We love taking advantage of the museums and galleries and cultural events. It's such a totally different lifestyle for us. There's an energy in the city. And more and more homeowners, from young singles to empty nesters, are tapping into that energy. Statistically speaking, it was relatively safe even then.
Crimes require people and the area was largely deserted on evenings and weekends.
But neighborhoods such as River North and the South and West Loop were full of abandoned warehouses, vacant lots, junkyards and storage buildings. Downtown looked dangerous and people stayed away. Some of the biggest changes downtown have been matters of appearance and perception. Development of new housing in rundown areas has come at a fast clip during the last seven years, but it's been occurring more gradually for a quarter of a century. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has seen to it that Grant Park looks probably better than it ever has.