Life In The Round followed six African-Americans living at Marina City, including Realtor Albert Gaskin. Marina City, said the article, was a “radical departure from conventional apartment living.” The ultra-modern housing was especially suited for “childless couples and single persons” earning $5,000 to $10,000 per year, the equivalent of $50,500 to $101,000 in 2014. (Left) Cover of November 1964 issue of Ebony.

While race was not seen as a problem for African-American residents at Marina City, the article did tell the remarkable story of Albert Gaskin, then 30 years old, a real estate broker who lived at Marina City but commuted every day to suburban Evanston. Before moving to Marina City, Gaskin, says the article, “had sought similar housing in Evanston and was turned down because of his race.”

One time when he was in the laundry room, a woman came in and when she saw Gaskin, she said, “You have a lot of machines to take care of, don’t you?” (Right) Albert Gaskin at Marina City’s grocery store.

Albert Gaskin (1934-2010) was one of the first African-American Realtors on the north side of Chicago. He initially focused on selling homes to African-Americans in Evanston but over time expanded his clientele throughout the North Shore. In the early 1980s, Gaskin served on the board of directors of the North Shore Real Estate Association. At its peak, his real estate office in Evanston employed 13 sales associates.

(Left) Marina City resident Geraldine Johnson admires paintings in an art shop on the concourse level of the commercial platform.

The article offered other interesting details about Marina City in 1964...

• 1,100 people lived at Marina City.
• About one-fourth of the tenants did not own a car.
• The average rent was $175 per month, equal to $1,770 in 2024.
• The tenant turnover rate was about one percent per year, or 11 people.
• Marina City’s management charged the public a 25-cent admission fee (equal to $2.53 in 2024) to see the model apartment but, notes the article, that could have been to keep crowds away. According to Ebony, “more than 12,000 persons a month come to gawk.”