Around the Nation

ILLINOIS

Architect designs homeless shelter

CHICAGO — Renowned architect Helmut Jahn’s latest design is an environmentally friendly structure intent on a larger purpose: housing the poor.

Mr. Jahn’s stainless steel and glass “single-room occupancy” building is expected to be built next year on a vacant lot near the Cabrini-Green housing project, which is being torn down.

The silver, Twinkie-shaped structure will consist of 100 units, and includes public areas where residents can meet and socialize. But more importantly, homeless advocates say, it will draw attention to the “supportive housing movement,” which promotes SRO buildings as a way to ease the homeless problem.

OHIO

Arson suspected at apartments

COLUMBUS — A suspected arson fire raced through an apartment complex in suburban Columbus yesterday, killing 10 persons and forcing others to jump from third-story windows to escape.

At least 53 persons were left homeless by the blaze in Prairie Township, which destroyed the building’s roof and third floor.

The fire came just six weeks after three fires were set in the same building in an empty apartment and hallway, Fire Chief Steve Feustel said.

ALABAMA

Historic church needs repairs

BIRMINGHAM — Nearly a century of wear and an infamous bombing have cracked some of the walls of the 16th Street Baptist Church, and water leaks are destroying its ground floor.

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