Community space South Side Sanctuary opens in ‘heart’ of Bronzeville | Space

Community members shopped and enjoyed a performance on Tuesday from members of the King College Prep Marching Band as they helped celebrate a new community space in Bronzeville — a site that replaces a long-vacant city lot.

The space at 4702 S. Martin Luther King Drive was empty for 20 years but has now become the South Side Sanctuary, a community gathering space that’s open to the public.

The 13,000-square-foot plaza has green space, a performance stage and room to host artists or farmers markets and outdoor classes, among other activities. The South Side Sanctuary will also be available to rent for private parties and events.

South Side Sanctuary was founded and developed by Cecilia Cuff, co-owner of Bronzeville Winery, and Jasmine Anwuli Michaels, an integrative wellness practitioner and CEO of Chicago-based Oases.

Cuff, who also founded the strategic business development firm Nascent Group, said boosting economic activity is a key part of any project she does, but the idea for the sanctuary was “changing the narrative.”…