We had an e-mail the other day from a reader who said that his mom enjoyed the loft history posts, so here’s another one: this is Tower Lofts of Lake View, 1601 W School St, (see left photo). According to the developer, Related Midwest, the conversion of this former Wieboldt department store became a catalyst for commercial development in the Lincoln / Belmont / Ashland corridor and helped usher in a wave of redevelopment in West Lake View (see right photo). This, of course, resulted in the influx of double-wide strollers, Golden Retrievers and designer baby clothing stores the neighborhood is now famous for.
Yo wants to hear your thoughts – what other “pivotal” developments have helped transform different Chicago neighborhoods by delivering a critical mass of residents (eg various loft developments and Museum Park in the South Loop.) And would anyone care to sketch the archetypal West Lake View parents, a la our recent Chad/Trixe discussion? What clothes they wear, what car they drive, what brand of stroller they prefer etc.? In these parts, Yo’s truly has noticed more than a few Trixies who can’t quite afford to buy in Lincoln Park but aren’t ready to shuffle off to the ‘burbs just yet. I’m talking the SUV, 7 For All Mankind maternity jeans, and the Baby Jogger Stroller with hand brake, parking button and coffee holder with in-built level to keep mom/dad’s Starbucks from spilling (which actually sounds quite handy).