Jagdish “Jay” Shah was a pillar of the West Loop community and an integral force in making the neighborhood what it is today. Until his unexpected death on August 5, 2015, he worked tirelessly to develop the neighborhood that was home not only for his family, but also his company’s global headquarters. HydroAire, Inc. was one of the first to call the West Loop home in the mid-80s. To recognize Jay’s long history of contributions and dedication to this wonderful neighborhood that was his home and heart for the last three decades, we propose that Green Street, between Madison Avenue and Washington Street (and also home to his company), be named for our father.
Having immigrated from Mumbai almost 50 years ago, Chicago was the town that Jay Shah chose to start his family and his company. And he chose the West Loop as the place where he would lay the foundation for both of those things. As one of the early Presidents of the West Central Association, and current member of the WCA Board and Chamber of Commerce, he worked tirelessly until the day he died to evolve this community from a desolate and forgotten area to what it is today. Being one of the first business owners and success stories in the West Loop as we know it today, he was so proud that global companies like Google and Uber shared in his vision and value of this great neighborhood.
Those had the pleasure of knowing Jay will remember him as a humble but caring man who always had a big smile on his face and a hearty laugh to follow. One of his dreams was to live and work in a strongly-knit community that was like an extension of his family, in a city he was proud to call home, and that dream certainly came true. Chances were that whenever you’d see him at local West Loop favorites like Palace Grill, Mary Bartleme Park or a local community meeting, he’d always take the time to ask you about your family and how life was going. He loved people as much as he loved the West Loop, and his stories from his life fill the streets of this neighborhood.
To recognize Jay’s long history of contributions and dedication to the West Loop, we propose that Green Street, between Madison Avenue and Washington Street be renamed Jagdish Shah Way.
Please help us honor and celebrate Jagdish Shah and his love and support for this great West Loop Community that he loved tremendously by signing this petition today to rename Green Street after him.
