As the largest city in the Midwest, Chicago provides the ideal blend of coveted restaurants, vibrant culture, enticing art galleries, and diverse career opportunities. The Windy City offers ample public transportation options, stunning skyscrapers, and a bustling urban atmosphere without the exorbitant cost typically associated with city living.
Chicago is home to dozens of vibrant neighborhoods. Among those neighborhoods is Chicago’s South Loop, a particularly desirable neighborhood for families and young people who seek the excitement of a bustling city with the comfort of a residential neighborhood. Located along the Chicago River, Chicago’s South Loop is in close proximity to Lake Michigan and Northerly Island which offers beautiful grasslands with strolling paths and a stunning view of Chicago’s skyline.
Over the past ten years, Chicago’s South Loop has seen an impressive rebirth. Buildings, restaurants, parks, and transportation options have been extensively revamped and reconstructed, making this neighborhood the ideal location for those seeking downtown energy combined with tranquil waterfront greenery.
Museums and Historical Attractions
The east side of Chicago’s South Loop is home to the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium. The South Loop also includes the Glessner House, an architectural masterpiece built in 1887 that is now a museum, and the third Chicago Coliseum, the long-time home of the Republican National Convention.
The South Loop’s Renowned Schools
Chicago’s South Loop is home to Columbia College of Chicago and the University of Illinois John Marshall Law School. Columbia College of Chicago is highly regarded for its communication arts school, attracting students who study film, journalism, radio, and multimedia design. The University of Illinois John Marshall Law School boasts a rigorous law program and recently ranked best in the Midwest and #7 in the nation for legal writing, according to the 2021 U.S. News & World Report.
Chicago’s South Loop also proudly holds three of the top-rated public high schools in Illinois including Walter Payton College Prep, Northside College Preparatory High School, and Whitney M. Young Magnet High School—which is lauded as one of the best public high schools in America. The British International School of Chicago (Pre-K – 12th Grade) is rated among the top ten highest rated private schools in Illinois.
Sprawling Greenspace
Chicago’s South Loop is home to the iconic Grant Park, commonly referred to as “Chicago’s Front Yard.” The sprawling, 319-acre public park holds various smaller parks and attractions including Millennium Park, Maggie Daley Park, Buckingham Fountain, and the Museum Campus. The Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain stands as Grant Park’s monumental centerpiece and protects the park’s picturesque lakefront views.
Grant Park’s other features and amenities include Crown Fountain, Lurie Garden, skating in Maggie Daley Park, several baseball fields, skateboarding and BMX biking in the Skate Park, sailing at the marina, tennis courts, jogging on the Lakefront Trail and festivals at the Petrillo Music Shell. Grant Park also holds the Gold Star Families Park and Memorial, a five-acre lakefront park with statues, sculptures, and a memorial wall to honor Chicago’s heroic police officers who have fallen in the line of duty.
Sports and Entertainment
There is never a shortage of activities in the South Loop with bars, sports venues, jazz and blues clubs, comedy shows, movie theaters, and more to choose from. Kasey’s Tavern is a staple in the South Loop and has been operating for over 100 years. The South Loop is also home to several notable jazz and blues clubs including Buddy Guy’s Legends, the M Lounge, Bassline, and Jazz Showcase. The South Loop has a great comedy scene with nightclubs ranging from The Comedy Bar to Tommy Gun’s Garage to The Comedy Clubhouse.
Chicago’s South Loop is also home to Soldier Field which holds the Chicago Bears football team and the Chicago Fire FC major league soccer team. The football field has a capacity of 61,500 people and is the oldest stadium in the NFL. The South Loop also boasts a wide range of sports bars to watch the game including The Scout Waterhouse + Kitchen, Kroll’s South Loop, and First Draft.
Plenty of Shopping Options
The Roosevelt Collection, a sprawling outdoor shopping mall, is located in the heart of the South Loop and offers popular stores, a movie theater, and a park with a playground. The mall’s many retailers include H&M, The Container Store, Old Navy, Ulta Beauty, Banana Republic, Fleet Feet Sports, and Carter’s. The South Loop also offers one of the city’s best art supply stores—Artist & Craftsman Supply—and the family-owned Sandmeyer’s Bookstore, which has been in operation since 1982 and is located in the South Loop’s historic Printer’s Row neighborhood.
Coveted Rental Properties
The South Loop holds a wide array of housing options for renters, many of which feature coveted amenities and stunning views. 1130 South Michigan Avenue boasts sweeping city and waterfront views through oversized windows, a sparkling pool with cabanas, and a sprawling roof deck with grills.
The Lake Meadows Apartments, located at 3233 South King Drive, also offers modern amenities and stunning apartments. This property is ideally located within close proximity to the Bronzeville-IIT CTA train stop, which will take you almost anywhere in Chicago.
Burnham Pointe, located at the heart of Printers Row at 730 South Clark Street, is a state-of-the art residence offering modern apartments, a club lounge, wellness center, and 24-hour concierge.
Aspire Residences, a 24-story apartment tower located at 2111 South Wabash Avenue, is one of the newest developments in Chicago’s South Loop. The luxury tower will offer keyless entry doors, a coworking space, and a landscaped rooftop terrace with a sun deck, grilling stations, a resort-style swimming pool, a dog park, and stunning city views.
The South Loop: An Ideal Neighborhood
With sprawling greenery, coveted cuisine, vibrant nightlife, and a range of stunning apartment rentals to choose from, Chicago’s South Loop is the ideal location for families, couples, and singles. The South Loop also offers easy transportation options that make traveling to work and various parts of Chicago easy and accessible.
To learn more about Draper and Kramer’s luxury properties in Chicago’s South Loop, please visit draperandkramer.com.
