John A. Rasmussen <JRasmusMAI@aol.com> Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997
As an economic development consultant presenting at a Chicago conference I looked forward to visiting the Maxwell/Halsted Street neighborhood last week (July 24th). After reading the history of the 120 year old historic Maxwell Street district in the Chicago Tribune (Sept. 5, 1994, section 1, page 1) I wanted to visit both the historic Maxwell Street site and the new replacement market on Canal Street. (Prior to my visit I researched articles, photographs and clippings at the Chicago Historical Society on Dearborn Street.) With a glimpse of history I was now ready for a visit. Much to my disappointment I found historic Maxwell Street in shambles. The replacement market on Canal Street is a cleaned up version of a street market, but it offers no sense of place except for the numbers painted in the street.
A historic district that predates the Chicago fire could offer a sense of place. At a time when people are getting tired of supper stores, the Zayres, Kmarts and Walmarts will be less likely to attract people with "free" parking. The Maxwell/Halsted neighborhood could attract people seven days a week. One alternative is a Chicago Blues museum showcasing American Blues history. The stories of immigrants, entrepreneurs and blues musicals is story worth telling. What better place to showcase living history than Maxwell Street, home of the blues.
The economic benefits of restoration vs. razing buildings are pretty clear. Detroit razed Chinatown. The parking lots that replaced Chinatown did not create a vibrant neighborhood. My town, Ann Arbor, revitalized a depressed section of town around the farmers' market. Failed urban renewal strategies proposed to raze old warehouses. Restoration revitalized the Ann Arbor Farmer's market historic district. The assessed value of two warehouses increased from $69,300 to $1,267,800 as converted into Kerrytown's small shops, which also led to 92 year around jobs.
A small grocery store (1300 square feet) became Zingerman's Deli in 1983. With current sales approaching $10,000,000 and 250 employees (deli, bakery & produce markets) Zingerman's success is a neighbhood success. Without the public market shoppers and tourists there would be no Kerrytown or Zingerman's.
Parking lots do not create jobs. The unique atmosphere of Kerrytown shops and Zingerman's is in the hustle and bustle of the market, the safety of day and night cafe customers with shoppers walking through the neighborhood's old brick streets. Neighborhood residential rentals have increased from $55/month to $550+/ month. (I know this because I managed N. Fifth Ave. rentals in the 1960's. I was there as a consultant for the public market for the City of Ann Arbor and the Kerrytown Shops.)
What is the educational mission of the University of Illinois? What is the necessity of acquiring additional Maxwell Street properties? As an economic and market consultant to Ybor City in the Cuban district of Tampa, the razing of blocks of buildings did not create jobs or build a vibrant community. Business travelers and tourists are tired of look alike cities. The Ybor City historic district and the Columbia Restaurant (since 1905) attracted night life back to the city.
Public markets and street markets create jobs for start up vendors. Street market businesses grow into store fronts that pay payrolls, property taxes and income taxes. Food stalls become cafes. The store fronts on Maxwell/Halsted could attract successful tenants from the Canal Street market. In Ybor City, the public market has a new ten year lease for a 24 hour (weekend) cafe. Maxwell Street has a 24 hour (seven day) corner eatery that attracts working people all hours of the night. Where do people go to eat at 3AM? Where can a EMS team or policeman find Polish sausage, pork chop, hot dog and sweet fried onions and fries? Jim's Original, 1320 N. Halsted corner Maxwell Street since 1939.
Does University of Illinois intend to acquire/raze another Chicago landmark? Destroying a neighborhood and saving one house e.g. Hull House is not preservation. Neighborhoods are people, culture, heritage and the essence of place. The remaining Maxwell Street/Halsted Street Neighborhood could be a national historic district.
The value is not in the bricks and mortar, but the value of the sense of place. Visualize the roots of Chicago. Creating a Maxwell/Halsted historic district could plant the seeds of revitalization. Revitalization could begin with a memorial park to Muddy Waters.
As an economic development consultant and commercial real estate appraiser I can tell you value is created by people not by parking lots or bricks. One strategy is to attract people and investors to Maxwell Street through historic district designation. Another strategy is to create public space for neighborhood festivals like the Historic North Pullman Jazz and blues Fest. You will be pleased with the results. So will the businesses, the students, the taxpayers and the City of Chicago's tourist visitors.
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