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
Neighborhoods
ZIP Codes 60601, 60602, 60603, 60604, and parts of 60605, 60606, 60607, and 60661
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 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 downtown 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 lack of space shaped an architectural style dominated by high-rises. Notable buildings include the Home Insurance Building, considered the first skyscraper, 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, reflecting the central role the district has played in the entire Chicagoland region.

A section of the Loop
Enlarge
A section of the Loop

The term "The Loop" has different meanings to different persons. The Loop is an official community area of Chicago. The official 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. As the downtown area and its many high-rises expanded out past the official community area over the years, "The Loop" has been used more generally to denote the entire downtown as opposed to just the officially designated 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, closing soon.

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. 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 Hancock, creating an impressive cluster of skyscrapers, unmatched perhaps even in the Loop itself. Although this area may be considered part of downtown Chicago, it is not a part of the Loop. Officially 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, Marc Chagall, Alexander Calder, and Jean Dubuffet. Chicago's cultural heavyweights, such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Goodman 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 orgy, 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 bandshell along with the Anish Kapoor "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 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)

Chicago's skyline from the north
Enlarge
Chicago's skyline from the north

Contents

[edit] Sub-Neighborhoods

[edit] New Eastside

The New Eastside is a mixed-use district east of Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and Grant Park. It encompasses the entire Illinois Center and Lakeshore East developments[1], as well as separate developments like Aon Center, Prudential Plaza, and 333 North Michigan. 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, One Prudential Plaza were among the first built using airspace rights. They were built above the railyards.

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

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

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.

[edit] Notable landmarks in the Chicago Loop

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