balkin.qxd
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While the devil part is correct, the other part is not. The factual truth is that there are about eight blocks and 50 old buildings left along Maxwell Street and south Halsted. And we, the Maxwell Street Historic Preservation Coalition, are trying very hard to save that for rehab and reuse to become the Maxwell Street National Historic District. While we are having some success fighting UIC on this, it still is an uphill battle.
Our biggest problem is not the University of Illinois, though they are a problem. Our biggest problem is people having the wrong impression that there is nothing left in the Maxwell Street neighborhood. There are about 50 old buildings, and half still have businesses in them. For example, the original Jim’s still sells Polish sausages, the buildings by the Johnny Dollar blues stage are still there, along with the “Cheat You Fair” sign, Paul & Bill Tailors, the Maxworks Cooperative, and Sandy’s zoot suit shop (still selling zoot suits), among others.
Steve Balkin
