Most "Downtown" parts of Chicago? (neighborhoods, live)

[Jazziecatz]

What are the neighborhoods where all the buildings are huge and the streets are crowded and all that stuff? I want neighborhoods that really feel like a big city.

[NARFALICIOUS]

Downtown Chicago.

[Jazziecatz]

What neighborhoods is Downtown Chicago?

[chirack]

Originally Posted by Jazziecatz

What neighborhoods is Downtown Chicago?

Loop, south loop, river north(to some degree).

[It'sAutomatic]

Mostly the Loop and the Near North Side (kind of a big area, but the Gold Coast, Streeterville, and River North in particular). The Loop is the main business district, crowded with businesspeople during weekdays, and right north of the river is an offshoot with lots of touristy stuff. There is also a sizable ring around downtown with light industry that's been rapidly converted to upscale housing, in the neighborhoods of River North, West Loop, and South Loop, which may or may not fit your definition of downtown.

[RogersParkGuy]

Originally Posted by Jazziecatz

What are the neighborhoods where all the buildings are huge and the streets are crowded and all that stuff? I want neighborhoods that really feel like a big city.

Lots of them.

[chicagobear]

River North

[Jazziecatz]

Originally Posted by It'sAutomatic

Mostly the Loop and the Near North Side (kind of a big area, but the Gold Coast, Streeterville, and River North in particular). The Loop is the main business district, crowded with businesspeople during weekdays, and right north of the river is an offshoot with lots of touristy stuff. There is also a sizable ring around downtown with light industry that's been rapidly converted to upscale housing, in the neighborhoods of River North, West Loop, and South Loop, which may or may not fit your definition of downtown.

Thanks man! My definition of "downtown" is the area full of high rises and bustling streets. Also with lots of shops and cool stuff to see.

[marothisu]

If you want bustling streets downtown, then it's various parts of River North, Gold Coast, and the areas around Michigan Avenue in Streeterville. The Loop around State Street and Michigan Ave/Millennium Park can be that too. The others parts of the Loop are only like that M-W during business hours at certain times since it's the CBD. I guess here and there parts of the South and West Loop too.

I should note this too, that to feel like a big city, you don't need tall buildings. At least to me. I've traveled to many other cities in the world, a lot larger than Chicago and larger than NYC. They're big feeling because of their density and street vibrancy, not because of how tall their buildings are. Istanbul for example is over twice as large as NYC, yet it doesn't have tons of high rises, but it feels large because of how dense it is and how many people are out on the streets all day in many parts. There are many world cities that don't have tons of skyscrapers but they still feel big and dense.

It should be noted that while Chicago has many high rises, that only 4-5% of its population lives "downtown." The area of Lake View, for example, has about 15,000 more residents than the entire area of Gold Coast, Streeterville, River North, and Old Town combined (3 of these 4 is considered "downtown" and has many high rises/skyscrapers). There are high rises along the lake in Lake View, but much of it is low rise. Various areas of there can be just as vibrant on the street as "downtown." (especially in some areas at night). This is not the only place, there's others.

I think it's an extreme common misconception that a large percentage of Chicagoans live downtown. In reality it's a pretty small percentage and while it is vibrant, there are other parts of town where you can feel street vibrancy too.

[prelude91]

Originally Posted by marothisu

If you want bustling streets downtown, then it's various parts of River North, Gold Coast, and the areas around Michigan Avenue in Streeterville. The Loop around State Street and Michigan Ave/Millennium Park can be that too. The others parts of the Loop are only like that M-W during business hours at certain times since it's the CBD. I guess here and there parts of the South and West Loop too.

I should note this too, that to feel like a big city, you don't need tall buildings. At least to me. I've traveled to many other cities in the world, a lot larger than Chicago and larger than NYC. They're big feeling because of their density and street vibrancy, not because of how tall their buildings are. Istanbul for example is over twice as large as NYC, yet it doesn't have tons of high rises, but it feels large because of how dense it is and how many people are out on the streets all day in many parts. There are many world cities that don't have tons of skyscrapers but they still feel big and dense.

It should be noted that while Chicago has many high rises, that only 4-5% of its population lives "downtown." The area of Lake View, for example, has about 15,000 more residents than the entire area of Gold Coast, Streeterville, River North, and Old Town combined (3 of these 4 is considered "downtown" and has many high rises/skyscrapers). There are high rises along the lake in Lake View, but much of it is low rise. Various areas of there can be just as vibrant on the street as "downtown." (especially in some areas at night). This is not the only place, there's others.

I think it's an extreme common misconception that a large percentage of Chicagoans live downtown. In reality it's a pretty small percentage and while it is vibrant, there are other parts of town where you can feel street vibrancy too.

This is great advise. Not to nit pick, but Istanbul is not really larger than NYC. Istanbul limits cover an area that is more than 6x larger than NYC limits, but only 1.6x larger population. NYC also has higher peak densities than Istanbul, and the NYC metro area is much larger. Istanbul is larger in the way San Antonio is larger than Boston.

Again, the above is nitpicking, your advise is spot on.