Chicago Downtown is it Dead after 6:00 and on the weekends? (Union: real estate, lofts)

[Jazziecatz]

Hello I've never been to Chicago but I'm planning to move there and I want an aparmtnet downtown cause of all the tall buildings and plain urban feel. I've heard that downtown is like a ghost town after six and on weekends. Is this true? Should I get an aparment in a different neighborhood? And if so what is a great vibrant neighborhood for a yuppie?

[MichiVegas]

You mean the Loop proper? Yes, somewhat (with exceptions for Millennium Park and theaters and maybe Union/Ogilvie stations). North of the River? No.

IF you want a more residential area, don't live right in the Loop.

[UrbanCheetah]

Downtown is primarily considered the Loop and River North/Streeterville/Gold Coast. I would say that the Loop with the exception of the Millenium Park area can get pretty dead. Especially the area of the Loop that is to the southwest. The northeast part of the Loop while still has some vibrancy past 6:00, but really dies down after 10:00pm.

River North/Streeterville/Gold Coast has a lot of vibrancy.

To be honest if you want to be an area that has A LOT of vibrancy I would check out the areas of Belmont and Clark, Diversey and Clark and North Avenue and Damen as those areas are real vibrant at all times of the day.

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by Jazziecatz

Hello I've never been to Chicago but I'm planning to move there and I want an aparmtnet downtown cause of all the tall buildings and plain urban feel. I've heard that downtown is like a ghost town after six and on weekends. Is this true? Should I get an aparment in a different neighborhood? And if so what is a great vibrant neighborhood for a yuppie?

No, the places with all the highrises and people living downtown are certainly not dead after 6pm.

In the middle of the financial district it is - but I don't know why you would ever try to move there.

[UrbanCheetah]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

No, the places with all the highrises and people living downtown are certainly not dead after 6pm.

In the middle of the financial district it is - but I don't know why you would ever try to move there.

And for that matter there isn't much real estate in that part, although it is improving.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Jazziecatz

Hello I've never been to Chicago but I'm planning to move there and I want an aparmtnet downtown cause of all the tall buildings and plain urban feel. I've heard that downtown is like a ghost town after six and on weekends. Is this true? Should I get an aparment in a different neighborhood? And if so what is a great vibrant neighborhood for a yuppie?

Only in the Loop in the main Central Business District parts, though part of the Loop (around State Street and Millennium Park) is still lively until 9 or 10pm or so. River North, Gold Coast, and Streeterville just north of the river are full of high rises as well and is pretty active late into the night (i.e. early morning) especially in the summer. If you want to be anywhere with high rises downtown, it's these three areas. I'd rank them 1. River North 2. Gold Coast and 3. Streeterville.

Although I'll say that not many areas of town can rival the vibrancy that the Viagra Triangle area has during the summer - at least areas where it's not people just going to work or eating lunch in the CBD. One of the more European parts of the city - a good plaza if you like people watching. There is another plaza in the Gold Coast about 1.5 blocks south of that too which is great as well. That whole area is pretty vibrant on the street level and offers some plazas at least. Then of course you have Michigan Avenue right there which is the largest shopping district of town and has a lot of people on it daily.

[NARFALICIOUS]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

No, the places with all the highrises and people living downtown are certainly not dead after 6pm.

In the middle of the financial district it is - but I don't know why you would ever try to move there.

I agree with this, financial areas are slower after work is all done, but definitely not dead. Especially in summer, there are people downtown in financial district, millenium park, Grant park, Michigan avenue, etc.


Also Chicago has a ton of residential units, condos, highrises, walkups in "downtown"

Also Chicago has some clubs and bars downtown

[SavannahInChicago]

Originally Posted by UrbanCheetah

To be honest if you want to be an area that has A LOT of vibrancy I would check out the areas of Belmont and Clark, Diversey and Clark and North Avenue and Damen as those areas are real vibrant at all times of the day.

Second this. I live a couple blocks away, close to Broadway, and it is never dead. Boystown and Wriglyville are only a few blocks away, two huge bar areas. I think because of this it is always easy to find a taxi. There are a lot of groceries stores, theaters, and shops. The Red Line and the Halsted bus is 24 hours.

It is true that the buildings are not as big as the Loop. However, It is a very dense area. I can see the Sears Tower and the Hancock Building as peaking through the buildings. I hardly go downtown because there so much to explore in just this little area, never mind the other neighborhoods in Chicago.

Come visit if you can. Get off at the Red or Brown line's Belmont stop and just walk around.

[mjtinmemphis]

Most retail and restaurants in Chicago loop closes between 8 and 10pm. It's not completely dead after 5pm.

The loop doesn't offer much night life though it is becoming more residential.

[ChicagoMeO]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

No, the places with all the highrises and people living downtown are certainly not dead after 6pm.

In the middle of the financial district it is - but I don't know why you would ever try to move there.

One word for why - LOFTS!

They have some great lofts over there, they are very dramatic.. thats why (in my opinion why i would live there).