Allowing the destruction of the original Jim's Hot Dog stand is like Paris destroying the Moulin Rouge. It is Chicago's signature eatery, known all over the world. How can UIC and Mesirow Stein claim they are preserving Maxwell Street when they are not saving one building on Maxwell Street itself. The Preservation approach to Maxwell Street development is less costly and will provide more jobs. The cost for generating the same square foot of usable space is about the same for rehab vs. new construction.
Historic preservation means jobs, more jobs than from new construction projects alone.
Preservation rehab is more labor intensive than new construction and allows for hiring workers with lesser skills. Further, after the construction is completed, preservation will provide a large number of jobs as micro-entrepreneurs, guides, interpreters, sales clerks, street vendors, craftsman, and restaurant workers. I will now discuss process. When asked for a handout with details of the plan, the audience was told they didn't have any to pass out. They said that handouts would be available today.