The South Loop is the quieter, more residential southern neighbor to Chicago’s bustling downtown commercial center. The mainstay of the South Loop is Columbia College Chicago, a private school that owns nearly seventeen buildings in the area and a majority of the land. Several public schools in the South Loop include Phillips Academy High School and the South Loop School.
With the Loop literally bursting at its seams, the South Loop, with its convenient proximity, has transitioned into the gateway to the Loop. After a hard day’s work in the Chicago downtown financial district, recreational activities such as biking or jogging at the lakefront or catching a concert at Millennium Park are a stone’s throw away. Frou-frou shopping at State Street is contrasted by the flea markets of South Loop thus suiting every budget and every taste.
The South Loop’s increasing popularity is evident in the rapid pace at which the neighborhood is growing. Buildings that were originally warehouses have been reconstructed by developers into plentiful South Loop homes for sale. Luxurious town homes compete with cozy lofts and budget condominiums. Much thought has also gone into properly planning commercial and shopping areas around the neighborhood in a bid to achieve self-sufficiency. Several fine dining options have opened up in the South Loop and today it is as easy to enjoy a romantic evening in a private vault at the Opera as it is to meet work buddies over a casual and easy drink at Kroll’s.
The South Loop has recently been the centre of much construction activity and there is a lot to choose from for the home buyer. The neighborhood is far from saturation and holds out the promise that there is a lot more still to come. Despite the buzz around South Loop it still has open spaces which are best taken in and enjoyed during a leisurely stroll in the neighborhood. Amidst all the frantic activity, the South Loop continues to beckon with the peace within.
