Fighting gentrification in Little Village, residents look to create a housing co-op

Maria de la Luz Rodriguez hands out fliers to her community meeting set for Monday at 5 p.m. about Cooperativa La Villita in Little Village. The group aims to explore starting their own housing cooperative in the neighborhood to try to fend off gentrification and displacement. (Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times)

When the building where Maria de la Luz Rodriguez has lived in Little Village was put up for sale, she and other residents rallied to buy it themselves.

But just as they were organizing themselves, the property was sold to a group of buyers. Frustrated, Rodriguez braced for a rent increase.