One bellwether of the changing atmosphere in the South Loop is the planned relocation of the Pacific Garden Mission, founded in 1877. Construction on the new 150,000-square-foot space at 14th Place and South Canal Street, which will offer expanded services, is progressing well if these photos are any indication. The move is slated for late this year.
While few of the Loop’s new condo buyers are likely to mourn the loss of the current careworn structure at 646 S State St, it’s sad to see the old mission go. The move tears away part of the cultural and spiritual fabric of a neighborhood that also has lost thousands of SRO units in recent decades. Developers argue that building in the South Loop didn’t result in displacement because it occurred on former railroad land and in dilapidated warehouses. Clearly, that’s only part of the story.