But the students--under the strict supervision of the GSLA board--returned with the finished product yesterday morning, unveiling it at GSLA's community meeting. And guess what? I love it! Now all it takes is Alderman Fioretti's office to transfer the concept onto banners for hanging in the neighborhood: appropriately conceived by Columbia College advertising students as a "neighborhood of neighborhoods."

When the students--all four residents of the South Loop--proudly branded the South Loop a neighborhood of several neighborhoods, one attendee took issue with the fact that Dearborn Park didn't make the cut.

But the concept is simple: Each neighborhood has an iconic image created in one of seven "L" route colors. Since there are eight routes/colors, they haven't decided whether to use the color brown or pink for the Film Row neighborhood image (Columbia College's media production center at 16th and State). My suggestion: get rid of the yellow in the design--the color of the Skokie Swift which runs from Howard to Dempster, since that is the only line that comes nowhere near the South Loop. Or else add a townhouse from Dearborn Park as an eighth image.

The icons are overlaid upon each other in a spiffy graphic that allows each to be recognized, merged into the overall design--and yet stand out. The design can stand on its own with the same banner put all around the entire neighborhood. Or different banners can be manufactured for each of the designated neighborhoods--such as Motor Row and Record Row, Printers Row, Central Station and Prairie District. And the image that represents the neighborhood can be pulled out and put on top in some visually impactful way.

All in all, it's a winning concept for a diverse neighborhood.

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By joe from PR
Posted: 04/02/2012 11:00 AM

Anon from NSS, How much do you think that light pole banners cost?

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By Anonymous from Near South Side
Posted: 03/28/2012 10:24 PM

Except tis is not even factually correct; the areas shown are not part of the South Loop. South Loop stops at Roosevelt. How about we save the money and put it into our schools, streets, and parks and stop wasting it on this stuff. If it is such a great idea, then why don't they fund it? Another 2nd Ward secret project just like the infamous development & zoning committee that no one in the Alderman's office could name who was on it, or when they met.

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By Anonymous
Posted: 03/28/2012 9:57 PM

In response to Matt's complaint: This is what you guys in Dearborn Park get for not bowing down before the great and mighty Alderman (His Most Vain Highness) Fioretti when he put up that fence around your park and for not fawning after him thankfully for his having your best interests in mind when he did so! Because of your insolence towards the Mighty Fioretti, Dearborn Park will NEVER EVER get anything!

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By Matt Wos from Dearborn Park
Posted: 03/28/2012 5:14 PM

If Dearborn Park is not in the South Loop, where would the ladies suggest it is located? Ladies: read \"At Home in the Loop\" by Lois Willie about the origins of the South Loop. Make it an assignment, then report your findings back to the class (and the Alderman, for that matter, if he indeed shares said view.) -Professor M. Wos :)

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By Matt Wos from Dearborn Park
Posted: 03/28/2012 5:13 PM

If Dearborn Park is not in the South Loop, where would the ladies suggest it is located? Ladies: read "At Home in the Loop" by Lois Willie about the origins of the South Loop. Make it an assignment, then report your findings back to the class (and the Alderman, for that matter, if he indeed shares said view.) -Professor M. Wos :)

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By Another SL Parent from South Loop
Posted: 03/28/2012 10:46 AM

Very nicely done ladies. Although the project begs to answer the old question of what boundaries even loosely define South Loop? Is Motor Row really in South Loop or more Near South Side? Perhaps something having to do with Michigan Ave skyline as seen from LSD or else Grant Park?

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By Jeanette Johnson from South Loop
Posted: 03/27/2012 8:58 AM

Please find a brief explanation of the art work and a PDF of the student's presentation on our website: http://greatersouthloop.org/2012/03/27/south-loop-street-pole-banner-designs/

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By Bonnie McGrath from South Loop
Posted: 03/26/2012 10:27 AM

Would love some help here. I was told the design was on the GSLA website but I had no luck finding it.

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By Bonnie McGrath from South Loop
Posted: 03/26/2012 10:27 AM

Would love some help here. I was told the design was on the GSLA website but I had no luck finding it.

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By Little help? from South loop
Posted: 03/25/2012 10:37 PM

Can you publish a link to their design?