10 years from now: Near North vs. Near South

Let's give this one ten years to boil and to simmer, to let the boom continue on the Near South Side, and to let its gritty reputation fade into history. So it's now 2016 (or so) and the question comes up: which of the near Loop areas is more interesting, more exciting, more desirable: THE NEAR NORTH SIDE -OR- THE NEAR SOUTH SIDE? Who's the winner? They both have the lakefront with its parks. Old industrial, warehouse properties have been converted to current use in both areas. Near North has all that sumptuous Mag Mile shopping, but Near South counters with culture (Museum Campus) and conventions (McCormick Place). Near North has the Gold Coast; Near South has the original Gold Coast (Prairie Avenue reborn). Old money rules north of the river. South of downtown, innovation is more than evident as it grows during this exciting urban era. WHO COMES OUT ON TOP IN TEN YEARS: NEAR NORTH OR NEAR SOUTH? And while not an issue (and not a real player), how does the lake-less Near West Side stack up against these two behemouths? Does its educational (UIC), medical (Med Center), and entertainment/sports (UC) complexes, its trendy restaurants, the ethnic joys of Greektown and Taylor Street help it stack up with its more impressive neighbors?>