Will Flat Iron Artists Smile for the Internet TV Camera?

Wicker Park photographer Roberto Lopez has been keeping close tabs on his neighborhood for more than three decades.

As a shutterbug, he's shot more than 5,000 images of the once thriving artist community. And as the longest-residing tenant of the neighborhood's Flat Iron Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee, he has witnessed the demographic shifts that lends it self to its diverse and vibrant residents. And in just over a month, the world can too.

At the same time MTV's "Real World" is shooting its footage in the area, Flat Iron Building owner Bob Berger is busy developing his own reality TV-type show.

Berger wants to bring international recognition to his building and the artists who occupy it by broadcasting the comings and goings of the building's tenants over the Internet and on a 7x7 foot TV screen at the North/Damen/Milwaukee corner intersection.

Seven cameras will be installed inside the building, one outside, and one at both the Local Grind, 1585 N Milwaukee Ave, and the Note, 1565 N Milwaukee Ave, giving those who log on, a choice of which camera to watch.

The wiring is already completed, and in the next 30 to 40 days, Berger's team will be installing the large monitor and be ready to go online.

"I am just jumping around thinking of it," says Berger, 67. Owner of the Flat Iron since 1993, Berger describes running his building as his passion, and has invested close to $100,000 on his pet project. He sees the live broadcasting as a prelude to a comedy-drama TV sitcom he plans on producing on Chicago's Flat Iron artists by a year's time.

Not all of Flat Iron's occupants are as excited as Berger, however.

"Some of the artists think that this is an intrusion on their private life," says Lopez. "And some, mainly women, are also concerned about their safety -- worried that with the 24-hour monitoring, they will be more vulnerable to burglaries and attacks."

Berger calls all this nonsense, insisting that the cameras will only be installed in the hallways, and not inside any of the studios. "Many of these artists are my friends," he says. "I wouldn't do anything to put them in danger. What I want to do is to tell their story."

Home to more than 100 artists, The Flat Iron Building is located in the heart of a neighborhood that was home to famous local celebrities like writer Nelson Algren and musician Liz Phair.

Lopez has worked as the custodian of the Flat Iron for 13 years, until he was fired three years ago.

"Up to five years ago, Wicker Park used to have the third largest concentration of artists in the United States after New York and San Francisco," he says. "But it has changed for the worse for the artists, because most can't afford to live here anymore.

"Me?" he adds. "I go along with the changes. I worked for the building as a caretaker for 13 years, and maybe now I'm going to be the undertaker."

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