High-tech companies especially, the new ventures dependent on a young, hip workforce, are starting to notice Chicago. Employees of the new high-tech firms like the urban milieu and cultural offerings of downtown, while the companies are drawn to the infrastructure and networking potential of the greater Loop. Wacker Drive had to be closed recently for emergency tests to see if the crumbling roadway remained passable for trucks. Clearly, one of the biggest positive forces has been the Mayor s interest in aesthetic improvements, says John Henderson, secretary of the non-profit group Friends of Downtown and acting director of research, planning and evaluation for the Chicago Park District. Many projects he reviews and designs personally, so much care and thought goes into it.
People feel so much better about the city.
It facilitates more interaction and activity on the street. There is a perception of lower crime, and it has a multiplier effect that results in real economic investment. City investment in downtown has been complemented by new institutional, entertainment and residential uses. Columbia College, the Art Institute and DePaul University all have been buying and refurbishing property. New restaurants, clubs and theaters the Oriental being one of the most recent and shining examples have been opening throughout the area, helping to fulfill the administration s vision of a 24-hour downtown.