Nothing strikes angst in the heart of a Chicagophile or causes the defensive juices to perculate than for an outsider to mention that our winters are cold.
OK, ok, we know they're not all that cold. And, gee whiz, not all that different from Boston or even New York.
Still, it's a problem.
But does it have to be?
I thought I'd set up a thread here to discuss realistic suggestions on how we can winterize the Windy City. I'm not talking events here. I'm getting to physical changes, like the Pedway we already have in place.
I'm thinking along the lines (although certainly not trying to mimic) Minneapolis's skyway system, Montreal's below ground shopping complexes, Toronto's glassed in galerias.
What can we do to make climate and weather less of issue, at least in Chicago's vibrant extended core, from late November through March?
Could we consider...
• a glassed on top, linear park, underground that you could jog in or walk all year long?
• an extended pedway system in the Loop that would include the long forgotten plan to burrow under the river to Union Station?
• how about mini-pedways attached to subway stations outside the Loop but sitll in the downtown area? Could people use these and the subways to get around to places in the greater downtown area without having to go outside when weather conditons warrant?
• What about stringing four or five high end resort hotels around a mini-indoor man made lake, delightfully glassed in on top. Load it with palms and make it look like Hawaii....even if it's January in Chicago. OK, maybe not lake, but what appears to be one, the ultimate resort water park?
Are there other ways that we can use existing technologies to minimize winter's effect in the heart of Chicago, making it an attractive place to visit 12 months a year?> |
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