Engineer and developer Cameel Halim has been active in the real estate industry in the Chicago area since he immigrated to the US from Egypt. One of Cameel Halim’s famous purchases was the very nearly demolished historical Skiff House. Skiff House was designed by the architect Daniel Burnham (or possibly by his firm while he was ill). Burnham became famous for his work in the Chicago area around the turn of the century. The house was built for Frederick Skiff, the first director of the Field House Museum, which was also designed by Burnham. The old house stands on Kenilworth Avenue in a suburb of Chicago mostly populated by wealthy citizens. Skiff House had been bought for $1,875,000 by Antoinette Vigilante, a local developer who sold it at a loss for $2,350,000, taking into account the cost of taxes and maintaining the old building. While organizations like the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois work to protect historical areas in and around Chicago, the Village of Kenilworth did not have any ordinances in place to prevent tear-downs for development. While this may benefit property owners, without protective ordinances in place, the historical character of these Chicagoland neighborhoods is threatened. The community celebrated the last-minute salvation of Skiff House, and the Village of Kenilworth raised around $50,000 to help ease some of Vigilante’s financial loss on the sale.
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Licensed structural engineer Cameel Halim is a real estate professional interested in the urban revitalization of Chicago. With a penchant for seeing potential in properties, Cameel Halim believes in the restoration of buildings where feasible as part of revitalization.
Urban revitalization is a process through which decaying portions of cities are reinvigorated through building restoration, redevelopment, and reorganization. The process of revitalization aims to improve several factors within a neighborhood, including its image, economy, physical state, social state, and the ability of officials to manage community problems. As cities and their buildings age, it takes a toll on each of these areas, and urban revitalization offers a solution to the natural decay of a neighborhood. While some buildings are torn down to make room for more modern designs, historic buildings can also be renovated as part of urban revitalization. Buildings or homes sporting the designs of famous architects can be legally protected during the process to ensure that important historical markers are not lost. |
AuthorA successful real Chicago estate investor, Cameel Halim supports his community through a variety of charitable efforts. Archives
February 2018
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