The Chicago Fire and Detroit 8-25-11

Down here in Sarasota, many of my clients are free to spend the entire summer traveling. Jim Manson has just returned from a ten day stay in Chicago. Upon his return, he told me about several of the architecturally oriented tours that he took. Jim is very well traveled, but was nevertheless impressed by much of the classic architecture that he saw in many of the city's structures. One of his comments in particular gave me pause. The Great Chicago Fire occurred in 1871 and burned over 2000 acres, in the heart of the city, to the ground! Jim observed that this calamity actually turned out to be a huge advantage for Chicago in the long run. A number of wooden, archaic structures were demolished overnight. Most of you already know what I am going to suggest, but please be patient and read on. I am not going to suggest the type of uncontrolled fire with the accompanying fear, death and carnage that resulted from the Chicago Fire. I would like to point out, however, that fear, death, and carnage are just a typical day in Detroit, the city of my birth. In additon, many of the deteriorated structures in Detroit that need to be cleared away are of brick and stone composition. They don't have any copper or aluminum to worry about...that has all been stolen. to be cont....