James A Regas Urges Preservation of Historical Buildings

With the growth in immigration rates, the United States is now one of the largest cultural melting pots in the world. People with extremely diverse backgrounds are now cohabitating while putting all their differences aside. Consider, for example, how Louisiana still carries a mark of French traditions or how New York boasts a rich history of Irish immigration and culture. Sadly, however, many of the cultures that used to be present have not withstood the test of time. Generally speaking this is because naturalization has erased the traces of people's origin, meaning many families that might have moved here generations ago are now more likely to identify with American customs.

Greek Culture in the Western Hemisphere

Surrounded by thousands of islands, Greece is a destination that many people yearn to visit. Even those who may not be travel-savvy often dream about going to historical sites in Athens and witnessing wonders like the Parthenon. Of course, with the arrival of many Greek natives in the United States in the 1880s, many of their customs and traditions were brought along with them, including their architecture. Evidence undoubtedly showcasing their creativity lays in Chicago, where many buildings still carry the subtle elements of Greek influence. The fact that there is a push to remove many of these landmarks for the purposes of commercial development is a grave concern to many people of Greek heritage.

People Fighting to Protect the Legacy

James A Regas is an attorney who practiced law for 58 years. He was also a founding member of Regas, Frezados, and Dallas. Additionally, he spent 25 years at the National Board of the United Hellenic American Congress. Whilst there, he served as president and was highly involved with Greek Community events and the Greek Orthodox Church. Like many others, Mr. Regas is a part of a large group of people that are pushing to prevent the removal of cultural monuments. In his widely-supported opinion, the removal of historical buildings like those in Chicago will severely impact future generations' ability to understand their heritage. Not to mention that the legacy of those who came before them will fall to ruin. Thus, as James A Regas continues to build momentum for this movement, many of those who support him are hoping that their issue will be brought to light. The situation is further made worse by the lack of media coverage and the lack of response from many Hollywood stars who identify with this heritage yet have not taken any action.

The Local Impact Of Preservation

Here in New York, preservation presents a unique challenge. Not only are buildings some of the largest, and in some cases oldest, in the country, but there is also a tremendous impact from the local climate. In fact, it’s believed that New York City itself is gradually sinking into the ocean due to the effect of local weather patterns on the ground, coupled with the tremendous weight of the NYC infrastructure. To combat this mounting pressure, new techniques of preservation are becoming increasingly important. Older, more fragile materials are being replaced over time with newer, more durable, and lighter materials. Take for instance the iconic Flatiron building. This building was created using a mesh of steel beams for supports and covered with a stone façade hung like curtains from the beams above. Over time, it appears to be a worthwhile investment to use similar strategies coupled with newer materials to overhaul the buildings utilizing the limited surface area of New York City.

How to Preserve and Avoid Destruction

The fact that old buildings are becoming obsolete is nothing new. Those who might have been to Greece certainly know about the countless restorations that had to be done to keep historical sites running. So, Greek buildings that need to be repaired in Chicago are certainly not the only ones to fit this criterion. The question that arises here is whether the restoration will be more beneficial than a complete reconstruction. As far as a lot of authorities are concerned, building something new seems more acceptable. Those who do not want ancient creations to just be demolished, however, think that there are better ways to approach the issue. One of those ways is to invest in restoration that will rejuvenate these structures. Just like the leaning tower of Pisa, almost everything can be repaired if the funds are used correctly. Thus, people are proposing that budgets for this matter be made as it concerns the overall well-being of the city and state. Not only will doing so help preserve important sites, it will create many jobs for the companies that are going to do the work.

Therefore, the real choice is not between removing an old building to place a nicer one. It is between destroying historically-important structures or preserving them while creating jobs and prolonging the legacy of minority cultures. It certainly does not seem like much of a choice, and the battle will continue until a compromise is reached.