10, 1992. The steel works was in operation for 110 years. It was known as one of the greatest industrial plants in Chicago. At one time the mill employed almost 20,000 workers. As the years went by the workforce at U.S. Steel shrunk. At the time of its closing it had about 700 workers. In February of 1994 South Works was put on the market by USX. They offered the 576 acres of lake front property at an asking price of $85 million. A plan for South Works site was proposed after a series of community meetings sponsored by the city Department of Planning. A few variations were proposed. They included residential housing, businesses, and even a casino. On June 11, 1999 it was announced that Solo Cup had bee assigned 107 acres on the south end of the U.S. Steel property and will be moving there. Recently Solo Cup announced that 1,000 jobs would be located at the plant to be built on former South Works property. There are also plans for a portion of the property to be set aside for park land.
Republic Steel, now known as LTV Steel employed a few hundred workers at its coke plant on the East Side, a far cry from the approximately 7,000 who were employed there at its peak when the company operated a steel making plant.
U.S. Rolling Stock/Pressed Steel was located in Hegewisch behind the South Shore Station on the south side of the railroad tracks that run next to Brainard Avenue. The plant closed in the 1950's and the location is now the site of several small businesses.
General Mills closed in 1995 and its property is up for sale.
In January 1985, the Lake Calumet Study Committee, a private non-profit group, announced a proposal to create a 2,500-acre "wetland ecological park - open space recreation area" in the Lake Calumet area.
Dr. James E. Landing, the director of the Lake Calumet Study Committee, prepared the original study endorsing the creation of a National Park in the Calumet area. The National Park Service conducted a feasibility study released in 1998. It recommended the creation of a Calumet National Heritage Area, not a full fledged national park. The feasibility study recognized the historical and ecological importance of the region. (Article by Margarita C.)
As the Chicago area grew, its settlers brought with them mementos from their homelands. Some of these were plants. These non-native plants, also known as invasive or exotic plants, not only took up residence, but have seriously altered the characteristics of the wetlands. One prominent culprit is purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). This beautiful but destructive plant was brought by European settlers. This plant has created major damage to wetlands across the country. It is a perennial that can grow to six feet in height. One plant can produce two million seeds and its rooting system has altered wetlands. Control measures include manual weeding, herbicides, asnd the introduction of natural predators like the European Galerucella calmanias and Galerucella pusilla beetles.
Another noxious weed introduced by European settlers is garlic mustard (Alliaira petiolata). It is shade tolerant and has established itself in forested areas. Once established it runs rampant and is hard to control. It self pollinates and has a high seed production. The garlic mustard plant reduces the biodiversity of an area by reducing and displacing native plants. Present control measures include stem cutting, herbicides, and controlled fires.
Fresh water habitats are damaged by the exotic plant Eurasian water milfoil (myriophyllum soicatum). It is an aquatic weed which can reproduce from fragments and has a high growth rate. It reaches the water surface and forms a dense layer blocking out sunlight needed by native aquatic plants. Control methods include herbicides, hand raking, and biological controls (use of insects are presently being investigated).
Phragmites communis (hollow reed) is a herbaceous grass. It can grow to be 20 feet tall and forms a wall like barrier reducing the biodiversity of the area. At present, controlled fires and manual cuttings are methods of control.