Quote:
Originally Posted by ardecila
I think people recognize there are a lot of benefits to living in the Loop but a lot of hassles, too. Most residential buildings don't have parking. The streets tend to be pretty quiet at night which can be eerie to some. Congestion and noise are pretty bad. The streets are concrete canyons, with very little green. Summer festivals and political protests can be very disruptive.
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Yes, clearly Loop living is not for everyone. I certainly understand why some folks would never do it. For me, it was the best. The convenience, living amidst a true mix of uses and activities, the buzz of special events - parades, marathons (although not Loop specific), the marches, protests, concerts, the arts, institutions, commerce, government, retail, entertainment, dining, parks, river, lake and yes residential. I liked all of it. The walking to work and literally everywhere else, and the lack of parking (well, cheap parking anyway!....to me this was also a positive). And, a steady increase in evening activity with continually increasing residential and hotel development. I think much of the Central and Eastern Loop is extraordinarily well-positioned for decades of continued residential, hotel, foot traffic and 24/7ish growth....or at least 18-20/7 - I don't see late night clubs joining the mix. And I truly think residential really is among the highest and best uses (with some competition certainly) for a lot of this real estate.