Come explore one of the fastest growing areas in the City of Chicago. This dynamic community is home to five historic districts (including Printers Row, Prairie Avenue, Motor Row, Chinatown and Bronzeville) and includes thriving South Loop businesses, major cultural & educational institutions, and a diverse population. We invite you to visit the restaurants, retail shops, museums and galleries. Experience amazing events at McCormick Place, the nation’s largest convention center, or Wintrust Arena, home to the DePaul Blue Demons. You can even catch the Chicago White Sox in action at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Looking today at the area just south of the Loop, from Lake Michigan west to the Chicago River, you’ll find a vibrant place where you can live, work, play, study, and shop.
From young singles to empty nesters, people are finding homes in new high-rise towers, in rehabilitated coach houses, in lofts converted from old warehouses, or in communities of new townhouses.
All in all, the Near South encompasses many amenities from retail, health care, fitness, churches, hospitals… the essentials that link you to the community. It’s also a center for education. Over 24 colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning call the Near South home. Be a part of the evolution!
Support is Vital to Our Mission
The Near South Planning Board is a non-profit organization. Sponsorships, donations, individual and organizational memberships, and the contributions of volunteers are all critical to our efforts to promote the neighborhood, support local businesses, monitor and direct growth, interface with the City and the media, and continue the growth and development of the Near South Side. Special thanks to those who have contributed to our annual appeal. Our major supporters are featured below.
