The South Loop is bordered on the north by Roosevelt Road, on the east by Michigan Avenue, on the south by 18th Street and on the west by Union Avenue. Check out the video below to see and learn more about Chicago's South Loop Neighborhood. South Loop Neighborhood Video.
South Loop - A Chicago Neighborhood Guide
South Loop, a Chicago Neighborhood Guide
Zahra Ink - Chicago Writing Services
History
Chicago’s South Loop is one of the city’s fastest growing neighborhoods. As the Loop area becomes saturated, people are taking advantage of the prime real estate just south of the Loop and discovering a new, exciting place to live. Yet as recently as ten years ago, the South Loop was an area that few people would ever want to visit.
The Pier in Downtown Chicago
A decade ago, there was not much in the South Loop area besides warehouses and parking lots. There were very few residences and much of the neighborhood was dusty and unused. The area has a long history; land speculators began assessing the area as far back as 1830, yet it remained largely industrial for over 150 years. It is, in fact, a bit of a mystery why the neighborhood, with its proximity to so many attractive parts of the city, had been ignored for so long. At any rate, it is being ignored no longer.
Developers are now attacking the South Loop in a frenzy, snatching up whatever land they can. It is rare to see so many new developments in one place; cranes are a common sight and buildings are being thrown up to the sky at startling speeds. A buyer has unlimited options, it seems. The last few years have brought more change to the South Loop than the last century. Indeed, its future holds still greater change.
Hotels in Downtown Chicago
| Hotel Info | Nightly Rates* | |
|---|---|---|
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Manilow Suites
Located in Downtown
Bar/LoungeBusiness ServicesConciergeFitness CenterFree InternetLakesidePet-FriendlyBusiness Center |
Rates Starting At $159* Details  |
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AmericInn Lodge & Suites
View 1 Promo for this hotel - |
Rates Starting At $80 you pay $52* Details |
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Allerton Hotel Chicago
Located in Gold Coast
View 1 Promo for this hotel - |
Rates Starting At $99* Details |
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Doubletree Magnificent
Located in Gold Coast
View 1 Promo for this hotel - |
Rates Starting At $99* Details |
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Inn of Chicago
Located in Gold Coast
View 2 Promos for this hotel - |
Rates Starting At $79 you pay $79* Details |
Chicago Attractions
| Venue Info | Location | |
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Chicago Museum Pass Located in Grant Park offArtsyoffGrant ParkCulturalFamily FriendlyHistoricoffMuseumoffSights of Chicagooffoffoffoffoff |
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Museum Campus Pass Located in Grant Park offoffoffGrant ParkCulturalFamily FriendlyHistoricoffMuseumoffSights of Chicagooffoffoffoffoff |
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Go Chicago Card Located in The Loop offoffoffoffoffoffoffoffoffoffSights of Chicagooffoffoffoffoff |
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Chicago Family FunPass Located in The Loop offoffoffoffoffFamily FriendlyoffoffoffoffSights of Chicagooffoffoffoffoff |
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Chicago Children's Pass Located in The Loop offoffoffoffoffFamily FriendlyoffoffoffoffSights of Chicagooffoffoffoffoff |
Attraction |
Things to Do in Chicago
| Venue Info | Price | |
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Chicago Water Tower Located in Gold Coast offArtsyoffoffoffoffHistoricoffMuseumoffSights of ChicagooffScenicoffoffoff |
Thing to do |
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Millennium Park Located in Grant Park ActiveoffoffGrant ParkCulturalFamily FriendlyHistoricHoliday FunoffoffoffoffScenicoffoffoff |
Thing to do |
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Lincoln Park Located in Lincoln Park offoffoffoffoffoffHistoricoffoffoffSights of ChicagoRomanticScenicoffoffoff |
Thing to do |
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Grant Park Located in Grant Park offoffoffGrant Parkoffoffoffoffoffoffoffoffoffoffoffoff |
Thing to do |
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Wicker Park Located in Wicker Park ActiveArtsyoffoffoffFamily FriendlyHistoricoffoffoffoffoffoffoffoffoff |
Thing to do |
*Terms & Conditions: Offers, promotions and rates subject to change and may vary based upon date, length of stay and other factors. Some offers do not include taxes and fees. All offers based on availability and are subject to change without notice.
Community
South Loop, Chicago IL
Within walking distance of the Loop, Museum Campus, the lakefront, and Grant Park, the South Loop is seeing an influx of young professionals and families who want to work and play just minutes from home. A new exhibit at the Field Museum; a free concert at Millennium Park; roller-blading along the lake shore; or strolling along Michigan Avenue. Living here, the gems of the city are within easy reach. Of course Soldier Field and McCormick Place lay to the east of South Loop on the lakefront.
To cater to the thousands of new inhabitants in the area, developers are building condominiums, lofts and even town homes in the South Loop area. Commercial space is also being planned all over the neighborhood. The South Loop is studded with new construction and the area is unusually dynamic; space is available but is being claimed by developers rapidly. Although still a relatively new neighborhood, the South Loop has an active community organization known as the South Loop Neighbors. It organizes activities such as the Annual Photo Show, which invites inhabitants of the area to submit personal photography which highlights the culture and history of the area, and the Annual Loft Walk, which takes visitors on a tour of several private residences in the neighborhood.
Theatre in Downtown Chicago
The South Loop is still growing, and while several upscale eateries have already appeared in the neighborhood, many more are on the way. Among the dining choices are: Opera, Gioco, Kroll’s South Loop, Chicago Firehouse Grill and Prairie Rose Restaurant.
Certainly, the neighborhood is becoming increasingly self-sufficient, with everything its inhabitants need close at hand. Apart from dining and shopping, services such as churches, childcare centers and grocery stores are becoming more visible. If the last few years are any indication, this growth spurt is just the beginning.
Despite the frantic building boom, the South Loop retains a mellow vibe. It is neither busy nor crowded, and invites its residents to take peaceful strolls along the sidewalk. The neighborhood manages to find a balance between growth and peace, and its inhabitants are pleased with the result. Already, this is one of the more pleasant areas in Chicago, and as it becomes more fully developed, its allure will only grow.
Sculpture at the South Loop Post Office
For your convenience and easy reference, the locations of all the businesses mentioned in this article are shown on our South Loop Neighborhood Map.
Other Resources
- See the South Loop Business Directory
- See the South Loop Map
- See theSouth Loop Neighbors web site
- See the Other Chicago Neighborhoods
