Michael Edwards
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Car-free Sundays on State events will run through the summer, starting July 11
Chicago has a rare opportunity to reimagine Loop streets as a vital space for community gathering, rather than just corridors to move motor vehicles through.
May 3, 2021
Summertime Means Seating, Parties in Loop’s Public Spaces
The Chicago Loop Alliance, one of downtown's chambers of commerce, has announced details about its ambitious slate of summer placemaking campaigns. These include monthly “Activate” arts events held in alleys, the Gateway People Plaza on State Street, new amenities for Pritzker Park, and pop-up lunchtime seating throughout downtown. CLA expects to spend $135,000 on placemaking projects this year, from special service area funds and corporate sponsorships.
April 17, 2014
Loop Alliance Gets More Ambitious With 2014 Slate of Placemaking Projects
Last year the Chicago Loop Alliance, one of the downtown chambers of commerce, rolled out several successful placemaking campaigns, activating underused public spaces in an effort to make the central business district a better place for people to hang out, relax and socialize. These included the Pop-Up Art Loop program, which turns empty storefronts into temporary galleries, the Gateway seating area in the median of State at Wacker, and Activate Couch Place, an arts event held in the eponymous alley.
February 21, 2014
Chicago Loop Alliance Uses Placemaking to Promote Commerce
[This piece also ran in Checkerboard City, John Greenfield's column in Newcity magazine, which hits the streets on Wednesday evenings.]
September 10, 2013