CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A section of Printers Row was spared from destruction following recent protests downtown, and neighbors are getting the credit.
Javier Otero heard firecrackers going off near his home in the Donohue Building and glass breaking May 30.
Worried the mostly-wood historic landmark might go up in flames, he went down to talk to nearly 20 people gathering in the street.
He says when he asked the young people how they were doing, many were surprised but seemed eager to talk about their frustrations.
"We just talked and listened to people."
Not all Otero's neighbors were doing the same. He says some were yelling out their windows telling people to leave and making threats.
He believes damage was limited to a car and a salon's window that were broken before he came downstairs.
About nine other businesses on the first floor of the building were spared.
