[west-town-brad]

Originally Posted by Toasty Joe

The Loop has so much potential to become a more vibrant and residential "neighborhood." Definitely feels like some vibrancy is creeping in from the success of the Riverwalk. Pre-covid my coworkers and I would grab after-work drinks at random bars and restaurants around the Loop quite often, seems like there was always somewhere new to explore. The city needs to definitely figure out a new formula now due to the pandemic, but they've also (hopefully) realized that the Loop deserves better than just the after-work drink crew and tourists who shop at Forever 21 and go to Hamilton. That's why the Thompson Center needs to be a home run residential & entertainment catalyst (however that may come), which is a heavy burden made heavier by fucking up Block 37. Hopeful that the success of West Loop proves there is a huge appetite for an urban living/dining/office scene, and the Loop already has an amazing building stock at the literal center of our transportation system!

I dont know the exact stats, but the residential population of the loop has grown from something like zero to 20,000 people in the past 10 years or so.