To the editor:
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Thirty-four blocks west of State Street, catty-corner from Garfield Park (Jens Jensen), near the Garfield Park Conservatory (Laredo Taft), just around the corner from the fabulous 3400 block of West Adams, the former Roentgen elementary school on the west side is developed into live/work space for artists. Not good enough. The west side doesn’t “register as one of the ‘preferred areas for artist live/work development.’” Arlene Rakoncay of the Chicago Artists’ Coalition says she’s “‘not opposed’ to Roentgen….’I guess the west side is the only place left that’s cheap.’” Marie Antoinette was not being sarcastic when she said “Let them eat cake.” She really meant it.
When Nelson Algren lived in Wicker Park, it was basically a slum. Somehow he was able to write well absent the Starbucks muse.
Austin resident
