The shutting off of the Thurman underpass had some unintended consequences.  One, it became a hangout for the knuckleheads to gather en masse.  Broken glass and trash piled up and it became an eye sore and intimidating for the average person to traverse.  Two, it separated communities.

However, this part of Shaw/Botanical Heights is prepping for a major transformation.  In 2012 the Garden District Commission put together a design competition for improvement in the area.  UIC was eventually chosen as the winning design and this will include repaving the street, installing new lighting and a bike path and pedestrian trail.