When we were browsing for South Loop stories we were surprised to see "Suspect sought in shooting outside South Loop bar" title to a story in the Chicago Tribune. Our Internet was slow, so it was taking awhile to load and we were left to guess which bar it could be. We regretfully guessed could it be South Loop Club? Reggie's? Wabash Tap? When the page finally loaded we were surprised to see Cactus (404 S Wells) as the bar listed in the South Loop.Although this is very close to the South Loop, by most peoples neighborhood boundaries this would be in the loop (since it's north of Congress). Regardless, it's very close to our hood so that's unnerving, but technically speaking it's not in the South Loop. By our standards this was a undeserved black-eye for the neighborhood by the Tribune and Sun-Times.
Ah, the never ending South Loop boundary discussion. Once the real estate agents get a hold of a name, throw logic and consistency out the window. I think a lot of people use the terms South Loop and Near South Side interchangeably these days. Once upon a time, I think it was considered more of the southern part of the Loop. You're not going to find an official definition of the South Loop.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_South_Side,_Chicago
Your definition is certainly unique. Compare your map:
http://www.sloopin.com/2008/11/sloopin-map.html
to the City's:
http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_ATTACH/Community_Areas_NEAR_SOUTH_SIDE.pdf
Before I moved to the Sloop I referred to my place of work (on Jackson) as within the South Loop. Now I find myself referring to that area as "the South part of the Loop."
ReplyDeleteThe newer definition of South Loop as "South of the Loop" seems to be consistent with what the emerging definitions for the West Loop, River North, and New East Side neighborhoods. Regardless of what is more accurate, I would argue that these new definitions are more useful as the Loop proper is a relatively small and homogeneous area.
That bar is the SW corner of the Loop proper.
ReplyDeleteI lived at Sky55 for almost 3 years (now i live in manhattan) and I grew up in Chicago. The South Loop is basically Van Buren to Roosevelt and everything below there is the Near South Side. Theres nothing offensive about this terminology. When the South Loop was a new community people didn't want the name of their neighborhood to reflect its geography on the south side, but today everyone knows the Near South Side is totally unlike the rest of the south side (save Hyde Park of course).
ReplyDeleteLets call a spade a spade. If you live on 13th street you are not in the south loop. If you live near 18th and Indiana you are nowhere near the south loop, you live in the Near South Side and theres nothing wrong with it.
"Near" anything is a horrible name in the first place. I believe there should be no "near" and the south side should start from 26th ave (Stevenson Expressway) on the south. Van Buren to 26th is only 16blocks long; which is not out of the ordinary. South Loop on the west should be the river and of course - the lake on the East.
ReplyDeleteI believe there should be no "near" and the south side should start from 26th ave (Stevenson Expressway) on the south.
ReplyDeleteI think that most people would consider Cermak Road to be part of the great South Side of Chicago.
I agree. Give it a name without "Near" in it, and I'll stop calling it the South Loop.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Give it a name without "Near" in it, and I'll stop calling it the South Loop.
ReplyDeleteDo whatever you like, it's got about as much chance of catching on as "The Sloop."
I was at Franklin Tap the other day and they had a sign up stating they were a South Loop bar!
ReplyDeleteHere's my take:
ReplyDelete1. Any place not part of the Loop proper is part of the North Side, West Side, or South Side.
2. While some community areas of Chicago are cohesive neighborhoods (e.g. Lincoln Park), others can be split into a number of true neighborhoods.
While it is true that many neighborhood names are born of real estate agents, I think the true test of a 'hood is whether it catches on.
For the same reasons that most people wouldn't refer to Streeterville, River North, or the Gold Coast as the Near North Side, I would not refer to Roosevelt through Cermak as the Near South Side. I could use a similar argument for Greektown, Tri-Taylor, and the West Loop in the Near West Side community area.
Conclusion: IMHO, Roosevelt through Cermak is the South Loop neighborhood, which is part of the Near South Side community area, and part of the South Side.
P.S. Oh and Cactus is definitely part of the Loop proper. It's not that far from Printer's Row, but I would probably call it the West Loop before the South Loop. I might be willing to change my mind though if we could somehow also claim the Sears Tower (practically a block away) as part of the South Loop.
Well who's going to tell "South Loop Market" and "South Loop Wine Cellar" to change their name?
ReplyDeleteP.S. Oh and Cactus is definitely part of the Loop proper. It's not that far from Printer's Row, but I would probably call it the West Loop before the South Loop.
ReplyDeleteIt's 400 south and 200 west, so it's definitely in the South Loop. It is in the 60607 zip code, however.
Yes, it's clearly at the Southwest corner of the Loop. As for what neighborhood it is, I will continue to insist on "Loop" or "Financial District." While this is all subjective, I certainly wouldn't refer to 235 Van Buren (on the same block) as a "South Loop highrise."
ReplyDeleteAs for what neighborhood it is, I will continue to insist on "Loop" or "Financial District."
ReplyDeleteYou can call it "puppies and rainbows" for all I care.
"You can call it "puppies and rainbows" for all I care."
ReplyDeleteThen what the heck are you chiming-in for?
400 North is right at Michigan avenue and the chicago river. Nobody considers that area to be "the north side"; clearly it's considered "downtown.". Thus, 400 south isn't "the south side," but is "downtown" as well.
ReplyDeleteDon't let a Baltimore native like FGFM try to tell Chicagoans what is what in our city!
400 North is right at Michigan avenue and the chicago river. Nobody considers that area to be "the north side"; clearly it's considered "downtown.". Thus, 400 south isn't "the south side," but is "downtown" as well.
ReplyDeleteTell me about it.
Near North Side
Don't let a Baltimore native like FGFM try to tell Chicagoans what is what in our city!
I've never even been been to Baltimore. Now, you might remember me mentioning the Soul Queen that used to be located on the Southwest corner of Cermak and Michigan. Given that you are such a Chicago expert, can you tell me the names of the two restaurants that used to be located on the other side of Cermak over there?
Let's see . . . is River City "South Loop"? How about the mid-rises / high rises along Wells between Congress and Polk? How about Dearborn Station?
ReplyDeleteIt's all South Loop, folks. And the South Loop ends at Roosevelt.
""You can call it "puppies and rainbows" for all I care."
ReplyDeleteThen what the heck are you chiming-in for?"
He seems to be attempting to argue without actually making any points. Well done, FGFM! You leave me nothing to counter.
He seems to be attempting to argue without actually making any points. Well done, FGFM! You leave me nothing to counter.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you keep trying to nip at my ankles, Timmeh? I don't have to justify my existence to you.
Dearborn Station is in "Printer's Row". This is the epicenter on the South Loop IMO . . . you couldn't ask for a more prominent landmark.
ReplyDelete