Gritty West Loop Set For Glamorous Post-Oprah Tech Hub Revival

Photo from DNAinfo.com

By: Mark Konkol | March 20, 2014 | DNAinfo.com

For better or worse, neighborhoods change. And the West Loop — once equal parts meat-packing district, light manufacturing hub and skid row slum — has slowly transformed into a gritty enclave with geek-chic allure for green-economy entrepreneurs, foodie tourists and tech-sector powerhouses. Some folks argue none of that would have been possible if not for Oprah Winfrey, who set up Harpo Studios amid the West Loop shadows frequented by prostitutes, junkies and con men in the late '80s. Read More...