Highlights
The Loop is a designation for Chicago's central business district that dates from 1897 when the rectangle of elevated tracks --- bounded by Van Buren Street, Wabash Avenue, Lake Street and 5th Avenue (now Wells Street) --- was completed, connecting three train lines. Previously, there had been five networks of cable car lines crisscrossing the central business district, each ending in its own loop around several blocks, permitting the trains to turn around. But the term "Loop," short for "Union Loop," only entered common usage with the completion of the tracks on Oct. 3, 1897. All of the city's elevated train companies merged in 1924, and that entity was sold to the Chicago Transit Authority...
The Loop is a designation for Chicago's central business district that dates from 1897 when the rectangle of elevated tracks --- bounded by Van Buren Street, Wabash Avenue, Lake Street and 5th Avenue (now Wells Street) --- was completed, connecting three train lines. Previously, there had been five networks of cable car lines crisscrossing the central business district, each ending in its own loop around several blocks, permitting the trains to turn around. But the term "Loop," short for "Union Loop," only entered common usage with the completion of the tracks on Oct. 3, 1897. All of the city's elevated train companies merged in 1924, and that entity was sold to the Chicago Transit Authority in 1949. No other city in the world has an elevated Loop like Chicago. Yet, for much of its existence, it was considered an eyesore. As recently as 1974, Mayor Richard J. Daley, father of the city's present chief executive, planned to demolish the structure. More recently, the downtown elevated structures have been seen by city planners as a striking visual element giving character to the streetscape. From the start, the Loop has been the city's financial, political and governmental center, and its transportation hub. Its fortunes were at low ebb in the 1970s when its large department stores were battered by competition from suburban malls. But, in recent years, particularly after the re-opening of State Street, it has bounced back with new housing and five college complexes inside and around the elevated loop providing fresh blood. Loop is also the name used to designate the much larger Community Area 32 on the city's official map of 77 neighborhoods.
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Sunday, February 19, 2012
5 - 5:30 a.m. The Great Outdoors with Charlie Potter 5:30 - 6 a.m. Love Changes Life 6 - 6:30 a.m. The Lutheran Hour 6:30 - 9 a.m. The Sunday Papers with Rick Kogan 9 - 11:20 a.m. Nick Digilio in for Dean Richards 10:20 a.m. Nick Digilio (in for...Tags: Carol Burnett, West Loop, Chicago Restaurants
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Chicagoans Protest Iran Election Result
(WGN-AM)- Undeterred by a downpour, about 250 Iranian-Americans gathered in the Chicago Loop Tuesday evening to show their support for protesters that have flooded Iran streets opposing the results of last week's presidential election. Wearing green...Tags: Government, Chicago Tribune, Illinois, Elections, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
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Parolee Charged With Loop Burglaries
(WGN-AM)- A convicted burglar on parole has been charged with more than a dozen additional burglaries in the Loop in recent months, police said this morning. Alexander Parks, 41, was arrested early Thursday morning by a Central District watch commander...Tags: Prosecution, Chicago Tribune, Crime, Law and Justice, Punishment, Crimes
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Taxi Hits Loop Restaurant
(WGN-AM)- Petterino's restaurant in the Loop isn't a drive-in restaurant, it just seems that way. For the second time in little more than a month, a taxicab has crashed into it. The latest crash, involving two taxicabs, happened early Wednesday...Tags: Chicago Tribune, Restaurants, Dining and Drinking, Chicago Restaurants
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Police Seeking Owners Of Stolen Computer Equiptment
(WGN-AM)- He allegedly scaled buildings like Spider-Man -- not to rescue citizens from distress, but to steal from them. Chicago police say a man who spent seven years in jail for stealing laptops from Loop businesses went back to the same mischief the...Tags: Gaming, Prisons, Justice System, Chicago Tribune, Lawyers
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Homicides Down By 13% This Year in Chicago
(WGN-AM)- The number of homicides in Chicago decreased nearly 13 percent through June and the city saw a greater than 10 percent drop in overall crime, compared to the same time period last year, Chicago police announced Thursday. Chicago ended June with...Tags: Murder, Sex Crimes, Defense, Assault, Weaponry
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Dunkin' Donuts in Loop Shut Down By City
(WGN-AM)- A Dunkin' Donuts was shut down Monday because of several health code violations, the Chicago Department of Public Health said. The Loop restaurant, at 201 West Madison Street, was inspected on June 8, when managers were warned of an infestation...Tags: Chicago Tribune, Dunkin' Donuts, Doughnuts, Foods and Beverages, Lifestyle and Leisure
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Office Equipment Company Sues Indicted Webio Founder
(WGN-AM)- A Chicago office space rental company filed suit Thursday against David Hernandez, the Downers Grove businessman facing charges that he scammed investors and Chicago sports radio personalities out of $11 million. Amata, a Chicago-based office...Tags: Economy, Business and Finance, Chicago Tribune, Finance, Office and Retail Spaces, Financial and Business Services
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"Red Line Bandit" Strikes Another Bank
(WGN-AM) - A man suspected in eight bank robberies since December, many of which occurred near CTA Red Line stations, has struck again. The man, dubbed the "Red Line Robber," is suspected of a ninth holdup Wednesday afternoon at a Chicago Community...Tags: Chicago Tribune, Crime, Law and Justice, Chicago Transit Authority, Bank Robbery, Eyewear
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Power Restored To Loop Building
(WGN-AM)- A downtown residential high-rise was without power for more than eight hours into this morning because of an equipment failure, Commonwealth Edison said. No other buildings were affected. Power went out at about 1:30 a.m. in the 34-story...Tags: Chicago Tribune
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Work On Dangerous Kennedy Ramps To Begin Monday
(WGN-AM)- Drivers accelerating down the left-side entrance ramps to the Kennedy Expressway in downtown Chicago must often throw the dice -- and perhaps mumble a quick prayer or profanity -- while attempting to merge, squeeze, plead or fight their way into...Tags: Landforms, Jon Hilkevitch, Greektown, Traffic, Travel
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Chicago Announces New Area Code
(WGN-AM)- The city of Chicago will have a new area code starting in November: 872.
The 872 number is the city's third area code and will overlay the current area, the Illinois Commerce Commission announced Monday. An overlay means that a second area code...Tags: Chicago Tribune, Illinois, Chicago
Feb 13, 2012
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