Chicago Loop

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For other uses, see Chicago Loop (disambiguation).
The Loop (Chicago, IL, USA)
Community Area 32 - The Chicago Loop
Chicago Community Area 32 - Loop
Location within the city of Chicago
Latitude
Longitude 		41°52.8′N 87°38.8′W / 41.8800°N 87.6467°W / 41.8800; -87.6467
Neighborhoods
ZIP Codes 60601, 60602, 60603, 60604, and parts of 60605, 60606, 60607, and 60616
Area 4.09 km² (1.58 mi²)
Population (2000)
Density 		16,388 (up 37.09% from 1990)
4,004.7 /km²
Demographics White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
Other 		62.1%
19.7%
5.95%
9.92%
2.43%
Median household income $75,248
Source: U.S. Census, Record Information Services

The Loop is what locals call the historical center of downtown Chicago. It is the second-largest central business district in the United States, after Midtown Manhattan. Bounded on the west and north by the Chicago River, on the east by Lake Michigan, and on the south by Roosevelt Road, the value of its real-estate shaped an architectural style dominated by high-rises. Notable buildings include the Home Insurance Building, considered the first skyscraper; the Chicago Board of Trade Building, a National Historic Landmark; and the Sears Tower, the tallest in the United States. Some of the historic buildings in this district were instrumental in the development of high-rises. Chicago's rational street numbering system originates in the Loop at the intersection of State Street and Madison Street.

A view of the Loop from Michigan Ave

The term "The Loop" has different meanings to different persons. As defined by the University of Chicago, the Loop is community area of Chicago number 32. The boundaries as designated by the City of Chicago are the Chicago River to the north and west, Roosevelt Road to the south, and Lake Michigan to the east, though the original boundary is strictly the area circled by the elevated CTA tracks. As the downtown area and its many high-rises expanded out past the community area over the years, "The Loop" has been used more generally to denote the entire downtown as opposed to just the community area. The term even more specifically applies to the section of the community area surrounded by the circuit formed by Chicago's 'L' trains. The circuit runs along Lake Street on the north, Wabash Avenue on the east, Van Buren Street on the south, and Wells Street on the west. The name, however, predates the elevated loop, coming from a streetcar loop in 1882. Currently, most residents probably consider it to be the area bounded by the Chicago River on the north and west sides, Congress Parkway to the South, and Columbus Drive to the east.

This area has a wealth of shopping opportunities, although it competes with the more upscale Magnificent Mile area to the north, and with suburban shopping malls. It includes Chicago's famous Marshall Field's department store, now Macy's, a traditional favorite for viewing Christmas window displays, and the original Carson Pirie Scott store (closed February 21, 2007).

It is the location of a number of government buildings, including City Hall/County Building, the James R. Thompson Center, the Richard J. Daley Center, and multiple federal buildings. Chicago's Downtown Theatre District is also found within this area, along with numerous restaurants and hotels.

Chicago has a famous skyline which is home to many of the tallest buildings in the world as well as the Chicago Landmark Historic Michigan Boulevard District. Unlike densely packed Midtown Manhattan, Chicago's skyline is spaced out throughout the downtown area, giving it a graceful bridgelike appearance. The Sears Tower, the nation's tallest building, lies at the west end of the Loop in the heart of the city's financial district, along with other buildings, such as 311 South Wacker Drive and the AT&T Corporate Center. Chicago's second tallest building, the Aon Center, is located around the Illinois Center, a complex that stands at the east end of the Loop, east of Michigan Avenue. Two Prudential Plaza is also located here, just to the west of the Aon Center. The city's third tallest building, the John Hancock Center, is located on the Magnificent Mile, north of the Loop in a major shopping area. Water Tower Place, 900 North Michigan, and Park Tower are all located within a block or two of the John Hancock Center, creating an impressive cluster of skyscrapers, unmatched perhaps even in the Loop itself. Although this area is considered part of downtown Chicago, it is not a part of the Loop. It is part of the Near North Side Community Area.

According to the 2000 census, 16,388 people live in the Loop. More recently, 60602 was named by Forbes as the hottest zipcode in the country with upscale buildings such as The Heritage at Millennium Park(130 N. Garland) leading the way for other buildings such at Waterview Tower, The Legacy and Momo. The median sale price for residential real estate was $710,000 in 2005 according to Forbes. The Loop contains a wealth of outdoor sculpture, including works by Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Henry Moore, Marc Chagall, Alexander Calder, and Jean Dubuffet. Chicago's cultural heavyweights, such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Goodman Theatre, the Chicago Theatre, the Lyric Opera at the Civic Opera House building, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, are also in this area, as is the historic Palmer House Hilton hotel, found on East Monroe Street.

