#south loop

[copperbadge]

God, I love my neighborhood, we're so weird and dramatic.

[ID: A photograph of Dearborn Station, a former train station turned retail center in the South Loop; it looks kind of like a castle or Gothic church made of red brick, and is backlit by a stormy sky.]

[urbanchicagoan]

A mural in an alley in the South Loop, Chicago (1/17/2025)

Un mural en un callejón en el South Loop, Chicago (17/1/2025)

[istandonsnowpiles]

Event-riddled Michigan Ave

[streetsandsam]

September 27, 2024 - 18th and State

[fairiedazes]

harrison st (2023)

[unitedstatesrei]

'The 78' Remains Vacant After Chicago’S $7b Megaproject

7 Billion South Loop Development Sits EmptyA staggering $7 billion megaproject aimed at transforming 62 acres of prime South Loop real estate has stalled. The 78 development remains largely vacant despite years of planning and municipal approvals.Strategically located between Roosevelt Road, Clark Street, 16th Street, and the Chicago River, the project was designed to become Chicago's 78th community area. The land previously served as a rail yard until 1977.Master-planned by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, The 78 envisioned up to 10,000 residential units. A mandated 20% affordable housing commitment was part of this plan, alongside extensive commercial and academic facilities.Over 2,800 participants were involved in community engagement efforts preceding the project's approval. These took place through public meetings, stakeholder sessions, and block club gatherings.The Chicago Plan Commission and City Council granted zoning approval in 2018. A Redevelopment Agreement followed with Related Midwest in 2019.Critical infrastructure improvements included plans for a new Red Line subway station at 15th Street. This capitalized on the site's proximity to multiple CTA lines, including Red, Green, and Orange Line access points.A $1.2 billion Discovery Partners Institute research center was to be the development's centerpiece. It was aimed at driving academic and technological innovation within the mixed-use environment.There were plans for seven acres of green space and a dedicated five-acre sports park. These amenities were designed to serve both residents and the broader Chicago community. Outdoor programming and cultural events were included.Recent momentum seemed to build with announcements of a new Chicago Fire soccer stadium planned for the site. The privately funded stadium would feature a 22,000 capacity design and is expected to open for the 2028 season. This signaled a potential revival of the long-dormant project.Despite the Tax Increment Financing district designation supporting infrastructure costs, the project faces considerable financial hurdles. Substantial private investment requirements create ongoing uncertainty about development timelines.Previous development attempts on the site by developer Tony Rezko proved unsuccessful. This highlights the challenging nature of large-scale development on this parcel.Economic impact projections included substantial job creation and significant economic activity for the South Loop area. The continued vacancy is particularly notable for city planners and investors.Housing and retail components promised extensive dining, entertainment, and shopping options. They were positioned within walking distance of downtown Chicago's central business district.Market conditions, comparable to the plunge in housing inventory seen in various U.S. markets, compound the challenges facing such large projects. As of June 2025, the site remains largely undeveloped. This is despite the extensive regulatory framework supporting construction through approved zoning modifications and financial agreements.The continued vacancy of The 78 represents one of Chicago's most significant unrealized development opportunities. With 62 acres of prime urban real estate sitting idle, the city grapples with housing shortages and economic development needs.The project's ultimate fate remains uncertain. Stakeholders await concrete progress on what was positioned as a transformative addition to Chicago's urban environment.AssessmentThe $7 billion megaproject remains a stark reminder of market volatility. It highlights the development risk in premium urban markets.Industry analysts warn of prolonged vacancy periods. These hint at deeper structural challenges in Chicago's luxury residential sector.Empty towers reflect the broader economic headwinds. These concerns affect high-end real estate investments nationwide.Investors face mounting pressure as carrying costs keep accumulating. Meanwhile, revenue streams remain nonexistent.

The development's fate will likely influence future investment strategies. This impact will be seen across major metropolitan markets.

[chicagostumbler]

777 S. State St.: In the middle of this sidewalk is a raised, pitted section. It is located in front of 9Round Kickboxing Fitness and is just around the corner from an apartment building. Across the street and about half a block north is Jones College Prep, making this a tripping hazard for students and residents in this South Loop area.

You can report any hazardous sidewalks in the greater Chicagoland area by calling 311 or visiting 311.chicago.gov for more details. If you have any pictures of dangerous sidewalks, you can tweet them to @redlineproject on Twitter.

(Photo/Lian Gako)

[travelella]

South Loop, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Benoit Debaix

[alfiemartin]

Chicago Bears to announce plans Wednesday for new domed stadium on lakefront

Chicago Bears to announce plans Wednesday for new domed stadium on lakefront

[copperbadge]

[ID: A wooden bar in front of a window, looking out on the sidewalk; sitting on the bar are a paper cup of tea, a plate with a large cookie on it, and a pair of (discolored, don't judge me, life is hard) earbuds. It looks like a lovely weekend morning snack.]

There's a new coffee shop in my neighborhood, and I've been meaning to check it out for a while since it looked like it had a lot of good places to sit and work, and while I love going to the library to work on weekends, the study rooms there are super booked full right now. I thought I'd see how I did sitting at the "window bar" and it turns out it's great! I'm not super enamored of the macaroon I got (it's fine, just nothing special) and not a coffee drinker so can't judge that, but the tea and the ambiance are both excellent.

But also like. In the first forty-five minutes of sitting at the bar in the window, I encountered a friend who lives in the neighborhood passing by, a friend who does NOT live in the neighborhood but was down here for the farmer's market and came in to get a coffee, and also a total stranger from Rome who saw me in my AS Roma jacket and came over to introduce himself because he was so stunned to see a Roma fan in Chicago.

Him: Excuse me? I'm from Rome, and I can't believe I see a Roma logo --

Me: AH! DAJE ROMA!

Him: *HUGE BEAM* OH YOU ARE A ROMANIST!

He had thought I might not know what I was wearing, and was so pleased to meet an actual fan. He ended up asking for a selfie with me because his friends didn't believe he'd found an AS Roma fan in midwestern America. :D So I've just blown the minds of a couple of Romanisti, and also got a nice compliment on both my taste in football teams and my pronunciation of Daje (dai-yay!) Roma.

I do love my neighborhood. Sometimes I think I should sell up and move out far enough to be able to afford a real house with a yard and get rid of all the stress that comes with living in a crowded downtown city center, but then I spend a morning out in the South Loop and remember why I put up with all that.

[urbanchicagoan]

Surviving the Chicago winter in a Hawaiian restaurant (1/17/2025)

Sobreviviendo al invierno de Chicago en un restaurante hawaiano (17/1/2025)

[spgiith]

(late) Good morning!

[streetsandsam]

September 17, 2024 - 8th and Wabash

[cl0wnfettii]

ew

[matt-is-me]

Subs will just brat all the time and the SECOND you say something flirty back they immediately start begging like wow way to make this easy for me