Downtown Chicago's shopping/entertainment/retail scene has changed considerably in the past century. The first great retail boulevard, believe it or not, was Lake St. That changed, long ago, to State St, which became the great street that it was until the 1970's. With construction of new retail and vertical malls, North Michigan Avenue has emerged as the mighty new street.
However, trends continue to shape downtown Chicago. The presence near transit seems to be getting important again. Also, development south of the river is is occurring very rapidly, as we all know.
Trump Tower, Hard Rock Hotel, the developing Riverwalk, the planned Chicago River museum, Millennium Park, The Heritage (with its 4-storey retail center), and the eventual development of Block 37 will all, in their own way, pull development southward down Mich Avenue as well as down Wabash and State street, to meet up with a growing student population across Congress.
Also, have you guys noticed that every-single mid-to highrise being built in the south loop on either Michigan or State st has continuous streetfront retail? What kinds of interesting shopping/entertainment districts will emerge there? Perhaps some day, when people come to Chicago, instead of gravitating towards north Michigan Avenue they may start on State St or on S. Michigan Ave (near Roosevelt), move through the loop, and on northward.
Or perhaps something even completely different will occur--after all, I haven't even mentioned Riverside Park, LaSalle Park, etc.
What kinds of great shopping boulevards have yet to emerge in Chicago and how do you think they will affect downtown trends?> |
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