Last week’s construction update on the converted Marshall Field Jr. mansion sparked an interesting debate on the progression or regression (depending on which side of the fence you’re on) of the Prairie Avenue District. Yo reader Jeffery began with his praise of the restoration of the historic home, then tossed out:
Buy hey, others here will tell you to build a shitty glass high rise.
Sam hit back with:
I think others here will tell you to build a first-rate, innovative and elegant glass (along with other contemporary materials) high rise. Question: Are you from the 19th century by chance? If so, welcome to the 21st!
Then The Urban Politician jumped into the fray:
For people in your neighborhood to falsely claim that it has historic charm despite the fact that it has a streetscape largely full of 5 year old buildings made to look historic just seems ridiculous. You act as if this place has been a charming little European village circa 1630 AD. Give me a break—10 years ago the whole thing was vacant land full of weeds and abandoned warehouses. To claim that highrises betray the “historic integrity and charm” of this district just shows how little you know about your own neighborhood’s actual history.
Check out the full conversation and pitch in your two cents.