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West Loop Group Wants Stretch of Green Street Named After Businessman

By Stephanie Lulay | October 2, 2015 6:06am
 Leaders of the West Central Association are circulating a petition to name a stretch of Green Street after businessman Jagdish
Leaders of the West Central Association are circulating a petition to name a stretch of Green Street after businessman Jagdish "Jay" Shah, who died in August.
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West Central Association

WEST LOOP — A West Loop group wants to name part of Green Street after an influential West Loop businessman who died this summer.

Leaders of the West Central Association are circulating a petition to name a stretch of Green Street after businessman Jagdish "Jay" Shah, who died in August. As of Thursday afternoon, 298 people have signed the online petition.

If successful, a one-block stretch of Green Street between Madison Street and Washington Boulevard would be named Jay Shah Honorary Way.

Shah, who died unexpectedly Aug. 5 at age 73, was a former president of the West Central Association and president of HydroAire Inc., which moved to the West Loop in the 1980s. Armando Chacon, the group's current president, called him "a pioneer and a visionary" who was instrumental in developing the neighborhood.

Shah, a successful businessman and "genuinely nice, humble family man" built his business in the West Loop and was a longtime resident in the neighborhood, Chacon said.

"He was a West Looper true and through," he said. "I am so glad he was able to see what our neighborhood has become."

After reaching the goal of 1,000 signatures, Chacon plans to present the petition to Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th).

"Jay is more than deserving of this," he said.

For the last decade, HydroAire has let the West Central Association use the land where it keeps its headquarters, 850 W. Madison St., rent-free.

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