Response to the response [Letters, January 17] of Brian Goeken (deputy commissioner for landmarks, city of Chicago Department of Planning and Development) to the Ben Joravsky article “Talk, Talk, Talk” [December 13]. Mr. Goeken mentions the Landmark Commission’s Chicago Historic Resources Survey, but apparently he doesn’t get around to reading it very often. If he did he would find a short biography of the architect A.L. Himmelblau, who in 1923 designed the Gothic Revival terra-cotta building at 5306 W. Lawrence that was demolished last summer. He would also find in the Chicago Historic Resources Survey 11 buildings attributed to Mr. Himmelblau. If Mr. Goeken had done the slightest bit of research he would not have sent a letter stating “the building did not have sufficient architectural or historic significance.” As for historic significance, the building housed a U.S. Marines recruiter’s office for many years. I’m sure a few heroes came through those doors.
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If more weight isn’t given to the character of our neighborhoods, then you will see them clear-cut and paved over, and then you can say “Welcome to Schaumburg.”
