I received the following from my web site, but I have no idea what the answer is. If any of you Chicagoans know, feel free to contact this reporter.
Quote
I\'m a reporter at WBEZ - Chicago Public Radio working on a story about why so many motels were built on a certain stretch of US 41 in Chicago. I\'d like to touch base with you for a historical perspective ASAP - can we arrange a phone call tomorrow afternoon at the latest? Would greatly appreciate your help!
Thank you,
Logan Jaffe
loganjaffe@gmail.com
desk: 312-948-4747
"So many" were built compared to what? The part of US 41 on LSD, which has no motels?
The only part of 41 in Chicago that I could envision once having a significant amount of motels is along Lincoln Avenue, because I'm pretty sure there wouldn't have been a lot in the South Side neighborhoods the route traverses. But then I'm no expert in the subject, either.
It probably is the Lincoln Ave and Peterson Ave section that the reporter is thinking of because there is nothing south of Lake Shore Dr until you are well in Indiana. Most of the motels along Lincoln and Peterson and the "nooner" motel types. Silly to do a story on those unless he was looking at doing a story on the prostitution in the area.
Here's the resulting article:
http://www.wbez.org/series/curious-city/neon-no-more-lincoln-avenues-motel-row-109050