Many blues greats from Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Little Walter to Robert Nighthawk has played at the openair market held on Sundays at Maxwell Street, and this tiny portion of the city came to be recognized as an important landmark of American music heritage. Now this landmark is in jeopardy as the University Of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is planning to destroy everything to build their dormitories.

Many people from all across the world are raising their voices to oppose to their plan. In my humble opinion, a historic site this important should be preserved for everyone to share. It is not a vast desert, but just a tiny portion of land. Once it's destroyed, needless to say it can never be restored. Please help the Maxwell Street Historic Preservation Coalition in their activity in saving this historic landmark. All you have to do is to send your letter of entreaty to Chancellor David C. Broski at UIC. Let him know how much you care for Maxwell Street and its music heritage.

To find more information, please go to: Preserve Maxwell Street (Openair-Market Net)

Following is the latest report from Steve Balkin, a member of the Maxwell Street Historic Preservation Coalition:

Today Wednesday, March 25, 1998 three members of the Maxwell Street Historic Preservation Coalition went to City Hall to meet with James Foerster, the UIC Assistant Vice Chancellor for Administration; <Ph:312-413-8722; fax# 312-413-7779; email u12566@uic.edu> to discuss the South Campus Expansion.

In the previous discussions, it was intimated that all of Maxwell Street and some of Halsted could be saved. Now UIC says NO to that. Foerester said that they had miscalculated the amount of land they need for dormitories. They now want to use all of Maxwell Street for dorms. They said that they want to build the dorms only four stories high. If they need retail space, they will use the first floors of the newly constructed dorm buildings.

Remember this is within a mile of the Loop, one of the most dense urban areas in the USA. Yet, they build as if it were a cornfield.

When asked why they couldn't build high-rise dorms to save land for some old buildings, Foerster said they don't want to do that. When asked why they couldn't build dorms on the land marked residential, Foerester said they don't want to do that. When asked why they couldn't rehab some of the old buildings, he said they don't want to do that.

They want to tear everything down and start doing it soon.

Our sense is that UIC wants closure on this and that they have room to compromise. If we remain persistent and steadfast we may save old buildings, culture, and Blues history for all our descendents. But if we are to succeed, we need your help now. This is your heritage at stake.
(March 30, 1998)

"And This Is Maxwell Street"

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