Near South Side
Throughout the last century and a half, the Chicago community area just south of the Loop has witnessed some epic changes. It was once home to some of the city’s most affluent families, who built their mansions in what is now the Prairie Avenue Historic District. It was also once home to one of the worst slums in the nation and for a while part of it didn’t even exist: the scenic walkways of Northerly Island were laid on top of a landfill in Lake Michigan. At present, it’s difficult to miss the area bounded by Roosevelt on the north and 26th Street on the south, Chicago River/Clark/Federal on the west and the Lake on the east, if only because it contains some of the city’s largest monuments, from Soldier Field to McCormick Place to the Field Museum of Natural History to Shedd Aquarium. In addition to sports arenas and convention centers, however, the Near South Side has experienced a rebirth as a residential destination. People looking to keep close to downtown while steering clear of the north side mainstays (and their north-side-prices) have started to migrate to this still-underutilized neighborhood, and developers are rushing in to claim a piece of the action. If (and when!) the Olympics come to Chicago in 2016, athletes and spectators will converge on the Olympic Village planned for a strip of land (now a 37-acre parking lot) in the Near South Side.
South Loop and Printer’s Row
The somewhat ambiguously defined region immediately south of the Loop and (still in rough terms) north of Cermak Street is often called the "South Loop". The allusive name refers more to its proximity to the real thing than to a demographic likeness or transportation quadrangle (although the region is full of thoroughfares and rail lines). Like the rest of the Near South, the South Loop has experienced some big time redevelopment as of late, making it the fastest growing neighborhood in Chicago. What were once sweeping rail yards just south of Roosevelt Road have given way to the condo-filled development known as Dearborn Park, and warehouses in the area have experienced a wave of loft conversions, particularly in the northern enclave of Printer’s Row. As the title suggests, Printer’s Row was once a hub for some of the nation’s most prominent printing companies (such as Rand McNally), due in part to its convenient mid-western location. Though most of the printers have since shipped out, the area is still a goldmine for all things bound, with an annual book fair in June that’s advertised as one of the nation’s largest as well as numerous bookstores selling everything from antique tomes to college textbooks. Reading the textbooks is a task that might fall to a student from Columbia College, DePaul, or Roosevelt University, all of which have campuses close by. In addition to bookstores and college students, however, the South Loop is home to a growing number of restaurants, bars, and shops (including a number of chains and small boutiques).
Museum Campus
Despite its rising status as a residential haven, the Near South is perhaps best known as a tourist location. The reason? Well, there are several, very large and hard to miss reasons, from the old-meets-new grandiosity of Soldier Field (home of the Chicago Bears) to the towering pillars of the Field Museum (and the towering skeleton of one T-rex called "Sue"). Along with the Field Museum, the dome-shaped Adler Planetarium and Greco-Roman Shedd Aquarium form the trio of museums off of Lake Shore Drive that comprise the aptly titled Museum Campus. A trophy goes to the soul – young or old – who can do all three and still stand on two feet.
Parks and Open Spaces
In what is perhaps a fitting compliment to the massive structures built along Lake Shore Drive, the Near South boasts some of the city’s most spectacular open spaces, most notably Grant Park, a manicured expanse of green running between the Loop and the South Loop, from the adjacent leafage of millennium park all the way down to the Field Museum and Soldier Field. The scenic skylines and views towards the lake do not end there, however. Just east of Soldier Field is the manmade island known as Northerly Island. Originally, Northerly Island was supposed to serve as the southern tip of the Chicago Port according to Daniel Burnham’s 1909 Plan for Chicago, yet the project was never completed and the area found a new role with the construction of a single-strip airport in 1948. As of 2003, the airport no longer exists, having been replaced with walking paths and a playground. Northerly Park also hosts the Charter One Pavilion, an open-air amphitheater that seats as many as 7,500 – certainly not the 61,500 of nearby Soldier Field, but not too shabby as reflected by the reverberating concerts held there in the summer.
Chinatown
A description of the Near South would be incomplete without a nod to Chinatown. Centered on the intersection of Cermak and Wentworth Avenues, Chicago’s dragon is great indeed: currently, the area is listed as the 3rd largest Chinatown in the country. Combining an impressive array of restaurants and storefronts with condos, loftspace and the occasional townhome, the area is currently experiencing a housing shortage. Residents lucky enough to call the place home appreciate the mix of urban density and Chinese culture. The culinary offerings are bold and aplenty, and the Dan Ryan Expressway/Red Line/Stevenson Expressway make for a quick getaway. |
