In 1976, Beechie Brooks brought an ambitious vision for the Near North Side to life. The Milwaukee real estate agent and developer wanted to transform a stretch of dilapidated houses into a vibrant subdivision for middle class Black residents.
That vision became a reality in 1976 – despite skepticism and adversity along way – with the creation of Halyard Park, a game-changing development spanning four city blocks and featuring 44 attractive and affordable ranch-style homes with spacious yards in the Bronzeville area, immediately north of Downtown, at an initial cost of $45,000 to $70,000 for homebuyers.
Today, fifty years after the project was completed, a life-size bronze statue of Brooks in Hayward Park commemorates his work. The statue, designed to preserve the history of the development, was unveiled on Sept. 19. A joyous crowd of more than 100 people, including Halyard Park residents, Brooks’ family and friends and several city officials, gathered on a cloudy morning to celebrate the unveiling.
Brooks’ daughter, Cassandra Brooks, and the Halyard Park Neighborhood Association Foundation spearheaded the effort to raise $125,000 to install the statue of Brooks, who died in 2017 at the age of 92…