History experts: Chicago's Skid Row? (Justice, Madison: condo, felons, homeless)

[i_am_hydrogen]

Originally Posted by Toronto416

So I got this idea from another post...I had been reading about the West Loop (the area around the Greyhound - 600 Harrison) and the area around the Queen of Dumps (the New Jackson Hotel at Jackson and Halsted) and I gotta find the article, but it was saying that used to be the skid row of Chicago. Does anyone remember or know about this? Was there an urban renewal around '72 that cleaned up that whole area?

I have close ties to the West Loop and Greektown areas so if you have photos from that area, or know about it, share your stories or photos here!

Thanks!
JL

Best article I've ever read on skid row:
Bummed Out: How Skid Row went from

[chet everett]

Excellent article AND it gives a poster in another thread an idea for an inexpensive spot to crash after a night of drinking.

Wilson Men's Hotel - Chicago, Illinois - Yahoo! Travel

[williepotatoes]

Originally Posted by i_am_hydrogen

Best article I've ever read on skid row:
Bummed Out: How Skid Row went from

Nice read, it's good to see Father Mac getting his due recognition. He was the "Mother Theresa" of the down and outers. In an era when most people thought of these alcoholics as degenerate and hopeless, he took the position that treatment and rehabilitation could work.

[snoylekim]

^^ I used to ride the elevator occasionally w/ Father Mac when I lived in PT in the early '90s .. a true gentleman, and there was always his car and driver with the SOX4 license plate waiting for jim in the driveway .. Never realized what he accomplished until after his death via his obit ..

[williepotatoes]

Originally Posted by snoylekim

^^ I used to ride the elevator occasionally w/ Father Mac when I lived in PT in the early '90s .. a true gentleman, and there was always his car and driver with the SOX4 license plate waiting for jim in the driveway .. Never realized what he accomplished until after his death via his obit ..

Never met him, but knew several of his Haymarket "graduates". Having done some service work at numerous rehab institutions in the '80s, I learned of his legend quickly. He was highly respected by the secular professionals in the the recovery business. More importantly, there was much love for him amongst
the men and women of the street.

[nightlysparrow]

Originally Posted by nanannie

I believe Richard Speck was a resident of the Starr Hotel at the time of that horrendous crime.

This is correct, although the "staying" part is somewhat vague. He was drinking on the fire escape of the Starr Hotel when his drinking buddy recognized his tattoo from the news and reported it. The Starr was at 617 W. Madison. The next street to the north is Washington, where at I worked at Follett Publishing, 1000 W. Washington. My memory of that time is vivid.

[nanannie]

I googled it, and looks like that was his place of "residence". One article said the rooms were 19cents a nite.

richard speck starr hotel - Yahoo! Search Results

[nightlysparrow]

Richard Speck was the beginning of the end for the West Loop Skid Row.

The news media and politicians at the time were outraged that he could freely walk around the area, blending in with the nameless down 'n outers that hung around the streets, despite the intense city-wide manhunt for him. Skid Row suddenly seemed more like a haven for criminals than merely an especially blighted area of the city to avoid. It had to go.

[ChiNaan]

edit: nm, I am hydrogen beat me to it.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by Chicagoist123

Ugh well the viaduct on Belmont and Kedzie is starting to look like a skid row.

Probably worth its own thread fer sure. I don't know why they don't just install some rebar in the open spaces between the pillars, could fix it in a few hours, tops.