Richard Gordon<rgordon@pipeliene.com> Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996
Chancellor Broski,
I understand that the U of I is currently involved in a redevelopment plan for the Maxwell Street area.
As a former undergraduate at the University of Chicago in the late 1960's and early 1970's, I recall much of the controversy regarding construction of the original U of I Chicago Circle Campus and its impact on the neighborhood it largely replaced.
During my years in Chicago, I recall spending many hours exploring the mainstream cultural treasures Chicago had to offer - the Art Institute, the Symphony, the Lyric Opera, the Field Museum, etc. However, I also recall sending many fascinating Sunday mornings at the Maxwell Street open market, experiencing and learning about the rich and diverse cultural and historical legacy of the Maxwell Street neighborhood. Just as Chicago would be a lesser place without any of the above mainstream institutions, it would certainly be a lesser place without Maxwell Street.
In 1993 I happened to attend a work-related conference in Chicago. This was my first opportunity to return to Chicago in approximately 20+ years. The conference I was attending was held in and I was staying at the Drake. However, other than for my hotel bill, my "tourist dollars" in Chicago were really not spent along the "N. Michigan Miracle Mile". Frankly I could find essentially the same shops and merchandise in glitzy malls in NY, SF, LA, or even here at home in Seattle.
I came to Chicago several days early in order to spend some time in as a tourist, but Chicago's more usual tourist attractions were not on my list. Rather, two somewhat more esoteric destinations attracted me. First, I came early to spend some time reminiscing in Hyde Park. Second, I came early to spend a Sunday morning at the Maxwell Street open market. These, and not the "N. Michigan Miracle Mile", or even the conference itself, were for me, the real highlights of the trip.
I have to believe that a Maxwell Street redevelopment project that includes a significant historical preservation component would be the sort of project of which the city could and would be proud, just as I believe that such a redevelopment project that fails to include such a significant historical preservation component would simply be one more irreplaceable treasure lost in a world that has already lost far too many.
Maxwell Street is undeniably one of Chicago's truly unique and irreplaceable cultural and historical treasures - if would be a shame if you and the others responsible for the current redevelopment plan come to recognize this only after it is forever gone...
Thank you for your attention to this message.
Richard Gordon
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