The South loop was once a vibrant residential and commercial neighborhood. It was an southern extension of the main CBD in Chicago, hence the name South Loop. It once had a neighborhood density of 70,000 people per square mile. Today it's around 10,000. Many factors, including industrial job losses, suburban flight and highways contributed to the decline of this neighborhood. This neighborhood is where Chicago shares similarites with declining Midwestern cities. Today its one of the hottest new "Urban Chic" neighborhoods in Chicago. Lofts, Townhomes, Condo Towers and more lofts are being planned, sold and constructed at a rapid pace. The South Loop is also where I was born and attended preschool.
Congress Pkwy is the Border that seperates the South Loop from the Loop. From the start you already see two giant parking lots. The good news is that there will be a 20 story building built on this site with dorms for 1700 college students. Columbia College is behind where this photo was taken.
This is a view from the Roosevelt El Station. Roosevelt ave is a wide Street that starts at the Field Museum and crosses a viaduct over trainyards to head to the west side. From the time I took this photo, residential construction has started on three plots of land(including the gas station).
Some recently built single family homes on State St. It's very out of context with the neighborhood. It will be even more so when high rises open down the street with street-level retail.
The Average South Loop streets look like these next photos. There isn't very much activity at all, as most of the buildings are under construction.
Further East on Roosevelt, near Soldier Field; we run into Central Station. Central Station was a popular commuter rail depot that served industrial workers from all sides of Chicago. It was also a dense neighborhood. Very little of the old neighborhood and station remains. Today, Central station is a massive neighborhood project that includes 18 high rises and thousands of Townhome and Loft units. A park will also cover the railroad tracks, connecting Central Station with the Lakefront. Mayor Daley recently moved in to the neighborhood, giving it instant recognition and political clout.
Downtown Chicago, seen as the Orange Line El crosses over to Bridgeport.
