• Home
  • Search the South Loop
    • South Loop Single Family Homes
    • South Loop Condos
    • South Loop Rentals
    • South Loop Lofts
    • South Loop Townhomes
    • South Loop Land
    • South Loop 2 to 4 Unit Buildings
    • South Loop Multi-Unit Properties
    • South Loop Commercial Properties
  • Understanding the South Loop
    • South Loop Interactive Market Data
    • Understanding the South Loop
  • South Loop Schools
    • Ratings and Reviews
    • South Loop Schools
      • Home Search in: Drake Elementary School District
      • Home Search in: Haines Elementary School District
      • Home Search in: National Teachers Elementary School District
      • Home Search in: Skinner Elementary School District
      • Home Search in: Smyth Elementary School District
      • Home Search in: South Loop Elementary School District
      • Home Search in: Walsh Elementary School District
      • Home Search in: Phillips High School District
      • Home Search in: Juarez High School District
      • Home Search in: Wells High School District
  • Guides for Buyers
    • The Buying Process
    • Who Pays for What?
    • Transfer Taxes by Chicagoland Municipality
  • About Us
    • About Our Agents – ChicagoHome Brokerage Network at @properties
    • The ChicagoHome Brokerage Network Websites
  • Sell with @properties

SouthLoopHomes.com

Top @properties team offering sophisticated search for South Loop Area that they actively work | Don't be a lead - be local

You are here: Home / Understanding the South Loop

Understanding the South Loop

At this point, the South Loop isn’t just up-and-coming, it’s booming.

With historic architecture mixing seamlessly with beautiful new construction, the South Loop has become one of Chicago’s most desirable neighborhoods. In an exceptional location steps from downtown, Grant Park, and Lake Michigan, the neighborhood offers an eclectic artsy vibe and friendly spirit.

It’s also just plain fun! Residents love the area’s great restaurants, shopping, trendy nightlife, and other attractions such as Chicago Bears games. With nearby CTA stops, Metra trains, Lakeshore Drive, and I-90/94, the rest of the city is at your fingertips!

South Loop Neighborhood Guide

Great restaurants, creative businesses, and easy access to major attractions make the South Loop one of Chicago’s most exciting places to live.

Restaurants and Nightlife

The restaurant scene is pure Chicago. Fine dining (including 2 Michelin Star Acadia) and upscale cafes forming a unique blend with casual eateries, delis, and deep-dish joints. Local classics include Bongo Room, a hip brunch spot, Cafe Hoang, offering fresh and authentic Vietnamese, and Cafecito, serving delicious Cuban sandwiches.

South Loop nightlife includes great bars and pubs such as Kasey’s, the second oldest pub in Chicago. Music lovers have much to enjoy with staples like Buddy Guy’s Legends for live blues and Reggie’s for local and touring rock bands. Great local shopping is also available and the area is only a short distance from the Magnificent Mile, Chicago’s premier shopping district.  

What’s Nearby?

Living in the South Loop puts some of Chicago’s biggest attractions only steps away. Museum Campus is at the neighborhood’s eastern edge, including treasures like the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, and Shedd Aquarium. The campus is also home to historic Soldier Field, home of the beloved Chicago Bears.

Grant Park, known as a “Chicago’s Front Yard” to locals, offers nearly 400 acres of beautiful parkland with breathtaking views of the skyline and Lake Michigan. The park is home to a full schedule of fairs and events, including the famous Taste of Chicago and the now 4-day Lollapalooza Music Festival. Not just for big events, the park is perfect for quiet days of picnicking, walking the dog, or reading.

Local Recreation

Despite living in the heart of Chicago, residents have access to plenty of nature. On the shores of Lake Michigan, joggers and bicyclists love the miles-long Lakefront Trail. Northerly Island, once home to Meigs Field airstrip, is now dedicated to nature, with beautiful grasslands and strolling paths. At the northern point of the island, the Huntington Bank Pavilion is a great place to see summer concerts.

Other parks include Ping Tom Memorial Park, Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens, and Roosevelt Park offering great amenities including a public pool, equipped fieldhouses, and plenty of natural areas and trails. Nature Lovers, the South Loop has you covered!

