south loop

developers didn't just get carried away with new south loop construction during the boom years.  they went downright crazy.  this formerly neglected and fallow patch of the city became the scene of feverish growth.  new construction high-rises, condominium conversions, adaptive reuses -- you name it.  thousands and thousands of new units were added to the market at highly-competitive prices and snapped up by cost-conscious buyers angling for great views of lake michigan and the convenience of being a snowball's throw from grant park.

but then, recession set in.  and the south loop, which expanded the fastest, crashed the hardest.  today, there are condominium apartments everywhere, ready to be plucked at short sales or rented on favorable terms.

columbia college owns a big chunk of the neighborhood, nearly twenty buildings in all, and depaul has been putting students in new dormitories down here.  so, yes, college kids are everywhere, although young professionals and empty-nesters certainly make their presence felt.  there's plenty of retail, except it's concentrated in malls, and that means wheels, four being preferable to two.  as dense as the area has become, it's still not a walking neighborhood, although plenty of hip and eclectic food and entertainment options can be yours if you know where to find them.  plus, the el runs through the neighborhood, which makes commuting easy.

printers' row and dearborn park are areas within the south loop and can be separately searched on domu.