State of the South Loop

Second Annual State of the South Loop
The Second Annual State of the South Loop meeting took place at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, November 20, 2010 at Britten Banner, 1420 S. Michigan Ave. There was a meet-and-greet, with coffee supplied by Overflow Coffee Bar, from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The meeting was planned and organized by the Greater South Loop Association.

 South Loop residents came out in force for the State of the South Loop

Aldermen Present the State of Their Wards
The main speakers were 2nd Ward Aldermen Bob Fioretti and 3rd Ward Alderman Pat Dowell. Both gave overviews of their wards, the current challenges ahead, and their respective accomplishments. Fioretti pointed to the Pete’s Market in development at Madison and Western and the Target at Jackson and Racine. Fioretti also talked about the road repair work on State and S. Indiana currently taking place (both Fioretti and Dowell are responsible for this work). Dowell took pride in the development and construction of the Columbia College Media Production Center at 1600 S. State, as well as the establishment of the DayStar School at 1550 S. State. Both aldermen reiterated that there are many challenges ahead, in part due to the downturn in the economy. In spite of these challenges, their outlook was optimistic.

Ald. Bob Fioretti, Greater South Loop Association president, Deb Soelig, and Ald. Pat Dowell

Neighbors, Organizations, Local Educators, and Schools
Other speakers included Eve Kronen, a South Loop realtor, Gail Merritt from the Alliance for a Greener South Loop, Pam Focia from the South Loop Dog PAC, and Bill Van Emburg from the Prairie District Neighborhood Watch. There were additional brief presentations from Tara Shelton, principal, South Loop Elementary School, Danielle Croyer, law teacher at Jones Prep, and Julie Murphy from the Local School Council.