South Loop History

Industrial Roots

Once home to the steel mills and railyards transforming the nation, the South Loop was one of Chicago’s first residential areas. Home to raucous saloons serving the local workers, the neighborhood was known for its sleazy underbelly.

Spared from the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, the neighborhood was devastated by another large fire in 1874. The neighborhood became less residential, taking on an industrial and business character. Big-business moved in, including the printing industry and the early automobile industry. Many of the historic structures built in this epoch are still standing, including the Romanesque Glessner House, today a museum.

Decline Years

In the mid-20th century, hard times came to the area. With the growth of highway systems and the decline of the printing industry, many businesses closed or left the neighborhood, leaving railyards vacant, buildings abandoned, and storefronts empty. Into the 1990s, much of the South Loop remained derelict, a collection of abandoned rail yards, warehouses, and parking lots. One consistent bright spot, however, has been the presence of several colleges and universities, including Columbia College Chicago.

South Loop Today

Perhaps of all the Chicago neighborhoods revitalized in recent years, the South Loop has had the most remarkable turnaround. The rundown state of the neighborhood was curious given its prime location and slowly developers began to see promise in the area. Major projects were mounted, such as the conversion of rail yards into housing, the restoration and conversion of Dearborn Station into retail/office space, and the conversion of Printers’ Row into modern lofts. These initial projects have exploded into a boom. Today, South Loop residents are used to the presence of cranes and hardhats.

 

South Loop Homes

With modern housing options including newly built apartments with unbeatable views, renovated condominiums, and historic loft conversions, in addition to single-family homes, townhomes, and mid-rises, the area has great options for any price range. With top Chicago attractions, great shopping and dining, and eclectic energy, it’s no surprise that the South Loop has become a true Chicago hotspot!

 

Featured Agents:

  • Tricia Konrath | ChicagoHome Brokerage Network at @properties
    Tricia Konrath, Broker
  • Colette Adams | ChicagoHome Brokerage Network at @properties
    Colette Adams, Broker
  • Sonia Madden | ChicagoHome Brokerage Network at @properties
    Sonia Madden, Broker
  • Laura Kelly | ChicagoHome Brokerage Network at @properties
    Laura Kelly, Broker
  • Alison Pepera | ChicagoHome Brokerage Network at @properties
    Alison Pepera, Broker
  • Kristin Thompson | ChicagoHome Brokerage Network at @properties
    Kristin Thompson, Broker
  • James Konrath | ChicagoHome Brokerage Network at @properties
    James Konrath, Broker
  • Carrie Madej | ChicagoHome Brokerage Network at @properties
    Carrie Madej, Broker
  • Laura Rube | ChicagoHome Brokerage Network at @properties
    Laura Rube, Broker
  • Ben Baran | ChicagoHome Brokerage Network at @properties
    Ben Baran, Broker

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Phone
75+ Sites Banner | ChicagoHome Brokerage Network

Nearby Network Neighborhoods:

MillenniumParkHomes.com
GoldCoastChicagoHomes
StreetervilleChicagoHomes
FultonRiverDistrictHomes
OldTownChicagoHomes

Moving to Evanston?
Moving to Winnetka?
Moving to Wilmette?
Moving to HighlandPark?

South Loop: Local Information

South Loop Schools Info
South Loop Interactive Market Data
Understanding South Loop

Search Sites by Property Type:

Lofts1.com
Apartments1.com
HighRises1.com

About ChicagoHome Brokerage Network at @properties

Thinking Real Estate
be local… not a lead

See all ChicagoHome Brokerage Network Websites

Sell faster,
for more,
choose:
@properties

Copyright (c) 2019 Internet Holdings, LTD • southloophomes.com • Log in

Terms of Service |  Privacy Policy |  Contact Us

For Consumer Use only - Use of Site means acceptance of Terms of Service

ChicagoHome Brokerage Network at @properties | 548 W. Webster, Chicago, IL 60614 | 312-361-8336

Cleantalk Pixel