For immediate release: (6/1/98)
Contact: Professor Steve Balkin, Roosevelt University, Ph: 312-341-3696
On May 28, 1998, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) issued a press release about its new current stance on its South Campus expansion which, now, in a turn-about, seems to favor Maxwell Street Preservation. We guardedly accept this new policy as a partial victory for the Maxwell Street Historic Preservation Coalition. You can read UIC's press release by going to <http://www.uic.edu/depts/paff/uicnews/archives-bp/Archive/1998/19980529132454.html>.
Also, Lee Bey, Architecture Critic of Chicago Sun Times, has a good article about this new plan on p. 21 of the June 1, 1998 issue of the Sun Times which you can read by going to <http://www.suntimes.com/output/architecture/bey01i.htm>.
Our response is below.
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UIC's new South Campus Expansion plan, titling towards preservation of historic Maxwell Street, is a positive pronouncement. To the extent UIC administrators have indeed a changed attitude towards preservation and they "walk the talk", we applaud them. This new policy, if faithfully implemented, will be a win-win outcome which will greatly benefit the University and the City of Chicago.
The health of UIC is important for Chicago. The Maxwell Street Historic Preservation Coalition wants a healthy and vibrant UIC. A UIC South Campus Expansion integrating the old buildings, the people, and the history of old Maxwell Street will generate international renown for it, and bring it more students, grants, and endowment. Hundreds from all over the world have written Chancellor Broksi, pleading with him to preserve the remnants of the old Maxwell Street neighborhood as an historic district. Now, hopefully, UIC can truly embody the lofty principles of its Great Cities program.
Mies van der Rohe said, "God is in the details." Therefore, as soon as possible, it is important that we know the details of their plan: how many buildings will be saved and which ones, which buildings are to be torn down except for the facades, and which buildings to be fully torn down. There are about 55 old buildings in the area. We recently attended meetings convened by the City of Chicago with UIC, the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, and two very prominent preservation architects, hired as consultants by the City. We all agreed on a plan where 36 buildings would be saved for adaptive reuse. A site plan was created and an impressive pictorial rendering of the area, as it would look rehabbed, was produced. We all agreed to that plan. We have already shown our flexibility, giving up 35% of the buildings to fit in with UIC's plans. We hope UIC will be faithful to their part of this compromise plan.
-- Maxwell Street Historic Preservation Coalition, <mar@interaccess.com>, PH: 312-341-3696
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