Dear Friends of Chicago and the Palm Tavern,

The court date for the eminent domain lawsuit is has been continued to May
22, 2001. Despite the thoughtfulness and professionalism of the attorneys
representing the City of Chicago, this is the last continuance. The City
will be padlocking the doors of the Palm Tavern and boarding up its windows.

Chicago Tribune art critic Howard Reich has written:

"It would be difficult to overestimate the room's role in nurturing black
musical culture in Chicago and beyond. This was the place where ideas were
exchanged, tunes discussed and collaborations conceived."

"Over the decades, the Palm Tavern was an unofficial clubhouse -- the place
to stop and rest and recharge psychic batteries -- for generations of
African-American musicians, including Duke Ellington, James Brown, Count
Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones and Muddy Waters."

The editor of a nationally recognized jazz magazine "Down Beat," Jason
Koransky, commented in the March 2001 edition:

"On 47th Street, the club sits in Bronzeville, around the comer from the
location of the old Regal Theater. Politicians, business leaders, athletes
and entertainers in the neighborhood made the club -- which Gerri has owned
since the mid '50s -- a focal point of their social activities."

"What a shame it would be to lose this living shrine. Chicago should keep
the Palm as part of any new plan. A rejuvenated Bronzeville must not be a
polished, Disney-fied strip. It needs the club as an anchor, to provide an
important link between Chicago and Africa."

The Palm Tavern is the LAST AUTHENTIC PIECE OF BRONZEVILLE that exists. None
of the other historic buildings of Bronzeville have their 1930s interior and
business fixtures INTACT.

The restaurant booths, the bar, hat racks and other fixtures, which can be
seen in the photos from the 1940s in the Library of Congress and at the
Chicago Historical Society, are STILL in the Palm Tavern. The Palm Tavern's
business, under the management of Geraldine "Mama Gerri" Oliver for the past
45 years, remains today as a living link to what was arguably the greatest
era in Chicago's African American history: "The Bronzeville Era". When the
Palm Tavern first opened its doors in 1933, the Chicago Defender called it
"the most high classed Negro establishment in America."

Take a look at the photos at: http://palmtavern.bizland.com/palmtavern

The City of Chicago is using its Power of Eminent Domain to gain control of
the building and Mama Gerri's business with NO PLAN for preserving the
authentic pieces of furniture and interior fixtures.

No Plan is a Bad Plan. The Palm Tavern and the Memory of Bronzeville deserve
more respect.

As the pro bono attorney representing Gerri Oliver, I have been asked to
review the City's offer with my client and her family in order to make a
decision before that next date.

If Gerri accepts the City's offer, then the only remaining question will be
"when" she will move out, so that the City can padlock the doors and board
up the windows.

Even if Gerri does not accept the City's offer, the same result will likely
occur if the City enforces their desire to ensure that Gerri moves into a
safe and sanitary apartment environment, even if they have to be the ones to
force her to do it.

The City, unfortunately, still has no plan for the preservation of the Palm
Tavern. To the contrary, the City has demonstrated its lack of interest in
the Palm Tavern by submitting a proposal to Gerri that permits the Palm
Tavern to be dismantled piecemeal. Moreover, the Palm Tavern needs some
immediate basic construction work performed, but the City can not force the
slum landlord who owns the building to pay for it and the City will not
establish a budget with the City's own finances to do the work. Without such
things as some roof repair, furnace work and tuck pointing to stabilize the
walls, the years of neglect of the building caused by the slum landlord will
result in damage to the business fixtures that Gerri sells to the City.

Shamefully, it seems that the time is at hand to say good-bye to the Palm
Tavern. The Alderman of the 3rd Ward is taking no proactive steps to
encourage building developers or restaurant owners to participate in a prime
investment opportunity. The Mayor, unfortunately, is unaware of the danger
that the City of Chicago is facing as it will be embarrassed in the eyes of
the African American community and all Chicagoans who take pride in our
City's history. Sadly, this matter is in the hands of some unknown person or
people at City Hall who are not looking out for the best interests of our
City or our Mayor, who understands and appreciates the importance our
neighborhoods, its people and its culture. I'm afraid that he will find out
too late how his people have let him down, not to mention letting down his
programs such as Gallery 37 that promotes neighborhood cultural activities
and the City Neighborhood Tours.

This is the final hour.

I just thought that you should know.

Regards, Gary

+-----------------+----------------+-------------------+
Gary W. Fresen Mobile        Phone: 847-420-8264
Attorney at Law                    FAX: 801-327-6283 1312
Elmwood Avenue                E-mail: [log in to unmask]
 Wilmette, IL 60091 USA
+-----------------+----------------+-------------------+

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