For immediate release June 29, 2000
Contacts: Rene Maxwell, Coalition to Protect Public Housing, 312-243-2858, Steve Balkin, Maxwell Street Historic Preservation Coalition, 312-341-3696
CITY COALITIONS BOYCOTT UNIVERSITY VILLAGE
Several of Chicago's community coalitions and activist groups are calling for a boycott of University Village. The list is at the bottom of this release.
University Village is the name of the University of Illinois at Chicago's (UIC) condo, townhouse, and loft development in the old Maxwell Street area. Their sales office is at South Halsted and 14th Place.
This boycott says that no one should buy or rent a unit in University Village until UIC meets with the Coalition to Protect Public Housing, the Maxwell Street Historic Preservation Coalition, and the St. Francis of Assisi Preservation Committee to satisfactorily resolve, to the judgement by these organizations, the following issues:
1. Affordable Housing for the Very Poor.
The residents being displaced in and around the old Maxwell Street area are very poor. Therefore, more affordable housing for the very poor is required in University Village.
2. Business Retention.
Businesses that wish to remain in the area shall have the opportunity to remain without interruption.
3. Preservation.
60 historic buildings remain in the old Maxwell Street area. 45 shall be preserved for rehab and reuse. An immediate moratorium on demolition must be called.
4. Parking Access for St. Francis Church
The parishioners of the St. Francis of Assisi Church want access to their parking lots during construction and no blocking off of streets that will create congestion.
5. Outdoor blues stage.
To continue the cultural and musical tradition of Maxwell Street, a site should be set aside, near the corner of Halsted and Maxwell Streets for an public outdoor blues stage for musicians to come by and play.
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Maxwell Street Coalition Vice President Steve Balkin says, "Of course we prefer to talk and negotiate rather than be part of boycotts but UIC has chosen confrontation as their mode for dealing with the Maxwell Street community. The whole city knows about UIC's style and they are angry. When Chancellor Manning first came to UIC, we asked to talk to her. She refused saying she was not going to change anything. That kind of arrogance deserves this type of action."
The Maxwell Street Historic District won unanimous approval by the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council to go on the National Register for Historic Places. UIC's response is to tear down two historic buildings.
Says Rene Maxwell of the Coalition to Protect Public Housing. " UIC is taking everything. Maxwell Street is a special place for everybody in Chicago. The blues and the polishes are important to a lot of people. And nearby in ABLA they are losing their homes too. Where are they going to go? The people have to resist."
A press conference is called for on Thursday, July 6 at 11:00AM at the northeast corner of Halsted and Maxwell, just across from Original Jim' Hot Dog Stand.
The sponsors of this boycott include Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Chitownlowdown Collaborative, Coalition to Protect Public Housing, Community Renewal Society, Creative Reuse Warehouse, Eight Day Center for Justice, Evangelist Clarence 'Lill Scotty' Scott, Illinois Hunger Coalition, Jimmie Lee Robinson President Amina Records, Joe Iosbaker UIC chief steward Local 73 SEIU, Frank Scott Jr. Director Juketown Community Blues Project, Maxwell St. Historic Preservation Coalition, Reverend John Johnson President Heritage Blues Bus Music, Reverend Paul Jakes Jr. and the Christian Coalition on Urban Affairs, Roosevelt - Halsted Merchants Association, St. Francis of Assisi Preservation Committee, UIC Minority Student Coalition, UIC Students for an Urban Mission.
For more information check the following Maxwell Street websites <www.openair.org/maxwell/preserve.html> and <cowdery.home.netcom.com/natreg/NOMP1.htm>.
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