Chicago's lakefront, which is almost exclusively recreational park area from north to south, features Grant Park in this downtown area. Grant Park is the home of Buckingham Fountain, the Petrillo Bandshell, the Grant Park Symphony (where free concerts can be enjoyed throughout the summer), and Chicago's annual two-week food festival, the Taste of Chicago, where more than 3 million people "pig out". A recent addition to Grant Park is the architecturally forward Millennium Park, which opened in the summer of 2004, featuring a Frank Gehry's Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Jaume Plensa's Crown Fountain and Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate sculpture and spanning what were formerly open railyards on the city's lakefront.

The Chicago River, which delineates the area, also provides entertainment and recreational opportunities, including the annual dyeing of the river green in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Trips down the Chicago River, including architectural tours, by commercial boat operators are great favorites with both locals and tourists.

The area is served by its own newspaper, the Chicago Journal.

See also: Chicago Loop (a movie by James Benning)

Sub-Neighborhoods

New Eastside

The New Eastside is a mixed-use district bordered by Michigan Avenue to the West, the Chicago River to the North, Randolph Street to the South, and Lake Shore Drive to the East. It encompasses the entire Illinois Center and Lakeshore East developments[1], as well as separate developments like Aon Center, Prudential Plaza, Park Millennium Condominium Building, Hyatt Regency Chicago, and the Fairmont Hotel. The area has a triple-level street system and is bisected by Columbus Drive. Most of this district has been developed on land that was once used by the Illinois Central Railroad rail yards. The early buildings in this district such as the Aon Center and One Prudential Plaza used airspace rights in order to build above the railyards.

The triple-level street system allows for trucks to mainly travel and make deliveries on the lower levels, keeping traffic to a minimum on the upper levels.

Upcoming buildings include AQUA, part of Lake Shore East, and the Manderin Oriental Hotel & Tower. Construction has begun on both of these projects, with expected completion dates in 2009.

The New Eastside is served by the following Chicago Public Schools campuses: Ogden School and Wells Community Academy High School.

Printer's Row

Printer's Row, also known as Printing House Row, is a neighborhood located in the southern portion of the Loop community area of Chicago. It is bounded by Congress Parkway on the north, Polk Street on the south, Plymouth Court on the east, and the Chicago River on the west. The signature street is Dearborn Street where the annual Printer's Row Book Fair [2] is held. Originally, the buildings in this area were used by printing and publishing businesses. Today, the buildings have mainly been converted into residential lofts. Part of Printer's Row is an official landmark district [3].

Printer's Row is zoned to the following Chicago Public Schools campuses: South Loop School and Phillips Academy High School.

South Loop

Most of the area south of Congress Parkway and east of the Chicago River, possibly excepting Printer's Row, is referred to as the South Loop. The southern boundary of the neighborhood is under debate. While the southern boundary for the community area is Roosevelt Road, the term "South Loop" is often used to describe an area that extends as far south as 18th Street or Cermak Road. Numerous shops south of Roosevelt Road with "South Loop" in their name hint that this more generous definition may be gaining recognition.

The more restrictively-defined area includes River City, the northern half of Dearborn Park, and portions of State Street, Wabash Avenue, and Michigan Avenue. The more generous definitions would include the Central Station development, Dearborn Park II, the Prairie District, and even the northern growth of Chinatown.

The major landowner in the South Loop is Columbia College Chicago, a private school that owns 15 buildings. Also to be found here is the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, championed by Mayor Daley.

South Loop is zoned to the following Chicago Public Schools campuses: South Loop School and Phillips Academy High School. Jones College Prep High School, which is a selective enrollment magnet school drawing students from the entire city, is also located in the South Loop.

Weather permitting, large scale flea-marketing takes place here.

Historic Michigan Boulevard District

The Loop also contains the Chicago Landmark Historic Michigan Boulevard District, which is the section of Michigan Avenue opposite Grant Park and Millennium Park.

Notable landmarks in the Chicago Loop

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chicago Loop.

See also

External links


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