South Loop is a Chicago neighborhood south of the Loop. It is located between Lake Michigan and the South Branch of the Chicago River, which then veers southwest to empty into the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Chinatown is adjacent to the southwest of South Loop, and Museum Campus is to its east.
Location
[edit]The exact boundaries of South Loop are not precisely defined, and its southern boundary can be considered Cermak Road (22nd Street) or as far south as 26th Street, abutting Bronzeville. South Loop is part of the Near South Side community area of Chicago.[1]
The Greater South Loop Association, a not-for-profit neighborhood association, promotes the interests of residents and businesses of a larger area bounded by Ida B. Wells Drive on the North, the Stevenson Expressway on the South, Lake Michigan including Northerly Island on the east, and the Dan Ryan Expressway on the west.[2]
Development
[edit]South Loop includes former railyards that have been redeveloped as microneighborhoods, such as Dearborn Park and Central Station. Former warehouses and factory lofts have been converted to residential buildings, while new townhouses and highrises have been developed on vacant or underused land. Dearborn Station at the south end of South Loop Printing House District has been converted to retail and office space, and is the oldest train station still standing in Chicago. Columbia College Chicago is a major real estate holder in the South Loop, owning 17 buildings.
The Chicago Fire Football Club is planning to build a $650 million soccer stadium in the South Loop as part of a real estate development area called The 78.[3][4] The 22,000-seat open-air stadium is expected to begin construction in early 2026, and is intended to be completed before the 2028 Major League Soccer season.[5][6]
Education
[edit]South Loop is zoned to South Loop School and Phillips Academy High School. Jones College Prep High School, which is a selective enrollment prep school drawing students from the entire city, is also located in the South Loop.
History
[edit]The South Loop was historically home to Chicago's vice districts, including the brothels, bars, burlesque theaters, and arcades. Inexpensive residential hotels on Van Buren and State Street made it one of the city's Skid Rows until the 1970s. The oldest homeless shelter in the city, Pacific Garden Mission, was located at State and Balbo from 1923 to 2007, and is currently located at 1458 S. Canal St. on the other side of the river.[7]
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References
[edit]- ^ "Map of Community Area 33: Near South Side" (PDF). City of Chicago. June 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ Greater South Loop Association
- ^ "Chicago Fire owner is considering building privately-funded, soccer-specific stadium in the city". New York Times. November 10, 2024.
- ^ Spielman, Fran (June 3, 2025). "Fire plans $650M stadium in South Loop's long-dormant The 78 tract". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ Chicago Fire FC Reveals Details For Privately Funded Stadium Chicago Fire FC Communications, June 16, 2025
- ^ Chicago Fire stadium plans revealed for $650 million facility in Chicago CBS News, Elyssa Kaufman, Chris Tye, Marissa Perlman, Benson Cook, June 17, 2025
- ^ "Pacific Garden Mission".