Would a declining population create a stronger Chicago? (Peru, Paris: restaurants, stores)

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Wanting to turn a city into something is much, much, much, much different than comparing. It's called inspiration, not comparing.

LOL.......right...you need to get out more if you really think this. There are definitely numerous areas of Chicago with a nice level of street level activity still. It's not as many places as I personally like, but there is no doubt, at all, that they exist. Wicker Park, Gold Coast, River North, Streeterville, Andersonville, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Pilsen, Little Village, West Rogers Park (especially Devon Street), parts of Logan Square, parts of South Loop, Chinatown, The Loop (State Street and Michigan Avenue), etc. Lincoln Square to a degree sometimes too. They all still have it.

Define your version of ''street life"? People walking on sidewalks?

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Kamms

Define your version of ''street life"? People walking on sidewalks?

A healthy dosage of people doing things outside whether it's on sidewalks walking or hanging out or at a sidewalk patio, and/or perhaps hanging out at plazas. There's a lot that defines it, but having many people actually doing things outside for a constant period of time over a day.

The pure fact you don't think Chicago has any street life, especially in the summer, shows you probably don't even know the city as well as you think you do or even close to it. There are numerous areas of the city with an ample amount of street life (even downtown during the winter, unless it's super cold, has it).

[IrishIllini]

To say Chicago lacks street life is an absurd statement that I would hope you know to be false. Chicago may not have the hustle and bustle of NYC, but it's definitely at the top of urban environments in the United States. Obviously it's quieter in the winter, but there are still MILLIONS of people moving throughout the city every day. A good percentage of those people are moving by foot.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by aier3x

I'm curious what place Kamms lives

I'm not sure where he lives now, but I believe he's a native Clevelander. "Kamms" is actually short for "Kamm's Corners", which is a neighborhood on Cleveland's far west side.

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by marothisu

A healthy dosage of people doing things outside whether it's on sidewalks walking or hanging out or at a sidewalk patio, and/or perhaps hanging out at plazas. There's a lot that defines it, but having many people actually doing things outside for a constant period of time over a day.

The pure fact you don't think Chicago has any street life, especially in the summer, shows you probably don't even know the city as well as you think you do or even close to it. There are numerous areas of the city with an ample amount of street life (even downtown during the winter, unless it's super cold, has it).

Not talking about cafes, people walking, etc. More about food vendors, newsstands, markets, buying stuff...Daley killed it all.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by Kamms

Not talking about cafes, people walking, etc. More about food vendors, newsstands, markets, buying stuff...Daley killed it all.

Is there any sign that Rahm's administration will want to allow these again?

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Kamms

Not talking about cafes, people walking, etc. More about food vendors, newsstands, markets, buying stuff...Daley killed it all.

Okay, sure - but since when was that the only sign of "street life"? There is street life in many parts of the city where the streets are not dead and there is a lot of interaction. You should have stated specifically what you meant, because you honestly sounded like you had no idea what you were talking about with this (and even then if you went to areas like 26th St or 18th St, you'd still see numerous people selling food and goods on the streets as vendors. There are also some people selling stuff like purses and what not downtown during the summer at stands).

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

Is there any sign that Rahm's administration will want to allow these again?

There have been many food vendors operating in the city, primarily in areas like Little Village, Pilsen, etc. This past fall, the city council made them legal again.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/artic...git-in-chicago

The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance today regulating the city's food carts. The new law, proposed by Alds. Roberto Maldonado, 26th, and Willie Cochran, 20th, passed unanimously in this morning's City Council meeting.

An estimated 1,500 food carts operate in Chicago, largely in Hispanic neighborhoods, according to data from the Illinois Policy Institute, a political research organization based in Chicago.

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

Is there any sign that Rahm's administration will want to allow these again?

The city should allow these again as a revenue of revenue since it already getting creative in increasing revenue.

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Okay, sure - but since when was that the only sign of "street life"? There is street life in many parts of the city where the streets are not dead and there is a lot of interaction. As far as food vendors go - not only do they still exist actually quite a few in areas like Little Village and Pilsen (and Logan Square and Wicker Park during summer weekend nights), but the city a handful of months ago legalized it again. I don't know when they're set to be seen again in more of the gentrified neighborhoods but maybe next summer.

Anyway, saying "there's no street life" is so false - there is a lot more to street life than a food vendor (and again, there have still been many food vendors in the city in certain areas throughout the years).

Well, it's my opinion. Don't consider those lame ''street performers'' around the Michigan Ave Bridge/Wrigley to be street life either or those annoying bucket drummers.

Who cares about going to Little Village or Pilsen...please.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Kamms

Well, it's my opinion. Don't consider those lame ''street performers'' around the Michigan Ave Bridge/Wrigley to be street life either or those annoying bucket drummers.

Who cares about going to Little Village or Pilsen...please.

Besides all of this, saying that Chicago has little "street life" with many people out in numerous areas is just asinine. You may call it "opinion", but it is a fact that there are numerous streets in the city that are anything but dead with people even if there are no street vendors there. It's a ridiculous thing to say. That would be like going to Astoria in Queens and saying there's no street life there because there's no street vendors, performers, etc in numerous parts - even though the streets are absolutely full of people.