Civic leaders discuss how to make State Street a ‘great street’ again

In 1982, the city of Chicago and the Chicago Central Area Committee agreed that an analysis of State Street was necessary to keep the retail corridor alive and thriving.The result was a framework plan for Downtown: the 1983 Central Area Plan, which included the first concept of Millennium Park, then referred to as Lakefront Gardens, along with calls for more transportation and housing.Today, the future of State Street is still being discussed, amid a shifting real estate landscape. City and business leaders gathered Tuesday at Macy’s Walnut Room for a sold-out summit on State Street. Panelists discussed multiple strategies for reinstating State Street as a vibrant retail and entertainment corridor, and they said the street is key to a thriving Downtown that attracts more visitors.Among the solutions discussed were leaning into the nearby universities, improving walkability and street safety, increasing density and offering more unique experiences for visitors.“Let’s create experiences. Let’s create memories. Let’s create careers. Let’s create educational opportunities and reasons for us to heal, reasons for us to get back together again,” Rich Gamble, interim CEO of the Chicago Loop Alliance, said. “The reason why you’re hearing complaints about property taxes all throughout the city is because this right here is the economic engine for the entire city. We are everyone’s neighborhood because we affect everyone’s neighborhood. We employ. We educate. We entertain. We house. The Loop is just a critically important place.”Like many retail corridors across Chicago, State Street has struggled following the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2020,…

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