North River Commission History
OUR HISTORY
In 1962, neighborhood residents in the North River area came together to form the North River Commission (NRC). Assisted by North Park College (now University), Swedish Covenant Hospital, and the National Bank of Albany Park (now Albany Bank & Trust) and led by Dr. J. William Fredrickson of North Park College, the North River Commission was created as an umbrella organization uniting residents, churches, temples, schools, and businesses to address community issues.
At the heart of this new organization were the Ravenswood Manor Improvement Association, the North Mayfair Improvement Association, and the Hollywood-North Park Improvement Association, all of which recognized the benefit of acting collectively.
Over time, NRC grew to include more than 100 civic organizations, businesses, and institutions working together to improve the North River area. Great things were accomplished: North Park Village was created on the site of the Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium; Lawrence Avenue was revitalized; neglected buildings were rehabbed and maintained as affordable housing; school/community relationships were improved and new schools built; neighborhoods were stabilized and became safer and cleaner through the combined efforts of united civic organizations.
